Epidural or water birth? FTM

HopelesslyExhausted · 17/03/2021 09:17

My advise would be that a birth plan is just a guide you can change it at any time

I would try the water first and if you like it then great but if you then decide you want the epidural then go for the epidural

You can get out the water and decide to have an epidural but you cant have an epidural and then change your mind and go for the water if that makes sense.

DuchessSilver · 17/03/2021 09:17

Depends how much you mind pain? I didn't have an epidural but I did have a water birth. The water helped with the pain but it still hurt, a lot.

Can you plan to try and have a water birth and then progress to an epidural if you want to (obviously you'll have to get out of the pool)?

Eileen101 · 17/03/2021 09:19

I haven't had an epidural to compare, but have found water to be very effective in both of my labours.
With my first, I laboured in the birthing pool and really liked it. Each time I came out for examination, to have waters broken etc, I just wanted to get back in.
With my second, I laboured in the bath at home for an hour or so and my labour progressed brilliantly. Got to the hospital and would have had the pool again, but there was no time to fill it.

CreosoteQueen · 17/03/2021 09:20

You could start with a water birth and see how you go. You birth plan is just a guide, you don’t have to stick to it.

Original poster

SunnySideUp2020 · 17/03/2021 09:20

Good point @HopelesslyExhausted @DuchessSilver
Should probably put water birth as preferable and if too painful change my mind and go for epidural.

OP posts:

FTEngineerM · 17/03/2021 09:20

I had both 👌 pool first then moved onto epidural when it got extremely painful as his head turned sideways.

It’s not fixed, you can change your mind when you’re there.

popcorndiva · 17/03/2021 09:21

There are lots of steps in between those two options. Go through all pain relief and decide what's best. Epidural and pethidine you can't have in the water but gas and air you can

withpeaceandlove · 17/03/2021 09:22

The epidural is magical when it works but labour will usually progress faster if you can be active.
Also with my second birth the epidural only worked on my left leg so I could feel everything but couldn't get up and about. Apparently that's more common than you'd think

AdriannaP · 17/03/2021 09:23

You can’t change your mind if you are too far into labour. I had a water birth and it was still very very painful. Over 2 hours of pushing and I was shattered for days if not weeks. Will 100% go for an epidural with my next.

AyyX · 17/03/2021 09:26

@SunnySideUp2020

Currently discussing with my MW my birth plan.

I am torn between pain relief and waterbirth.

Based on your experience which is preferable?
Being in pain but being in water or being pain free on dry land?

I was literally just thinking about this the other day!!! I’m 32 weeks atm, had epidural with my first, wanted water birth but they didn’t put me in one. They put me straight into delivery suite and on hormone drip and I couldn’t bear it so I went on epidural

AyyX · 17/03/2021 09:28

@ everyone saying you can have epidural after water if you wanted, I didn’t know that so that’s good to know!
I had asked the midwife if I could still get the epidural if I had a water birth and they said no.

ZombeaArthur · 17/03/2021 09:28

I used the birthing pool in both my labours, although with my first I had to get out in the end. My preference would always be water as it made for a peaceful experience with significantly reduced pain, however my main advice is to not tie yourself to anything and do whatever feels right at the time.

sweetpotatopie12 · 17/03/2021 09:30

I had an amazing water birth with just gas and air, I was only in labour for a short time thought even though it was my first.

I felt so relaxed in the water, the midwives where there but my body just did its thing and little one popped out in half an hour.

Not going to lie even with the gas and air the last few pushes were a bit spicy but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Make sure the bath is drawn before you are in labour just in case it's quick like mine was.

But at the end of the day it's your choice and every birth is different x

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 17/03/2021 09:34

I had an epidural and it was wonderful. But it does restrict your movement and ease of changing position. I was induced, on the hormone drip and being monitored throughout anyway plus DD was back to back so an epidural was absolutely the best thing for me, gas and air didn’t touch the sides and water would have been useless.

If going into labour naturally I would probably have just kept epidural as a back up option (e.g. chosen a location where one would be available if I wanted it - labour ward or MLU attached to hospital rather than stand alone MLU or home birth).

twoofusburningmatches · 17/03/2021 09:34

At the hospital I gave birth in, you could labour in the pools on the midwife led unit but if it got too much, you could request to be transferred up to the delivery ward where (if you haven’t progressed too far) you can get an epidural. If you can do something like that, it might be worth trying.

MyGrassIsBrowner · 23/03/2021 23:09

I had a waterbirth with my first, I was fixated on having one as I had heard so many positive stories about them. I'll be honest for me, it was nothing to write home about. I had absolutely no pain relief but baby was back to back so giving birth hurt... alot. The midwife pretty much left me to it and I caught baby myself .. well, I nearly sat on her as I was so in shock! 🙈
I think it ultimately depends on how your labour pans out and I would certainly not recommend getting fixated on the perfect birth plan cause things can change quickly.
Good luck OP! 💖

Muststopeating · 24/03/2021 06:48

DD1 I wasnt in the UK, they were worried about infection because my waters had potentially been leaking and I didn't go in quick enough. So they put me on a syntocin drip. They couldn't get a decent read on the baby with the strap so they put one of those things on the babys head and I had to lie on the bed. It wss horrible. I hated being restricted and was in agony. They talked me into an epidural towards the end, which gave me the ability to breathe again but never fully kicked in (i still needed gas and air for every contraction, could have walked across the room no problem and knew when it was time to push), but for some bizarre reason I refused to top it up.

I then had to give birth on my back. Which I hated. I had no issue pushing, baby crowned in 2 or 3 pushes, but they she gor stuck. (Which oh my god the pain)... there was quite a lot of panic and I instinctively knew that I was in the wrong position to push but they wouldn't let me move. Anyway I got there in the end and she was out after just 20 mins of pushing but it wasn't much fun. In the end I would of had to have an epidural anyway as I ended up in theatre with a retained placenta. The anthetist decided (despite me saying no) to top this up just before the placenta came out so bottom half was dead for hours and hours after DD was born, which was less than convenient.

DS2 I ended up in the pool, just cos it was there. The thing I had never realised about the pool is that it makes you virtually weightless so you can move around so easily when a contraction starts. I had always thought a water birth was gross but I LOVED it! I was in there for an hour and a half, no pain relief. Had just finished saying 'might try gas and air for my next contraction' waters broke and baby was born 4 mins later.

It was honestly a doddle compared to my first. I think it would always have been easier as first labour was incredibly intense from the very first contraction (before the drip but after they broke my waters). I think the fact that I was constantly on the move with second helped greatly too. For the record he was 8lb 14oz

I'm 23 weeks pregnant now and my birth plan will state that I would like a water birth. But it will also say that if I have to be 'tied' down for continuous monitoring or put on that horrific drip again then I'm having an epidural straight off the bat!

I second what others have said, try the water, try the gas and air, try a tens machine (just not in the water)... if it isn't working for you go for an epidural. Good luck!

Enterthedragons · 24/03/2021 07:04

I’ve had both and they both have pros and cons. Epidural you’ll probably need if you’re on the hormone drip as it’s hardcore! I loved my epidural births they were very calm and I could enjoy baby as soon as they came out as I wasn’t in any pain.
If you have a natural labour contractions are much more manageable and I enjoyed my water births with just gas and air. However the bit AFTER baby came out where I was a cold drowned rat in the bottom of the birthing pool (waiting for placenta to come out and cord to finish pulsating) clutching my baby in a lot of pain and then struggling to get out was not so fun!!

zzzebra · 24/03/2021 07:29

I laboured and started pushing in the pool, but then had to be moved to the bed to finish pushing.

Being weightless in the pool and being able to move into a more comfortable position so easily is amazing. I was in the pool for hours but it really didn't feel that long, it was really calm.

Then being on the bed pushing with just gas and air wasn't ideal, but tbh by that point I just wanted it over and the end was in sight.

Next time I intend to go for the pool again over an epidural. If a pool isn't available I'll ask for an epidural.

Skyla01 · 24/03/2021 10:29

I'm a ftm too. Started labour in the pool in midwife unit- it was great! Contractions were horrific but water really helped and it was a calm environment. Labour progressed really well... But then slowed down and all went a little awry. Decided at that point to take a trip down the corridor for epidural. Was 8cm at that point but baby didn't arrive for another 7 hours so very pleased with my decision- could not have coped with contractions for that much longer! Epidural was bliss- 100% effective. Experience was like chalk & cheese though. Once in the labour ward it was so medical and I ended up with so many drips and wires and monitors. But baby came safe which was all that mattered. If I do it again I'll aim for a water birth but will definitely want the option of an epidural close by.

ScarfaceCwaw · 24/03/2021 10:32

I've had both. The water was absolutely amazing. I had an epidural with my second birth after some hours on the drip as part of a drawn-out early induction, and while it worked I would much rather have had the first birth again.

I'd aim for water and you can always change your mind.

BertieBotts · 24/03/2021 10:36

What they mean is that you can't have the epidural while actually in the pool, which I would have thought is quite obvious but clearly someone has asked for them to say no!

I suppose it's technically true you can't have a water birth and an epidural at the same time, but if your question is about using the pool for pain relief and then later getting out and having an epidural, that's usually possible as long as labour isn't too far advanced.

If you do go for water birth the key is not to get in too soon. I would wait until you really can't manage the pain as it makes a big difference then.

FoggyDay58 · 24/03/2021 10:37

I wanted a water birth with my first, and put on my birth plan that I was open to an epidural. In the event I spent 30ish hours at 3cm dilated, so wasn't considered to be 'in established labour' and hence couldn't get into a delivery room/birthing pool. When things escalated (went from 3 to 10cm in 6 hours, during which I wasn't examined as they were worried about infection) it was too quick for either water birth or epidural (or indeed gas and air) - and in fact the midwife lied to me and told me that my birth plan said I didn't want an epidural, by which point I was too out of it to argue. So I didn't get either. Currently 34 weeks with second baby and I'm set on getting an epidural this time.

DinoHat · 24/03/2021 10:45

I started in the water and ended up in theatre. There’s no harm in starting in the water and seeing how it goes.

I still felt I benefited from the water pool even if I didn’t birth in it in the end.

sophs29 · 24/03/2021 10:55

My first I was in labour for a long time so opted for an epidural but as a PP said it only worked in one leg which actually made the pain more annoying/worse! and I was limited after I had the baby due to a catheter and not being able to move much.
With my second I was adamant not to have another epidural, I didn't even plan a water birth but when I got there it was quiet and the lovely MW ran the pool for me and it was an amazing experience, I didn't actually give birth in the pool as I had to get out as they couldn't hear his heartbeat properly due to positioning in the pool etc, but I loved it and I'm sure it made my labour quicker! my first took 23 hours and second only 2 hours!
Everybody is different though, you'll know what you need when the time comes.
All the best