Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

epidural or nothing?

44 replies

steff1stbabysep06 · 16/08/2006 18:16

hi i am looking for some advice on Epidurals...i live in Spain where here the pain relief options are epidural or nothing.i am 38 weeks pregnant so could drop any day really and im so confused.would you say it is something you will automatically know when you go into labour..whether you want it or not? im worried i will say yes and regret it and again i am worried i will say no and spend the rest of the labour majorly regretting it wishing id taken the option while i could as they say it will not be administered after 5cm dilation?how can you decide before then because surely you dont know how much worse its going to get?im 21 so people say oooh your young and able you wont need it and my mum who lives in the uk had a bad experience with one and has put me off.I am just so confused as dont know what to expect....i think i would be more inclined to say no if there was gas and air, pethidine etc as options...peoples views on epidurals pleeeeease! thanks

OP posts:

pupuce · 16/08/2006 18:21

Most people would say that they ask for an epidural when they are scared of the pain..... fear is the number 1 reason given !
If you think you can't tolerate the pain then maybe it is for you. Most people who are well cared for in labour (continuous care by someone who cares and has your best interest at heart... and isn't scared themselves) usually means you can cope without the epidural... but everyone is different!

Quootiepie · 16/08/2006 18:25

I thought id refuse one... I didnt want one, but I soon changed my mind! Some people in beds around me decided too late they wanted one, so they went through all that pain"for nothing", or they were too late. You'll know I think. I did! im 20 BTW... and I think I had it at 2cm? but I was being induced.

belgo · 16/08/2006 18:29

I also live outside the UK, and had no options except epidural or nothing. But it wasn't really nothing: Can you hire a TENS machine in Spain? Back massage realy helps with labour (at least it did with me), and a birthing pool /bath/shower may help as well. It's a lot to do with state of mind and how well you feel supported.

Piffle · 16/08/2006 18:30

I had both my babies without pain relief, active labour helped, keeping upright
Good luck xxx

Joolstoo · 16/08/2006 18:31

epidural for me (i had 2 out of 3)

you might be different

Lua · 16/08/2006 18:33

I agree with fear is the main reason for asking for epidural... If you don't know hat is happening you loose control, and everything sees much more painful.
With my first I was adamant aginst it, and was very smug to get through without it .
Then, with the second I had some complications, and had all kind of monitoring devices attached to me, and felt completely defeated. I quickly asked for an epidural, even though I swear I never would [learned not to be so smug!]. However, by the time the plasticky thing was in (the canula) and I was going to get the actual drugs, Baby crowned and was born right after. Have to say, the only thing that hurt the next day was the whole in my back they made for the epidural!

pepsi · 16/08/2006 18:34

I had my first with epidural and my second without and would definately advise going without epidural if you possibly can because you feel so much better afterwards not having had it. However, not everyone has a straightforward birth so sometimes its not that easy a choice. My first was hard and very long 36 hours so I in the end I would have taken anything. My dd was all over and done with in a few hours and yes it hurt like hell but I was so very proud of myself for having done it by myself.

RubyRioja · 16/08/2006 18:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

morningpaper · 16/08/2006 18:36

I think you won't know until you've been in labour for a while.

Either way, you will be fine. Try not to worry too much.

RubyRioja · 16/08/2006 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

morningpaper · 16/08/2006 18:39

But you might be desperate at 2 cm.

koshka1984 · 16/08/2006 18:39

Im 22 and i was induced and when i had my waters broken i was so upset about how much that hurt i was convinced i couldnt go through with the whole thing. The miricle midwife offered an epidural and ensured me that it was in NO WAY a cop-out!
When i had it i was relaxed, painfree and waited the 9 hours it took the drip to work.

Just make sure the midwife knows you may want one.

chocybickie · 16/08/2006 18:40

I had both mine (one induced and one natural) with gas and air.
If I knew that gas and air wasn't an option I would go natural as I liked knowing what my body was doing.
But I have no experience with epidurals and both my labours (although long) were considered easy.
Would waiting till you were 5cm be an option?

RubyRioja · 16/08/2006 18:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jacsmum · 16/08/2006 18:42

I can't think of any reason not to have one - feels lovely when you have it, goes away immediately afterwards, puts an end to complete agony, means you can genuinely enjoy childbirth. Anaesthetists are my favourite people . There's no need to endure extreme pain to have a baby, no reason to feel proud of yourself for doing so.

Joolstoo · 16/08/2006 18:47

I had no problems afterwards either, just had the usual kip then I was right as ninepence (well as much as you can be after delivery!)

It was in the 70's too and I'm sure they're much better at it nowadays!

mears · 16/08/2006 18:54

Are you sure about the 5cm things? Sounds strange.

Massage, moving around, leaning over, using bath can all help. Epidurals can cause more problems than they solve - longer labours, more likely to need forceps/ventouse.

They can be good for prolonged labours and that is why I think you should check out the 5cm cut-off. Doesn't sound right.

flowertot · 16/08/2006 19:06

I had an epidural at 9cm when things went a bit pear shaped. UK admittedly but don't know where the 5cm cut off came from

sparklemagic · 16/08/2006 19:23

steff, I wouldn't worry; I think you will know without a doubt, when the time comes; for a first baby it usually takes a while of being in labour to get to 5 cms dilation; you will simply know whether it's bearable or not so I wouldn't agonise now; if you are dilating well and get to 5 cms still coping, then I bet you will go all the way without one.

for instance, with me it was about 36 hours of intense, painful labour before I was 5 cms dilated and guess what, I had a pretty clear idea that I wanted an epidural!

Don't stress about it, have faith in yourself and your body - you will KNOW what to do when the time comes. good luck!

sparklemagic · 16/08/2006 19:27

can't resist adding that (after unfortunate bungled attempts to get in the epidural and the calling in of the consultant to do the job!) the moment when my epidural kicked in still lives in my mind as one of the BEST moments of my life!!!! Of course I had a baby, which was very nice and all, but the EPIDURAL!!! AAAH! BLISS!!!!!

kittywits · 16/08/2006 19:41

first baby was with epidural and ended up em section. I was too scared of the pain and didn't stand a chance. The other births have been without any form of pain relief. I'm very proud of those births, for me it is better not to have an epidural if you can find strentgh within to do that

Ponka · 16/08/2006 19:52

My hospital told me not after 7/8 cm (in England though). I really honestly think that the best thing you can do is have a good think about what you might want but keep an open mind and don't rule anything out until you get there.

You could say that I had a pretty bad experience with an epidural with DS2 ( I won't go into the details. There's no point) so I wouldn't have one again but even though I had a tough time, it's forgotten about now and I have a lovely baby.

Just do your research and keep an open mind. Did you know, for example, that having an epidural does increase your chances of having an assisted delivery?

Jalexandra · 16/08/2006 19:55

The only goal in childbirth is to have a healthy baby. It really doesn't matter if you do or don't need pain relief. Its impossible to plan anyway as every labour is different. Don't worry you will be fine.

pupuce · 16/08/2006 20:14

Jalexandra... " The only goal in childbirth is to have a healthy baby."
Sorry but I so disagree... why do you think 11.000 women a year in the UK are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from giving birth (and many more go undiagnosed)! And these are women who had natural, medicalised and ceasareans !!!
Bad births (PSTDS from birth) is the single highest cause of suicide in women having a baby below 1 year old !
There are at least 2 associations that deal with this voluntarily it is that not rare and we have mumsnetters who have suffered from it too!
Healthy baby and VERY importantly healthy/happy mummy!

Being given an epidural against your wish (it does happen!) or being refused one can traumatise women..... you'd be amazed

pupuce · 16/08/2006 20:15

Ponka- I would have thought that epidurals (because your are now forced on your back) also increae your chances of tearing or an episiotomy... Having said that Spain is a scisor happy nation

Flip

1 2