Wait...why aren't we all having epidurals as standard?

[HeidiHole]

This is probably a really stupid question but I can't help wondering.

I'm (almost) 36 weeks and have been doing my hypnotherapy CD and planning my water birth. However I suppose with the birth looming I'm getting more nervous and wondering how I'll cope with the pain.

On One Born Every Minute I've seen a few ladies opt for an epidural. Then they're all calm, they seem to nap a bit, drowsy and then someone wakes them up, tells them to push and the baby is out! over-simplified

I wouldn't go for a tooth extraction and play the hero and say no no it's OK deep breathing will do me, you can save your anesthetic in the gum for someone else. So why am I doing this with probably the most painful thing I'll ever experience?

Am I missing something? I've read that epidurals are extremely safe (obviously nothing has zero risk but if I was going for an operation/dental procedure etc i'd accept the risk and have the pain relief as would everyone else!)

This is totally what i believe it is based purely on my experiences.

Yes it hurts. It hurts some more than others. Some labours/pushing lasts longer than others. Some have stronger muscles. Some have differently levels of expectation. Some are not fully prepared for what it takes. You don't get a medal for pain. I didn't want someone else telling me when I was having a contraction. I have faith in my body. I have faith in those hcp attending. I knew what I wanted whilst also being flexible. I am lucky that I have short labours compared to many. I am lucky with how I deal with labour/birth.

Oh and the most important, it's up to the individual what they do and no-one else's place to judge.

lynlynn I think you're right about the cascade of intervention theory.

I had an epi after 15 hours of labour, then ended up with a CS (which I found out later would have been needed no matter what). An uncomplicated birth might not have even made it to 15 hours, or might not have had the extra factors causing the kind of excruciating pain that makes epis so desirable.

I didn't want an epidural, and that was nothing to do with "martyrdom". I wanted to do it naturally, be in control, be mobile, let my body do what it was designed to do.

Having said that, with DD2 (my third) I did have a change of heart at one point, and started screaming for an epidural. The anaesthetist arrived ten minutes later, as did DD2.

Labour was too fast 1cms to 10cms in less than an hour, wasn't for the want if asking though

For labours 2, 3 and 4 well I had done one without and they were pretty quick too

2 and 3 were homebirths, 4 was an induction in hospital.

You would think they would have invented something better than an epidural by now, complete pain relief, no side effects, no interventions needed bet they would have done if men had babies.

Please don't worry too much about the pain, yes it hurts but it's worth it. The labour is only a few hours it's the next 20 years that's the problem

I had an epidural for DC1 but not for DC2. I much, much preferred the second birth and I don't want an epidural for DC3.

I've always felt that the pain is akin to running a marathon. It hurts, but you keep going, keep going, knowing the finishing line is ahead, and when your baby is born it all seems worth it. Delivering my children was the hardest work I have ever done, but I felt so proud of myself at the end.

Hard to explain, but I just really really wanted to do it myself.

Because diamorphine is so much more fun...

i only very narrowly avoided a ventouse (which would also mean episiotomy) when i had my epidural, as i just couldnt feel when to push. My baby also wouldnt feed properly which i think was down to the pethidine id had before which was horrible and made me feel really spaced out, but it still hurt just as much. Gas and air makes me nauseous.
I hated having to stay on my back for the rest of the night because of the epi, i hated the catheter.

Childbirth hurts. You cant get away from that. It bloody hurts. Im glad we have the option to have pain relief but I think people should be made aware that there are always risks and side effects, and sometimes side effects are worse than the pain and you dont want that when youre trying to give birth.
Id rather have the pain of contractions than nausea and sickness of pethidine or G&A, plus no pain relief means you can get up and about as soon as you like. Its much quicker to recover. Also no pain relief means youre able to listen to your body and choose the best position for you to give birth in, which isnt always what the textbooks or midwives say, and it certain isnt usually flat on your back

Yesterday morning at 2am I would've had anything offered to take away the pain.

At 2.30am having a baby sorted that out.

I had an epidural with dd1 and swore to never again have enother one. Gave birth to the next 4 children with gas and air. By the time I was ready to have number 6 I thought I knew what I was doing/my body was doing. Yesterdays birth was fast and intense. Just proved to me that all births are different and I shouldn't be shut off from options available.

and i meant to add, the right birthing position for YOU, will help prevent tears etc

heidihole - "gravity making the baby fall out" if only!!!!!! I want to be fully alert when the baby comes so have never opted for an epi. With DD1 I did sort of enjoy the pain - not through martyrdom, just because it meant she was nearly here. With DD2 I can't remember the pain so much as feeling a bit out of control - after a prolonged labour the actual birth bit was pretty quick.
For me the long hours of contractions were the worst as hurt a manageable amount, but soooo tiring. The actual birth bit where you "feel the burn" as my sister said is pretty quick (30 mins for me I think) and you know you're at the end.

They are not without risk. The needle is inserted into your spine. My friend had one and the anaesthetist took 3 attempts to get it right, then it only partially worked.
I wouldn't want anyone messing in my spine without damn good reason. I didn't find the pain of birth that bad to be honest - though I know it and the perception of it varies a lot from one person to another.
And if you can't move about in labour that can slow the whole thing down, I was wandering around and it was nice and quick (lucky I know, but still)

An epidural slows the labour down which means that there is a higher risk of the labour becoming more complicated. With my second labour I was adamant that I didn't want an epidural but ended up having one as the labour didn't pan out as I expected. I ended up with an EMCS, I think that was probably going to happen anyway but the epidural won't have helped. I'm still glad I had the epidural as my labour was calm and pain free, there is no way that I would have coped without it. At the beginning of my labour the midwife said that they recommended I have an epidural because it was clear that I wasn't even going to cope with another 20 minutes without it.

I didn't have one with with either dc.

First time I wanted to see what it felt like; second time I was just looking forward to the Gas and Air.

Both almost 9lb babies.

I had one with DD. She was my first and the labour was long and distressing (although perfectly normal 'on paper')

I was desperate for an epidural and it was wonderful after all that pain.
It took me a long while to get over the birth but that may have been because it was my first. I also had a lot of stitches (they didnt tell you what sort of tear it was in those days and the mw refused to tell me how many stitches I had).

Didnt have one with DS1 because it was a lot quicker. I gave birth kneeling up and tbh it was a revalation and I felt a huge weight lift from my shoulders. I had been carrying around a lot of negative stuff from DD's birth.

I didnt have one for DCs 4&5 because I wanted a home birth. It was my main objective so I had to forgo any idea of epdiurals.

If I had been transfered I would have asked for one immediately. TBH I hate hosptials so much I would have thought it pointless going through pain for a birth that I would remember with distress anyway.

I think women should have what they need. My experience shows (for me) that the less you have during labour the quicker you recover but that has to be balanced out with the amount of distress you experience during labour.

CONGRATULATIONS misdee !

I am only expecting DC1 so haven't had personal experience (yet!) from the birthing side, but worked in anaesthetics, including in a delivery suite, for a long time so here are a few points!

Re: the catheter / non mobile thing - it really depends on what your hospital uses as the epidural anaesthetic; find out, not all epidurals are created equally! Modern solutions give good analgesia without motor block, so you are still mobile and can feel contractions as 'pressure' but without them being painful. You may also have a 'top-up' button that you use if you need to (called a PCEA - Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia)
Whether you have a catheter all the time or just an 'in & out' will also partly be local policy.

In terms of complications - the biggies are pretty rare but also check what the local rate is at it will vary according to level of experience etc. Epidurals, done right, are extremely effective and an amazing method of pain relief for many things, including labour, and are sometimes the best way (e.g. for a necessary CS!). But they're not for everyone. Getting yourself informed from reliable sources is the best way to make the decisions that are right for you.

From what I've seen, hypnobirthing techniques are really helpful, even if you end up having a CS as you are calmer & more able to keep control / follow what's happening & stay involved in decisions.
Personally, I am planning to see how I go with breathing, ball & TENS and am aiming for the midwife-led unit! [crosses fingers hopefully]

And big congratulations misdee!

I wanted an epidural with both DC1 and DC2, but didn't have chance with either, my labours were so quick I didn't have chance. Now on baby number three and of love to do it all natural again, it's an amazing feeling at the end saying 'I did that!' I know had I had time to have the epidural i would have done, because omg it hurts! Lol.
We'll see how this labour pans out, but after 1 hour 30 mins of labour last time I'm expecting this one to go quite fast too! Xx

My first DC was 9lbs, back-to-back and brow presentation (came out eyebrows first, head tilted back so massive skull circumference....)

Managed with no pain relief. 11hrs from first contraction to delivery.

I had *NO EPIDURAL written on my birth plan

Reasons: cascade of intervention - higher risk of forceps, CS due to not being able to feel pushing; risk of headaches, back aches, causing blood pressure to drop (very low to begin with).

All the girls in my NCT group who had an epi ended up with forceps or CS. The two who didnt had "normal" deliveries.

cough I did ask for one though but it was too late!!! cough

I'm OK with needles if I can watch, quite happy to watch nurses take blood samples and even the big amnio needle.

DH knew if I had a Csection, I wanted to be able to see.

Big needle in my spine where I can't possibly watch, I go shaky at the thought, just can't conceive I'd keep still.

Thank you everyone for sharing experiences! So useful to read through. Congrats misdee baby number 6 wow!!

I'm all for taking advantage of what's available - that's what medical science is for. We don't encourage people to die naturally, why do feel so hung up about giving birth naturally?

Yes, there may be advantages to natural birth, but a friend of mine had one and the cord got wrapped around the babies neck, was subsequently born with brain damage and died five weeks later. I'm not suggesting this tragedy is in any way 'normal' - but it wouldn't have happened with a c-section. Only mentioning to highlight it's not all sunshine and lolly pops the natural way.

Me, I'm signing up for an epidural or c-section and don't feel guilty about it...

Best of luck with whatever you decide to go for!

Because I have a phobia of needles (among other medical procedures) and would have a panic attack. I hate the thought of being immobilised and out of control of the situation. I suffer from anxiety and MUST be in control reveals insanity.

When I was in labour with DS I was shocked at how well I knew what to do without instruction. My body told me. Without that, how would I know what to do?

It's nothing to do with being a martar . I'm not judging anyone else for having one, I just know it's not right for me, it's nothing to do with comparing myself to others. Whatever you choose, it's down to what you need, regardless of how other peoples needs differ.