Will you be having an epidural?

[tacosplease]

My mum had an epidural when giving birth to me and has always maintained that when I have a baby, it's something I must do because the pain is unbearable otherwise.

As a result I always assumed that it was a very common thing to go for, but when I mentioned this to my midwife she seemed a bit surprised. According to the Babycentre website only around 30% of women have them.

How many posters on here will be asking for an epidural and what are the positives/negatives of having one? If you don't opt for an epidural, is gas and air literally the only pain relief you get?

@tacosplease yes absolutely! I gave birth in hospital. Another girl I know squatted at the side of the bed, they put a mattress under her. By lying down you are pushing against gravity so birthings is more difficult and takes longer. Standing, kneeling or squatting makes the process much easier (as long as there are no complications obviously).

Epidural can limit positions. I had gas and air and diamorphine injections. I hired a tens machine too but sometimes wires disconnected and I got wee electric shocks up my back

That’s so good to know about the birth position - I was hoping to give birth on my knees as it seems so much easier with gravity on your side!

It really isn't about people having different pain thresholds, it's about people having different pain full stop. People who say it isn't that bad simply haven't experience the level of pain others have regardless of how well they think they'll cope with it.

Totally agree notmytea

Very much hoping to have a home birth after two hospital births (first one induction and epidural) so it won't be an option for me.

One of the best things I have ever had I made my mind up in the moment!

"If you don't opt for an epidural, is gas and air literally the only pain relief you get?"

Lots of other options e.g pethedine.

There is a small risk of lasting back problems and other disadvantages but the obvious big benefit of pain relief.

Do some research and if you want an epidural then have one, it's your body and your choice

There aren’t really lots of pain relief options in labour, and in particular there aren’t many when you’re in later labour or pushing. Pethadine is only given in early labour and wears off relatively quickly

Yes I will. First labour was pain I can't describe, like nothing else. Did it on pethidene (wears off) and gas n air. So tiring. I was induced due to being overdue, so I think it can cause more intense pain.

I fully intended to have an epidural, in labour I asked for one several times. Never got it-combination of busy anaesthetist and a pretty quick labour.
It worked out fine, and I actually managed ok without. Birth plans and reality are quite different!

If your labour is fast you can find you get told there isn't time to prep and give you the epidural.

I think as everyone saiid, you have to be open minded. Aim for all natural if you can but consider other pain relief.
With my first I went with the idea, "I'll go all natural"( naivety if first time mum). Ended up begging for an epidural after 12 hours being still 5 centimetres ( not progressing for 12 hours, waters brooked and still the same after that long time). Best thing ever, in half an hour after epidural I was pushing. For me the pain blocked me.

Second was Emergency c-section.

Third I taught it might go faster and I will be able to stand it. After waters broke I started to contract so badly and had epidural.

For this one I go straight to epidural unless I arrive at hospital and I'm ready to push.

:))

If you can go without, obviously it's good and best as no side effects, but you won't know until you're there. Everyone's pain level is different I think.

I was out the same day with my epidural. They were suggesting I stay overnight as I was a first time mum but I really didn't want to so they left us go. Stayed two nights after my second which was gas and air water birth! For me, the pain wasn't unbearable either time, I had an epidural as had a very long labour and was totally exhausted. I'd keep an open mind.

No way on this earth was I prepared to have a epidural and I told them if things were going wrong I had to have GA for a c section. Nobody was getting near my spine with a needle

First born I had G&A then some remifentanil which is amazing and you administer it yourself by hitting a button as and when you need it. It's expensive though so they don't normally mention it unless you actually ask for it.

2nd baby nothing at all, as wasn't needed.

With my first I planned a water birth, gas and air, hypnobirthing etc. I ended up with a give day early labour, 12 hours of active labour, 2 shots of pethedine, oxytocin and an epidural. The pethedine made me sleepy, the epidural was utterly amazing. I was exhausted after the long early labour (contractions every 20 minutes ramping up and then tailing off) and the epidural meant I slept through a lot of the active stage.

As a result I planned an epidural for my second labour. Rocked up to the hospital, squeezed out the word epidural between contractions every 90 seconds, and was found to be 5cm dilated and progressing rapidly. I was really scared of the pain, and had no confidence that I could get through labour without that pain relief. However there was no time to even call the anesthesiologist, and the midwife doubted they would be able to even administer an epidural with the contractions coming so fast, so I delivered baby on gas and air alone within 2 hours of arriving at hospital. Gas and air was enough, it still hurt, and i still cared that it hurt but it helped me manage it, and it allowed me to be in control of that.

After the epidural and oxytocin I was wrung out, groggy, couldn't walk for 24 hours, catheterised and just generally shattered, and although the long early labour contributed to that, the anaesthetist wouldn't let me be discharged because I lost all feeling in one leg. After the gas and air birth, I was up and about and asking when I could go home two hours after delivery.

Epidural is the most amazing pain relief, but theres no doubt I was in mich better shape after the second birth without it. I'm considering a home birth for my next one now.

There's no such thing as pain thresholds. All births are different- some excruciating, some not so much.

For my first, I practised hypnobirthing and thought I'd "breathe" him out in the water. Ha ha ha. After 24 hours of hideous pain, during which I'd have happily shot myself in the head, I had an epidural and he was delivered by forceps.

Second time around, I thought I'd ask for an epidural the second I got to the hospital. But DD was born with nothing more than paracetamol, quickly and easily, in the water pool.

Same body, same pain threshold, two completely different experiences.

IMO it's pointless trying to plan pain relief now. You don't know if you'll be able to have an epidural, or if you'll need one. Much easier to go with the flow IME.

I had an epidural with my first, found labour really odd and i felt i didnt know what i was doing. With 2nd, i didnt and felt a lot calmer and in control

Dd1 was induced and I didn't feel a thing until my waters broke even though the midwives could see and feel me contracting when they attached the monitors every few hours. Dd1 arrived 4.5 hours after my waters broke, I only had gas and air as there wasn't time for anything else. Dd1 was 10lbs8oz so not a small baby and I knew she was big (but not that big) but because of a known medical condition I knew that I needed a natural birth as a C section wouldn't have been ideal for her.

Dd2 was going to be induced but in the end the midwife only had to break my waters. I went in to labour immediately and Dd2 was born 3 hours later. I was on a ward with 3 other women who were being induced and managed to keep myself together and not disturb them too much (I hope) with only paracetamol until 20 minutes before dd2 was born. There weren't any delivery rooms available hence the late transfer. I got straight on the gas and air and out came dd2 8lbs10oz.

At the end of the day my belief is that if you go in with the attitude that you can do it and believe in your body's ability to give birth you will be a lot less anxious. Anxiety / stress will not help so do some research about what your options are but keep an open mind and decide what you want in the moment with the guidance of your midwife. Don't get hung up on things that could go wrong.

I hope that helps. X

I had an epidural Dd was back to back and I was induced.

I only had one contraction that I felt and I can honestly say I couldn’t have gone through another.

It came out of nowhere and I have never felt pain like it.

I think it depends on you.

Friend who is frightened of everything had 2 junior aspirin and said contractions were like massive orgasms!

I decided on the day. With dd1, after being in labour for hours and not dilating, they decided to put me on the syntocinon drip which ramped you the contractions. I had an epidural and it didn't really work so it took the edge off but that alone was enough to help.

With dd2, I was really feeling it so had an epidural and worked perfectly. Couldn't feel a thing and watched Netflix on my phone and ate snacks until I gave birth. Was pretty fun lol

I absolutely will be avoiding an epidural (if possible!)
Simply down to recovery time and that some, not all, of the midwives are less than helpful when you have a newborn and can’t move.

I didnt want one with DS but the god awful hospital i went to with him waited till i was off my face on drugs and shoved the form under my nose and still have no recollection of signing it. Aaaaand they missed 7 times and have destroyed my back👍🏻 im making sure its in my book to not even ask me this time and my DP is under pain of death to speak up if i get asked aswell but with a better hospital this time.

"Also if she had an epidural how does she know the pain would be unbearable as she didn’t actually experience it....?!"

That is such a silly question...seriously?? People get epidurals usually after feeling pain! With my first, I had unbearable pain at 8cms. I was stuck labouring in the triage with other women looking at me because there were no rooms available. They had to make a makeshift room for me to get epidural and give birth. I had hyper contractions that were one after the other, so I had no break. When I got the epidural (they gave me one that gave instant relief) it was PURE heaven. That was what I said the instant I felt relief from pain...

With my second I got epidural straight away at 5cm (labour was quick so once I got to the hospital I was already 5cm)...the midwife was like are you sure you want one? You are coping well... I am like YES I know whats to come! But some women can deal with the pain better and I genuinely believe some women have less painful contractions (my neighbour could barely feel them!).

Eek so interesting to read all your experiences

I am due in less than two weeks and still undecided. I'd much prefer a birth centre birth which means no epidural but the reality could be very different. I don't know if I'm being a naive first time mum 😂
Will have to see...