Is there any one place where I can get lots of info on pain relief options etc for labour?

[hopefully]

Just vaguely thinking about starting to research it (only 20 weeks, but know nothing, so thought it might not be a bad idea!), and I'd like to see some actual stats on things like intervention with epidurals, likelihood of intervention, things like that.

Basically, I don't really know the pros and cons of any of my options, and I'd like to before randomly sticking down 'I'll have whatever drugs are going' on my birth plan!

If anyone knows a good resource, I'd be eternally grateful...

well I'm not going to win anything at those odds!!! I'll take the sp on IMG

Thanks VictorianSqualor, but now I've established an exercise ball will do just as well, I'll trot up to my mother's and steal my old one back from her (she is too scared to sit on it and exercise in case she falls off, so suspect she won't mind )

Maybe I will look into doula thing, and discuss with DP. Isn't there a website you can get doula info from?

Starlight, I still think you're 'ard. I also think we are stalking one another around MN today...

www.doula.org.uk
or www.nurturingbirth.co.uk also have a doula directory

my favourite is Ina May, but the balaskas books have the edge on more up to date , factual information . but ina may rocks. she is my guru and my idol and she is ace! the only midwife after whom an obstetric manouevre has been named !

yay! I guessed lulu's fave right (well, twasn't much of a guess if I'm honest )

Message withdrawn

she really isn;t well 'ard ! but coped very well with labour and birth. even though she does not accept that she did >>slap>>

squonk is right, embrace it!

this is the most powerful and instinctive your body will ever be! it is amazing and magical and exhilarating. i would give birth again in a heartbeat. but i don;t want any more children !

and the part of me that thinks it's funny wants to say to lulu "you can give birth to some for me fnarr fnarr"

But in actual fact, I am quite looking forward to giving birth to them myself.

So I'm shutting that part of me up.

i did consider surrogacy for a brief, mad moment. but i am content to do my bit as a doula. i just thikn that until menopause, there will always be a bit of me thinking, oh just one more baby !

It's so nice how positive everyone is about birth on this thread! Not what I started it for, but it's really lovely and reassuring.

Vacantlypretty that book looks useful, would be v interested in a copy...

Starlight that labour pain article you linked to is really interesting - although I definitely don't think I'll remember any of it while in labour!

hopefully - think of us an antidote to all those women who, for some inexplicable reason, think it's appropriate to tell you every single horror story they can think of when you announce your pregnancy.

Another... what, 22 weeks and you'll be posting on threads just like this one, saying exactly what we are.

hopefully if no one has done so, I would recommend to read stand and deliver. It is quite a small and fun book that tells some positive birth stories. I really showed me other ways of looking at things

I've just come back from an NCT class where the subject of acupressure came up for helping to manage pain. Wondered if anyone had any experience of this or could recommend some good links?

bump