If you didn’t have an epidural by choice

[KirstenRaymonde]

Would you mind talking to me about why you made that choice? The main by of advice I’ve had from my DM my whole life about childbirth is ‘just get the epidural’ so I’ve never questioned that obviously I would do that, it didn’t really occur to me until reading these boards that anyone wouldn’t choose one!

I just didn't feel any need for it. I knew birth would be painful but I sort of thought that as billions of other women do it it must be manageable. And it was.
Unfortunately I had to have a spinal block after for stitching and my back felt weird for days. I wouldn't choose an injection in my spine under any circumstances that aren't totally necessary in future.

I was advised by my mum through both my births to have the epi. And through both I refused any kind of drugs. The thought of not having control over my legs, and needing a catheter in put me right off.

I managed smoothly without anything and had the best births ever. Infact with ds2, I was up walking within a hour and out of hospital within 6hr.

Obviously not everyone is the same. And everyone picks a choice to suit them.

Have a good birth OP.

When I was pregnant with DC1 my sister had an operation. One of many. Her doctors decided that as she'd had so many GAs in the last few months, they'd do this operation under epidural. Then they decided (and I paraphrase in very unmedical terms) that they wouldn't in case she was paralysed - because at least they'd know that it wasn't the fault of the epidural.

Kind of put me off epidurals.

In the event, I was very lucky, and had a fabulous first birth so my negative views of epidurals were never put to the test.

My sister was left with spinal cord damage, for the record, so it's probably as well that she didn't have the epidural.

I didn't rule it out but my labours were quick and I found the pain manageable with gas and air. If I'd had a long labour and was exhausted or there were other issues I'd have taken anything and everything to get me through. I really
don't see the point in limiting your options, hope for the best but have back up plans too.

I didn’t want an epidural but after 4 days failed induction and over 35 hours nil by mouth (except for 2 pieces of toast) by the time dd arrived I was willing to accept everything I could. Gas and air made me sick due to being so hungry.
Had I have had a full belly and not had to have drip induction I believe I could have dealt with labour better. I wasn’t allowed to move around due to constant monitoring which really didn’t help me deal with the pain either. Not the experience I wanted but dd arrived safely and that’s all that matters.

I've had three without epidural.
First time cos I was a really young jumped up first time mum, had all these idealistic opinions on motherhood, including all natural everything.
Second baby, there wasn't the time or option to have one.
Third time...don't know really.
If I could do it all again, I would insist on one, especially for the back-to-back toddler I birthed. It would have felt like sheer heaven to have been out of that pain (I would imagine).

I wish I'd had implantation be. Not having one was the wrong choice for men

I had 'no epidural' in my birth plan. Never felt the need to go back on it. I didn't want to have a needle in my spine, I didn't want to have to keep still whilst also having contractions. I had pethedine and gas and air with my first and just gas and air with my second. They were both big and it hurt like hell but I honestly think it was the pain that made me push them out, I'm not sure how the pushing would even work of you couldn't feel anything.

I didn't have a epidural both times because I was coping with the pain (2nd time MLU so it wasn't an option).

However, I had to have a spinal after DS1 was born because I had a 3rd degree tear that needed stitching up. An episiotomy with no pain relief was...eye watering. So I went through labour coping without an epidural and had to have one in the end anyway.

I really didn't want one as have had back issues my whole life and I was terrified a needle in my spine would damage it forever. I felt I couldn't cope without one as was induced and felt the contractions were horrific at 2cm. So knowing I had a long way to go I felt it was the best way forward and it was. I ate and slept and was able to keep my energy up.
I have also had UTI issues and was worried about a Catheter.
I didn't have any issues at all and was so glad I had that level of pain relief as I had an internal tear too so wouldn't want to experience that on had and air!

*implantation be, obviously I meant epidural.

Throughout pregnancy I really didn't want one. I wanted to feel in control and not have drugs in my system.

However, after 3 days of induction pessaries and pain, and being told that the syntocin drip I would be getting was much more painful than the pessaries and normal labour I asked for an epidural when they took me down to the labour ward. To be honest, I'd do it again (if I ever want another child). When it wore off and I felt the full whack of the syntocin drip it was horrible.

First time round I wanted a waterbirth at home so knew epidural wasn't an option. 2nd and 3rd i was in hospital but I knew I could do it without and I was worried about labour lasting longer, higher chance of c-section etc. 4th was an elcs with a spinal and I hated the feeling of not being able to move and I felt like I was being held down, it was awful. 5th baby I was induced on a drip but refused epidural because of my previous experience with the section. Also he was premature and I wanted to be able to go and be with him in special care if necessary. I ended up with an emergency section though.

Beforehand I was totally open minded about having an epidural but once labour got going it just didn't really occur to me to ask for one. It was really hard and painful but I sort of got into the zone and just focused on one contraction to the next.

After the birth though I had a haemorrhage and had to go to surgery so still ended up with a catheter! The idea had always majorly freaked me out but it was totally fine.

I had an epidural and the midwife said i had made the right choice. The contractions were beginning to overwhelm me. I didn’t care about the needle in the spine at that point and when it finally began to work it was a major relief. It took four attempts to be put in though. Strange thing was that it didn’t completely numb my top right thigh or bum cheek so contractions were felt in that! I could feel when to push though as there was a pressure. I also did need a catheter as I couldn’t pee and I ended up having an episiotomy and a ventouse delivery. I’d still aim for an epidural next time as the relief was immense.

I had one the first time but, like any medical procedure they carry risks including headaches, nerve damage and, paralysis. The second time it was not necessary so I did without.

The thought scared me, I coped without one with all my pregnancies.

Hated the thought of it. Would rather have a bit of pain! I had gas&air child 2 and was fine. Meptid injection (I think it was years ago!) with child 1 and also fine. No way to epidural for me

I didn't want a needle in my spine, there's a small risk of paralysis, I didn't want a catheter, I didn't want to be stuck on my back, I didn't want the drugs in mine or my children's systems, I thought it would be a good challenge and most importantly I wanted to give birth at home where I was happy and comfortable and in control.

My reasoning was a bit different. I really didn’t want to go on a ward and wanted my own room, which meant I chose the MLU so no option of an epidural. If I’d had to go on the main labour ward/delivery suite I would likely have asked for one.

It was really hard and painful but I sort of got into the zone and just focused on one contraction to the next

This was so what I wanted to do silverpenguin. The midwives kept saying to me to resting between contractions but there was no 'between.' I don't know if maybe I reacted to the drip worse than other women do but it was constant, constant pain. I felt like such a wimp because they kept saying it shouldn't be that bad

It really puts me off having another child, because my induction was due to cholestasis and it's almost certain I'd get it again.

It's all a matter of choice. My personal reasons are:

With an epidural you are then stuck in the bed with lines and monitors. I want to have an active labour where I can move positions. Not a medicalised labour on my back.

Also there's the 'cascade' of interventions. One intervention in birth tends to lead to another. Women who have epidurals are far more likely to have worse years, need forceps/vontouse and are more likely to have a c section.

That's why I'd rather not go down that path.

However it's really your choice on how you want your labour to be.

I had an epidural with my first child and I’m convinced it caused me awful backache for years and years. I refused to have one again even though I was in a lot of pain as I had big babies and fast births.

Mine was a long time ago though so they may have improved.

An episiotomy with no pain relief was...eye watering

Trust me when I say they are eye watering WITH pain relief 😅

It never occurred to me to have one unless I felt during labour I had to.
I had a pool birth with just gas and air, and I think of myself as soft generally. Didn't cross my mind once during labour to have anything else