Third baby due, should I treat my self to an epidural?

[MummyPigandDaddyPig]

Third baby on the way, delivered no 1 naturally with tens and gas and air painrelief, second naturally very quick labour and again tens and gas and air. Cant say it was enjoyable but I did it. Now with my 3rd and def last baby I am toying with the idea of an epidural naivly hoping for a pain free labour at least, but maybe a bit more of an enjoyable experience. Has anyone else toyed with this idea and did you and what are the pros and cons? Happy to be shot down in flames just need to get my head around if it is a good idea or not. Thanks for any advice

It sounds like a nice idea to miss out on the pain bit the third time around but it would increase your chances of having to have more medical intervention so maybe not worth it?

I've had two vaginal births, using TENs and some G&A. I didn't enjoy it and it hurt like hell but I am now confident that if I have another, unless I'm unlucky and have a breech position or similar, that I have a good chance of it being fairly swift and strightforward. i'd be a bit nervous of trying something new when so far it all worked well (despite the ring of fire!)

Definitely treat yourself! Can't understand why anyone wouldn't

But be aware that the reality is you are more likely to have intervention (I did both times). But then I see labour as a means to an end rather than something to 'achieve' if you see what I mean...a bit like tooth extraction!

As already said, an epidural does mean that you're more likely to have intervention or complications:

You'll be asked to have CFM to monitor baby throughout.

You'll probably be confined to a bed (even with a mobile epidural you won't be able to move much more than to stand next to the bed, if at all) and staying active helps progress labour.

You'll probably have a catheter put in because you won't be able to feel when you need a wee, and a full bladder makes it hard for baby to descend.

The muscles which help to turn your baby during labour and birth don't do their job so well, which means if your baby is in a slightly odd position it will be harder for them to move into a better one (which can mean a longer or more complicated labour)

You're more likely to give birth in the lithotomy position due to lack of movement, meaning you'll be pushing against gravity - and you won't be able to follow your body's lead with pushing but will need to be told when to push.

You're more likely to need an assisted birth, and therefore more likely to need an episiotomy.

Intervention increases your chances of having a PPH or a retained placenta.

I had an epidural with DD (induced labour) and whilst the pain relief at the time was lovely, I had pretty much all of the above complications that then went with it. I wouldn't have another epidural unless it was absolutely medically necessary. I would sooner have the pain at the time and then it be over, than to have a pain free labour but all of the increased risks that go with it. The only risks on the consent form were things like back pain and headaches, none of the things I've mentioned there.

My experience was almost exactly the same as Flissflaps for DD1. Second time I was adamant no epidural - and it was a much better experience. By all means give it a whirl, but I don't think that there are any 'treats' with labour sadly!

I went down the epidural route with my DD. I had always planned to and so had one within about half an hour of arriving in hospital, at about 5cm dilated. I found it great - got to relax after a long latent labour, instant pain relief, I didn't have too much trouble working out when to push thanks to good midwife coaching and a "click to top up epidural" so in the pushing stage I could let it wear off (by then too excited and overwhelmed to feel as much pain). I needed a ventouse at the end, but only to turn baby's head and shoulders round, not to haul her out. All in all I would recommend. I am a massive coward as far as pain is concerned!

God no. Third baby practically falls out with a good sneeze in my experience, why would you want a catheter up your hoo-ha and a needle in your spine, and a labour twice as long as it needs to be?

Had a mobile epidural on recommendation with Ds2. In all honesty, it was still pretty uncomfortable and I couldn't really see the benefit ( kept telling DH it wasn't working).
I would prioritise a faster recovery over the pain relief with two ciphildren already.

This is where you get the best info on epidurals www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk/assets/_managed/editor/File/Info%20for%20Mothers/PR_leaflets/2009_ed3_oct_oaa_pain_labour.pdf It is from the Obstetrics anaesthetists association.

I had the best ever experience with an epidural and for second babies the chance of instrumental deliveries is very very low. Overall the chance of instrumental delivery with epidural is 14% and without its 7% but most of that risk is first babies.

Lots of people 'blame' epidurals for instrumental deliveries but how do they know? In fact with modern epidurals the increased intervention evidence is very flaky. It is definite that more women who have epidurals have instrumental deliveries but that does not mean the epidurals cause them.

If you ask for an epidural you are probably in a lot of pain and have got problems anyway. I begged for an epidural for my first birth (total agony) didn't get it and still ended up with an instrumental delivery. One of the midwives who looked after me early in labour saw me later and said it was because of the epidural. I pointed out I didn't get it!

Read up all about epidurals for a later birth, got it early (that's important) and gave birth upright (also important). Had to threaten a formal complaint to get the epidural as midwives were very anti but it was a small price to pay for the best experience ever. A proper 21st century birth where we could both enjoy the baby without feeling shellshocked, traumatised and like we had been subjected to a medieval torture chamber.

Hope you get your epi and have a truly wonderful birth and one you can treasure!

Thank you for all the advice and help, I am slowly getting my head around it! MN is very very useful for these kind of things! THank you everyone!

This may help as well - written by a woman doctor and mum where she also reviews a book about epidurals.

medicine-science.com/childbirth-without-pain-are-epidurals-the-answer/

■Not providing adequate pain relief is inhumane.
■A large percentage of women who attempt childbirth without medication find the pain intolerable and end up asking for relief.
■Pain should be treated early, ideally before it even develops. The dentist doesn?t wait to inject Novocain until you feel the pain and complain.
■Excellent pain relief can be provided by epidurals with a high degree of safety. No other method is as good.
■There is no justification for outdated practices of delaying epidurals until cervical dilation is advanced or for stopping the epidural during the last stages of labor.
■Non-epidural analgesia is arguably less safe than epidurals.
■Many safety objections to epidurals are based on outdated information about older techniques. New epidural/spinal techniques use a combination of low-dose anesthetics and narcotics to abolish pain without interfering with muscle function. They do not prolong labor or increase the need for instrument-assisted deliveries, and they allow patients to control the dose and to get up out of bed and walk around.
■Epidural catheters can be left in place to better treat post-partum pain.
■If an emergency C-section becomes necessary, having an epidural in place can speed the preparations for surgery.
■Current data indicate that epidurals may actually speed up labor and have other health advantages