Why would you not want pain relief?

[handlemecarefully]

Okay, don't get hot under the collar with me for asking this question. I'm not being judgemental, but I really am mystified why some mothers want to avoid all pain relief when giving birth. If you have decided to avoid all pain relief during your birth, please would you mind sharing with me your reasons why? I genuinely do want to understand....

I'm on baby no 2 by the way (due next spring) so I have been through childbirth myself already...

I wanted to experience childbirth.

I try to avoid any unneccessary medication, rarely take painkillers and won't even take the pill. I just don't want unnatural things in my body. I feel that putting thing like that into my body undermines my own natural defences and the like.

I had both my babies with nothing more than gas and air, and I would do so again.

I didn't set out to give birth without pain relief, but it wasn't really an issue, although I had a 44 hour labour in the end. To me, it seemed sensible to give myself the best chance of not needing any pain relief, so I had dd at home with familiar people around me, and I hired a birth pool (which was pain relief, technically, I suppose). Although it was certainly painful at times, it never felt out of control. If I'd needed pain relief though, I think I would have been very grateful for it.

Pupuce said that better than me.

And of course, not all of us are meant to survive natural childbirth by nature. I wouldn't have and neither would my darling, wonderful son, so I have to admit that really does colour my idea of natural childbirth and its universal desirability.

Really don't want a row - I do now try to respect other's choices even if I don't understand them, but just saying that there is no universal 'right way' to do these things.

Agree with Aloha, had to have an emergency cc after 21 hours. But baby was fine and so was I - no regrets. Had elective second time and was told that it was the right choice. Don't really feel I missed anything apart from intense pain. Second dd lovely too - v bright etc and v into breastfeeding. Maybe I was wrong but don't regret it.

Hope I haven't turned it into a row - just meant that I did what I did/had done and it was fine. I really do think each to their own. Most of my friends had natural childbirths with no/some painrelief but I didn't - we're all happy with the outcome which is good.

Ks, sorry if this is inappropriate as don't know your situation, but could you not insist that if you do have another baby you want xy and z. Again, sorry, if this is a really STUPID thing to say.

Sorry, think my posting was stupid.

I am sorry. But thanks.

I'm sorry too Ks.

Ks, just realised you're in Surrey - very close to me - if you EVER fancy meeting up let me know. Won't be remotely offended if not. I think I've said before I'm in Godstone.

As I started the thread - (and by posting here I'm not trying to kill it - please go on if you have something more to say), I would just like to say thanks to everyone who has contributed their views and experiences. Its really made me think...

ks I had an horrendous first labour and delivery, which resulted amongst things a dural tap, em section and baby in scbu. For my second I demanded an elective section. It was agreed it was most probably the shape of my pelvis causing delivery probs but on my notes it also said section for physchological (sp?) reasons. I am so sorry the birth of your ds has affected you so much, and still does - I hope things get better for you soon

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I am with Aloha, Sykes and KS on this one. I went into labour with all the lovely ideas of no pain relief and that I was going to find giving birth as easy as shelling peas like my mother did.
50 hours later I ended up with a c/section ... (and all the pain relief attached) ... I had no choice in the end - no choice about 'peeing in a bag' or feeling anything ...
What I am saying (and I have said it before) is that sometimes you have really no choice in the matter ... and I spent a lot of time beating myself up about it and feeling guilty ... which does no good.
So ... as long as the outcome is happy who cares whether you give birth in a hospital using every aid possible or whether you give birth swinging from a chandelier and yodelling?
(Says she who recently had a wobbly about everything to do with having another baby )

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ks you are not a fraud. Your birthing experience must have been 'bad' for you because it has affected you so much and for so long. I think you are doing the right thing talking about it to people because it will most probably help you move on from it. We all harbour things sometimes and years later you start to be affected by them - does that make sense?

I always think you should be very open minded about what you want. Im a wimp which is why some of the options dont appeal to me but at the end of the day you should do whatever feels right for you and other peoples opinions really are irrelevant. You should never compromise yourself to please others and if you want that pain relief you should have it.

When my friends were having their first babies I told them to try and be as open minded as possible. Dont close the door to pain relief until you actually realise how painful your labour is (obviously some can be more than most), added to which we all have different pain thresholds as well. I personally hate having a needle stuck in my arm but can manage the pain in labour...nutty really.. and when it came to my injection for the afterbirth I didnt even realise I had had that!

Good luck to all the pregnant mums.

x

well, I'm no glutton for punishment and would just love a totally painless labour really, but for me there is no ideal pain relief. I had an epidural first time round which was fantastic for taking the pain away, but also meant that I ended up with a second stage lasting 2.5 hours because I couldn't push effectively, a catheter and very low blood pressure. I'm not keen on any of those! Pethidine - well, I've not tried it myself but my friends who had it hated it. I've had a bad reaction to valium before (had an endoscopy and it was just awful - I was aware of everything going on but felt completely drugged and helpless), again not something I'd want whilst giving birth and from what I gather a lot of people feel the same when on pethidine. Plus the thought of it passing to the baby is scary.
TENS doesn't do anything for me, tried a nice warm bath last time which was ok for a bit and then just irritated me so I got out...
I do like gas & air though - great stuff.