epidural?

I didn't have an epidural and I wasn't screaming and crying and I was induced...I could get up and walk around during the labour and straight after the birth. Your body is made to give birth, it knows what to do...you just have to trust your body and go with it.

I was really nervous about the whole labour and birth side of things when I got pregnant and ended up reading a Hypnobirthing book and practiced some breathing and visualisation exercises...it really helped.


Edited by Jaune

Yep, I didn't either and no screaming or crying here.

Please keep in mind that once you have any kind of intervention it can start off a string of things. I liked that it was just me, DH and midwife with me during delivery. I gave birth in water which helped heaps and I would not have been able to do this if I had an epidural.

I also had an epidural and it really is a personal decision. I was in quite a bit of pain and with each contraction was a wave of nausea and/or dry retching. I was also awake most of the night with contractions and it was blissful to have the relief. I managed to get some rest before ultimately ending up with a c-sect since DS was in completely the wrong position. I might also say that I had no specific birth plan and we went with whatever was necessary. Have a chat to your midwife and see what she says.

I liked things silent when I was in labour so def no screaming or crying here! But everyone is different and I have quite a high pain threshold so what hurts for you might not hurt for me iygwim.

I did get induced towards the end and opted for an epi so I could have a quick nap before pushing. Epi wore off for pushing and I still wasn't screaming/crying.

I didn't top my epi up at all so I was walking around about 30-60 mins after the birth and having a shower!

I wish I had never watched a birthing video! Before DS1 I watched one and like you it really upset me because she was in so much pain (having a natural birth). It was shown to me in the course of an antenatal class (ie not my choice) and I got so upset I had to leave the room and stood outside crying because it was so horrendous. Why do people make these videos and worse, make others watch? We all know labour/birth hurts, do we need to go further? The purpose was supposedly to show us how you can get through it naturally without drugs but why anyone would want to replicate this woman's experience I don't know!!

Anyway - after a few weeks I got over it and was determined to have a natural birth. Unfortunately it just didn't work out that way. I had an unusually long labour - it was six days, during which time the contractions were never longer than 15 mins apart and usually 3-5 mins. (Don't freak out, it was a very unusual situation in another country - here they would probably have intervened after a couple of days if not progressing).

The pain was manageable. By that I mean it was obviously unpleasant but I was coping without any form of pain relief. But after over 100 hours I was totally strung out from exhaustion and it was obvious that nothing was going to happen until I got some rest, so I had an epidural in order to get some sleep. Having the epidural put in was really unpleasant - I was having contractions but you have to stay completely still while lying on your side which isn't the best position to be in while having a contraction. I managed it but I was so scared that I was going to move inadvertently and end up paralysed (probably a silly fear but I was in a weird space by that point!). To make matters worse the anaesthetist put it in the wrong place and had to do it all over again.

However, once it was in it was a wonderful release and I immediately fell asleep for about an hour. I could still feel & move my legs, I probably could have walked around if not for the fact that I had to stay on the bed as the baby was being constantly monitored.

The plan was to let the epidural wear off for the actual delivery but DS had other ideas and was delivered all of a sudden while it was still in effect. So I didn't feel any pain at all, just pressure/movement. Having spoken to others who have had epis which wore off before delivery I understand that although it is obviously painful, it's much more bearable during the pushing phase because you are pushing with the pain, IYKWIM, rather than just sitting and bearing it. But I can't comment on that personally.

Am now 37 weeks with DS2 and my birth plan basically says that there is no "plan". I really hope to have a natural birth but I now realise that it's best to keep an open mind rather than be disappointed. At this point I think I would only have an epi again if being induced (my OB recommends this) or if (touch wood) I'm in labour and without sleep for longer than 2/3 days which my OB promises me won't be allowed to happen again!

Sorry for long reply - upshot is that epis definitely have advantages but also disadvantages too.

I had an epidural after several hours of labour. DS was posterior and his head was stuck against my pelvis which made it painful. I literally had to beg my mw for an epidural because i knew something was wrong. Once i had it they realised i was in trouble and there was only blood coming out of the cathider (which you automatically get when you have an epidural) In the end it saved my bladder and possibly my life.

I dont mean to scare you just that you need to b e strong in your convictions. Educate yourself on it and if you want be clear in your intentions

It is a personal choice. If you are doing fine without it go ahead without. If this is your first baby you wont know how your body deals with labour. You may be one the luck ones who can deal with that pain and have a trouble free labout. If not dont be afraid to have it you just need to give birth you sont have to be a hero!

I just wanted to say in response to Missjens post- you don't always automatically have a catheder put in with an Epidural (I didn't)

Just wanted to add that I slso had an epi after long labour that wasn't progressing very quickly. No catheter for me either, and I could get up and go to the loo (with help) and also move around on the bed for pushing. Was on hands and knees for the most part.

Still felt an awful amount of pressure and quite a bit of pain although I'm sure it had the edge taken off.

I would have an epi again, providing they kept it at a level I could still move around with.

Yeah they stuck my epidural in the wrong place - into the dura which can cause the spinal fluid to leak out- any tiny change in the pressure of spinal fluid can cause massive problems- like AbzandH said, pain, nerve damage, epidural headaches- which can be so severe u cant move for days so cant feed/care for your baby and have to be hospitalised. I was told this after the fact, and had to stay 4 days 4 monitoring but luckily had no major problems.

I had an epi and plan to do it again.