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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Is there any upside about not getting an epidural?

54 replies

georgarina · 20/05/2021 17:20

I'm having my second baby soon.

With my first I really wanted an epidural, was always my birth plan, but there was no doctor available.

It was a positive birth experience but obviously very painful and intense.

This time I'm trying to psyche myself up for another natural birth because I know I can't count on pain relief.

I know there are a lot of people who seem to think that that's the preferable way to do it - why is that? Can anyone enlighten me on whether there are any benefits to not having pain relief? Maybe that will make me feel slightly better about it.

OP posts:

Ola9191 · 20/05/2021 20:58

For me it was the insanely rapid recovery post-birth. I also wanted all the drugs but got none due to no time! I’m pregnant now and would have a natural birth if hands down again (unless complications) as I was up and in the other about 20 mins after and went for a walk the next day. I wasn’t even that sore but realise I was very very lucky! Obviously hurt like hell during. Everyone I know who got an epidural ended up with interventions as I guess you can’t stay mobile and can’t feel what you’re doing as much so although you may have nicer birth the aftermath can be pretty bad. Obviously no judgement though as I was begging for an epidural and would have had one at the time..some people obviously need them when things go wrong too.

Ola9191 · 20/05/2021 20:59

Up and in the shower after 20 mins that meant to say!

PhantomErik · 20/05/2021 21:00

I had an epidural with my first & it took 12 hours to wear off before I could come home.

Didn't have one second or third time & was home in 6 & 4 hours respectively. Also much quicker labours.

I definitely preferred coming home early.

Bookaholic73 · 20/05/2021 21:02

I had a c section via an epidural.
I also had a vaginal birth with no pain relief at all.

Honestly, no difference at all apart from the obvious not being able to walk straight away. But who the hell wants to walk straight after having a baby anyway?

iguanadonna · 20/05/2021 21:03

Had a walking epidural with my first because very painful back to back labour. Was slow, but slow and difficult anyway, so hard to blame the epidural.

Second labour didn't need one. TENS machine was surprisingly amazing. I thought they were woo, but actually brilliant. Didn't need anything else; wasn't particularly painful.

Hope second birth much easier for you too.

northstars · 20/05/2021 21:04

I didn’t want an epidural for my younger 2 because I read that you are unable to move around, and have to labour lying down, which is going against gravity and therefore is more difficult. I did hypnobirthing with my younger 2 with just gas and air, both were smooth and very positive experiences which I would definitely do again

AZisgreat · 20/05/2021 21:13

In my experience NOPE. The only thing better than an epidural is a spinal lol.
Ridiculous that you can't assume one will be available in the 21st century.....in a first world country....

anotherwayout · 20/05/2021 21:21

I was adamant I wouldn't have an epidural, for all the reasons mentioned here. I had diamorphine with mine and it was great and I was ready to go home 6 hours later

MeadowHay · 20/05/2021 22:08

The thing is, it's really just about what risks you want to take. I didn't have an epidural - I asked for one and was told I wouldnt be able to tolerate the siting given the state I was in by the time I asked (although the hospital was sooo busy that night so I suspect it was really due to lack of anaesthetist availability tbh). Nonetheless, I had a very long labour - about 30hrs in total with about 11 hours f that being 'active labour', pushed for over two hours and then had a ventouse delivery with an episiotomy that took aaages to heal and has left me with permanently weak albeit mostly asymptomatic pelvic floor muscles. I can only see how an epidural would have greatly improved my experience! But you just don't know what kind of labour or birth you're going to have until you have it so it's just about weighing up the statistical risks really and deciding which aspects are most important to you.

Ticklemycarpets · 20/05/2021 22:13

I remember our NCT teacher showing us the stats for those who have epidural having longer labours and more likely to end in cesarian than those without one. Which put me off asking for one unless I really couldn't cope.

Mumoftwo2021 · 20/05/2021 22:18

I had both my children with just gas & air (3rd due Aug) I liked the fact I didn’t have to wait for any drugs to wear off and was able to walk around when I wanted to.
I also didn’t discover until my second child the power of breathing!
With each contraction I would suck in the gas and as the contraction got stronger I would push out as hard as I could with the pain and this was sooo much easier!! It’s like the breathing out hard took away a lot of the pain.
If I was told this before I would think BS, but it worked! Xx

cosmoswithcovids · 20/05/2021 22:23

I had my first with gas and air and my second with two paracetamol thanks to an incompetent midwife not believing I was in labour - I had her in the lift on the way up to the labour ward...

I felt everything, I was able to feel in control of what my body was doing. My friends who have said epidural is brilliant because you're numb from the waist down haven't experienced the feeling of actually pushing your baby out.

I have a high pain threshold and I think I'm a bit of a sadist 😬

YouWereGr8InLittleMenstruators · 20/05/2021 22:27

My epidural with DD1 led to just about every other intervention possible, and lasting birth injuries. Grim.
Second baby likely to be more straightforward anyway, perhaps? My DD2 was at home, no pain relief necessary, and totally healed the lingering memory of nightmarish epidural-induced shit show of first birth.

DelurkingAJ · 20/05/2021 22:28

I had TENS and gas and air. I adore gas and air, it worked amazingly for me. Although it almost led to a crash section under GA with DS1 as by the time they realised there was a problem they couldn’t get one into me safely. Luckily he was hauled out and we were well enough to be discharged 12 hours later so it worked in my favour in the end! DS2 much much easier birth and much quicker (a mere 45 minutes once at hospital) so I didn’t even consider it and was out 6 hours later (hurray for sleeping in your own bed!).

Goatsgetmygoat · 20/05/2021 22:30

Yep it was painful but I now think I’m even more amazing than I did before. It also meant 4 hours later I was sat on my own sofa, freshly showered, in my pjs eating a massive pizza with my newborn. Took my oldest on the school run the next day. If I’d had an epidural and I did ask several times but no luck then I would have been stuck in the hospital for days with people faffing around me and I hate all that. I’m a bit like a mama bear after giving birth, I want to be tucked up safe with my baby in my cave. Would have hated being in hospital for any length of time so would choose a short amount it agonising pain over the pain of being stuck somewhere I didn’t want to be for 24 hours plus.

Heyha · 20/05/2021 22:30

I was happy with mine but I can see there were a few downsides- being immobilised was a main one. I had a patient controlled one so did get some clues about pushing.

The other biggie is that at some point I was very poorly with suspected sepsis (mid labour, what a treat!). It could have been the catheter, the epidural, the cannula, having my waters broken, or something else that led to the infection but I think that's the biggest downside of an epidural- a lot more messing and medical intervention just to get you set up.

Out of all of it though the cannulas were more of a problem then not having my legs for a bit (and the catheter was handy!). I had one in my hand for the drip stuff but then had to have another one for IV antibiotics which had to go into my wrist after much faffing and failing by various people to site it elsewhere. I struggled to pick up DD with both hands reduced in use, that plus wonky legs I struggled to eat my breakfast never mind anything else!

BUT despite all that- I wouldn't rule out having another one if I was going on the drip again.

Undersnatch · 20/05/2021 22:32

I also couldn’t walk for a long while and needed a catheter. Didn’t like it at all. Second baby born naturally was far better and easier birth for me, I could feel what my body wanted to do and let it happen.

LouiseTrees · 20/05/2021 22:38

@georgarina

Thanks all x

I've been trying hypnobirthing but don't have the patience so I've been back to wanting an epidural - if only I could count on having one!!

Sounds like there are upsides to being able to get up and move around though.

What about diamorphine or other pain relief that’s not an epidural then?

Doublechocolatetiffin · 20/05/2021 22:43

For me the main reason why I didn't want it again (for 2nd and 3rd births) was that by having an epidural you have to lie down. Well unless you have a very forward thinking midwife who get you on your side with a peanut ball, but I don't think that I very common. So basically you are in the worst position possible to give birth. Your body has to work much harder to birth 'uphill' due to the anatomy of your pelvis and as such you are more likely to need intervention such as episiotomy, forceps etc.

Without the epidural you can maintain an upright forward and open position which makes birthing much easier. My best birth experience I gave birth standing up and she flew out!

I actually didn't like not being able to feel the birth of my first. I found it hard to process, it felt like someone else has given birth not me.

Evanna13 · 20/05/2021 22:50

I had an epidural for both my babies.
I loved it. It was such a relaxing experience, during labour I could chat with hubby, doze etc with no pain whatsoever. I have lovely memories of both my labours.
For the pushing, I felt very mild contractions so I knew when to push. I had a small tear on both babies and I was so glad I had the epidural for the stitches.
After the births I was straight into breastfeeding and enjoying my tea and toast, not sure why people want to be up walking straight away.
I stayed in hospital for one night with both babies. Personally I liked having the time in hospital, especially with the first baby, to get the midwife support with breastfeeding, bathing the baby etc
For me the epidural was a lovely calming experience. I know my anxiety would be high if I was feeling every pain etc. Also the gas and air did not work for me at all.
I think everybody should have a choice and an epidural should always be an available choice. I am amazed how many people were not able to have one because there was no doctor available.

LouNatics · 20/05/2021 23:00

For me the main benefit was not having to be in a hospital. But I don’t have an epidural experience to compare to, so not a very fair comment. I also never sat down/laid down or stayed still during labours, I’ve always been in and out of doors, moving around and going up and down stairs - I then gave birth standing up twice so my body definitely thought being mobile was a good idea at the time. I don’t know if you can do that with an epidural.

mamaatthegym · 20/05/2021 23:32

had an epidural with DD after a very long labour (she was back to back) and wouldn’t want one again ideally. Had to lie on my back with my legs in stirrups, the huge needle going in and being screamed at for wincing, DP holding my bag of wee up whilst I showered, longer stay in hospital.

Expecting DC2 now and hoping for a non back to back baby and no epidural but we’ll see!

ThisMammaCat · 21/05/2021 01:32

Four births, never had an epidural. I'm actually more frightened of being numb and having interventions than of being in pain! I need to feel what my body is doing. DCs 2, 3 and 4 I was standing up leaning on my partner. Tried pethidine and a tens machine with my first, hated both. Gas and air made me feel drunk (not very useful for labour imo). He became distressed and they mentioned getting the dr which scared me so he was out with the following push!

I prefer to just breathe and let my body do what instinct dictates it to do- stand up, push, and yell! Luckily I have a high abdominal pain threshold so can tolerate contractions well. The first had that element of the unknown so I was less confident in my own body than I was for subsequent births.

Merrz · 21/05/2021 09:41

I really don't want an epidural mainly because it hugely increases your change of needing some sort of intervention to deliver baby which can only be more risky for you and baby. I also hate the idea of not being able to feel what's going on.
Plus as pp's have said you can just get up and home after.
I plan to try to be open minded, for me as natural a birth with as little drugs as possible is what i'm aiming for but i'm not against pain relief and will just see how i feel at the time.

Heyha · 21/05/2021 09:59

Just want to make a small point here that I had to stay in for one night/two days but that wasn't down to the epidural, it was the IV antibiotics we were both on. I'd have been home that day (had her at night) were it not for that. So don't plan to be going straight home, just in case.

I'm going to be a little bit controversial here and say don't believe everything the NCT tells you...read the real experiences of women on here to help add colour to their 'official' line!

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