Page 2 | Water birth , epidural vs other options. Best way to give birth ?

butterflycatcher · 07/12/2023 21:58

Do the research but be prepared to go with what your gut is telling you is best for you at the time, it really is impossible to know how things are going to go. I loved the idea of the water, and after 5 days of contractions to get to 4cm I welcomed the relief the birth pool brought. The water is truly magical at easing the pain. Unfortunately once in the water I failed to progress. After some intervention and having my waters broken I went back to the labour ward and had an epidural because my body was spent and baby was at risk. They turned the epidural down for the pushing stage and although painful it was bearable. I was just so glad it was coming to an end.

With my second I went straight for the epidural and had a very relaxing wait to 10cm 😂

Suchardchoccy · 07/12/2023 22:02

Oh I also had a catheter for my first as I couldn't wee and my bladder was full but it was in and then out again when my bladder was empty.

No catheter for the second, I had a wee before getting in the pool.

It does sting when the head is crowning but I'm pregnant with my third so it can't be that bad can it haha

Potter10 · 07/12/2023 22:03

You could hire one and have baby at home? That way your guaranteed the pool will be available.
There's a sieve which the midwives discreetly use to remove anything that shouldn't be floating around!!
I used conwyhypnobirthing to hire a pool from and for hypnobirthing online courses. Highly recommended

GraySweatpants · 07/12/2023 23:10

I will forever be the advocate of epidural!

I also have a low ish pain intolerance like you. My birthing plan only had one note: give me all the drugs 😂 Took me 5 hours to open from 3 to 4cm with some strong painkillers so I was still able to get some rest but by the time they wore off it was too much! The gas and air didn’t help as they just made me feel ‘high’ and not in control of my body which I hated. I initially wanted to use the pool and it was available but by this time I just want the pain to stop. I kept asking for epidural and as soon as they gave it to me it was pure bliss! The catheter will be inserted at this point as well.

I went from 4cm to 8cm in about an hour after epidural. During this time, they had trouble monitoring baby’s heartbeat so I was doped up ready for an emergency C section and wheeled in the theatre. I was fully dilated by that time so the nurses let me try pushing and used the suction cup to assist. I did NOT want a C section so was so thankful when DD arrived after 3 pushes! I couldn’t feel the pain at all just some abdominal pressure.

So yeah epidural for me all the way!

Chaiandtoast · 08/12/2023 09:36

Are epidurals often refused? A friend said she was told she was too early/they couldn’t get someone then told now it was too late, so she had no pain relief. Another said they turned hers off and lied to her and admitted it after, because they said she would ‘push better’ without it. Are these bad experiences or is it a practice to refuse women the drugs they want and need! - I can’t imagine that would happen to a man!

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 08/12/2023 09:52

My worry is how do they assess any situation with baby if your submerged in water?

My midwives were able to listen to DD's heart rate by putting something on my stomach while I was in the pool. I can't remember if I had to slightly lift out of the pool for this but I don't think so, I think they did it under the water. Visually, they used a mirror that they put in the water under me (I was kneeling up, leaning against the edge) to see what was going on.

Is the water warm?

Yes, and the temp was monitored to keep it warm.

With all options how to go toilet afterwards. Do they insert a catheter with all births ?

No. I had a catheter after my water birth but that was because my placenta wasn't coming and they wanted to empty my bladder in case it was getting in the way of the placenta. For my second birth (induction) I didn't have a catheter at any point.

Does gas and air relief pain ?

I think this is variable. My mum described g&a as lovely, but it made me queasy both times and I stopped using it. I didn't have any pain relief.

I am concerned most about pain during pushing / tears or does it burn or sting when birthing.

I didn't find pushing to hurt more than contractions. And it was a relief to finally be able to actively do something, rather than having the contractions just happening. In a way it felt like it hurt a bit less because I had something else to focus on. Crowning does sting, but it's relatively quick. And I wouldn't say that for me it hurt more, it just hurt in a different way.

Greybeardy · 08/12/2023 10:01

Chaiandtoast · 08/12/2023 09:36

Are epidurals often refused? A friend said she was told she was too early/they couldn’t get someone then told now it was too late, so she had no pain relief. Another said they turned hers off and lied to her and admitted it after, because they said she would ‘push better’ without it. Are these bad experiences or is it a practice to refuse women the drugs they want and need! - I can’t imagine that would happen to a man!

You do ideally need to be in established labour before having one, although sometimes we do put them when there’s been a long latent phase/before starting synto, etc. The longer it’s in though it may slow things down increase the chance of needing intervention - early on it’s generally good to be mobile and active. There does come a point at which it’s also too late to put one in and that decision should be made by an anaesthetist based on how things have been progressing/other factors to do with that woman. The risks of putting them in late a) delivering a baby whilst sat up for an epidural is really unpleasant for a woman (and anaesthetist!), b) they may not actually give any pain relief in time (so will expose a woman to all the risks with no benefit). Turning epidurals off to push is rather old fashioned and made more sense with the infusion mixtures were higher concentration, but that’s generally not such an issue now. HTH

Hippiechickie · 08/12/2023 10:17

I loved my water birth and would highly recommend it. BUT, as others have said it really depends on you and baby on the day. Your birth plan needs to be flexible for just in case scenarios and you’ll need to be open minded. My first was back to back labour and the waters had already broken some 12hrs abodes contractions started. It was initially incredibly painful, intense close together contractions, yet was 0cm on arrival to triage. I was refused admission to delivery and any form of pain relief!!! Only 2hours later and begging for help I was assessed to be found I was 7-8cm, swiftly moved to delivery unit where I got into the pool, the pain almost immediately eased and I delivered in the water within 30mins. My partner said it was lift I was stoned when I was in the pool…I actually loved the giving birth stage!

Second one I had planned water birth (but sadly not allowed home birth) but unfortunately he came to quick and was basically delivered at the entrance of the hospital.

One thing that helped me in both was hypnobirthing, and letting the body dictate what it wanted. The first one I could only manage labour on my side until I got in the pool due to pain, midwives tried everything to move me but it was excruciating. Second one I spent all my time (2hrs!) on my feet dancing then delivered standing up!

it is an amazing and empowering experience if it goes well and you are not scared (which I was initially!). I’m sad not to do it again, but my partner says no!

Suchardchoccy · 08/12/2023 11:16

@CrispsandCheeseSandwich absolutely agree with this.

Also, I had an episiotomy with my first and a second degree tear with my second, I don't remember feeling the tear because the contractions were so painful

Parker231 · 08/12/2023 11:29

Chaiandtoast · 08/12/2023 09:36

Are epidurals often refused? A friend said she was told she was too early/they couldn’t get someone then told now it was too late, so she had no pain relief. Another said they turned hers off and lied to her and admitted it after, because they said she would ‘push better’ without it. Are these bad experiences or is it a practice to refuse women the drugs they want and need! - I can’t imagine that would happen to a man!

I had an early epidural written into my birth plan and the hospital were pretty quick in doing it. It was kept in and topped up throughout labour. I didn’t see any point in having discomfort or pain - I slept through most of my labour.