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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Has any one had an epidural that was NOT followed by interventions?

106 replies

DivaSkyChick · 26/02/2007 14:30

My family keeps telling me that there are no bravery points for tolerating the pain, to just go for the epidural. But from what I've read, it seems like epis lead to cutting and finally forceps or ventouse. Is it really "a = b+c" ?

Anyone have GREAT epidural stories?

OP posts:

wotsits · 26/02/2007 14:51

I had an epidural and normal vaginal delivery. When the epidural "took" the second time it was bliss (the first time, it was only working down one side). I managed to snooze a bit. I was induced because there was meconium in the waters. Drip started at 2 pm, first epidural at 3, second (successful) epidural at 7pm, started pushing at 11.30 pm and delivered at 1 am. No episiotomy, just a second degree tear which was stitched up within an hour. My legs weren't numb either - went for a shower by myself 3 hours after DD was born once I showed the MWs I could walk around alright.

Good luck, whatever you decide

madmarchhare · 26/02/2007 14:53

Three of my friends have.

ThisFrogIsGonnaWhoopYouAss · 26/02/2007 14:56

First pregnancy:epidural, ventouse, foreceps, large episiotomy (although worth pointing out that DS1 was back-to-back, and weighed 10 pounds) 2nd pregnancy - natural delivery with only a teeny tear. BUT I was much more active during the second delivery, and remained upright for most of it.

twelveyeargap · 26/02/2007 14:57

Yes, epidural due to long, painful OP labour. Normal delivery, lying on side, rather than back, for additional ability to bear down.

twelveyeargap · 26/02/2007 14:58

That was 12 years ago btw, so not a "mobile epidural". Expect they're better now.

lucy5 · 26/02/2007 15:00

Yes my first epidural was fine, no cutting, vaccuming etc. Infact it was the best thing I ever did. I ended up having a c-section with my second child but that had nothing to do with the epidural. My advice is play it by ear and see how you feel on the day. It's much easier if you are flexble. I think it is easier afterwards too, if you make a decision that you don't want an epidural and then have one, you might have to get your head round it.

MrsCurly · 26/02/2007 15:03

Yes.

I had an epiduaral with my first-born, at the end of a very, very, very long labour, and after being stuck at 4cm for about ten hours. Three hours after having syntoxin plus the epidural, baby was born with no intervention. I had a second degree tear, which was not too uncomfortable and healed very quickly.

The epidual was fantastic. I was so knackered by then, and suddenly was so comfortable, lying back having a lovely natter with the midwife.

daisy1999 · 26/02/2007 15:07

I would go for epidural every time. No intervention, normal twin delivery, no pain.

jeangenie · 26/02/2007 15:11

I had a mobile one, was fine at the time and I had no other interventions as a result. However one of my legs completely froze and as a result all of the pushing was borne down through the other, so to speak, this caused some damage to my sacro-iliac region that none of the medics has been able to categorise satisfactorily and 4.5years on I still can't do sports as I used do or much around the house . It hurts constantly.

the labour was long and ardous though and I honestly don't know what else I could have done, DD1 was back to back

second time round I went for a home birth specifically to avoid being near the option of an epidural, as I think there is probably a point in most labours when the pain is so intense you think I don't care what I just need it gone and I worried I would ask for one at that point

my plan worked and I had DD2 at home and did the whole shebang with no painrelief at all (other than a birth pool which was absolutely fabulous)

but, every labour is different and while you can plan not to use pain relief if your labour is very long and tricky you may have to rethink things. DD1 was over 24hours, DD2 was 3.5 hours...

my advice would be to keep an open mind about it in advance...if you do use an epidural just be careful about all the pressure at the pushing stage being equal on both sides of your body and if you do end up with ventouse or forceps that might not be the end of the world either as long as you and baby are well..

(hope this post makes a modicum of sense at least, I am working and don't have time for the sanity scanner)

tearinghairout · 26/02/2007 15:18

You have to make the decision for yourself, not your family. It sounds as if an epidural isn't your fist choice - you must go with your gut instinct for what's right for YOU. I agree with Lucy, to be flexible. Get as much info as you can, make your plan, but be prepared to act on the midwife's advice at the birth.

I had wanted 'natural' but was advised to have an epi & injections for my twins' sake. I'd been in (painless) labour for a long time & they were tiring. It wasn't how I wanted the birth, but I'm glad I listened to the advice.

Good luck.

PrettyCandles · 26/02/2007 15:18

We had to fight very hard not to have lots of intervention as a result of the epidural. I had a drip and a catheter, which I could accept, but then the midwife turned around with the crotchet hook in her hand saying "I'm just going to break your waters." No you blooody well are not! I practically crossed my legs I was so determined. And she wanted to give me a syntocinon drip to speed me up! Until that point nobody had even suggested that I was going too slowly. I had asked for the epidural as I had been going for 36h with strong, regular, frequent contractions and I was exhausted. She wanted to start interventions without having even examined me. I had been at 3cm for some hours, but, as I said, nobody had been at all concerned by this (other than me). In the end I birthed ds1 without any further interventions, having gone from 3cm to fully dilated in about 2 hours without her bloody drip. Thnak goodness I hadn't let her poke me. But we did have to fight very hard for this. I think it was probably more about the midwife herself than anything else, as she was very inflexible in all ways, and not supportive of my needs or choices.

Original poster

DivaSkyChick · 26/02/2007 16:02

Thanks for the replies. I don't mind going painless, I would LOVE it. It's the interventions that I do not want.

PrettyCandles, you are spot-on. I will fight for my right not to be hooked, dripped, forceped or vacuumed.

Seriously, nothing scares me more than the ventouse. Based on no more than seeing the various devices and how they work on an episode of pregnancy and birth on the baby channel, I would rather get a section! I'm sure that sounds pretty ignorant and gee, having never given birth I guess I am, but my fear is my fear and it's bordering on terror.

Am I alone on that?

OP posts:

jeangenie · 26/02/2007 16:07

try not to get too hung up on any one aspect of labour or possible outcomes...labour can be a very unpredictable business and no matter how you feel in advance I think you need an open mind and the ability to react (in an informed fashion of course) to whatever it may throw at you without beating yourself about it afterwards, iyswim

when are you due?

Original poster

DivaSkyChick · 26/02/2007 16:13

Not til end July, can you believe how much I'm stressing already????

OP posts:

Emskilou · 26/02/2007 16:16

With my dd (first baby) I ghad an epidural with no intervention or tears, with ds I didnt have an epidural when I asked for it (and I was upright and active for most of the labour btw), so then had failed forceps (after a spinal) then emergency cs that went a bit tits up when they cut a main artery all's well now though!!

fennel · 26/02/2007 16:17

my crummy epidural with dd2 (5 hours between requesting it and successful pain relief - 3 hours waiting for dr, and 3 failed attempts) did at least end in a "natural" pain-free birth. That bit was good.

But I didn't choose it the next time, at least gas and air works as soon as you need it.

NotanOtter · 26/02/2007 16:20

i do
after four natural deliveries i did number 5 the 'clever way'
AMAZING
no fuss amazing delivery chilled out laid back happy child- recommend it. Dont see a down side!

Hanifah · 26/02/2007 16:28

Im a first timer myself and planning on having gas and air alone but realistically i might end up getting the epidural. My mum keeps saying get the ep and ull be fine (she never had it with us) BUT my best friend whos had FIVE kids...and 5 epidurals...says it depends on the birth, sumtimes it only works one side, sometimes they top it up and its great, sometimes they let it wear off and u feel the full impact, sometimes it slows labor and sometimes its great...either way shes had it each time...like a lot of people i think,who cares about the risks and ur plans when u are in agony...but the forceps thing scares the hell out of me 2

kks · 26/02/2007 16:42

I had an open mind and never said i didn't want one. Then when the time come i was sooo much pain i was like give it to me now. Its easy to say you don't want one when your not in pain. I am still completly tromertised by my babys birth

Original poster

DivaSkyChick · 26/02/2007 16:48

KKS, I'm so sorry to hear you had such a bad time! Was it primarily due to the pain? Was there more to it? (Sorry if I'm being nosy)

OP posts:

morningpaper · 26/02/2007 16:51

I had an epidural with baby1 which didn't really work - it paralysed me but I still felt the pain. I had five top-ups but it still didn't work. I had an episiotomy but that's all - and an episiotomy I found 100 times more pleasant and easy to deal with than the tear I had with baby2 - didn't really notice it afterwards.

tortoiseSHELL · 26/02/2007 16:53

With ds1 I had an epidural, and no interventions, although all the way through they were threatening C/S and ventouse, because ds1 was having late decelerations and was posterior position. But he came out ok. I had 2nd degree tear and stitches.

I had dd and ds2 at home (both over 10lbs) and didn't have anything - it did hurt like hell, but was for me a more 'real' experience than ds1 had been.

lazyline · 26/02/2007 16:55

I had an epidural because I needed a drip to move me along. But all normal after that.

tortoiseSHELL · 26/02/2007 16:55

I think if you want to go without one and you're in hospital then you need to realise beforehand that when you hit transition you may be begging for one, and make a decision with your partner whether at that stage you go for one, or if you want to hold out (bearing in mind at that point you won't have too much longer to go!). If you wait to see, transition seemed to do something funny to my brain, and I definitely wasn't thinking clearly!

Stargazer · 26/02/2007 16:56

I had an epidural with DS - it was fine. No tears, no cuts, no stiches - easy peasy!!

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