What's the bottom line - is giving birth without chemical pain relief manageable? Yes or No!

[Baretoes]

If you could answer either 'yes' or 'no' ONLY - what would your answer be?

[lulumama]

really interesting site about birth

[Blu]

I got as far as 3 hours of pushing without feeling the slightest need for anything beyond my TENS, pool and breathing that sounded like broken bellows...heeeerrrrrrr....haaaaaaarrrgh...heeeergh etc etc. I honestly didn't find it 'painful'. Hard work, all encompassing, yes, but not painful.

But DS was stuck, and OP, and by that time I insisted on an epidural for the ventouse delivery. But that was because being on my back made me feel out of control, panic, and lose my self-induced high-as-a-kite endorphined-up state. In fact the mws were telling me I would manage ok if I tried G&A...but I wasn't in the mood by then.

And that was my first / only birth.

[Ellbell]

Yes (in my experience... with dd2; but dd1 was elective section, so dd2 was first labour)

[NomDePlume]

That thread is interesting.

My first birth was absolutely fine. Yes, it hurt and yes there were a few tmes where I felt out of control, but it was quick (3hrs start to finish) with no intervention/pain relief, in an NHS hospital and both DD and I were perfectly fine and dandy to go home the same day.

[NomDePlume]

I tried a puff of G&A but it did nothing for me. The most effective thing I found was being MOBILE. I HAD to keep moving, it really helped me to manage the pain.

[tortoiseshell]

for me, ds1 - begged for an epidural, having got to 7cm with no pain relief at all (due to cr*ppy student mw saying I wasn't in labour and not letting me go to labour ward...!!!). Don't think I could have managed pain tbh - was posterior presentation, and he got into distress and had blood tests from his scalp on the way out etc.

Dd and ds2 - both home births, both 10lb+, both NO pain relief at all, and no stitches. So I would say it IS manageable, but maybe more difficult for a first labour.

[kimi]

yes (twice)

[motherinferior]

Fear may make pain worse, but frankly it's physiology that makes childbirth painful in the first place. Please oh please don't rule anything off limits. You'll only feel - idiotically - that you've 'failed' if you do opt for chemical pain relief.

[Rhubarb]

Yes.

I had a hospital birth with dd and epidural, very painful very frightening, one of the worst experiences of my life.

Had home birth with ds using just gas and air, not scary at all really and less painful. I don't think you can describe it as pain per se, your body goes into a completely different mode, it takes over from your brain and your brain goes into shock, this makes it painful imo.

[morningpaper]

yes MI I agree

I didn't mean to imply that fear made the pain worse

I mean that, by the time the pain gets horrendous for you (if it does) then it would be better to have some chemical relief rather than curl up in terror, which won't help labour progress

My first birth was unbelieable unmentionable pain for 17 hours of 2-minute apart contractions followed by a 10-hour series of failed epidurals until I was screaming and begging everyone for help and the baby was delivered before I had fully dilated on account of my hysteria

(Just thought I should counter-balance all the hippies)

Second birth was ok except I slipped a disc and had to be wheeled out in a wheelchair

swings and roundabouts

[Bugsy2]

yes! Has to be yes, women managed for years. Doesn't mean it is fun or a barrel of laughs, but it is manageable in the sense that it can be done.

[Baretoes]

Gosh what a load of replies - thanks ladies! Thanks also for the useful links. I'm not ruling anything out but want it to be a bonus rather than in my mind - the only way to stay alive during the whole thing!

[motherinferior]

Well, yes, the majority of women have survived childbirth. But then most cultures don't like women very much, and see pain in labour as nothing more than we deserve.

[juuule]

Yes.

[greedyguzzler]

yes you can do it! i say, do everything they recommend in the antenatal classes if you have been to any. esp. NCT ones. they know what they are talking about and by trying my hardest to do everything they suggested it worked for me, twice so far!
GOOD LUCK whenever it happens!

[PinkTinsel]

yes, did it twice. piece of piss (ducks and runs for cover)

seriously though, as long as you stay calm, embrace each contraction as one step closer to the end, breathe deeply and remember that things can go wrong and it's not your fault you'll be fine

[TeeCee]

YES

[morningpaper]

why do you WANT to give birth without pain relief?

it really isn't a competition

don't set yourself up for failure - you will feel shit if you end up having a c-section if you think this way

just focus on the yummy scrummy baby who will ruin your life afterwards

I mean bring you blessings beyond measure etc

[Baretoes]

I know it's not a competition and I'm really not against medical intervention if it's required. After all, the safety of me and bubs is the main thing. There are implications for both the baby and the mother with all of the available drugs, which is why I want them to be a last resort where possible. I know what will be will be.

[katyjo]

Baretoes don't worry about your labour too much, I know that sounds rediculous but it isn't really important after the event how your little bubs came into the world, just that they are here and safe.
Try to keep and open mind about drugs, if you need them take them, they wouldn't use them if they could badly affect you or your child and the dr/midwife isn't going to force them on you, in fact mine talked me out of pethidine (baby was nearly out) and I just had g&a but it wouldn't have made a bit of difference to the way I felt about my labour (apart from being a bit groggy I suppose), but it certainly helped me through my labour knowing I could have something the minute I needed it.
I find it difficult to put into words, but you will soon have your little baby and labour is such a small part of that, I am sure you'll be fine and you are going to have a wonderful experience no matter what choices you decide to make concerning pain relief.
Good luck, I look forward to hearing your news. XX

P.s. Yes, it is possible for years women gave birth with no pain relief at all and still do, but it is not necessary to suffer as pain relief is now avaliable!

[blueshoes]

baretoes, even if the pain was manageable, you could also be utterly exhausted from a labour that is taking a long time to progress with no end in sight.

My contractions (induced) felt like seizures/electric shocks coming every minute. I was almost grateful for the em cs (distressed baby).

[Enid]

yes

[Panyanpickle77]

Yes (but that only counts for me, as I can't and won't say how other women manage there labour, it is a very personal choice)

[morningpaper]

katyjo is right - worrying about labour in the context of having a newborn is a bit like climbing a mountain and stressing about the bus journey getting there

once you hold your baby you are taking just the first step on that mountain

the bus journey ain't that important