What are the reasons you chose NOT to have an epidural?

[Astrophe]

I have had two labours without,and was chatting to a friend who is considering options for her first labour. She asked why I chose not to have epidurals.

I said - better not to as epidural increases the chances of further intervention, and that I wanted to 'do it myself'...in that perverse proud sort of way My first labour in particular was pretty long and hard, so it wasn't because the pain wasn'
t bad enough!

Anyway, I'm not trying to convince her either way, and not trying to upset people who have epidurals for whatever reason...but what were your reasons not to have one?

[sleeplessinstretford]

my first baby was posterior,9lb 12 and i had manflu (actually a strep virus that left me and baby with holes in our hearts)anyway-after delivery (failed ventouse/forceps) and baby in SCBU I decided that if i ever did it again I wanted to be able to try and feel when to push (first time round I was requesting being put to sleep and woken up afterwards)and see if I could do it without an epidural as I thought that it was a sort of 'gateway'to other stuff happening (as is induction in my opinion) once they've got you hooked up to something then I think they have time frames to 'get you done with' hence drips,waters being broken, episiotomies etc etc.
Second time round I was determined to see how far i could go and got to the end,with nothing, no gas and air,no stitches-nothing. I think half the problem with the pain is 'the fear' I did NCT and was mad keen on breathing and almost hypnobirthing (this is a bridge too far for me though)
If your friend's worried, get her to do an active birth class/NCT/yoga/hypno birth.
i think telling someone who is patently terrified that one of their methods of pain relief is not really that helpful you know by the way? Well done you for not wanting one but it's not something you get a medal for...

[lal123]

In my birth plan I had the option of an epidural - but I never really felt as if I needed it - coped on gas and air. By the time I started thinking that maybe an epidural would be a good idea it was too late to have one.

BTW - I don't think that gas and air is natural and don't see myself "above" someone who has had an epidural - having babies isn't a competition.

[chaya5738]

Thanks Reallytired, I was thinking exactly the same thing but then couldn't be bothered writing a reply. So I am glad you did it for me

[StealthPolarBear]

Bad choice of words, but giving birth without pain numbing intervention is what was meant. My birth was the only one I was interested in - not in comparing it to other people's.

[cory]

For the same reason that I am not taking a paracetamol this morning: I simply didn't feel I needed it.

Doesn't mean that I might not have needed it at some other time; it's just that for me, in my first labour, the pain was not so bad that gas and air and the TENS were not adequate. (and the second time I had an emC). To a great extent, I think it's the luck of the draw.

I did however put in my notes that I did not want pethidine, because of the risk of making the baby drowsy, there were already concerns about dd's lack of movement.

[lucykate]

i've given birth twice, didn't have an epidural for either. first time, i was already 8cm dilated when i got to the hospital, things were progressing fine and quickly so one wasn't even offered. second time, as i already know what it was like to give birth without pain relief, it didn't really occur to me to have an epidural.

[Reallytired]

Every birth is different and its impossible to know what its like for a particular woman to give birth.

You can not even compare size of babies as it may well be harder work for a very petite woman to give birth to a small baby than a large boned woman give birth to a large baby.
A lot also depends on positioning of the baby and general health of the mother.

In some circumstances epidurals are the right course of action. I am glad that we live in a country that any woman who needs an epidural can get one regardless of her financial means.

Just because you didn't need an epidural does mean that other women should be denied one. I don't even see a problem with an epidural being given before full blown labour pain kicks in. The NHS wastes money on lots of stupid things.

I don't even believe that an epidural substantially increases risks of complications. A mobile epidural allows you movement and the sensation of pushing. What causes complications is sh!t care in labour.

[StealthPolarBear]

I agree with you RT (apart from possibly the last bit - I thought it was proven that epidurals tend to lead to more interventions, but could be wrong). I had a straightforward birth and consider myself lucky to have had that and to have not needed pain relief. A friend who gave birth at the same time had a few problems (baby was OP I think, with her hand up around her face). She had an epidural, as far as I'm concerned our two labours can't be compared really.
I desperately hope I don't need one next time, for all the reasons I've given. If I do, I'll deal with it at the time.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

I had no idea what giving birth would really feel like,

I knew the pain relief that would be available to me. I didn't rule out anything, but knew that I wanted to start with nothing, and work up rather than starting at the top.

I knew that some ladies do not have epidurals so I also knew that it was possible that I could potentially be one of the ladies who didn't need one.

So for me I had a list of things to try,
paracetamol (early stages)
tens machine,
being mobile,
birthpool,
gas and air,
pethedine (if early enough to have worn off for the birth)
epidural

I wanted to give my body every possible chance to do it without extra help without ruling anything out. And with both boys I go to the birthpool and that was enough.
Not sure if that helps though.

[oliverboliverbutt]

"Just because you didn't need an epidural does mean that other women should be denied one."

no one on this thread has even suggested that.

Is it possible once for women who have had a natural, no drugs involved birth, to talk about it - the how's and why's - without someone coming on and getting defensive about epidurals or interventions or CS'S?
Are we not allowed to discuss our births in happy positive terms for fear of hurting someones feelings?

I never get to talk about my births (they were all drug free and wonderful) online & IRL, I am always made to feel like I am bragging or something. I am not bragging, I just had a different experience.

grrrr

[MrsTittleMouse]

For me the best thing about not having epidurals was that I could have a very upright active labour in a MLU. Both my babies got stuck and I think that if I hadn't been able to do all that work and positioning then I wouldn't have been able to get either of them out. As it was, DD1 was too far to come our by herself and I ended up having ventouse. As soon as I knew that I needed an instrumental birth then I insisted on an epidural, as I'm not a masochist. The relief was incredible as I had been in labour for days and active labour for 17 hours. Luckily DD2 was finally pushed out my me in a supported squat and I was happy to forgo the epidural.

I know that lots of women do get their babies out when they've had an epidural and are on a bed, by the way, but my pelvis doesn't seem to be the right shape for childbirth.

Oh! Just had another thought. It was marvellous after DD2 to be able to walk to the shower and clean myself up. After DD1 I was stuck in bed all night and felt utterly grim. It wasn't until DH came the next morning that I could get up to wash and ask the midwife to change the bloody sheets. But that wouldn't be enough to have convinced me to go without for DD1 and had DD2's birth gone the same way then I would have had a second epidural.

[gigglinggoblin]

1. It didnt work last time so I had all the down side with none of the benefit, including being unable to use other methods of pain relief I found really helpful. Here,let me stick a needle in your back so you cant move and cant relieve your pain. Great! (I was pushed into having it by crap mw)
2. It gave me a bad back for months and apparently this is quite common, they just didnt think I needed to know at the time
3. Being unable to move is really horrible
4. The water took away the need completely and was a much nicer experience

[tinierclanger]

I didn't WANT one because

1. scared of the idea of having my spine fiddled around with
2. thought it would lead to more interventions
3. really wanted to experience the birth as much as possible

But - I had to have one because I got pre-eclampsia - so they basically said I really had to have it.

It wasn't the birth I'd planned but it doesn't bother me.

[OmniDroid]

I had one the first time. And was jolly grateful for it, too.

Didn't wan't another because:

I wanted a home birth.

I wanted to know what birth felt like - had no sensation when pushing out DS, never experienced transition. I wanted to know

I disliked the whole 'patient experience' of having birth done to me rather than it being something I was in (some sort of) control of.

I hated the aftermath - bed bound, in hospital for 2 nights, canula in my hand (worst bit of the whole thing, so painful), shaky and sick, miserable distressed baby due IMO to his being dragged out with a ventouse.

DD was born at home with no pain relief other than paracetemol, TENS and a birth pool. It was a wonderful experience, she was a chilled out baby and I was 'myself' again within hours rather than days/weeks as with DS's birth.

[Tamlin]

I didn't, because

a) was worried about it stalling labour, and winding up needing intervention (did anyway, hah).
b) I used to be a rower, and didn't want any damage, however small, to my back.
c) I have SPD, and was told by my physio that an epi wasn't the best idea in case something was torn when my legs were held back for pushing.

[thedolly]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the dreaded catheter - one of the worst necessary (temporary) interventions after an epidural - eek.

[KatyS36]

Hi everyone,

Many thanks for such a brilliant thread. I'm pregnant with my first baby and have found it really helpful.

[Astrophe]

Reallytired and Chaya and anyone else - certainly no ofence was meant by my comment that I wanted to "do it myself" - I did try to make it clear in my OP that I have no 'issue' with people having an epidural and am not judging them (or my friend, who asked the question) one way or another. I was just trying to explain my own desire to feel the full force of the labour, and to feel everything my body was doing....just my personal choices - nothing to do with judging anyone elses decisions.

Other people don't have that desire, or need the pain relief for whatever reason....fine. Women in labour are amazing, however their babies make an appearance, and in the end everyone wants a healthy baby and Mum, and makes their decisions with the hope of those outcomes.

I've been really interested to read everyone's experiences and reasons for their various choices, so thanks for replying.

[WoTmania]

I didn't need one x 3