Epidural

[rosyedith]

Why is there such a stigma around having an epidural? I am 37 wks preg with my first so have no experience of labour at all. I've been watching a lot of videos on YouTube & people seem you be celebrating the fact they didn't have an epidural. A close relative has even told me to 'never have an epidural no matter what' I find this quite insulting to those who have. I have no idea what labour I will have and of corse would prefer to have as little pain relief as I can but that may not be possible. If I have to or want an epidural I will damn well have one and I shouldn't be made to feel less of a women due to that. What are people's honest opinions on this? Not looking for a row before anyone starts just genuinely interested in why..

I had one in conjunction with the induction drip. I knew I couldn’t tolerate the pain for much longer and made the decision on that basis. I was in so much pain I lost control of my bladder and bowels. However it did mean a forceps delivery but I had no pain for the hours beforehand although I could still feel contractions. All in all the whole birth was a cascade of interventions which didn’t start with the epidural and at least it meant a few pain free hours. The whole thing was traumatic but it might have been more so if I’d not had the epidural. I honestly have no idea how it’s possible to tolerate the drip without it.

I think unfortunately some people (and it can especially be other women/mothers) are quite critical of things like epidurals and elective c-sections.
I gave birth with only gas and air, but I wanted a water birth and I couldn't have had that with an epidural, so I made a choice that worked for me. I was happy with my birth and proud of myself. Not because I'd not had an epidural, but because I'd produced a beautiful baby.
It doesn't matter how a baby comes out, no choice is an easy one and all come with their own risks.
I ended up with a 3rd degree tear and had I had an epidural I may not have as I would've probably pushed a lot slower, but I wouldn't have had my water birth. It's personal choice and I think everyone should be supportive of a woman's right to choose whatever option works best for them.

I ended up having an epidural due to not progressing in labour and being so tired as my labour was extremely long , my viewpoint was to just go with the flow and take whatever if I needed it , however the experience I had I would not recommend an epidural I was happy to be able to walk around , however during the epidural to just have to lay there I found extremely difficult although it took away the pain I found it so frustrating! But hey that's just me I'm abit of a control freak !

Just go with your body and do what you think is best , !

I agree with you OP, I'm currently 34+4 with my first and I already plan on having a epidural.
I've heard so many responses already about not doing it from friends etc. And it's correct I do think people boast more about going all 'natural'
My mother had an epidural with all 3 of her children and she told me definitely to take it as soon as I feel as though the pain is getting very intense. I've said from the start I'll use the gas and air and would like to try the birthing pool as I think the idea of the water with help for pains (as it did for my period pains) but I know I'll want something stronger if I cannot handle it.
Don't be afraid what other people say.
I heard a quote a while back and I've always remembered it- 'there's no gold medals in childbirth for doing it without pain relief' x

I have done both epidural and a water birth. The epidural was BLISS for DC1 as I was exhausted after a long labour. But, i nearly had a c section and ended up with forceps, grim. Second labour in pool was horrendously painful BUT over much faster and no tears etc.

Just be aware that even if you want one you may not get one. I gave birth in a major teaching hospital last year and I begged for one for six hours but no anaesthetists were free. By the time one arrived I was at the pushing stage and it was too late. I'm now considering requesting ELCS if I have a second child. But definitely request one early if you need it and hopefully unlike me you'll get one - Labour's vary in their pain level, it's not about "pain thresholds" or bravery. I don't mean for this post to scare you - everyone I know who requested one got it fairly quickly, I just got unlucky :-(

Done both.

DD was by all accounts a horrendous birth that nearly ended in a c-section, but for ventouse. Due to stalled contractions, I had had the drip without pain relief from 5 until 10 cm when things came to a complete halt. So was transferred to hospital where they pretty much insisted on one , I think to relax things.

DS was a completely natural labour, far far far less painful than DD or I could at least get used to the pain as it ramped up. Not really sure.

Though thinking about it, I feel I was denied the experience of my DD's birth because I felt absolutely nothing. Was nice at the time after 24 hours of pain that in the end went no-where, but in hindsight I think I would have preferred a small break before the last push (pun intended)..

Though maybe I'm a sadist, who knows. 😂

Well I don't know about the stigma... but can honestly say even if I felt there was one I wouldn't give a crap. I am TOTALLY having an epidural.

I want to feel relaxed, calm and comfortable as possible. You don't get a medal for doing it without and being in agony.

Would you have a massive operation without anaesthetic? No.

I also think there is a fine line between coping and suffering.

I am not ashamed to say that I am planning on having an epidural :) x

Not s stigma but they have serious downsides and for many childbirth is manageable pain, in fact I would describe it as pressure. It's not that we are martyrs for pain, or simply didn't hurt that much

Ok thanks

My honest opinion is that I don't care what other women do. I had two home births, one back to back and no pain relief because that was the right decision for me (pp are correct, I didn't get any medals! ). If an epidural is the right decision for you then I won't care as it's nothing to do with me. Whatever has to happen to make labour as positive as experience as possible is different for everyone.

Good luck for your labour, hope it goes smoothly.

@rosyedith had an epidural with my son due to long labour, it slowed it down further, his heart rate dropped, I ended up with forceps and he was taken to NICU. Next time I’ll be trying everything in my power not to have an epidural. From personal experience it seems that my friends who had quick easy labours had just gas and air and didn’t need interventions, my friends who had epidurals subsequently had forceps or c section: I suppose it’s chicken and egg situation really. Statistically you’re more likely to slow labour and need intervention though, which comes with risks. Also the epidural itself has risks such as spinal cord damage, headaches, etc

I couldn’t give a shiny shit how other women choose to birth their babies.....it fucking hurts. It hurts a lot. Do what you need to do to get yourself through that pain and come out of it the other side with a baby!
I personally have really really weird needle issues. I can handle a quick injection or blood test, but anything more than that just turns my stomach I had to have a canula in my hand during my induction with DC1 and actually vomited after looking at it So the sheer idea of an epidural makes me feel really sick an uneasy. If I am ever in the situation where I need a csection, the spinal anaesthetic is going to be the worst part of it for me.
I was induced with DC1, and my plan for pain relief was to start a the bottom and work my way up - so I tried gas and air, vomited spectacularly (quite common apparently), and asked for it to be taken away. Baby was born about 2 hours after that anyway, so wouldn’t have had time for anything else had I asked for it. DC2 was born at home, and because of my reaction to gas & air with DC1 to go without.
But with both labours, if I’d have felt like I wanted or needed any kind of drugs you can bet your arse I’d be having them! Like others have said: there’s no medals for doing it drug-free! If you feel you need them in that moment, have the drugs! And don’t let anyone make you feel like you’ve failed because of that decision!

I had an epidural. I can not describe the utter feeling of relief when the midwife broke my waters and told me there was meconium. I had been in labour (full on, contractions every minute and a half - brutal induction) for 24 hours and I literally jumped on the bed and bared my spine for the anaesthetist... and I hate needles and an epidural was not in my birth (ha!) plan... it enabled me to get some sleep and safely deliver dd with the hormone drip, after a hell of a time trying to get her out on my own.

Had one, my labour was extremely long, baby was back to back and I could not cope with the pain. The epidural was amazing, easily best decision I made. I still felt how to push and also didn't need a catheter as retained control of my bladder just fine.

Feel like there's bit of stigma about them though, lots of martyr mums.,.

@needlessbanana there's a stigma no matter what you do, someone will judge you.

I had one after a few hours on the hormone drip. I did beat myself up afterwards but I don’t know why. I was (and still am) traumatised by how agonising the drip was before the epidural. Had I had to endure the next 12 hours without one...to be honest I think I’d have ripped the drip out of my hand before then and demanded a section.
The relief after the epidural was amazing. And yes I ended up with forceps but as pp have said it’s chicken and egg. I was having a long labour, baby in distress, baby clearly wanted a few more days cooking but nhs guidelines stated that waiting any longer increased risk of still birth...my friends who haven’t had epidurals all had natural spontaneous labours that lasted around 6 hours. My friends who had epidurals all had long labours that were induced or baby back to back.
The best best thing about the epidural was that after 36 hours being awake I got 3-4 hours of sleep. I could then push out a very big baby who unfortunately got distressed at very end so I needed forceps.
Take what you need!!