Epidural worries...

[Louison]

Hi folks !
I'm french and living in Scotland for a year now. I'm actually 17w and I'm bloody worried about the labour and the way nhs seems to be against epidural.
Last week I've seen my midwife for the firstime and I've been told that there is no possibility to get an epidural at night. As I'm living on the isle of Harris I assume it's probably because there is only one anaesthetic consultant in this little hospital.
Then I spoke to my gynaecologist and she told me that she prefers a "natural way". I don't mind the natural way, and I really don't understand why you have to be in pain if you can avoid it. However I've seen a lot of women complaining about nhs on forum for te same reasons.

In France 80% of birth are made with epidural, in uk it's about 22%. Maybe it's because the cost ? I don't know.
Is there any way to be sure about getting an epidural ?

Thanks in advance :)

You've made me smile Louison. I'm in france and desperately want to avoid an epidural. The anaesthatist said it was 'a little idea in my head' (i.e. not to have an epi) and basically told if I want the support to avoid the epi I'll need to hire a private midwife. I don't think the costs explain the differences just a difference between the cultures. The french seem to have 'it's my basic right to not experience pain' whereas the english are more 'i want to experience the whole process'. Saying that of course every woman should be able to have access to adequate pain relief if she so wishes. I hope someone on here can be more helpful than me in suggesting how. Best of luck!

As an anaesthetist I can tell you that unfortunately if there is no overnight epidural service in your hospital then you have no chance of getting one. This is a decision made by the Trust to save money. No one needs an epidural, it's not life saving, though that's not to say I don't think they should be made available to all women (I do), but that's just cost saving in the nhs.

Your only option for an epidural would be to contact the anaesthetic dpt and ask if anyone would be willing to do this as a private service.

If this is not an option then have a look at the other options available and try not to focus on the "loss" of the epi. After all, sometimes they don't work, sometimes you get side effects, sometimes there's no time (by the time I got to the delivery room an hour after arriving at hospital with dc1 I was pushing, not even time to fill the birth pool!).

Don't know if its your cup of tea but I found natal hypnotherapy to be fantastic.

Good luck

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about the private service and I'll check this option next time I'll go to the hospital.
I had heavy surgery on my back few years ago and I've already had epidural for that.
I got some ribs missing and I got strong pain normally so I don't want to take more pain than I've already.
Thanks anyway ! :)

Lol ! We can switch if you want ;) Wich hospital did you choose for your pregnancy ? That's weird they don't want you to avoid the epidural. Basically there's no need at all to get a private midwife for that.
That's true we prefer to avoid pain in France... One of my friend just gave birth 2 days ago and told me that even with the epidural it was bloody painful. Don't hesitate to contact another maternity if you're not happy with this one. Thats the plus side in french medical system : you can choose. If you are in Paris there is also a french-british maternity. My friend has been there for her 1st baby and was very happy with them.
Good luck and don't hesitate if you need more information :)

That's a shame that depending on what time it is potentially you can't have what you want. However an English friend of mine recently had a baby in Switzerland and had difficulty explaining that she did not want epidural because nearly 80% of women in Switzerland do. I think the percentages are almost reverse here, a different attitude sometimes but not always driven by cost. She had a water birth with no pain relief- another friend was planning an epidural but managed great on other painkillers in the end. Perhaps time to find out what other options you have? Agree it is unfair that depending on where you live in the uk sometimes you can't have what you could have elsewhere. Aso maybe see if you can talk to some local mums about their experiences? Talking to your French friends about their epidurals will not help, as you know.

Ps in England you can choose where to have your baby, not sure about Scotland but obviously in a remot location your options for going somewhere else will be limited.

Thats the problem here... Too lost. I though a lot about it and i defo want the epidural. I really can't understand why enduring pain when you can avoid it but that's my opinion.
If I can't get an anaesthesic consultant as a private service I think I'll go to France unfortunately.

Christelle, I'ce considered the other option but because my previous surgery on my back I really don't want take any risk to be in pain. I already got severe pain sometimes and the only thing who really works is morphine... Thats why i prefer to get an epidural.

We are in very similar situations Louison. I'm fairly remote so the local hospital is really my only option. People have suggested I go to the UK!!! I need the private midwife because the maternity insist on continuous monitoring which I understand is very difficult to tolerate without pain relief. Anyway, I have the midwife booked now so I've been able to overcome my problem. I hope you can do the same. Best of luck with the private consultant.

I think if I were in your position, I would want the option to be there. I was adamant that I didn't want an epidural and a prepared carefully for a natural birth. Unfortunately I had a back labour which lasted 72 hours and was just too painful. Of course plenty of women have those perfect labours where they just breathe through the discomfort. But having the option available if you need it is the ideal situation. I assume an anesthetist would be available if you needed an emcs though?

louison it would be worth asking for an appointment with an anaesthetist. It can be impossible to do or even attempt an epidural in someone with previous back surgery. I appreciate you've had one before with the back surgery but that doesn't mean it will still be possible now. It depends on the level and nature of the surgery. This also pertains to spinal anaesthesia in the vent if needing a section, so they should see you on the nhs.
I know it will affect your plans if they say it is unlikely to be possible. So may be worth finding out sooner rather than later.

I always had a little smile at the role reversal. I understand how frustrating it is not to be guaranteed what you want or be understood not in terms of language but culturally (British in France). There was no way for me to go back to the UK (outre mer!) so I just had to negotiate and hope for the best. It worked for me do I hope it works out for you :)

Thanks for all the replies ! Im gonna have an appt with te anaesthetist in a few month so I'll see if I can get it as a private service as there is no way at all to get it during te night basically. If no, I'll cross my fingers and pray god to survive ! Haha
My gynecologist knows about my previous surgery and she still thinks its better "naturally". For me she doesn't respect what I want and more than everythink, what I need. I don't even understand how its possible for an hospital to run without an anaesthesist 24/7...

There will be an anaesthetist 24/7 but by not having an epidural service it reduces the number of calls and so the number of anaesthetists required. It is just cost cutting I'm afraid.

yeah thats what I though :/