People's reasoning behind wanting an Epidural?

[Spice17]

Following on from my earlier thread about being gutted about my birth options, it's got me thinking about reasons why I might be considering an Epidural e.g. really trying to think about and understand why I might want it, my reasoning etc.

I just wondered if anyone else is mainly considering it/had it previously for the same reason as me - for the possible tearing and stitching afterwards?

I think it's what I'm most scared of, much more than any pain during labour, feel I can cope with that but am pretty scared of feeling the tear and stitching after.

Can anyone offer any pearls of wisdom re this? Do you 'feel' the tearing or does the pain all merge into one? Will I even be that bothered at the end?

I'm thinking a natural water birth feels 'do-able' but that bit is stopping me somehow........

I didn't have an epidural and tore in all 3 labours without noticing at all. First time had stitches with a local anesthetic and gas and air - didn't feel a thing except slight pricking from anesthetic injections.

Contractions are far more painful than tearing or stitching.

I had a second degree tear while giving birth on gas and air and pethidine, and I don't remember feeling myself tear amid the sheer agony of crowning and birth.

However, I do remember the stitches, which were done about 5 minutes after the birth, being absolute agony and almost as bad as actually giving birth. Perhaps they hadn't given me any anaesthetic, I've no idea. I can still remember the pain of the stitching now, it makes me shudder.

A physio specialising in pelvic floor 'rehabilitation' told me that an epiosiotomy can really damage your pelvic floor and a 'natural tear' is far better of the two in terms of pelvic floor recovery - and thus avoiding subsequent incontinence.

"When I was crowning I didn't give two shiny shits about if I was tearing or not, the only thing I thought of was that that baby was coming OUT! Although I didn't tear, so perhaps that is why I didn't think about it. Who knows. "

I had a small tear - it stung and made me not want to drink liquids and therefore not need the loo, for about 10 days - i was in agony and feared the loo, and the shower.....i was criyng when showering,.. - when it healed it also went all tight i didnt have stiches it was that small.

along with sore under carriage - and general stinging, the tear and then sore boobs - then a migrane from the pushing and neck ache and problems - it all adds up!!!

I had a tear for each birth. I didn't feel the tear at all.
For DS, I had an epidural, but it had worn ou by the time the MW stitched me up and she told me to "suck it up" when I asked for pain relief.
For DD, I gave birth without an epidural (no time!) and I had a local anaesthesia before the stitches.
I don't want an epidural for DC3 in 7 weeks!

There is absolutely no point theorising about whether you want an epidural at some point in the future. If you are in AGONY or your labour is interminably long and you are exhausted then you will literally want to grab the needle from the doctor and stick it in your back yourself.

I know people who have lied about having an epidural for fear of being judged. It is not a cop out, all labours are different and some are more painful and complicated than others.

I would emphasis what someone up thread says just because you want one you may not get one if all the anaesthetists are busy.

It depends what your labour is like and what the circumstances are.

I was induced two weeks early and my body wasn't ready to give birth, nor was I gradually induced, it was straight on the drip and ratched up every half hour when it wasn't taking effect. I needed an epidural.

I have watched programmes One Born every Minute and Midwives and I've seen a lot of births that are calmer than mine and seem manageable without an epidural.

why has no-one mentioned piles yet?! I remember being terrified of tearing and having to have stitches, but in the end it was the piles that did for me - they were much more painful than my stitches, and much more embarassing to admit to too :)

I had put in my birth plan that I didn't want an epidural, but god knows how many hours into my first labour, I changed my mind! Honestly, you won't really know how the birth is going to go until it's happening, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I didn't even bother with a birth plan the second time round (when I didn't need an epidural).

my first birth i had an epidural.

my second i had some gas and air before pushing but otherwse no pain relief. i had a 2nd degree tear but it didn't hurt. i could feel the tearing happening, but it happened during crowning so i was distracted

they gave me an anaesthetic (suppository? i honestly don't recall) before doing the stitching. that was fine too

strangely, the pain of labour was the same both times - i wasn't coping though the first time and the epidual was totally necessary

hopefully the midwives/hcp will listen to you while you are in labour and you will get what you need

best x

have not had chance to read the rest of the thread but wanted to reply to original question...

I'm considering changing hospitals as my local one doesn't offer epidurals and I really needed one last time. So much so that I think I might be prepared to drive for an hour and a half to the next hospital rather than go to the local which is 10 minutes away!

However this is because I had a long labour, reacted badly to diamorphine and generally have the lowest pain threshold known to man - and didn't cope very well. The bit I was most worried about beforehand was tearing/episiotomy and stitches and I had both of those and didn't actually notice at all. It sounds horrendous but it is really, really not a biggie. If I thought that was the only reason I had for having an epidural I would not even be considering one. It's a bit like pooing in labour - it sounds absolutely mortifying and then it happens and no-one bats an eyelid.

So - I just wanted to say - nothing at all wrong with having an epidural, but please don't worry about the tearing thing - and do what you feel is right at the time.

Thanks again all, lots of scary stuff to read but I would rather know and not think I'll have a 'lovely, serene water birth and it will all be lovely'! Maybe it could be but always best to be prepared I was a girl guide

Also, just wanted to say that the title 'People's reasoning behind wanting an Epidural?' was not meant in anyway as a judgement, just a genuine interest/question (as mine is to do with the fear of tearing etc)

If at the time it feels necessary, I will definitely scream for it have it :)

I had gas and air for ds1 including an episiotomy (2nd degree). The only reason I didn't have an epidural was that I was induced and labour suddenly speeded up before the anaesthetist had time to insert the epidural. They did the episiotomy because the baby was in trouble and they needed to get him out quickly.

Actually pushing the baby and the epis and stitching was all done with a local anaesthetic injection and I didn't feel it!

I had no pain after the gas and air - was on a high I guess - even with the stitches.

I was very anxious to avoid all of the above before the birth, but sometimes events take over and in the end it all healed up perfectly. I'm not stressed at all about no.2 due in March. Will defo ask for an epidural if I need one, more for contractions than pushing - why should I suffer! (Also curious after last time!)

Have you heard of 'Epi-No' - its a perineal exerciser/massager. A friend of mine is a physio and delivered a 9lb baby with no tear after using this for the last few weeks of pregnancy. Seemingly they are used a lot in France - ( where perineal care is more of a priority apparently than here in Ireland - lucky women)

PS Ilovetermtime is so right! far worse than the hours of labour were the weeks of severe piles afterwards - have they invented anything for that??

I had an epidural with DD1 (first baby) because she was back-to-back and I was literally shrieking in agony and couldn't do anything or follow instructions. I had no tightenings round my bump, just red hot clamps round my spine. It is the worst pain I have ever had, bar none.
DD2 was delivered very quickly with just G&A, I had a second degree tear- I wish I'd had an epidural for the stitching, it went on and on (almost an hour) and hurt so much I was sobbing by the end. Fucking MW kept saying "I've nearly done, dear" all the way through which DID NOT help.