Fear of medication

[mumm321]

I have really bad anxiety and I'm petrified of any sort of medication. I'm scared to take gas an air or anything that the hospital will give me as a pain relief. I won't even take paracetamol of my partner unless I can see the actual rapper. I've always been like this and I have no idea why! I can't even sleep at night thinking about It. It sounds silly but I really am scared of all pain reliefs or medication

Has something happened in the past to make you feel that way? Have you sought any help from your Gp/counselling?

@YouBoggleMyMind. No nothing at all. And no I haven't tried anything like that x

What are you worried will happen if you had any pain relief? Is it a control aspect?
How many weeks pregnant are you?

If it makes you feel any better, my birth plan was very strict about absolutely no pain relief other than gas and air as I'm allergic to certain pain relief and get very vomity. I was also strict about not having an epidural and would consider a general if needed.

Well, the time came on Monday/Tuesday and I ended up having codine, diamorphine, remifentanyl and an epidural 🤣 along with whatever else they give you for a EMCS...

My labour and birth was a bit of a disaster and just needed to get through it, I couldn't care a less what happened as long as baby was okay and I wasn't going to die.

So my point is, when it comes down to the wire, you might not actually care about wrappers and unknown drugs. And FYI, the epidural was the best decision I ever made.

Good luck with the birth, perhaps seek out some help if you can to try and get over a couple of those hurdles, even just to help you long term x

I have 3 children and due to being shit scared about medication I had no pain reliever what so ever with any off mine 🙈🙈

Have you looked into a water birth maybe? And a tens machine to help with any pain xx

You don't HAVE to take painkillers? It's your choice! I would imagine though that if it came to it and you were in enough pain you really won't care at all and it will be the least of your worries! I don't like taking medication either and have put on my birth plan that I don't want to be offered any, but will ask if I need them. Have you looked into other pain relief methods? Hypnobirthing, water pool, tens machine? If know you have other methods to rely on then you might not freak out so much!

@mumm321 - an epidural is the best thing ever! Seriously- MIMO.

@jinglet does the epidural have any side effects?? Apart from making u numb of course. X

What do you think will happen if you take medication?

@Tolleshunt honestly I actually don't no. It's more of a fear of the way they are going to make me feel

Do you know the reason for that fear?

I developed a fear of all medication after an illness. Last year, like you, I wouldn't have accepted a paracetamol from a loved one unless I'd seen it taken from the packet and two years ago I would never have taken a paracetamol at all for fear of suffering adverse effects.
Telling you that all medicines have side effects. Benefits outweighing risk. Regulations etc will all be things your anxiety has had you googling many times before and you likely have googled and could recount all the side effects of all the drugs used in childbirth as if you were an expert. Anxiety is horrendous. Speak to your midwife and GP. They really need to know and will help you.
CBT is what has set me on the path to recovery. Speaking to my GP was the best thing I did.