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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 not

24 replies

HermioneGr · 04/04/2022 15:51

Just a fun discussion thread, I'm thinking a lot about my second birth (due October)

I had a natural birth with my first, half a shot of pethidine and gas & air. It was painful as hell and very intense (64 hours of contractions, 8 hours of active labour, 40 mins pushing) but I did it lol.

I'm wanting to know, if you've had 2 or more kids and had an epidural for one of them and not for the other.. If you were to give birth again and could choose.. Would you have the epidural or not?? What is it like to have an epidural birth vs one without? I obviously haven't had an epidural so have zero to compare my first birth to.

I know I can do it without one, but the idea of it being a bit easier is really intriguing and I just wanna hear some comparison stories please xx

OP posts:

Bells3032 · 04/04/2022 16:23

Not me but I did ask my sister this when i was pregnant. She had an epidural with her first but labour was too quick with her second to have it. she told me to have an epidural. My labour was too fast and i didn't get it. it was ok but it was a short labour. If I had a long drawn out labour i'd deff go for an epidural

Mummaof2beauts · 04/04/2022 16:32

I didn't have a epidural with my first child, fast forward 10 years later... I had my little girl 7 weeks ago and I had a epidural. It had to be put in 3 times and it only worked on half my body. And let me tell you the half that did work was bliss. Even though it never worked properly the semi relief it gave me when so much better than what I was experiencing. I had the pitocin drip so my contractions were crazy! If I was to have another I would get the epidural straight away! It was horrendous sitting up during extreme contractions and having to stay still x

LondonladyTTC · 04/04/2022 19:17

Following as also due in October and very tempted to get an epidural! 😁

Easterisoffeggstooexpensive · 04/04/2022 19:19

10 dc without pain relief or epidural. Managed with gas and air.

Dyra · 04/04/2022 21:50

I didn't have an epidural with my first, but did with my second. DC1 = 37 weeks, DC2 = 37+5 weeks. Both drip inductions. I prefer to labour and increase pain relief as and when needed.

First labour I got to 5cm after 6 hours, and needed something stronger than gas and air. I chose diamorphine over an epidural. Really didn't like the idea of having an epidural. Plus didn't fancy adding an additional risk factor for an assisted delivery. High as a kite (and sound asleep between contractions!) for the next 5 hours. Vaginal birth just as it was wearing off.

Second labour I got to 4cm after 10 hours. I was really struggling, labour was progressing too slowly, and I knew that my only other option was meptid. I chose the epidural in the hope it would allow some respite, and would be much longer acting than the meptid. Pure relief. There was a small patch on my right abdomen that had some breakthrough pain, but nothing additional gas and air couldn't handle. Eventually wound up with a C-section, but that was entirely down to baby being in a bad position, than anything to do with the epidural.

If I were to have a third, I would follow the plan I followed for the first two. Escalate pain relief as and when needed. But if it got to the point where it was opiates or an epidural? I would go for the epidural. Nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be, and much more effective.

Notwithittoday · 04/04/2022 21:54

I didn’t get one with my first as it was too late. I desperately wanted one with my second but again no cigar. No bloody gas and air either. Bitterly disappointed. I would so get one if you have the chance. Why suffer? I’m yet to receive my medals.

DramaAlpaca · 04/04/2022 21:54

I had an epidural with my first as it was a long labour and I was getting tired and miserable with the contractions. The epidural wasn't nice going in, but sheer bliss when it in place. Unfortunately it led to a forceps delivery as I couldn't feel to push.

Second and third births I just didn't feel I needed an epidural. Much shorter labours and gas & air was enough.

MerryMarigold · 04/04/2022 22:05

I had an epidural with my first and I think it depends when you get it. My relief was immediate (and actually made me high) but I was given it at 8cm dilation. I had a bad midwife plus she didn't want to check me as my waters had broken nearly 24 hours earlier.

Anyway, upshot of a very late epidural is you can't feel to push, my contractions started slowing, they had to make them stronger, I couldn't feel to push properly although. It was about 8 hours after I was 10cm that he was born so it was wearing off and still painful, ended up with forceps, 4th degree tear, surgery, baby with massive bruising. I think it was all the late epidural. I wished I had kept going without it as it would have been so much quicker and although painful, probably not as bad as the resulting issues from a forceps birth and tearing (much, much worse than c section recovery). For all my friends, their second births were much better and they used hypno birthing - so good luck!

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 04/04/2022 22:14

I had nothing with my first but the pool, an epidural with my second as I was being induced by drip and after 8hrs of intense contractions I was only partially dilated.

It actually only ended up being another few hours and the epidural made my blood pressure crash. If I'd known I'd only a few more hours to go I'd have skipped it. It was fine but my first birth was better.

babyjellyfish · 05/04/2022 08:59

I had an epidural. It was excellent.

AlwaysLatte · 05/04/2022 09:04

I had just gas and air both times but honestly if I were doing it now I'd have an epidural because the gas and air didn't cut it and no one I know or their babies ever had any issues with an epidural.

headspin10 · 05/04/2022 09:14

I've never had an epidural, but I would say why not? (My births are really quick 😳) My friend had first birth without and second with and said it was bliss.

boymummys · 05/04/2022 10:45

Also wondering the same..

I had an unmedicated first birth five years ago, all I had was paracetamol 😩 gas and air made me feel sick, so asked for epidural but was already 10cm. Long 27 hours of labour and 2 hours of pushing, ended up with episiotomy.

I'm due my second in 6 days and have no birth plan, I'm so unsure on what to do.

Pinkflamingofly · 05/04/2022 10:51

I've never had an epidural but if I were to be induced on the drip I would definitely get one. My first labour stalled and they put me on the drip. The artificial contractions were horrific,I felt like I was being electrocuted with each contraction. I dont want to ever experience this pain again

theotherfossilsister · 05/04/2022 10:58

@GregBrawlsInDogJail by crash do you mean go really low? I've had problems with low BP and not escaping hospital after anesthetic due to it so would be good to know if epidural is the same. I also generally vomit after an anesthetic, but I am scared of pain (more scared of surgery though!)

Sorry for the hijack just want to know too.

LillianGish · 05/04/2022 11:00

I’ve had two epidurals and both were bliss - no complications and I was up and about having a shower not long afterwards. I’m in France where it’s that or nothing - my experience is fairly typical among friends who’ve given birth here. Personally I wouldn’t contemplate giving birth any other way, but I know there’s a lot of pressure in the UK to do otherwise.

babyjellyfish · 05/04/2022 13:24

Same here, @LillianGish. I was nervous about giving birth in France initially but now I'm really glad to be having my babies here.

Kaw10 · 05/04/2022 13:41

I'm due in August and I'm going to try without an epidural, primarily because I want to go home as soon as possible and in here Germany they're fans of staying 3 nights

I'm really, really not a meditation, spiritual Hypnobirthing type but I found The Naked Doula on Instagram and love how she presents Hypnobirthing, if anyone wants to check her out! Seems very different and more practical than the "your fanny is a blooming flower", meditation style.

timeisnotaline · 05/04/2022 13:54

I’ve had 3 dc, 2 epidurals. The one I didn’t was just a much faster birth so I didn’t have time. It was only really difficult for a few hours. The other two it had been really difficult for hours and I wasn’t very dilated still, the epidural was the most amazing magic and I could rest and doze between contractions over the next 5 or 6 hours. So it depends on the birth, I’d have one every time if you’re struggling and not very dilated. Re side effects I did actually have a spinal headache… but from the birth I didn’t have an epidural, they gave me a spinal in theatre to sew me up and I had a spinal headache from that, which is much more rare than from an epidural. So you cant avoid every risk no matter what giving birth.

whosaidtha · 05/04/2022 13:58

It really does remove all the pain. You can't feel anything. I had one with my second which was amazing. But I was induced and was really not coping. I didn't need further intervention to deliver but did have a few complications after as I was over dosed on one side. Only lasted a day or so though.

maddy68 · 05/04/2022 14:01

I have lasting nerve damage from an epidural. Didn't have it with my secibd. Would definitely not recommend

Ava50x · 05/04/2022 14:10

I've 4 DC and no epidurals. First 3 were waterbirths, really quick, had no need.
DC4 I developed severe piles right before the birth and I decided I need an epidural- I was afraid to make the pain worse, because I was in absolute agony. Got to hospital open 5, told them I want an epidural and the midwife was fine, no problem, anaesthetist will be along shortly. Ten minutes later my waters broke and I started pushing, so didn't get my epidural this time either- and piles thankfully stayed the same- didn't get worse.
So i've not had my epidural but my advice is if you do want it or need it, go for it. I personally have so many friends who did have it and none had complications. Aside from PP, i've never heard of anyone having complications from epidural.
Best of luck OP!

babyjellyfish · 17/11/2022 12:26

Oops, something went wrong there.

So of about 1200 women who give birth there, about 575 of them will have an unassisted vaginal birth and around 550 of those will have had an epidural.

babyjellyfish · 17/11/2022 12:27

Wrong thread, sorry! 😖

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