Who went without epidural second time after having one first time?

[AmIGoingMad]

Just wondering really. I'm 37+2 now so thoughts of labour are pretty much constantly on my mind in a 'wish I could avoid it/let's get it done' now kind of way!

I was induced with DS and when I told the midwife I'd probably want an epidural she said I might as well have it now as it would be easier (I was 3cm). I agreed and really feel that I had it far too early and caused things to go a bit mad including the 3rd degree tear.

I'm wondering if those who had one the first time around but not the second regretted not having it or found it a better experience?

Being an anesthetic I was totally open to having one, intact tbh probably had planned to have one again second time but it was so fast there just wasn't time. Regular contractions started at 22:30. put TENS on at 22:55, got to hospital 23:50, examined at midnight & 8 cm, DD2 in my arms at 01:00.

An entirely different experience. Yes it was horribly painful bit I am glad to have experienced it. The urge to push is quite overwhelming and the sensation of her head coming out well unique!

I think you have to see how you feel & how your labour progresses. good luck

Thanks for your reply! I think I've just hit the 'oh my God. How am I going to do it again?' stage!

I had epidural for ds1 & 2. I wanted one then for dd but she came too quick.
I was terrified at the thought of no epidural but I felt more in control without it and felt better afterwards.

I had epidurals with DS1, DS2.
Then DS3 was induced and I just had gas and air, DS4 &DS5 were home births with some gas and air.
You can do it! Just knowing what to expect is a big help, so is remembering that the whole thing is finite and has a lovely result!
Good luck

No labour is ever like the last one! IME

1st - everything awful over 36 hours (back-to-back baby, forceps, tear, epi etc etc) 5 days in hospital...

2nd - nearly had her on the dining room floor as I had no experience of 'proper' labour and thought I had hours and hours... All good, no assistance at all. Made it to hospital with 25 mins to spare.

3rd - induced, not nice, but v v quick again - and no assistance.

Good luck!

had dd2 and dd3 without epidural (dd1 was out to finish me off with my blood pressure :) so it was necesary but slowed things waaaaaay down) decided i didnt want to be confined to a bed, as with dd1 my progression was excellent whilst mobile. dd2 was 5 hours and dd3 was 2.5 instead of 19 with dd1. It is horrific. there are no lies you can tell that will convince you otherwise and you will have very painful thoughts of not being able to do it when you ARE doing it, but to be really blunt, you can do it because you have to lol. and you'll do it so well it will be all you will want to talk about. I had three without any cuts/rips/tears. 1st was tiny and i was lucky but i honestly think dd2/3 were down to being able to move and liste n to my midwife about getting in the best position. You can do it. GOOD LUCK!

Me. Induction with the drip, and epidural with DC1.

DC2 was induced by ARM. When they broke my waters I was 4cm. It got very painful, very quickly. After 45 minutes I was starting to panic, thinking that the pain was getting too much but that if they checked me and I was still 4cm I'd give in and have an epidural and I really wanted to avoid that.
The MW happened to be in the room when I had 2 contractions on top of each other and commented on it. I felt like I could push, but I didn't really know what it was meant to feel like because I'd had an epidural for my first birth. I told her and she rolled her eyes and told me to get on the bed and she'd examine me. She turned around after putting her gloves on and said "Oh, I can see the head!"

Waters were broken at 5pm. DD was born at 6.21pm with no time for any pain relief! It was the best birth ever.

Thanks so much for your replies!

I think I'm just going to have to see how I do and make decisions as I go along. Aargh! I'll do it. It'll be ok. Etc etc...

Trust your body. If you don't have an epidural and you feel like you need to push, you probably do!

A bit of a different reply as I had epidurals with both, the first was a horrible experience, like you had it early and had a horrific labour as ds became distressed and had the cord round his neck, I had a dreadful tear, then the placenta wouldn't deliver, my blood pressure was through the roof - all in all not a nice labour story.

When I had dd I had an epidural, and had a lovely labour, I was cut, so avoided the dreadful tear, I was much calmer and there were none of the complications I experienced with ds.

I suppose what I'm trying to say, is don't rule an epidural out, as every labour is different.

Good luck!

Had epidural with DS1, total labour was 30 hours and I'd just got to the point where I couldn't cope and was exhausted.

I was open to an epidural second time around.

With DS2, first contraction at 11pm. He was born at 5am the following morning. The contractions were much stronger and from 4am, I was asking for an epidural again. I had pethidine instead and was waiting until 6am to decide whether to have an epidural. DS2 decided to make an appearance first! I'm very appreciative that my mum at the time just kept saying "decide at 6am, give it until then". She said since she knew I was close.

In hindsight, it was right the first time, not the second. The after effects of not having an epidural were so nice. Being able to shower soon after the birth and walk around and I just felt so much better afterwards.

I'm expecting DS3 in August. I'm open to it, but I will try not to have one.

These replies are so helpful in getting my head around this. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!

I had an epidural with DD1 and then went to an MLU for DD2, where there was only gas and the pool. Having not felt the worst of labour or birth, I was scared as I didn't know how high (or low) my pain threshold was.

I chose the epidural with DD1 as I had to be continuously monitored, and the monitor was crap and fell off unless I was laid on my back. I was coping with contractions by marching through them and being pinned to the bed made it much more painful, slowed it all down and I felt I was losing control. Unfortunately my labour slowed down further after the epidural and I needed a drip, which sent DD1s heart rate haywire. I pushed for nearly an hour because I couldn't feel what I was doing and I suspect the out of control pushing caused the 2nd degree tear.

DD2 was born in the pool without even G&A, it was a great birth and my body did it. No tears or stitches, and as others have said, such a quick recovery. Having felt giving birth I really want to do it again, it was amazing (not sure I want another child though ...)

I don't regret my epidural for DD1, as without it I was scared and it made me feel in control again, so was the best thing I could have done. But I'm thrilled I did it without second time round

Oh, forgot to say, good luck with DC2 - do what you have to do and it'll work out

Agree about trusting your body. Had epi with first and only G and A with second. Second birth much quicker as a result. Yes it hurts but positive thinking is good. Panicking creates adrenalin which negates oxytocin. or something like that. I did a pregnancy yoga class which helped.

I wanted to experience labour as nature intended which is why I went for it. Glad I did it but the help exists for a reason so agree you can always ask for drugs if you can't cope. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Zuleika that's exactly it- as I've never felt the worst of it, I don't know if I could cope with it and then I'm worried that I won't know I can't cope until its too late to have epidural anyway!

I had a epidural with the first birth and just gas and air with the second and as a result would never choose to have an epidural.

Epidural - I had high blood pressure and induced so was advised to have the epidural and wasn't really given a choice about it. Unfortunately the epidural was topped up just before my daughter arrived and I couldn't feel a thing. It is very difficult to push when you can't even feel the contractions. Baby became distressed and a forceps delivery was threatened. Fortunately that did the trick and I pushed like mad to get her out before the doctor arrived. I was still very numb when I got back to the ward and couldn't even walk to the loo let alone have a bath or look after my new baby. It was horrible and I felt very vulnerable and out of control. Obviously this won't be the experience of most women who have epidurals, but I hated it.

Non epidural - Like I said before, I just had gas and air and had a much happier time. Yes it was painful, but nothing that I couldn't cope with and I'm a complete wimp where pain is concerned. It was actually lovely to be able to feel the contractions and listen to what my body was telling me. I know that sounds a bit precious, but that's the only way I can describe it. I could get up and have a bath almost as soon as my daughter was born and felt wonderful and in control of my own body.

I want to add that I have no strong feelings about having to experience a "natural" labour and believe that having a healthy baby at the end is the important thing, so no axe to grind about this subject. Hope all goes well with baby 2.

Thanks fireside!

It sounds like your first was similar to my experience. I too am a total wimp when it comes to pain and that's why I've been worrying about giving it a try without. Somewhere in the back of my mind I feel like I might find it a better experience if I do try though. I'm driving myself crazy at the moment!

Me!

Epidural with #1 after about 36hrs of labour (going nowhere). Was too tired to even think straight by that point, so the epi gave me a very much needed chance to doze and regain my strength before pushing. Didn't regret it: I recovered pretty quickly from it.

#2 was a straightforward birth, although also pretty long (about 24hrs total, 12 in hospital). I didn't have any drugs. It was painful, but just about bearable, and I'm proud that I did it (again, no axe to grind, but for me it was important to do it without drugs to assert my confidence in my body (for various non-baby related reasons)). Have to say, the immediate post-labour period was worse with no drugs in my system: I got really bad shakes, felt sick etc for maybe 10/15mins right after delivery which I don't remember with #1. But I was back to normal pretty much after that which was great.

You can't decide now. Just decide to decide on the day :)

I did.

Dd was an induction. It was all too much too quick and I was in the worst position with constant monitoring.

Decided to go for MLU with DS. Epidural was 20 mins away at the main delivery unit!

I really didn't need one. It was sore and hard work but I was in the pool which was the best best best thing! (Did I mention it was the best?!) I could get in just the right position and rock through the cx's. I felt really uncomfortable on dry land, as soon as I got in I had an immediate Amazon like feeling that I could cope fine.

Good luck.

Thank you!

I really think I want to try without and the water birth is something that I'm interested in. Only thing is that after the complications last time I have to go to the hospital not the mlu and they only have one pool there.

DS1 - labour seemed to go on for ever, and then he got stuck. I was exhausted and on the point of packing up and going home and eventually had an epidural. It was wonderful, but not without issues...my bp dropped, baby's heartbeat dropped...it almost ended in a crash cs, but eventually with the aid of forceps DS1 arrived. I had an episiotomy, but recovered well.

2 years later DS2....and I begam to remember the trauma of the last time round. I wanted an epidural. Asked for it repeatedly, but didn't get one. Just gas and air, and actually it was the right decision. He arrived within 3 hours of established labour, and all was fine. I was just terrified of the long drawn out painful experience the first time round repeating itself - the MW's decision was right.

Good luck.

Thank you! That's what's worrying me- starting off and then the trauma of last time messing with my mind! Also the thought of wanting an epidural and not getting it scares me too- which is probably why I ended up having one far too early last time.