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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

anyone had an epidural with first labour and then managed without one second time round?!

15 replies

MatthewAndBumpsMummy · 28/12/2008 20:10

im not due till may 31st but ever since i saw midwife at booking appointment and she kept telling me 'oh most woman dont get time for an epidural second time round!' ive just been so scared im really not good with pain and just really dont think i could ever to it, im not one who wants to try and be all natural either i really dont wanna feel the 'burn!' i had such a lovely labour and birth with ds withour any pain chatting away and really enjoying it, think dh much perfred it to, to not see me in pain. i really wanna have a nice pain free birth again. second labours aren't always faster are they? if i go to hospital at the first signs of labour suerly ill be able to have one. anyone had any similar experience, or managed without an epidural second time round would really like the reassurance. thanx

OP posts:

onepieceofbrusselssprout · 28/12/2008 20:14

I did, but the birth of dd1 was very different to dd2. With dd1 I was induced and had a very long and painful labour. (she was 11 days "late".

With dd1 I went into labour spontaneously at 40+2, started contractions around 5am and had her at 11.40. I managed on just gas and air, as it was genuinely a much easier labour. Yes, it did hurt, but apart from a few minutes during transition when I shrieked for an epidural, I felt more in control.

I would have definitely asked for an epidural if I had felt I needed one. Why not try and keep an open mind until the actual day, obviously when it comes down to it it is your choice.

The actual delivery of dd2 was much easier on the whole as I could feel the pushing iykwim.

onepieceofbrusselssprout · 28/12/2008 20:15

Sorry I meant to say with dd2 I went into labour spontaneously.

MissusHoHoHo · 28/12/2008 20:22

me!!

I had a spontaneous 7hr labour with dd1 but was induced with dd2.

My 2nd labour was 2hrs from 1st twinge to delivery and as I wasn't examined until 1/2hr before dd2 was born I didn't have time for an epidural!

It was very painful but I managed to cope using breathing techniques and much pacing of the corridors When I got to the point where I felt I couldn't do it anymore out she came...

2nd labours aren't always quicker (as loads of MNers will testify...) but I think the best thing to do is to go with the flow and see what happens - 'tis one of those totally unpredictable things.

good luck

randomxmas · 28/12/2008 20:24

It might not be painful enoughfor you to want an epidural. I had one with my first & it was great as dd was back to back. Then I had a cs for the next.

For dd3 I asked to have an epidural if I needed it & the medic told me at one point that if I didn't have an epidural now it would be too late. I couldn't believe it as was completely fine!!! I was happy they respected my wishes for an epidural & amazed when they told me I was at the point of no return for having one. The rest of the labour & delivery was super quick & really ok with no pain relief at all. I just didn't need anything!

Good luck for you xxx

thisisyesterday · 28/12/2008 20:34

first time round I had gas and air, which I hated, followed closely by pethidine, lovely til it wore off and then an epidural.
hated my birth experience and think i wouldn't have felt so much pain if it had been bette rmanaged.. but that's another thread!

anyway, my midwife was concerned when I decided to go for a homebirth second time in case I coudln't cope with the pain.

I managed to birth a 9lb 5oz baby who was also back to back on my living room floor without even resorting to the gas and air!!!

second labours aren't always faster, but they do tend to be because your body has already done it once. but don't presume that because you wanted an epidural first time that you'll need one the second. I think the way my labour was managed, and the setting I was in contributed far more to how able I was to cope than anything else.

ScoobyDoo · 28/12/2008 20:43

You sound exactly like me, with my first labour i had a really relaxing time, i had an epidural half way through and was sitting up haveing tea and toast whilst chatting away, until it was time to push.

When i fell pregnant with my second i always said all the way through i am definatly having the epidural and no one is going to stop me, i am terrible with pain and a real chicken, i cry at any sort of pain, have a smear test is a big big saga for me

I went into labour with my second and thought i would stay at home and deal with the pain as much as possible (like i did with the first) it then got to the point where i thought i could take no more so off we went to hospital, got there and i was only 4cm dilated, i then got started on the gas and air, all of a sudden 30 minutes later i thought oh my god i need more i need an epidural, called for someone to get me one and then got moved into a labour room, 10 minutes later and before i knew what was happening i was 10 cm dilated and ready to push, 10 minutes after that my dd was born
It all went so fast i did not have the time, although i was still begging for an epidural when pushing, i was just to late.

To be honest it was a much better labour (ver painful) but very quick and when it was over i could have a nice shower and get down to feeding dd, i never had any burning but where it was so painful i was very very determined to push for my life because i knew when that baby was out the pain would be gone.

Don't worry about it, honestly if i could pick either labour to do again it would be my second, even though more painful the pain was short lived and the aftermath was much much better.

Goodluck

moosemama · 28/12/2008 20:44

Had an epidural first time round as long labour with posterior baby and failure to progress.

DS2 longer labour, posterior again but felt much more able to cope and just had gas and air at the very end. Stayed upright and mobile the whole time second time round and that definitely helped plus I think I was less tense knowing what was coming and therefore more in control.

Would have had plenty of time for an epidural had I wanted one though.

Please try not to let worrying about the birth spoil your enjoyment of being pregnant. Every birth is a different experience and whatever happens you will get through it and have a beautiful baby as your reward.

(Second birth was such a positive experience that I am currently 39+1 with number 3 and planning a home birth.)

ScoobyDoo · 28/12/2008 20:45

By the way my second labour was a back to back labour i think thats why i was in unbearable pain most the way through.

hairycaterpillar · 28/12/2008 20:50

DS1 - horrible birth and had an epidural.

DD - fantastic birth really enjoyed it (honestly). Had no analgesia other than TENS machine.

DS2 - TENS and then some gas and air at the end.

I'm sure you will be fine, don't worry about it because it will just happen. As long as you are aware of the choices available then you and m/wife can decide at the time what is necessary...no labour is the same.

artichokes · 28/12/2008 20:51

my second labour was not short despite my expectations.

i had planned to avoid a second epidural as i blamed it for needing forceps with dd1. i believed that i would cope better with the pain if i could go into labour naturally rather than being induced.

in the end i did go into labour naturally but it was slow and i was shocked to find the contractions hurt as much as induced contractions. i got to hospital after 16 hours of slow labour and was only 4cm - cue me begging for the epi. was best decision ever. had lovely painfree evening and regained strength. the epi then started to falter but luckily i was ready to push and having some feeling return helped me push much more effectivly than with dd1. dd2 was born after 4 contractions worth of pushing weighing 10lbs 2oz - at that weight i was so pleased i could not feel more!

this was 9 days ago. if i ever do it again i will have another epidural.

Original poster

MatthewAndBumpsMummy · 28/12/2008 21:02

thanx everyone

OP posts:

SmallShips · 28/12/2008 22:31

1ST Birth - awful, awful experience, with an epidural.

2ND Birth - great birth, no pain relief.

festivedollyx · 28/12/2008 22:34

I had an epidural with dd1 it was a long and painful labour, started at 8am on a sat morn and delivered (all 9lbs 13oz) of her at 4.30 on the sun eve

dd2 waters broke 8am coped very well on gas and air mw mw checked me at 6pm said i would be best with epidural now as i had a long night ahead so got it done the only thing it numbed was my thigh, but that was ok with me as the pain was not that bad (was a back 2 back labour but i preferred it compared to front pain with dd1) mw checked my cervix at 7.15 had gone from 4 to 8cm and 15 mins later dd2 was born at 7.30pm without me pushing and was only 8 cms dilated trying my hardest to keep her in while mw got her trolly ready!! she weighed 8lbs 13oz was a very easy labour and delivery! just hope no3 goes the same!!!!

Colbeck · 28/12/2008 22:42

Had an epidural at first birth, whole experience horrible.

Second birth no pain relief, just breathing and 'focusing' (hypnobirthing) was wonderful.

and I never thought I was the 'natural' type either!

CeceliaAhern · 28/12/2008 22:43

I was induced and had an epidural the first time round. I think the midwife's words on my whinging were that I was an 'excellent candidate for an epidural'. I didn't have on the second time round,as that stage was so much quicker, although I did have a spinal for the attempted ventouse and then emergency c-section delivery. You can never tell waht is going to happen.

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