Not planning epidural this time, am I mad?!

[lilystyles]

With my first two births I had epidurals, they went on for about 16 hrs each and babies were back to back, ouch. My third is due in 8 weeks and I'm hoping to do try and do it without an epidural as I don't want to have to stay in hospital, be catherterised & monitored! Has anyone refused epidurals on subsequent births and how did you find the experience compared to epidural?! Was the crowning the most painful part?! Thanks

I had an epidural with DD1 - 28 hr labour, absolutely awful. Although once I finally had epidural, I could sleep, didn't feel any contractions etc but equally didn't feel when to push and ended up with a ventouse delivery, episiotomy and stitches.

DD2 was 6ish hr labour, I had an epidural, pain got too much, epidural failed, ended up doing it with nothing. Bloody hard, 3rd degree tear so getting about afterwards wasn't great.

DD3, no epidural, laboured in pool (mainly to try and avoid me screaming for an epidural really), felt like I should've been well progressed, was examined and only 5-6 cm so got out of the pool so I could have an epidural - by the time I'd walked to the other room DD3 was on her way out. No tear, no graze nothing. I was home within a couple of hours doing the hoovering - felt on top of the world.

I would avoid an epidural if I were you. I know it's easier said than done when you in the throws of labour but my labour with DD3 was the shortest and by far the easiest and I felt bloody wonderful afterwards.

Will be watching this thread with interest! I had an epidural with DD1 (65 hours of contractions and OP baby) which felt like bliss.

DD2 is due in Feb and I'm hoping to try and go without. Although I suppose if I can't cope I can ask for one if I need it! I'm hoping that next time it will be so quick I won't need one .

I think it's always a good idea to aim to have no epidural, and see how things go.

Lol at "refusing epidurals"...I alwyays had to scream for one.

I had one epidural birth, one with only pethadine (anethatist said I couldn't keep still long enough for him to administer epidural) and one birth with no pain relief.

It's one of those things that with hind sight you are glad or sad if you did or didn't have one, but at the time if you need one, you need one.

"Was the crowning the most painful part?! "

Yes - from crowning till she was completely out, for me that was the surprisingly painful bit, having not experienced it the first time round. Nearly leapt out of the pool when she crowned - she caught me by surprise. I kept thinking, it'll ease off any moment now... but it didn't until she was all out, at which point I felt absolutely fine. I have wondered if it would've been better if I had remembered (or been reminded) to keep trying to relax it all down there. I'd describe it as like having bulldog clips attached all round the front in a semi-circle. I don't recall it hurting much round the back.

The good thing about that kind of pain though, is that it doesn't really last for long at that level, and once it's gone it's all gone. Really makes you appreciate the absence of it of course!

I certainly wouldn't let it put me off - I'd be more than happy to give birth again with no pain relief. Also, lots of people don't have that much trouble at crowning at all. You could try perineal massage, trying to focus on being very relaxed at that point, waterbirth, those might help.

The rest of the labour felt more or less how I remembered first time.

i definiitely don't want an epidural next time. it failed on me in DS1's birth, and i had to manage the pain without ANY pain relief because for some reason they said with the epidural inserted they couldn't give me gas and air, even though it wasn't working!!! i know now this is rubbish but at the time i just had to manage. so becuase i know i can manage with nothing, and i also know when i finally got the gas and air i was fine with just that i don't see the point in an epidural. i think there are some women they just don't work for.

i think you should consider natural pain relief such as yoga breathing, that's what got me through it. i've heard hypno birthing is good too.

see how it goes, maybe you won't even feel that you need it this time - you never know. if this dc is not back to back (hopefully) it may be a lot easier?

i had epidural with my first, who was also back to back (and induced, v long labour) it was a quite difficult birth and i felt like really needed the epidural and i felt that in the future i would always want one because couldn't imagine coping without.

however ds2 i didnt have it, just gas and air and actually it was fine much much easier than expected and was so glad i never had epidural with him in the end.

i did actually ask for it as i kind of felt as though i "should" ask but i was asking quite half heartedly i think? and they didn't bring it for me as i was nearly @ the pushing stage by that time so the midwife felt it would really slow things down.

afterwards she said to me that she hoped i did not mind about not getting the epidural as i would have been there for hours more had i got it, i actually thanked her for not giving me it. and felt such a sense of accomplishment that i had him without the epidural because of how much i thought before that i would have to rely on it.

the crowning and everything was much less painful than i expected, although i was high on gas and air which i think helps a LOT otherwise probably would have hurt like hell, but overall i was so suprised how easy it was compared with my 1st and that really i did not need the epidural at all. was much quicker too so i think that makes it easier to cope though

with it being dc3 maybe yours will be quite quick? hopefully...

but if it is back to back again i would keep ur options open for an epidural because it can be really difficult, and if you feel you need it i wouldnt deny yourself. so just see how you get on?

I had an epidural with my first but with number 2 who was back to back I had no pain relief at all. I was induced and it only took 2 hours. Number 3 was back to back as well but I only had gas and air with that birth.

I had an epidural with both of mine, the second was a mobile one, so I didn't need to be monitored as closely and wouldn't have needed to stay in either.

How do you get on with gas and air - i find it just makes me throw up and I have an allergy to opiates so pethadine wasn't an option.

Wait and see how you go

I had an epidural first time and had forceps and third degree tear.

I am keen to avoid that this time so I am going to go with the "I'm not having an epidural" in my mind, although I am open to the idea.

I had an epidural with DD - ended up with a ventouse delivery and my legs in stirrups. I had several problems afterwards which eventually led to me having surgery to remove a varicose vein. All due to compression of the veins in my legs whilst in stirrups.

I decided that I would not be going through that again.

DS was a water birth with nothing more than gas and air. It was painful, but nothing more than I could handle - certainly nothing like the pain I had anticipated with DD. Crowning did sting a bit, I can't pretend it didn't, but it didn't really last that long. I could remember the pain of it for a long time, though, but I can't recall it now and he's 18 months old.

Keep your options open, though...

Being totally honest, crowning is the most painful part ime, especially if you tear with no pain relief as you'll feel it. Some people say the nerve endings are so stretched by that point that they don't feel it....hmmmm! I did!

Having said that, I did dc1 and 3 vaginally with no epidural, and I think dc3 was less painful, as the whole area has been stretched that much before. First time round your body hasn't done it before - so you should find it easier from that point of view.

I did not have an epi , and it was a great birth! the pain came from the contractions, and the gas and air helped. I was DREADING crowning and transition and to be honest I did not feel it, I felt the pushing but no burning as they say

I did have an epi with DS1

I have the 8cm rule, if you cant handle it but are close to 8cm, than hang on in there as baby is not far away

but see how it goes, good luck!

Had epidural with DS1, 30 hour labour.

DS2 - 6 hours from first contraction to giving birth. No epidural. To be honest, I found transition worse than crowning. At least with crowning, you know it ain't far away (which is what I can't cope with, are we 30 minutes away or another 12 hours away!).

Lily - i was told once that chances of having two back-to-backs are very slim (by a friend who also had 2 back-to-backs). Do you know if your dc2 is back-to-back too?

I had an epidural with DS1 but not with DS2, the second birth hurt just as much but not for as long (24hrs where DS1 was 48hrs) and also not as constantly (DS1 was back to back so no rest between contractions, DS2 wasn't).

Second experience was much more positive and I recovered a lot quicker. The crowning didn't hurt nearly as much as the contractions tbh, in fact at the pushing stage I don't really remember feeling any pain (perhaps my brain has erased it!).

I did spend the last few weeks of pregnancy trying desperately not to let the baby turn into back-to-back position -- I didn't lean back at all, bounced on my birthing ball every evening and the floors have never been so clean since!

sorry, meant to put dc3!

such an interesting thread as I'm thinking the same thing. 3rd baby due in a couple of weeks :)
I had epidural with first as it was a very long labour (baby back to back) and not much was happening - ended up with drip, epidural and nearly a c-section.
With my second I had an epidural again and I have to say it was a good decision I was really scared, tired and a new midwife came in to look after me. My thought was that with the epidural I might feel more in control I wanted to be able talk to the midwife and get to know her. So not ideal when you are in labour in an ideal world I would have known who she was. She was really lovely and managed my pain really well my second son was born in a peaceful environment just the midwife, DH and my Mum there. I bounced back really quickly and I think at the time it was the best decision on the day. However this time I'm think I know I can do this so why bother with the epidural I was thinking of a home birth but DH not keen. There is new birthing unit at my hospital with pool and think I'm going to see how I go. Hoping baby no. 3 will arrive over the next 2 wks so I'll let you know how it goes :)

I swore I wouldn't have an epidural the first time but I was in a lot of pain for so long I became completely demoralised and had one. It was wonderful and my boy was delivered in a very calm way. However, my coxix (spelling?) was damaged and I couldn't sit down properly for 2 years.

So, second time round I thought I would try without so I could give birth upright. I didn't make the decision not to have one but when it came to the point I wanted one it was too late. I knew this might happen. I gave birth kneeling up and have had no problems with my lower spine since.

The labour this time round was about the same length but bearable until the end, the bit I hadn't done before without the epidural. Oh my God it was a shock. My daughter was 9lb4oz with a big head. I was in shock for quite a while after. The bad bit lasted 40 minutes, the really bad bit was the last 11 minutes after the waters broke - with a bang.

But she was a perfect delivery.

Would I do it that way again? Yes. Listen hard to your midwife, don't panic (I did!) and all will be well.

I think is well worth trying hypnobirthing/ natal hypnotherphy. Also its worth reading up on active birth. There are ways of encouraging the baby into a good position, but nothing is guarrenteed,

With my son I had an epidural. It was a 33 hour labour and I was so tired. I don't regret it as it was the right thing. I had managed 28 hours without an epidural and it was bliss. The only thing I regret is the loss of control.

With dd I had nothing but tens and natal hypnotherphy. The labour was about 3 hours and the second stage was 3 minutes. Transition was painful, but the rest was OK. It also helped having a homebirth.

8 weeks ago I gave birth to my first baby at 36+3 I am the worlds biggest baby myself with the worlds biggest needle phobia. Yet I laboured with no pain relief whatsoever, not even gas and air! Admittedly it was fairly quick, though at the time didn't feel like it! and it wasn't through lack of trying but because of the speediness of my ds arrival I was unable to get the epidural I wanted (me ASKING for a needle...unheard of!) it all felt like one huge wave of pain but only the contractions. For me, the crowning and pushing him out was a relief almost because I was able to push against the pain