Epidural or water

[Chocol4te]

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?

I didn't have either and was perfectly fine. It's up to you, from what I've heard birthing pools are very comfortable.

I think it really depends @Wearywithteens some women are lucky enough to have an easy labour and don't necessarily need to have an epidural.
That's all good, but to say don't have one, or you shouldn't have one when you've never been in the position to actually need one... That gets my goat.

You do what is right for you at the time. That's it really. If that's a waste birth, go for it, if it's an epidural then so be it.

Water!

It depends how quickly your labour progresses. If you go from 0-5cm in a couple of hours like I did (induction) then for your own sanity go for the epidural. Also opt for it if you feel exhausted because if you do then you won’t need general Anesthetic if you are forced to have an an emergency c-section or forceps delivery - and can cuddle your baby immediately.

But the decision is yours. Say yes to both and see how you feel at the time - it’s perfectly ok to have a water birth in early labour and then get out for an epidural if you want.

I've written my birth preferences and stated I would prefer to not have an epidural, I'd prefer a calm water birth but I'm not one of those people who would ever rule it out completely, there are certain benefits to not having an epidural yes but I don't know how I'm going to cope with the intensity of labour and I don't know what complications might arise. I'd suggest go into it hoping for water but have an epidural there as an option just in case. As PP said, you can always get out of the water and get an epidural but you can't have it the other way around. Just go in with an open mind 🤞🏻

Tried pool. Did absolutely nothing for the pain. Nothing.
Epidural was amazing. Brilliant. Got a mobile one, so was able to walk around without any issues, just didn't have any pain.

I was adamant that I wanted a water birth with gas an air only. In the end I had to get out of the pool as I went from 3 to 10cm in the space of just under 2 hours and baby was back to back. It was agonising and the water did jack all to help with the pain. I got out so that I could have pethidine while i waited to be dilated enough to have an epidural, but then my body started pushing 5 minutes later and when they examined me I was fully dilated and baby’s head was on it’s way. My calm and serene water birth turned into being on my back, on a bed, which I’d seen as the absolute worst idea ever throughout pregnancy! Maybe write down what situations you’d like to be able to ask for an epidural in and keep the birth plan open and flexible?