Natural birth vs epidural - why not go for no pain (first timer question....)

[Newb]

So next week I have to go to the hospital to talk to them about what kind of birth I want. Apparently here (Switzerland)you can have an epidural right from the start if you want.

Why doesn't everyone go for this?

Presumably it's no pain vs likely hours of lots of pain. I sort of feel at a primitive level that I should try for it as naturally as possible, but why do I think this?

Yours curiously.....(and slightly nervously)

I haven't had an epidural but I can tell you about labour pain - it's not "good" pain or "positive" pain, it's just pain! like a toothache or a headache or any other pain (except stronger and more overwhelming obviously.)

I'm not saying you should scared by any means, I coped with gas and air, as zillions of other women have. It's do-able. BUT you don't get any medals for suffering through it and next time I will be most definitely getting an early epidural.

Early epidurals (prior to 5cm dialated) tend to lead to many more interventions (as it slows down labour progression)....which are not all pain free or consequence free. Sounds like you need to do some serious googling on the subject. I'm sure there will be more detailed posts from more knowledgeable people than me. But information is power and its all out there if you look!

btw I've had two homebirths with no pain relief (not allowed gas and air over here) and now looking a hospital birth for #3 due to medical reasons.

I used to think this, but after the almost pain relief free birth of dd2 I realised that giving birth naturally could actually be enjoyable and empowering. I had a home birth with the aid of hypnotherapy and I can honestly say that whilst the sensations of birth were strong, I didn't interpret them as severe pain. It was all manageable.

Epidurals are wonderful in some cases, but they do carry risks, so I think it is best to see how you cope with labour first. It can lead to a cascade of interventions and an over medicalised birth. It also increases the chance of needing a caesarean or a forceps delivery.

HAve had 2 home births, gas and air, didn't need an epidural as it was all manageable. The reason I wanted it that way was because I got to stay in control, I could walk, stand, sit, do whatever I wanted. If you have an epidural from the word go you're basically opting into a medicalised birth and therefore much more likely to have interventions which could be far more hideous than a natural birth. Obviously real life not always so black and white but you get my drift. Sorry for slightly stilted post, wrestling with a baby in other arm!

Because epidurals lead to an increased risk of needing a forceps or ventouse delivery. This usually requires an epistomy meaning stitches and a longer recovery. Epidurals can also lead to a headach afterwards or a longer labour. Its personal preference I would rather have one day of alot of pain than months of my lady bits being sore(of course you can still need a epistomy without epidural). I am not saying that if you need pain relief to not have it I am just pointing out that it is not always pride that make some women choose not to have an epidural. I also did not like the idea of being unable to walk for hours and forced to stay in bed I would prefer the pain. Just personal choice.

I always wondered this and fully intended to have an epidural with dd1, In the end I had a c section because she was breech but I went into labour the day before it was scheduled and found it to be no more painful than a bit of indigestion. I was 7cm dilated by the time we got to hospital (because I didn't think this trifling pain could be real labour) and I wouldn't have even needed gas and air if they'd allowed the labour to continue.

That was just me, obviously, I realise a lot of women find labour v painful. All I'm saying is maybe don't go for an epidural straight away, see how bad your pain is. There's no shame in an epidural at all, it just might not be necessary.

first baby epidural i felt like a piece of meat forceps delivery 2nd baby gas and air much better on another note student broke my waters first baby it was agony 2nd time didnt feel a thing midwife did it

A very good reason for not going for an epidural is because you don't want to labour while strapped to a bed with your legs apart with lots of people milling around! And epidurals slow down labour so your indignity will last even longer.

Give me a single MW in a quiet room where I can get on with things at my own pace and in privacy, thank you very much!

Got to 8cm with gas and air and decided at that point I'd had enough thank you very much.

Had an epidural and a kip for a couple of hours then pushed..and pushed..and pushed but he wouldn't come out.

So they tried a venteuse..and he still wouldn't come out (I've still got visions of the doc with his foot on my bum trying to heave DS out..).

So they topped up the epidural and gave me an emergency c-section and there he was. Squashed nose, bruised and misshapen head and the size of a small toddler.

My Benjy. All 10lb 6oz of him. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

I figured that they wouldn't give out medals if I didn't have any pain relief so I went with the flow and decided to make the decisions as I went along. And I'd take that approach again. Yeah it hurt but it's labour so that's not surprising.

FWIW, I was totally blimmin petrified at the thought of giving birth and, while it's not the best way to spend a Thursday, it wasn't THAT bad. If it was, why do women have more than one?

You'll be great.

I was advised to have an epidural with DS1 (had been induced and he took a very long time coming) and although it did totally take away the pain, I couldn't feel to push and ended up with a forceps delivery and I couldn't get out of bed for several hours afterwards. I was also sitting a bit awkwardly in labour but, of course, I couldn't feel it but my back was very painful for several months afterwards.

I managed the next two just with a TENS machine and felt much more in control of my pain relief and the whole thing TBH

I have had both- with dd I was induced and had an epidural. With ds it was all natural and I didn't even feel the need to ask for an epidural. It was wonderful, whereas dd's birth was chaotic. The difference is about feeling in control. With dd I paniced, nothing was explained and I was afraid and out of control of what was happening. With ds, I knew I was well supported and in control. Ime, if you have a good birth partner and one dedicated midwife there will be no need for an epidural.

I went in with an open mind with regards to pain relief as I really had no idea what it was going to be like.

I didn't particularly want an epidural as the thought of someone sticking a needle in my spine sounded awful to me. Also an epidural can lengthen labour and lead to more intervention.

Pethidine can also affect the baby so I wanted to avoid this where possible.

I thought I'd just go with the flow and if it got too much then I would ask for more pain relief where necessary.

I did it with tens and gas and air and water for pain relief and thought it was fine.

Had apidural at a late stage with dd1 which considerably slowed down labour (i guess by about 6 hours).

DD2 did a bit more research, as I was terrified of an over medicalised birth again, at a friends recommendation did the hypnobirthing cds and had a brilliant birth (it still hurt when crowning but I had gas and air for that). I was able to get up after delivery and a first feed and get a shower etc. where as with dd1 it was hours before i was walking again.

I am 39 weeks today and although I'm not ruling out an epidural with this one I will try to manage the pain my way first...

good luck with the research

Epidurals can be great. A absolute life saver for some women who would otherwise be exhausted in tortuous pain for hours or even days.

I went into labour with an open mind, prepared for anything that may happen. But what happened was perhaps what I was least prepared for, and what I least expected: that my own body would help me cope with the pain and help me give birth efficiently without the need of any pain relief.

I have since done it two more times. It is hard, it is painful, but when things are going well, and labour isn't ridiculously long (my labours were about 13 hours; 7 hours and 7 hours - none of them longer then average), and when you have the support of good midwives and birthing partners, then your body is made to cope with labour and birth and it can be a very positive experience, despite the pain.

I had an epidural and was fully mobile, not strapped down, could even go and pee.
It was fab. Best thing ever.
I was up and walking round 10 mins after leaving the delivery room.
Do your research, and make the right decision for you. Whatever you do, whatever choice you make, whether it be for as much pain relief as possible or a knit-your-own-womb-whale-music-underwater-extravaganza, someone, somewhere, will tell you you did it wrong
My sister pops babies out like shelling peas- she can't understand why anyone would need any pain relief at all...my gynaecologist told me the Virgin Mary hadn't had an epidural (but I note he doesn't advocate we don't return to the days of no running water or electricity (another 2 things I'm sure the old VM did without)
Good luck with your decision...

There's a certain satisfaction in knowing what it feels like all the way through. OK, it's pain yes, but no toothache, broken bone or other damage related agony gives quite the same feeling of ...power...and there IS an amazing feeling associated with that.

I had an epidural both times after many hours of labour. Knowing what I know now about labour pain (and the amount of time my labours seem to take!) I would definitely have asked for one sooner.

Its a personal thing but I don't see the point of going through the pain if you don't have to.

I had a birth where I really felt I needed an epidural because I couldn't cope with the pain and was utterly exhausted after labouring for several days with no sleep. There was indeed a cascade of intervention, but I was too tired to care.
However, my second birth took about 4 hours from start to finish with no pain relief other than TENS. It would have been a shame if I'd asked for an epidural the moment my second one began, because then it would probably have taken longer and ended up being more difficult.
I think epidurals are great in the right circs, but I can't see why you'd have any kind of medical intervention that wasn't necessary, and if you have one at the start you don't know if it's going to be necessary or not.

If I had my time over again I wouldn't have an epidural and I would love to have had a home birth...

ds 1 - 12 days overdue (though medically fine in there!) induced, epidural, ventouse, episiotomy, (he was distressed) 2nd degree tear. I was strapped to the bed from the off and couldn't be mobile to get into a good birth position.

ds 2 - was terrified after not great 1st birth (had severe pnd, had to give up work saw psychologist ect etc etc) I wanted an epi asap. (my choice) had epi at 4cms. Initially worked but then only down one side (remember they aren't always 100% effective) ds 2 became stuck and as I was strapped to the bed I couldn't get into a position to help him unstick himself! Forceps in theatre, 3rd degree tear.

Now I know my 2nd birth was due to the choices I made but I feel this was a result of my experiences with my first birth. I am now 33 weeks with ds 3 and are having an elective c-section (incontinence after 3rd degree tear plus not trusting my body to do it naturally but I don't know if my body could do it naturally as it hasn't really been given a fair crack at the whip iyswim!)

If I had my time over knowing what I know now I would want as less intervention as humanly possible and I would trust that my body could grow me a baby that it could deliver. (I am 5' 2 and have had 9lb 1oz and 1/2 oz off 10lbs so I do have large babies BUT being strapped to a bed isn't the best way to birth large babies...)

i gave birth to ds with just gas and air. still needed a ventouse, still laboured on my back because i didn't have the strength to do anything else and the pain was horrific. ended up being given an epidural after the birth in order to get the placenta out as the drug they gave me to make me contract again (after having had the baby remember!) didn't work.

sorry, don't want to scare you and you might find the pain manageable but i'm insisting on either an elective cs next time or at the very least an epidural.

I had early epidurals with both mine (gave birth in France - sounds a bit like Switzerland). Dd was seven-and-a-half hours from start to finish, ds five-and-a-half. I had no intervention, allowed it to wear off slightly so I could feel to push, pushed both babies out with three sets of three pushes and had two fabulous, pain free births. If I had another baby I would go back to France to deliver. If I were you I would take what Switzerland has to offer

I had an epidural with DS1 (long first labour, back-to-back) and it stopped my contractions so ended up strapped into stirrups with ventouse, episiotomy, loads of stitches and couldn't sit down for about two weeks.

DS2, managed with gas and air, yes it hurt a fuck of a lot but no intervention needed, gave birth in my choice of position (on knees leaning against back of bed, only a small tear, one stitch and up and about the very next day.

Would choose the epidural-free route every time if possible (not that there is going to be a next time!).