Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Anyone manage a hospital birth without water or epidural in last year?

35 replies

Jane7 · 03/02/2010 13:53

I must confess a motive here. I'm writing an article about 'what labour really feels like' and I'm looking to chat to someone (for five mins) who managed to have a natural birth in hospital, perhaps even induced, without epidural or water. Pethidine/gas and air is fine. Surprisingly hard to find. Seems that most people either go down medicalised route, having epidural and the works, or they rely on water to fend off need for epidural. Would love to hear from anyone who managed a normal hospital birth in the last year and wouldn't mind telling me about it for five mins.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Comewhinewithme · 03/02/2010 14:01

Me but not by choice . I had just G&A it was terrible.
Not sure if you are only looking for positive stories though because mine isn't positive at all.

CMOTdibbler · 03/02/2010 14:02

I did, but not in the last year - DS is 3.7. Had continous monitoring etc, all on the bed, but just used gas and air

themildmanneredjanitor · 03/02/2010 14:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coldtits · 03/02/2010 14:04

I did, not in the last year though

Pollyanna · 03/02/2010 14:05

I did, but it was in 2008. I did with my previous 4 births too.

Sonilaa · 03/02/2010 14:07

I had a few weeks ago, only gas and air. (and a lot of shouting..)

newmomma · 03/02/2010 14:08

I did. Jan 09.

Pethidine, gas and air. No water, or epidural.

Loved it. :-)

Pinner35 · 03/02/2010 14:10

I did but not in the last year.....DD is 22 months. I had the TENS machine and paracetamol combined with breathing and yoga movements.

Original poster
Jane7 · 03/02/2010 14:10

Thanks for all these responses. Unfortunately it does need to be in the last year. Its for a feature for Prima Baby magazine.
Comewhinewithme - was everything about it awful? i guess i wouldn't be able to be negeative about absolutely everything. but it's fine to say it bloody hurt.
what do you reckon?
feel free to email me at shepardanna at gmail dot com

oh and mildmanneredjanitor thank you sorry didn't know about media requests section. shall go off and find it now. sorry for that

OP posts:
Marne · 03/02/2010 14:10

I did but again not in the past year (dd1 is 6) i had a drug free birth (no G&A, nothing), i had a long labour and thought i was going to die (all was ok though).

pooexplosions · 03/02/2010 14:10

1 with epidural, 2004; one with just g&a, 2007 and one with water and g&a, but had to get out of the water for the actual birth, 2009.

StealthPolarBear · 03/02/2010 14:11

yes, in Sept 09

Original poster
Jane7 · 03/02/2010 14:11

oh and newmomma and sonilaa, can i get in touch with you? what's your email? i'm shepardanna at gmail dot com

this would involve 10 mins on phone and i'm afraid we'd want to use a pic

OP posts:
Original poster
Jane7 · 03/02/2010 14:13

Forgive me for not using media requests, I promise I will do next time. But since I've already gone down this route, can I just ask for anyone who has had this non-epidural and non-water birth in hospital in the last year to get in touch with me on my email shepardanna at gmail dot com
I'd need to chat on phone for 5/10 mins and then need you to send me a photo of you and baby taken as soon as poss after birth.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 03/02/2010 14:14

is it really that unusual? i know loads of people who gave birth in hospital with no epidural

SuperSoph73 · 03/02/2010 14:15

I had DS2 in 2008, completely natural - no epidural, no water, no G&A (because we don't have it over here) & had an absolutely fabulous experience

FreddoBaggyMac · 03/02/2010 14:25

I had DS2 in hospital last May with no pain relief at all. I only just made it to the hospital though as he nearly popped out in the car It was a really great birth, no pain at all just a massive urge to push when my waters broke with no signs of things happening before that (and by massive urge I mean massive!) and he was out half an hour later!

Original poster
Jane7 · 03/02/2010 14:55

Please do get in touch if you gave birth in the last year and if you would be happy to be my casestudy shepardanna at gmail dot com... or phone me on 07771 825336. Thank you.

OP posts:
cba · 03/02/2010 14:58

I gave birth in october, no gas and air nothing.

Very painful. Number four so not as though i was going in blind. Would not recommend.

All others have been gas and air with and without pethidine.

cba · 03/02/2010 14:59

oh, wouldnt mind telling you about it. You would have to leave your contact details though as I dont want to advertise mine on mumsnet ha ha!

cba · 03/02/2010 15:00

oops just noticed details already on. Will contact you later just off to do the school run.

Cies · 03/02/2010 15:02

I gave birth to ds in Nov with no meds at all. Or water. And was stuck on bed for a couple of hours with cfm. and gave birth in stirrups. But it wasn't in UK. Still a fantastic experience.

threeplusone · 03/02/2010 15:19

In 2007 I had DC3 in Germany where they do not use G and A. had some meptid at 3.55am but he was out by 4.05am. For an epidural you have to see the anethiatist before hand, so I wont be having one this time either.. May be jumping into the pool though if it is available

BlameItOnTheBogey · 03/02/2010 15:57

I gave birth 5 weeks ago in hospital with just a tens machine and happy to discuss it. (Was a private hospital though so not sure if that counts?)

newmomma · 04/02/2010 18:11

my email is sarah at sivyer dot net

i would be happy to talk to you - am also pregnant again though... does that matter?