Scared of epidural

[MonkeyTales]

I am terrified of needles and just the thought of an epidural makes me want to throw up.

For people who given birth without one, how badly does it hurt? Do you wish you would have gotten one?

For the people who did have one, what was that like? Does it hurt? Did you have any side effects?

Just want to know, the good and the bad so don't sugar coat things to make me feel better please 🙈

I had home births and chose no pain relief and tbh apart from the last 10-15mins with them all it wasn't anything more that bad period pain for me. But every one is different so nobody can truly answer your question

Had an induction and the contractions were really intense - I think the induction overstimulated my uterus and I was immediately in unbearable pain. Had pethadine and gas and air but when it came to it and the pethadine had worn off I was STILL in agony so when they offered the epidural I was all for it. Didn’t feel the needle, didn’t feel anything after that except the slight whisper of contractions.

Tbh I was in such pain that if they’d told me that chopping off my right hand was the only solution, I’d have done it.

This sounds wonderful!

It’s so helpful to read of someone else having the same experience. Traumatised is the right word and it’s the reason we stopped at one.

I found a tens machine was really useful in early labour, then warm water. Gas and air didn’t help for me. An epidural isn’t always needed, even with a back to back labour. There are a number of options. Maybe plan to try without but leave the option open?

Epidurals are a miracle of modern medicine. You won’t care about needles or anything - you can’t see it being done and will barely feel anything.

The point about being in labour that I didn’t appreciate until I was in it is that you are sort of “off your head” - like being the only drunk person in a room full of sober people.

So what you calmly and rationally are thinking now bears no resemblance to how it actually is in labour. Hence why birthing plans sound lovely but honestly not worth the paper they are written on when it all kicks off!

Yup this was me too 🤣

DH was all “but your birth plan says you want to avoid an epidural- are you sure?”

Yes I was most definitely fucking sure!!

I had my first without it and I didn't feel like I needed it. My second I asked for it but wasn't expecting to want it after my first. I wouldn't over think it (easy for me to say)! If you are desperate for it they will help you. I can't remember seeing the needle if that helps.
With my first I had a tens machine and that was really good!

I had a very long back to back labour with my first, which everyone would (if they’d known baby was back to back) have said would be hell. It was fine. I had a homebirth and used a tens machine and the birth pool. I asked for gas and air towards the end but as baby was basically coming then, midwife said it was too late. It was fine. Obviously not pain free because it’s labour, but it was totally manageable and not as bad as I was expecting.

But everyone deals with and experiences pain differently and has different factors to take into account. I’d have hated to have an epidural, because it would stop me listening to my body and moving around how I wanted. Some people feel more in control or safer with more medicated options. You have to try and make the best decision for you.

God bless the DH’s out there that are still trying to stick to the birth plan in the throes of labour 😂 my NCT leader had told the husbands they were advocates for the woman during labour and my DH took this very literally.

I asked for a csection after hours of labour not progressing, we had to wait a few hours due to emergencies and he spent this whole time ‘advocating’ for non-labouring me who had wanted to avoid a section at all costs by trying to persuade me out of it 😅 I think I might choose to birth alone next time.

The midwife kept asking me what was in my birth plan and whether I wanted an aromatherapy bath. I had to explain that the birth plan was the stuff I was saying, not the nonsense I had written down when I didn't know anything.