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 do realise I have come across as a complete prude

I went swimming 5 times a week while pregnant and got changed in a communal changing room, so being naked to give birth was very normal for me. However I realise that not everyone would be comfortable with this, actually its more the thought of it really, seeing yourself as others can see you.
I had a lumbar puncture 10 years ago which was horrible and I felt awful for days afterwards. I couldn't get out of my mind that an epidural would be different, so for me that held more fear than the pain.
Even though I used none of the hard stuff, I think its good that it's there because every woman should be able to choose her own birth (medical conditions permitting).

pupuce, i find that distinction between 0-3cm dilation and the rest really unhelpful to women. i remember discussing this with a friend of mine and we agreed that labour started when we felt it did! it all depends on how painful that initial stage is, ime. by my own definition i was 43 hrs in labour (i.e from when the pain was noticeable to extremely bad) but "only" 23 hrs in "real labour". the fact that i spent at least 12 hrs in excruciating (as opposed to the preceding 8 hrs where it was bad, but bearable) pain being brushed off by the community midwives, and being given no help at all was a direct contributing factor to deciding to have an epidural 27 hours in. that and the fact they failed to spot an OP labour and gave me no advice whatsoever to adopt an all fours position to ease matters. i was told to go in the bath which was no help at all because you are in a reclining position. to make matters worse i wasn't even believed when i said the bath wasn't helping me!

will stop there - could bore for england on this topic.

ooh, it's ages since i've had a good rant about my labour!

pupuce, sorry all that wasn't directed at you, just at the distinction you make between the phases of early labour - this might be helpful to midwives or obstetricians, but it isn't much help to women in pain who need help.

I am finding all this totalyy fascinating, especially thinking that in 5-7 weeks I will be doing it all again (I am mental!!)
The shower I used, Bozza, was in hospital. I was lucky enough (because dh had worked in our maternity unit) to be classed as staff and get a private room with en-suite, so we just jumped in that shower both times. Excellent way to avoid monitoring, which in both labours was the cause of the most pain - lying down for 20 mins?? Give me a break!
I was lucky (??!!) in my first labour as they realised I was OP fairly early on and I used the birthing ball and all fours position a lot, which helped with the pain as well, and it encouraged her to turn - the wrong bl**dy way!!!

The thing that I found different about childbirth (given that I have suffered kidney stones, which are supposed to be like it, and the closest a man can come to giving birth!) is that it is productive pain - does that make any sense? Kidney pain, though not as intense, goes on for hours and hours and gets you totally nowhere. You are sick with it - I've collapsed in the street with it, and it is just annoying cos there seems to be no purpose. Psychologically, the way I dealt with labour pain was by thinking 'one contraction closer to birth' every time.
I cant say I noticed pain in the second stage at all! The first time I thought I was pushing but dd's head wasn't making much contact with anything because of her posterior position, so I had no urge to push. I had a ventouse and 2nd degree tear without even realising it was happening! The second time - now THAT was an urge to push! When they tell you not to - how do they expect you to stop????? But ds was born in 5 pushes with a little tear and I had no experience of tearing or burning or anything then either.
I'm dreading doing it all again, but someone else said, theres something about going through birth (in whatever way it happens) that somehow makes you stronger - I know that I can do it, despite all the things I cant do in my life, I've had 2 babies and am going to have another, and that makes me - and all of uss - pretty special in my book!

I havn't scrolled down but am sure my views are not the same as most other people posting. I would no sooner have a tooth extracted or a limb amputated without some form of pain relief as I would give birth. I chose to give birth in hospital reassured that if I needed pain relief or DS needed immediate assistance it was on hand. As it turned out I had an emergency c/s by epidural after a 24 hour labour fo foetal distress. We are planning no.2 (if it ever happens....) and I would do the same again. I never felt bad about not having a 'natural' birth. I still had a fantastic healthy baby at the end of it. Hands up to those who chose not to use pain relief but also to those who do. (PS the weirdest thing about having a c/s is knowing you are being cut open when you are awake....now that is scary. I think those of us who have had them are extremely brave!).

This has been extremely interesting. I was very well informed prior to both births, but I made no definite decision about pain control with my DS (nearly 8 years ago). I wanted to do it on my own, but eventually asked for pethedine - simply awful made me feel so out of control. Finally, on the way to delivery ward, I asked if it was too late for an epidural. As I was in a big London teaching hospital the anaetheistic (sp!!) - a very nice woman - came to see me. She said I'd left it late, but suggested a "light epidural" - equivalent to a "walking" one. I was nervous about the needle, etc, but it was fine. I could still feel the contractions - but there was no pain. It was fine. Things slowed down a little, but my DS arrived at 9.27 in the morning and I wasn't shattered. I had no tear, cut or stiches and I put that down to listening to my excellent midwife. BTW - it was the Whittington - excellent place as far as I'm concerned. For my DD again I wanted to do it on my own. She was 14 days late so I was induced - again not something I would have chosen, but okay. The contractions started on their own and I spent a "happy" afternoon walking around the delivery area with my DH (very brave as he didn't think he'd cope - he did and brilliantly). I also had my MIL present - she was wonderful. I finally asked for an epdidural at about 7.50pm - the midwife (who was also excellent) - basically said too late - she'll be out any minute now. DD arrived at 8.04pm. I coped on gas & air - which I found surprisingly good (hated it with DS). HMC - you do whatever you think best for you. I believe that if you read and learn about all the options, but are relaxed about what happens then things are easier all round. My personal feeling is, if you are very rigid about what you will/won't have - then you could be open for disappointment or worry.

I think I've been lucky - two good hospitals, two excellent midwives (the key to the whole process) and very little medical intervention. The result DS and DD - both lively little monsters.

Good luck.

Forgot I was semi naked as I was in so much pain as I crawled around trying to find the gas and air!. Had a secret support type bra top on as had been in the birthing pool - had to control my boobs in case they hit me in the face as I writhed