Annoyed at people telling me I'll get an epidural!

[Alyssa Drough]

And totally agree - being hooked up to monitors and drips would be horrible for me. I was changing position every 5 minutes and rocking on all fours for ages. I couldn't imagine being stuck on a bed with limited movement.

 

[trit]

I just got finished with an L&D tour and I felt so bad for the women from the UK who was asking about gas and air, the tour lady didn't understand why anyone would want what we call laughing gas when epis are available. I hope that woman isn't working when I go into labor, but I really feel terrible for the expectant mom (who had a child with her) and knows that's all she wants

 

[Miss406]

I had that - with my own MOTHER!

This is how the telephone call went...

Mum 'So where are you having the baby?'
Me 'At home'
Mum 'But you won't be able to have an epidural at home will you?'
Me 'I don't want one, even if I end up in hospital!'
Mum 'Hahaha, oh don't be silly. I've had four children and I've HAD to have them with each of you!'


Needless to say, I had a beautiful home birth with nothing more than gas and air.
I also managed to breast-feed also, despite Mother warning me I couldn't do it because she ''couldn't'' do it..........

With the baby after this baby - I had another home birth with absolutely NOTHING as pain relief........ Up yours Mother! LOL

 

[aliss]

I've done it both ways. One loaded with every medication under the sun, one with not even a tylenol - both long, difficult, hard labours (my body rocks at pregnancy, sucks at labour).

The medication-free birth was much better, much easier to recover from, no tear (could feel pushing better), just... better. Would choose it again anytime, knowing both ways. Wouldn't ever do the epi again.

We had G&A in Vancouver

 

[jeanyern123]

Totally agree with you Lizchase! The first thing my bff said was "get the drugs! you'll need them, you think you'll be ok then wham, get the drugs it's the best thing" I was so angry at her emphatic reaction that now she's put me off having her as involved as I wanted her to.

 

[moomin_troll]

As I've said before my mum was the one telling me to have a epi with my first ect, it's now after seeing my home birth with nothing as no one turned up lol that she's amazed.
She's always telling people about my home birth and how amazing it was and how much easier and faster everything happened. She brags about it.
So you never know, actually seeing a different type of birth might make ur friend change her opinion

 

[BunnyN]

I do think that our mums still came from the tail end of that poor generation of women where there was a feeling that you should lie on your back backs and 'be good' and quiet during labour and women were not offered anything but drugs or 'breathing through the pain' to cope. If I'd been on my back with my legs in stirrups I might have been screaming for an epi too! I think women who are considering not having an epidural these days are better informed and equipped for having a birth without one. While it might not be something every woman goes for it's not just hippies who are interested in natural child birth and home birth these days and there is a lot of information available. Just being able to chat to others on this forum who have done it gives you confidence.

 

[Dragonfly]

I had an epi with my first and it failed. Then a spinal as i was being inducted. Not the way I wanted it at all. Second time I refused epi as I didnt want that crap again. Got spinal in end in stead. Didnt want that. Third time I got nothing! painful,. but you know no side effects was a lot better for me and baby. I dont like people really bringing down the confidence of woman in labor. You can do this. Without meds too if you want.

 

[staralfur]

I had people (including my mom) telling me that labour was going to hurt way more than I thought and that I shouldn't say "I'm not going to get an epidural" without having experienced labour.

I was induced and had an 18 hour labour with no epidural. There truly was not a single point during the whole thing that I seriously considered getting one. I had gas & air from 7-10cm and that was the extent of my pain relief.

It WAS a lot more painful than I could have imagined, but I was able to work through it. I have serious phobias regarding medical procedures, so voluntarily sticking a needle in my spine is something I feel pretty safe in saying will NEVER happen. I totally get the "creepy" comment as well, I think not being able to have full control of my legs would freak me out. A lot.

Nothing against people who do get epidurals, I don't morally object to them or anything. But it's something that is just not for me and I did know that before experiencing labour!

 

[mara16jade]

Interesting. I get annoyed and very uncomfortable when people try to tell me that going pain med. free is the best way. I really think others should just stay out of your business unless you ask their opinion. I had someone in HR tell me that she "had to concentrate really hard for the last 2 hours", but she's glad she went pain med free and I should to. lol She told me that I honestly didn't need the pain meds. and to just do it without anything.

I just smiled and nodded.

 

[LizChase]

Interesting. I get annoyed and very uncomfortable when people try to tell me that going pain med. free is the best way. I really think others should just stay out of your business unless you ask their opinion. I had someone in HR tell me that she "had to concentrate really hard for the last 2 hours", but she's glad she went pain med free and I should to. lol She told me that I honestly didn't need the pain meds. and to just do it without anything.

I just smiled and nodded.

Yeah, it's super annoying when anyone tries to influence you any way at all. What's wrong with making our own decisions? The thing that really gets me is that I've never just freely shared that I don't plan to get one, I don't really talk about my pregnancy or plans at all unless someone asks me. So if you ask me if I plan to get an epidural, and I say no, don't then try to make me feel like crap about it! Geez.

 

[Rel]

With my first, the midwife asked me if I was planning to get an epidural and I answered that I would like to try without. She told me to not say I don't want it because that might mean that I wouldn't be able to get it. Anyway, when I got there, my contractions were very strong after my waters broke and with no time in between (half a minute if I was lucky). Knowing that with a first, labour can take a long time, I asked for it as soon as I got there! Anyway, I was not the usual first timer and I was pushing baby out when the man arrived to give me the epi. It took about 3 hours from when my waters broke till my son was born.
With my second, I found out that I cannot feel contractions (part from the very last ones). I ended up in hospital very early and it was taking long but they didn't ask me to go home because I was in active labour and I livehalf an hour away. They ended up inducing me to speed things up and they asked me if I wanted an epi, which I refused as I could hardly feel the contractions anyway, and I knew when the strong ones arrived that the end was near, and it was, it took less than a half hour.
I just wanted to explain why it is good to have an idea of what you would like but keep an open mind.
I am pretty sure this time that I won't be getting an epi but for my first the only reason I asked for it when getting there was because I "knew" it was going to take hours, and as it happens there are exceptions.
I hope everything will go well for you and that you won't need the epi. It can be done, many have done it and will do it in the future, and hopefully you will be able to go back to all those people who tell you now that you must have an epi and tell them that you went without and that you feel great about it!

 

[SabrinaKat]

Do whatever is best for you at that time and place.

I wanted a c-section (actually needed an emergency one with pre-eclampsia) as had had a terrible mc experience, and people told me that I was 'chickening out' - however, what is best for YOU is the best. Don't say never, research everything and then, YOU will be happy and confident whatever happens!

good luck!

 

[goddess25]

I wanted natural labours too and most people told me the same that you will end up getting one. First labour I couldnt push my son out and ended up in the OR..I had a spinal anaesthetic which is one that you cant move with, I barely felt them doing it it was fine. I must admit it was a relief, the anesthesiologist said to me this is the last contraction you will feel and it was. I would have done it though if the little blighter wasnt stuck.

Second labour was really fast but I didnt need any pain relief.

Third labour I wanted a home birth and had an unmedicated home birth.

Yes labour is very painful, but it ends with the birth of a wonderful little person. You can do it.