Could I lose teeth from being in labour?

[knittiekitty]

This probably sounds so irrational but it has been worrying me and I can't find an answer.

Like my sis and mum I was lucky to whizz through early labour and was offered a 'now or never' epidural after my first contraction. That one contraction really scared me. Not the pain but the way my teeth clenched so tight without me being able to control it. I truly thought that I would lose all my teeth and was so relieved by the instant effect of the epi. But the epi was used by the jokey midwife and her student (like being in a stand-up act at times) as an explanation for my labour slowing right down. Nearly 5 hours later the consultant discovered that my dd's shoulder was stuck fast (dystocia) and we were so lucky that dd wasn't hurt. The consultant and his team had go at the midwife in front of us for not picking it up, it was a horrible birth experience.

I've just about worked through the trauma of it all but feel haunted at the memory of my involunary jaw clamping as it was so extreme. Can your teeth/jaw be damaged by labour? I don't want another epi but how could stop my jaw from doing its own thing without such pain relief?

Gum shield?

I actually hadn't thought of that - like a rugby player!! Not sure I could puff through one but I don't see many (any) toothless mums out there so perhaps that's the secret?!

I chewed right through the G&A mouthpiece but my teeth are very strong. My friend just had a baby and needed dental treatment after biting down too hard on the G&A. A gum shield might help but I guess you'd have to try it and see if it interfered with your breathing.

The vast majority of people don'yt lose teeth during labour, you are being a little bit irrational.

I stole the mouthpiece from the gas and air as I found biting down on something the best way of managing the pain. After I had finished with it, it looked like a prize pit bull had, had it and I still have all my teeth!

I didn't get chance to have a go with G&A, maybe that mouthpiece would have helped. The clenching felt so out of my control. It isn't mentioned in the books I read to prepare so I thought it was me being odd.

Gas and Air rocks! You gotta try it! DH says its a bit like being stoned. I wouldn't know stoned but it was GOOOOOOOOD!

I clamped my mouth so hard I chipped a tooth and needed my brace re set. Im using a mouthguard this time I think!!