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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

is childbirth without pain relief possible?

120 replies

steff1stbabysep06 · 21/06/2006 10:40

hi i live in spain and they dont provide pain relief in hospitals here, not even gas and air.this is my first baby and im so worried im not going to be able to cope....i mean obviously women have to do it but am i going to feel like im ready to die??? help!!

OP posts:
CarolinaMoose · 21/06/2006 10:43

eeeek!

what happens if you need an episiotomy or forceps?

presumably they do anaesthetics for caesareans??

Will you have much one-to-one care from a MW during labour?

MerlinsBeard · 21/06/2006 10:44

i had no pain relief with ds2. They did go and get some gas and air but by the time they came back with it i was pushing. I really focussed on my breathing, not so much the tin breath but the out breath and that sort of focussed my attention off the pain. It was very quick tho (1 hour)

If i ever have more then i would try for no pain relief again

moondog · 21/06/2006 10:44

Come home quick!!!

NomDePlume · 21/06/2006 10:44

Yes, it is possible. I have a crappola pain threshold, embarrasingly low, but I managed it. It wasn't intentional, it was just a case of my labour being so quick and intense that there was no time really. I felt like my body took over and just did what it needed to do. Of course, every labour is different so I can't say 100% that you will get through it without the 'omg, I'm tearing in two' feeling, but it IS possible

Perhaps breathing exercises would help ? Not specifically for pain relief, per se, but could be good for giving you something else to focus on. Do you have a good, supportive midwife?

Marne · 21/06/2006 10:46

I had dd1 with no pain relief, i wont lie, it was'nt easy and yes i did think i was going to die but then your labour could be alot different to mine and i soon got over it. Could you have a water birth, i found being in water helped the labour pains with dd2 (i did'nt give birth in the pool).

spots · 21/06/2006 10:48

I used only TENS machine for DD2 and I'm sure you could get hold of one on the internet. It's a distraction if nothing else. I know for 1st baby it would be reasssuring to know you'd have more choices, though. I do think knowing you CAN cope, will help you cope, if you know what I mean. and you can cope! Do they really not offer anything? I was under the impression that Spain was rather medical about childbirth?

FairyMum · 21/06/2006 10:48

Of course it is possible and depends on the type of birth you will have, but there is no way I would go to a hospital where there was no option of pain relief. No way! Why don't they give pain relief in Spain?

eefs · 21/06/2006 10:49

you could use a TENS machine?

I used just TENS and some gas and air near the end - it was doable and I was glad afterwards but wouldn't have said no to a nice big syringe of something during the labour I'm sure.

pooka · 21/06/2006 10:49

Crikey.
I had the lot for dd but then managed with just g & a with ds - it being second time round and a home birth was more aware of expectations and the fact that it would end (with dd really shocked and scared and felt like would be in pain for ages).
I do know people who have managed with nothing - and maybe the fact that no pain relief is on offer might mean you just get on with it. Friend had a couple of glasses of wine (I know, I know) when labour began and managed fine.
The main difference between the two labours i have had is that second time round I tried hypnobirthing (hypnotherapy to help me get myself calm and to help me think the pain away) and ante-natal yoga which helped amazingly with breathing through contractions and with preparing a circuit of positions to work through. These both helped amazingly (though still hurt). In particular having a set of moves to work through (i.e. rocking with head and arms resting on the wall for 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes on birthing ball, followed by 10 mins of pacing followed by 10 mins of pevis circling and repeat) helped to pass time, knwoing that could change position and be mobile and could concentrate on the circuit rather than the pain.
Do think that no gas and air is shocking though.

JackieNo · 21/06/2006 10:51

Reminds me of my lentil-knitting aunt, who claimed that when she had her babies all the pain relief she had was 'a sniff of a green apple'.

krabbiepatty · 21/06/2006 10:52

If you are going to stay in Spain, I recommend you learn hypnobirthing - I did half a cousre (baby came early) for baby no 3 recently and it did help considerably. It helps reduce anxiety apart from anything else and I suspect if you finished the course you might well have very reduced pain.

Lilliput · 21/06/2006 10:52

I would try to get hold of a tens machine, I used it with both my births. I had no pain relief apart from the tens machine with ds. Meditation reaaly helped when I gave birth to both, it really helps you visualise the pain in a way for you to handle it. You will feel so proud of yourself if you manage to do it without pain relief, you have to let your instincts take over, it is possible!

krabbiepatty · 21/06/2006 10:52

ah x-posted with pooka...

Gemmitygem · 21/06/2006 11:11

I was pretty sure they had the epidural in Spain, certainly in larger cities. Could you try the expat board, 'living overseas?" they might have a mums in spain group.

I would get informed about different hospitals there if I were you, and maybe look into having it in Britain otherwise. I'm due with my first in Oct, and live abroad (central asia), and decided to have it back in europe.

The thing is, childbirth is counted as severe pain by doctors, on their pain scales it is close to amputation etc (not trying to scaremonger but it is really painful, and why suffer in this day and age?) and you have to ask yourself whether you want the risk of going through with it without pain relief.. Fine if you want to try without but the choice should be available for you if you need it.

Wish you good luck in researching all the options!

fairyjay · 21/06/2006 11:18

Can't believe in this day and age there's no option of pain relief in a European country .

Piffle · 21/06/2006 11:19

I had my two without pain relief.So yes it is possible, but I had very quick and "easy" deliveries...
There must be an alternative for you in Spain surely,

zippitippitoes · 21/06/2006 11:20

I didn't have pain relief with dd1 as I felt very dizzy and i had an episiotomy..I think as the skin was stretched it just stung

no pain relief with dd2 because there was none available as i had her at home by mistake

surely people who have home births don't have pain relief do they?

ShowOfHands · 21/06/2006 11:45

My brother and me were both born without pain relief. My mother says that banging her head on the boot of the car was more painful.

And she was out of hospital within hours.

And she lost all the weight in 2 months with both of us(put on 5 stone with me too).

Quite a lot to live up to.

And you lot abhor your MILs?!?!?

Sorry to sound flippant, I think most people have answered your question. Of course it is possible, but depends on you, the baby, the birth, your desire to do it etc. Even if it is possible, I think the lack of choice may add an unknown quantity to what is already a very stressful event. I am sure they have G&A, pethidine etc there for things more painful that birth(!), what would happen if you insisted on them providing it?

Congratulations btw!

MissChief · 21/06/2006 12:01

Yes, agree with most others - better to at least have access to some kind of pain relief, it's not a test after all! TENS, reebok ball, birthing pool all can really help and surely they must have G & A or similar??

Gemmitygem · 21/06/2006 12:22

I'm planning to give birth in Belgium, and there it is very much epidural or nothing, but when I say nothing I mean lots of midwives who are supportive, birth pool and ball, but no gas and air or pethadine (not that I fancy those two options anyway).

I had heard that Spain was epidural or nothing, and that in Italy it was hard to get an epidural, and in France everyone has the epi..

Bugsy2 · 21/06/2006 12:30

Lots of countries don't offer gas & air because they think it is so ineffectual.

Gemmitygem · 21/06/2006 12:40

what would be great is a mobile epidural with waterproof injection site so you could sit in the pool with it...

bet they'll have them in 10 years..

kayzed · 21/06/2006 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tortoiseshell · 21/06/2006 13:09

It is possible - had dd and ds2 with no pain relief. But MAD that it is imposed! Definitely try and read up on breathing techniques/positions for birth so you have a plan. I found kneeling against something the most comfortable position for during contractions, and actually delivered kneeling for dd, and standing for ds2, which helped a lot.

milward · 21/06/2006 13:10

gemmitygem - but in belgium there are the physios who do help with position in labour & birth and are there to help the mum get through labour. I think you need to find one who works at the hospital you'll give birth at or at home ask your midwives. I've heard that it's a super service and a real bonus as mums aren't just left without someone to help them.

I've had two babies with no pain relief. Was fine as quick. My ds4 arrived in just 10 mins!!