No pain relief??

[K1999]

So I'm adamant at this stage that I do not want any pain relief. Gas and air at the absolute most. Any comments on this? 'You're absolutely crazy', 'don't be a hero' comments are all welcome, I just want to know how realistic this is as this is my first baby and have no idea what to expect other than excruciating pain..

Hiya OP,
I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old. Different experiences. First was an epidural (liquid gold, loved it) second was gas and air (no time for anything else).
Despite being different both were what I’d class ‘good births’ and there are pros and cons of having drugs and not. I think a big factor is the medical team you have around you and I do believe the attitude you approach the birth with is really important.
My mum had four too, only gas and air and liked to remind me of that! But my advice is,

1. Have a rough plan but don’t be too rigid. Anything could happen and you don’t want to feel disappointed, as long as baby arrives safely that’s the most important thing.

1. Talk to your midwife and a good book is Clemmie Hoopers How to Grow a Baby and Push it out

1. Do not pay attention to horror stories. Some of the descriptions above aren’t really helpful for a first time mum. That’s not to say they’re not true, but it’s not necessarily going to be the case that you’re screaming for drugs. Everyone and every baby is different.

Good luck!

My first I had no pain relief, second was back to back so more painful. Tried gas and air but made me feel so sleepy. So had two paracetamols.
I always said I didn’t want pain relief, but just go with the follow.
My first labour was lovely and I really ‘enjoyed’ it. Second not so much

My labour was more long than anything else. I was due on the Sunday 30th august 2015, I was booked in for a sweep originally on the Wednesday, but I started having contractions on the Tuesday so I decided to see if things would progress naturally. They didn't so I ended up having a sweep at 3pm on the Friday (40+5).
I got to the hospital at 9 that evening, was in the birth centre by 10.30, had my waters broken around 2am, then gave birth at 6.58am the Saturday morning (40+6).
It didn't hurt or feel uncomfortable at all and it did help move things along (the head wasn't fully engaged so things wouldn't have progressed on their own).
If I’m honest I was more physically exhausted after 4 days and nights of contractions. I think if I hadn’t been so tired I would have dealt with it better.
For pain relief I had my tens machine as long as possible, it really helped me. I started using it at home after my sweep, then took it off to go to hospital. I put it back on when I was settled in the birth centre. I also used the birth ball to try to get my waters to break which helped with pain. The birth pool was amazing, I loved being in there and would have stayed in longer and even given birth in there. But the midwife could see I was struggling and needed to rest before I had to deliver. So I had a pethadine injection so I could rest. It really helped and didn't make me feel sick at all.
I tried a bit of gas and air but it gave me a bad headache and made me feel sick so I didn’t want it. And I knew I didn’t want an epidural. I wanted as natural a birth as possible, minimal drugs.

I used a tens machine for my first and nothing for my second. I drank gallons of raspberry leaf tea in the last few weeks of pregnancy as that's supposed to make for an easier labour. (Don't drink before 36 weeks I think as it could induce labour early but having said that both of mine were late! ) Also consider optimal foetal positioning in last weeks too - cleaning floors on hands and knees for example, or sitting on a birthing ball rather than lying back on a sofa, is all meant to help.

I wanted drug free too and did a lot of research into hypnobirthing.
My waters broke but labour was really stop start , meaning I was at risk of infection because waters had been gone for too long and baby hadnt yet arrived. This meant I had to be induced with a drip and wasnt allowed a water birth. Baby was back to back and I had been having contractions off an on for so long that I was utterly exhausted and got the epidural. Ended up in EMCS and i needed a spinal block.
Was I disappointed? Not at all. I got my beautiful DS! Hardly thought about the labour after that, too busy trying to figure out how to keep baby alive ;)

I have given birth three times,the first two were born in Italy,I had no pain relief with either.

My third one was born in the U.K. and I had gas and air in the later stages of labour,I loved it!But could have gone without,

For all three I only found the end of the first stage really difficult and it didn’t last that long.

But I did a long course in my first pregnancy to learn breathing techniques!I would never have managed without.

I'm really enjoying reading all your birth stories. Believe me through I am very self aware and know anything can happen, this is just what I would love to happen. And I'm appreciating all your stories and advice, even if they're slightly judgemental

@K1999

In the nicest way possible, there is a reason you dont tend to get these type of threads from second time mums - it is true everyone has different pain thresholds but for the vast majority of women it is the most painful thing you can imagine. First time mums dont realise how quickly the pain can break your mental resolve.

I have a very very high pain threshold, I had no pain relief for my 36 week induction on the drip (😫) not even gas and air. I managed until I got to 7cm fine, then it suddenly felt like I was being slowly impaled on a giant flaming spike. I asked for an epidural which failed. I had no further pain relief until DD was delivered by forceps. I was too exhausted and in agony to push her out. I actually think if I had requested an epidural sooner and not tried to be a martyr, I wouldve been able to rest and save my energy for the pushing.

Where are you planning on giving birth? In your shoes I would just keep all options open to me and see what happens. If you feel like you dont need it, great, but if you do, it's there.

I'd say hi with the flow and try not to have a set plan. 2 weeks before my son was born I wrote my birth plan to get the MW off my back. I said I'd like a water birth with only gas and air as I have (I thought) good tolerance for pain. I had a long and tiring labour, lots of hardcore pain relief because I needed it and then a section after days of being fully dilated and not much happening. Despite this change I had a great birth experience and wouldn't have changed a thing. Probably because I hadn't totally invested in what I planned. Just do what you need to do x

Forgot to say, my sister was adamant she was having an epidural from the word go.

She had one as soon as she could, and had a wonderful textbook straightforward birth. She looks back on it happily and can remember it all as she wasnt in pain.

I had 4 with no pain relief. Last one was an induction and a bit traumatic. My third was a stop start not progressing. I was exhausted and was willing to get pain relief. I just felt I couldn’t go on but then my waters got popped and 20 minutes later she was there.

My final was an induction. The most painful aggressive birth. Traumatic but happened quickly. Both of those I felt I couldn’t do it but I did. I wasn’t after any medals and would have had pain relief if things got worse. You just don’t know how it will turn out or how you will feel. Have a goal but an open mind. Every birth is different.

I don't think it matters how you feel now. I wanted a natural birth. I thought I had a high pain threshold.
I was so very wrong. Was on my knees begging for an epidural. They told me to wait and sent me home. I then returned to hospital in such agony they got me a wheelchair only to find if left it so late I had the natural birth I never want again
Just plan whatever you want and then on the big day you can change your mind via varying levels of scream volumes.

1st baby - tried gas & air, didn't like it. Just had a local for an episiotomy.

2nd baby - was in so much pain I insisted on an epidural. Couldn't have managed without it - was the best decision I made.

Have an open mind

Ds1 - paracetamol, episiotomy- 10lb baby. Ouch
DS2 nothing, quick delivery by me at home. Oops

@K1999 it's definitely do-able! I only had paracetamol and dehydrocodeine during labour. Didn't feel the need to use gas & air or any other pain relief. Best of luck! X

I had all 3 DSs without any pain relief.

DS1 was very painful through transition. I remember waiting on the midwife to check my progress, and saying to DH, if I've not progressed, then I need an epidural, as I just can't go on like this. Turns out, DS1 was crowning, and was born 30 minutes later.

DS2 and DS3 was absolutely, fine for it all. The only painful parts were crowning and the after birth bit when the uterus contracts. Needed a hot water bottle on my lower tummy.

If it's your first, I'd just see how it goes. No need to make a decision now.

I had just gas and air. It was ok. But you don't really know if it will be ok for you until you get there.

Keep an open mind. You just don't know how it'll be for you.

I was really hoping to have DS1 without pain relief, but the labour went on too long, I got very tired and I ended up having an epidural which was just what I needed to get me through. It did lead to an intervention though, I couldn't feel to push so I had a forceps delivery.

With DS2 and DS3 all I needed was gas & air towards the end, it was fine because the labours were much quicker and genuinely a lot less painful.

I did NCT and we were all convinced we were going to stick to gas and air. In the event less than half of us did.
Go in with the attitude that your ideal is g&a but you will do whatever it takes to get you and the baby through it in good shape. Brief your partner properly and keep your eyes on the goal of getting your baby out with an untraumatised mother.

I agree with what most previous posters have said. Go with the flow. There are no medals.

As someone who gave birth five days ago my first thought was - why??? What reasons are you making that decision? My second thoughts are why does it matter???

I was induced with my little boy. Had 2 paracetamol. Diamorphine at 4cm dilated. When he was born I had a third degree tear that had to be stitched in theatre and had a spinal for that. (Trust me you would want one the amount of stitches!!)

Go with the flow and don’t make any definite decisions.

Gas and air did nothing for me.
I had all this ideal water birth scenario in my head through my whole pregnancy, did hypnobirthing etc. The whole thing turned out exactly as I didn't want - you can't know and you won't care about your plan to not have pain relief, you'll do whatever is needed at the time - at most do a little research into the pros and cons of each but then stop thinking about it I would say - you'll only be setting yourself up for lots of potential disappointment!

Had codine, gas and air (made me sick) and eventually an epidural.

Wanted a Waterbirth didn't get one due to complications.

My midwife gave me the best advice was to write my birthing plan but never rule anything else out as we set ourselves up for disappointment if things don't go according to plan, best advice I ever got.

I felt the same as you, and it does not matter at all. It's what feels right in the moment.

I was able to do my induction and labour on just paracetamol. Looking back, I could have probably had something stronger but I felt confident enough to deliver without.

Do not let anyone tell you "you need an epidural" and don't let anyone tell you "you can't do childbirth without pain relief" as they do not know how you will feel. You go with the flow!

Good luck

Read the first line of the original post a few times and I can honestly only think of answering "why?"
It's such a strange mentality- I can see why women would hope for an intervention-free, straightforward labour but to be adament about not having pain relief is just bizarre to me

You "have no idea what to expect", so wait and see!