1st time birth: Do I want an Epidural?

[ThePFJ]

Am writing my birth plan, and the only thing my midwife says at the moment is that the epidural is choosen by 41% of births - mostly first time mums, and that it will decrease my urge to push.

I am thinking perhaps maybe gas and air could get me through, I don't want any other pain relief except a warm bath perhaps. But then I panic about the pain, and change my mind when I see people say how wonderful they felt after having the Epidural.

I know its up to me.. but does anyone have any experiences they could give me to help me decide please?

Any comments would be very greatly appreciated. Thank you thank you thank you xx

I had a fast first birth - absolutely agonisingly and astonishingly painful (I had prostin gel but not a drip). I begged for an epidural as MW said I obviously wasn't coping at only 2cm (actually I was 9). By the time the anaesthetist arrived I was ready to push and he still offered but I said no. I only pushed for about 10 minutes so was lucky really. I am convinced it was easier as I avoided the epidural and (assuming things are quick next time too) I shall say I do not want one no matter what, unless things take a turn for the worse and are much quicker. I feel quite pleased knowing I can endure that level of pain, (bear in mind it was only for a couple of hours, different if you have a longer labour I am sure) which makes me sound like a smug idiot but I have a friend just had her second, had epidurals from 3cm both times and is smug as anything her births hardly hurt (and she had no intervention). So like everyone has said, I would keep an open mind - I have another friend who had two with no epidurals despite being convinced with her first she would be begging for one - but she coped just fine.

Birth plans make me laugh now. I know know they are a complete waste of time .
My epidural was fantastic while it lasted, DS's blood pressure kept going down with every dose so couldn't top it up very much. It also definitely reduced the urge to push. I had no idea what they meant by "push" as I couldn't feel anything! 18 hours later I ended up almost falling asleep from exhaustion plus DS was just too big and awkward so I had an emergency C-section

also I don't remember gas n air being very helpful! I'm sure the pain of my labour couldn't have gotten any worse and I was sucking on that stuff like you wouldnt believe!

ahhhh I loved the Gas and Air. For my planned home birth I want lots of it.

Re the Epi it also probably good advice to say if you think you might want one to ask sooner rather than later.

Most of my friends who have had the best experiences had them earlier on and they were wearing off enough to feel the pushing bit etc....mine was later on - Think I was 8cm dialated and thats probably why all the problems started with the labour slowing down and me being unable to push. Plus I couldn't get out of bed for about 12 hours afterwards.

I haven't had any pain relief in my births, but hear good things about the epidural.

First time around wasn't in enough pain until it was very close to being over, so I thought "if I made it this far . . "

Second time was the same. I didn't feel in enough pain until it was all over.

BTW I've had quick labors and births, and if I had a 24-48 hour labor I would be all over the epidural.