Did you give birth without epidural?

[SunnySideUp2020]

Please tell me about it!!!!

How was it honestly? How was the labor?

Had my first last year and although I had planned a natural birth, when active labor hit I begged for an epidural. It was a low dose one but I felt like I was dying without.

Expecting the second this October. Am I crazy for considering trying without epidural?

The reason is where I want to give birth they don't do epidural. It's not in the UK. It's a birth house in swizterland where I live. The other option is hospital...

What do they do if they need to do a csec?

@mathanxiety

For women having a second or subsequent baby, home births and midwifery unit births appear to be safe for the baby and offer benefits for the mother

For multiparous women, there were no significant differences in adverse perinatal outcomes between planned home births or midwifery unit births and planned births in obstetric units.

For multiparous women, birth in a non-obstetric unit setting significantly and substantially reduced the odds of having an intrapartum caesarean section, instrumental delivery or episiotomy.

Source: Birth Place Study carried out by National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU), Oxford University* *

Yes twice. First time had morphine and it’s was honestly ok. Second time couldn’t have the morphine so just gas and air - it was pretty awful.

I had no pain relief whatsoever with my second as she can so quickly. It was fine, and you have breaks in between when the contractions stop. The last part was pretty intense and I kind of spaced out and then she arrived, and I felt fine. I was sent home 6 hours later no stitches, no stress and it was a very positive experience.
It helped to remind myself this was not 'real' pain as in a car crash or serious injury it was my body's way of delivering my baby and was doing its job. When I stopped the pain link and saw it as assisting the baby - it felt easier psychologically.

If you need pain relief then take the option, no gold stars for truly suffering, but I have to say I felt so strong, powerful and alive actually experiencing it in full, and I was in control and it was very empowering.

*came

I didn't have time 😂 I was induced and my body reacted very quickly, from pills to baby, it was 4 hours. It was intense but i didn't have a comparison or a choice so I just got on with it. Used the other options instead 😅

Yes - I had my first two in a midwife led unit and the third at home. Epidurals weren't an option at either location. I had gas and air for the first and nothing for two and three. I didn't need it and TBH there wasn't with DC2 who arrived very quickly.

Yes I did. (Not through choice, I begged for one for 12 hours). It was bad. Really really bad. But that was because my daughter was back to back and i was in slow labour. I thought I would die. If I had a more text book labour than maybe it would be easier without epidural.

This is exactly the same as me!

I had an epidural for my first but my second was so quick there was no time. I got to the hospital fully dilated and ready to push, so no epidural. It hurt quite a bit, but it was quick.

I've given birth to two ten pound plus babies. Didn't have any pain relief for either.

I had my first 8 weeks ago, took 2 paracetomol 1 hr 45 mins before going to hospital but didnt do anything. Turns out i was 9cm dilated by time i got there. Went through labour & birth with just gas & air. My contractions were just like really bad backache though.

I've had a real mixed bag.

DC1 - long labour, had everything including epidural. I ended up with induction for failure to progress and wasn't allowed to walk around so the epidural was a godsend. I hadn't slept for 36 hours at that point and fell asleep sitting up when it kicked it

DC2 - My easiest birth, 6 hours start to finish and had nothing

D23 - induced at 38 weeks and had a lot of gas and air and one shot of diamorphine

Moving around/ staying upright is key. I don't think it's coincidence that DC2 was my easiest labour and the only one I could move freely. Also helps deal with the pain

I had an epidural as soon as possible - at the uncomfortable rather than painful stage and they kept it topped up. Didn’t want any pain - spent labour watching Wimbledon mens final, doing my nails and sleeping - perfect!

No pain relief - all fine

I didn't have any pain relief, my labour progressed too quickly (I was trying to tell the midwife on the ward something was amiss and she just shouted at me) so I didn't get into the delivery suite until it was time to push, and it wasn't horrific for me to be fair. I did secretly feel a little proud of myself! I considered one when the midwife on the ward told me (without checking me) that I wasn't even at the start line yet, I was terrified because I was in agony.....my daughter was born 40 minutes later.

If you say no to an epidural would you be able to change your mind mid-birth?

I didn’t get anything. Not bragging, I’d have loved some gas and air, but DH was utterly shit and more or less abandoned me. By the time the midwife arrived, she said it was too late for all that, time to push!

It hurt, but it was manageable. There were lots of different pains, some harder than others. I was surprised at how distinguishable they were (I slept through a lot of it. Or possibly passed out. It was like being unpleasantly drunk. Could really have done with an advocate, there!)

Yes, twice. Used pethidine and entonox first time plus a Tens machine, second time no pethidine. Not as bad as I expected it to be, I would say.

Yes it was horrific. Gas and air only which was shit and an inattentive midwife so nothing else. Awful experience.

Just gas and air here. Second labour definitely was more painful but it was an induction and I do think that I had forgotten how painful my first labour was. I won't make that mistake again!
I think just go with what you can manage. Don't put yourself under pressure. I vaguely remember asking about an epidural and they said something like just see how it goes and then I sort of forgot.
I do remember being offered paracetamol. That was really helpful

It was manageable. The crowning was ouchy but short. Can you find out if you can use a TENS machine or water to make things more comfortable? TENS was a godsend in the first stage of labour.

Every labour is different. And your body learns, or so my midwife said. So my first was awful, labour stalled so they induced and they forgot to come back for the epidural. It was hell. Second labour was a dream, again gas and air at the juicy bit and I swear I didn’t feel her crowning. Don’t get my wrong, I could feel everything but at the same time nothing specific. It was a great experience. Do what you need to In the moment. If you need what ever they offer, take it. If you can manage without, that’s also good but you can only prepare yourself, not plan.

Gas and air for two for me. No way would I have had an epidural. Episiotomy with DS and a few stitches with DD, still wouldn’t want an epidural.

I had epidural with my first, hated it the fact I had to stay in and felt numb so couldn't be me!
With my second and third I had NOTHING, the pain was bearable and once they was out it was over with literally, I didn't like the gas and air it made me dry mouthed and wouldn't give me a drink so I didn't bother haha but I was home like 3 hours later back to normal sat on the sofa snuggled with the baby and a brew.... it's now my plan for number 4!
I stayed at home for as long as I could like having a bath an been in my comfys then went into hospital just for pushing when I knew I was near the time!

First, had epidural
Second, did not. As we did not have time!