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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Epidural or water

32 replies

Chocol4te · 03/01/2020 12:02

Hi all, 36weeks here, the big moment is getting closer and I change my mind regarding birth daily haha. I started thinking I would 100% do an epidural and have a painless birth, on the other hand everyone that tried water labour/birth praised it and said was wonderful and coped only with gas and air.. I know both have pros and cons but I am so worried about tearing, or episiotomy or assisted birth, that I think that water labour would be more benefic, but on the other hand epidural is the best pain relief(risk of tearing is higher)

What are your thoughts? Experiences?
I am getting so anxious... Also someone that gave birth at RBH hospital?

OP posts:

PrincessMarm · 03/01/2020 12:32

This is obviously going to divide people, but I am 100 percent going for a water birth (if possible), I have always said definitely no to an epidural as personally I want the freedom of movement during and after labour and apparently it increases your pain threshold. The water also relaxes the perineum and can reduce tearing and the need for stitches.

There is option to get out of the pool and have an epidural though if you wanted it but not vice versa once you have had an epidural.

On the other hand, I know people who are the complete opposite and would 100 percent only consider an epidural.

You will be great in whatever you decide and will have a gorgeous babe at the end of it :)

Darkstar4855 · 03/01/2020 12:39

Try the pool and see how it goes. If you don’t feel it’s enough then have an epidural.

Honestly, it’s pointless to try and plan too much in advance anyway as everyone is different and you won’t know what works for you until you try it.

I found the pool brilliant and just that and gas and air was enough. Had to have an epidural/forceps in the end as baby got stuck but would definitely go for pool again in future.

Bol87 · 03/01/2020 13:07

They are poles apart in terms of medical pain relief but it all depends on how you happen to cope.. don’t over think it, you can start in a pool & then ask for an epidural if you aren’t coping! Things like tears are going to happen, my poor friend had a 3rd degree in the pool 😬. I didn’t tear with an epidural but I did have an episiotomy & forceps. But not because of the epidural, my DD had her arm over her head & got stuck. It wouldn’t have mattered where I’d tried to give birth!

Water did absolutely nothing for me really but I have a low pain threshold. I also found G&A useless & it just made me sick. After 9 months of HG, more throwing up was the last thing I wanted! So I had an epidural. Took all the pain away. Marvellous.

Best thing you can do is just go with what you need in labour. Don’t over think or plan. Once you are in full flow, you won’t care, you’ll just want your baby safely here. And you’ll let them do anything to help you get them out! And what happens along the way will happen & you’ll recover just fine!

lisag1969 · 03/01/2020 13:20

I think you have to just go with the flow at the time, how things progress and your own pain threshold.
My first born :I had an epidural and felt no pain but rough, vomiting a lot.
Afterwards was still being sick for ages.
I don't think everyone gets this. But still now if I sleep on my back I have a pain for ages after x (12 hour birth.) episiotomy too. Had to stay overnight
2nd born: I had no pain relief at all.
Birth extremely painful not going to lie.
But I must say felt so much better after the birth. Seemed to feel like myself quicker. Just felt tired like I'd been shopping and walked for hours. I did tear but can't even say I felt that much.
that was soon sorted though.
Home 6 hours after the birth too.
Hope the birth is nice and quick whatever you decide. X

MustardScreams · 03/01/2020 13:21

I had a fabulous epidural. I could still walk, use the loo and they turned it down when it was time to push so I could feel exactly what to do, but with no pain! No intervention, a few stitches because dd came out with her hand next to her head. I was up and showering an hour after birth.

I slept through most of my contractions

Original poster

Chocol4te · 03/01/2020 14:49

Thank you for sharing your stories! This proves once again that each birth is different and cannot plan ahead. My pain threshold is low so I think I will end up having an epidural, but I might as well start labour in water and see how it goes.. my biggest fear is tearing as I heard some awful stories 😔

OP posts:

LadyCordeliaVorkosigan · 03/01/2020 14:54

I had water - it was brilliant for six hours, huffing g&a. However it can slow births (or not help slow births, hard to say) so after 8 hours I got out. And then had an epidural. Very glad I did both - water kept me comfortable for the slow part, epidural was effective but then I was stuck on the bed. See how it goes.

Engard · 03/01/2020 15:39

Everybody is different but I'd avoid an epidural at all costs simply because it can slow labour down and you're more likely to need an assisted delivery. Personally I just want it over and done with!! If it's a long labour and you're getting too tired then go for the epidural.

mousemousse · 03/01/2020 15:43

Pointless to plan, just be open to everything. I've had two amazing epidural that saved me and stopped me going to c section as it stopped my body going into overdrive and harming the babies. Don't be the person who is in agony for 14 hours only dialated 2cm and exhausted saying "but I want it to be natural with no epidural". Fuck that!

MarchBorn · 03/01/2020 15:44

Most likely your body will choose, not your mind. When you need an epidural there is not a thing in the world that could persuade you otherwise, if you’re not sure then you probably don’t need it (you might want it) and could manage a pool.

TarnBlue · 03/01/2020 15:46

OP many people tear, it’s usually minor and you don’t know until someone tells you. More serious tears are less common and often avoidable (listen to your midwife and do what she tells you to do).

mousemousse · 03/01/2020 15:46

Also stop thinking about 'pain thresholds' it's really not about what you think you can handle or that some people can handle more than others, that's rubbish. Different people have different births with different levels of pain, it's nothing to do with your 'threshold' but the pain itself.

ArgyllFTM · 03/01/2020 15:48

Practical point - if you think you’ll want an epidural say so as soon as you arrive and ask them to take the relevant blood tests as the results take a while to come back. I didn’t, then when I asked for the epidural I was in so much pain it was hard to get the bloods taken, and by the time the results came back it was too late.

For what it’s worth, I had a fast and excruciating labour, mostly in the pool with gas and air. That was absolutely not adequate pain relief for me personally, but it was much better than nothing.

WhenTwoBecomeThree · 03/01/2020 15:50

I'd planned for a waterbirth but ended up having pethidine at 4cm so couldn't get in the pool as it can make the baby drowsy, my labour progressed very quickly and I did the rest with just g&a and had no stitches, ended with just a small graze! Don't try and plan too much as anything can happen, you won't care at the time as long as they're out safely

Paperyfish · 03/01/2020 15:54

Three babies, three epidurals! Brilliant invention and I like to avoid pain if at all possible- so for me was the obvious choice. No side effects and really enjoyed my induced births. Very calm and relaxed.

feelinglost02 · 03/01/2020 16:00

I think there's no point planning really. You won't know until you get going what you can cope with or how bad/ not bad it's going to be. I'm
Always aghast at women who are desperate to have drug free deliveries like it's some right of passage. There are no prizes for going without pain relief! It's not like someone is going to turn round to you and say 'well you only get the bronze badge for your birth because you had to have an epidural'. Being in pain for hours and hours or even days is exhausting and then guess what? You then take home a tiny baby that needs round the clock care. At least if you have an epidural or proper pain relief you won't be as exhausted. Those were my reasons for being open to an epidural with my dd. However, all that went out of the window as I had precipitous labour and i wasn't allowed even gas and air and would have had her before the bath filled. Stop fretting and go with the flow.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 03/01/2020 16:42

Keep an open mind. It's good to have preferences but having very fixed ideas about how you want things to go can be very difficult to deal with if there are unexpected issues. There are 'mobile epidurals' which you might want to look into.

I wanted a water birth. Getting in the pool stopped my contractions completely and I ended up with a syntocinon drip, spinal block and an instrumental delivery in theatre.

crazymuseummumtobe · 03/01/2020 16:49

Hi @Chocol4te - I can't give any guidance on water birth v. epidural, but just to say I'm 37+1, and due into RBH in a few weeks too! I've only heard good things, esp about the Rushey midwife-led unit. I'm aiming for water or TENS + G&A, but as this is DC1, who knows what will happen! Best of luck, maybe see you there! 😂

Original poster

Chocol4te · 03/01/2020 17:07

Hi @crazymuseummumtobe - yeah, maybe I'll see you there! We will have to see how it goes, I may start with water and gas and air and if it's not enough TENS and epidural, if we want epidural we will move to lvl3 where doctors are, but yeah, will keep an open mind and hopefully all will be good ☺️

OP posts:

Rubyroost · 03/01/2020 17:32

I am all for not doing a plan as you just don't know what's going to happen. By all. Means go for a water birth, but be prepared to change plans for an epidural if pain gets too bad or be prepared to be whisked away for a c section if the situation arises.

Birth plans are in my opinion a waste of time

TwinkleStars15 · 03/01/2020 17:33

Water, every single time! It was a great birth experience and I loved being in the pool.

In my opinion, the cons of an epidural outweigh the pros so I didn’t consider it.

It’s completely your choice though. Maybe wait and see how you get on?

Rubyroost · 03/01/2020 17:39

People who didn't consider an epidural l, didn't consider it because they didn't have to. I was very much against an epidural. After two hours on gas and air insistent I was nut having an epidural, u could hardly breathe as I was huts trying to suck for more gas and air. I requested pethidine and that had no effect on my pain. Then I had an epidural. I was induced with a drip and the midwives were increasing the hormone trying to get me dilated when my cervix was just not ready. It ended in a c section, but believe me, I don't thi k anyone would have managed in my situation without an epidural.. You really don't know until you are there.

Rubyroost · 03/01/2020 17:40

Sorry about typos.

Liverbird77 · 03/01/2020 17:45

I agree with @Rubyroost
Don't make any hard and fast decisions until the time.
I didn't want an epidural but, by the time I had one, I was so grateful for it.
Every labour is different. There is no right or wrong way.

Wearywithteens · 03/01/2020 17:50

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