epidural or no epidural?

[leahtaba]

Hey ladies, I am having a hard time deciding whether to have the epi! I never had any pain relief with my first until I was pushing then I couldn't take it anymore and asked for morphine. Although I am glad I experienced a (nearly haha) natural labour It was extemely tough and has made me seriously consider the epidural this time round.

What put me off last time was increased chance of episiotomy and forceps but I ended up with an extremely nasty episiotomy and only narrowly escaped forceps anyway so I guess you can't bet on what will happen!

I guess it would be really interesting to here from any ladies who have experienced labour both with and without an epi? Epidural births seem so much calmer!

I know I have a long time to make my mind up but OBEM has got me thinking
what do you ladies think?

 

[lazymum]

I had first one with epidural and it ended up with forceps and a cut. After that I could not move properly for a while and had back pain weeks after if I was walking more than 50 meters. I enviably looked at moms that were running around the hospital seemingly effortless while I was dragging myself about.
Second time I had my son naturally and although I was induced ( therefore more forceful and painful contractions) I had only a bit of gas and he was out. Straight away I went for a shower and in few hours we went home. I felt elevated as during non medicated labor your natural endorphins kick in and first 3 months I was running about without feeling any exhaustion. I put it all down to having natural labor. I will try this time to relax into labor even more and hope to have even better experience.
There is very useful book by an american midwife who very convincingly talks about natural pain relief that your body provide unless you are stressed and fearful. I also saw a video on BBC about birthing unit in Philippines and no one was even close to be uncomfortable during labor let along screamed. They just never been told that labour is a horrible, painful experience. Tiring yes, but not painful.Good luck.

 

[mara16jade]

I posted a thread a while back on epidurals, and got some awesome responses!
https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/labour-birth/1754891-epidural-stories-positive-hopefully.html

 

[tinkerbelle2]

I have had births with epis and without, the one's with out I lost control due to the pain and struggled badly,
the one with the epi was lovely, even though I could still slightly feel my toes, but it meant I was up and walking within half an hour of giving birth and home within 2 (but had to promise the midwife would meet me the other end....at 2am that wasn't happening!)
Every one's pain level is different, have you looked at hypno birthing?

 

[BlaireUK]

My epidural experience was great but it was a means to a emcs. I wish I'd taken it sooner and maybe I'd have relaxed into my labour more.

 

[lazymum]

With epidural you are stuck to the machines, you can not walk ( far at least) you can not assist natural gravity. I agree that may be not everyone get back pain afterwords ( but this is extremely common) but you definitely will not get natural endorphins that you produce with non medicated labour.
The main problem is fear and therefore loosing control. Than your pain increase because your body is not ready to open and push. It is like trying to do number two in the middle of a highway. Hypnobirthing or just simple understanding of a natural sequence of events helps much more than any pain-relief. As for the tolerance of pain - I have to numb my jaws completely doing the dental cleaning and have to come twice to do upper and lower jaw separately. So I have very low pain tolerance.

 

[dairymomma]

Have you considered other forms of pain management aside from the epidural? I have been offered IV painkillers that don't totally take away the pain but rather take the edge of the contractions. I've never had either an epidural or the IV meds but my sis has done both (as well as natural labors) and she said she's liked the IV meds the best. It takes enough off the contraction so she can focus on breathing thru the rest but she can still move around and isn't numb from the waist down for hours after.

 

[MaMaRed1012]

I have had 3 natural labors (no epidural or pain medicine) and plan to do so with this one as well. All 3 of them were different though.

My daughter (my oldest) the doctor gave me an episiotomy even though she only weighed 5lbs and 14oz. However, no forceps were used. Was a very easy 2.5 hour labor.

My oldest son (middle child) they broke my waters and started pitocin. It was a very long painful labor----I blame pitocin. However, I tore and needed stitches, no forceps were used.

My youngest son I did not get an episiotomy nor did I tear. His labor seemed like a normal text book labor. It was a very easy recover period.

I think it is a very personal choice and everyone has the right to decide what is best for them and their baby. I know that having an epidural you are limited to your bed---but here you are limited to your bed if your waters have broke too.

 

[lazymum]

I think it is a very personal choice and everyone has the right to decide what is best for them and their baby. I know that having an epidural you are limited to your bed---but here you are limited to your bed if your waters have broke too. [/QUOTE]

I agree that it is a personal choice but why do you have to be limited to bed when your waters break? I had an induction by gel and my waters broke but I was free to roam the room and even roll on the floor. The midwife was trying to run with me and monitor the baby but this was it. With epidural I was laying on my bad flat with a monitor and a drip. I can not move at all. This wasn't much fan.

 

[Ckelley]

First, let me say perennial massage is a must! It will reduce your chances of needing an episiotomy significantly.

Second, I tried natural birth. Everything was great, all the way to 7cm. Then they broke my water, and WHAM the pain! So I opted for an Epi. I am going to take it as it comes this time and not feel guilty if I choose one. I felt guilty last time, like I didn't earn my super mom cape or something silly like that.

 

[MaMaRed1012]

I think it is a very personal choice and everyone has the right to decide what is best for them and their baby. I know that having an epidural you are limited to your bed---but here you are limited to your bed if your waters have broke too.

I agree that it is a personal choice but why do you have to be limited to bed when your waters break? I had an induction by gel and my waters broke but I was free to roam the room and even roll on the floor. The midwife was trying to run with me and monitor the baby but this was it. With epidural I was laying on my bad flat with a monitor and a drip. I can not move at all. This wasn't much fan.[/QUOTE]

The hospitals I delivered at had a policy (at least 12.5 years ago---as that is the last time I was in labor) was if your waters were intact you could move about but when they broke you had to labor in bed. I was not even allowed to go pee----they said they would have to give me a catheter.

I am assuming that hospitals sometimes have policies that require women with ruptured membranes to lay down in bed because they fear the complication of a prolapsed umbilical cord. If this happens it is an emergency and an immediate c-section is in order. However, this is really rare. So I don't know if this is any evidence based practice but how it is here in Iowa.

Now, I know things change in almost 13 years so I will be curious how it is with this one. Oh, and I am in a different city so will be delivering in a different hospital.

 

[Leids]

I had an epidural and had a negative experience (and rare reaction) so I won't be having an epidural this time around. A few weeks ago I spoke to my ob and also spoke with an anesthesiologist who confirmed that the reaction I had is very rare so chances are none of you will experience it.

When they placed the epidural they messed up and inserted the needle too far (which resulted in a full blown spinal). The medication went to my brain and caused me to pass out constantly. My blood pressure remained low and problematic for a long time. Even though they never topped up the medication after the initial dose, I kept passing out until about 14 hours after the epidural was initially placed.

The labor and delivery itself was fine, but it completely terrified me. The anesthesiologist told me they wouldn't use the same drug for the epidural to avoid the same complication, but I'll pass! Honestly if I had had a relatively normal epidural experience I would be getting another one.

 

[Cuddle4]

I had one natural birth and two epi births...first epi birth was horrible as it only numbed one side of my body and then I got the rare epi headache which required me to be rushed back to the ER after discharge.. Had backaches for a while afterwards... Second baby was natural.. 3rd.baby I opted for an epi again, that did not fully numb me yet again but it Did take the edge off and no headache or backache with that one..our last one, I am planning a water birth again..(labored in water with the second) and will listen to hypnobirthing CDs this time around as well. The Epi the second time Did allow me to have more control and hubby was super relaxed and encouraging but.. For this last one, I really just want to go at it epi free again. Lol

 

[Tulip]

Same as last time, I will do everything in my power to avoid an epi because of the increased risk of intervention.

Last time I ended up with a spinal but that was post-delivery because I tore badly (he had his hand up, so elbow did some damage internally) and had to go to theatre for repair.

 

[Misscalais]

Just decide on the day Hun. I've never had one and hoping to never have one but if I feel like I need one on the day I will consider it after other pain relief options. I've got a few friends it went wrong on so I just would really prefer not to have one if I can

 

[Snow Owl]

I had an epi and will be hoping for one again

My labour was only 12 hours start to finish. I wasn't allowed out of bed for 12 hours after but it was the most amazing excuse to just chill

Oh and I was cut with forceps but never got a single bit of pain from my stitches, they healed well and I've had no effects after from stitches or epi

 

[RebeccaM.]

I have done both as well. It is 100000% your decision and what your needs are the day of labor and while laboring. I wish in the U.S. they offered gas and air. I think labor would be much efficient if you could decide when and what moment you needed assistance and then be completely self reliant the next. I am going into this labor with an open mind and will receive pain relief in what ever form serves the baby and myself best. I wish you the best experience .

 

[halullat]

I've only had the one so can't give personal experience but my mum had 6 children and she has had natural births and epidural births and she would recommend the epidural births. She said because she was so much more relaxed the births for her went smoother. I believe the only time she had intervention was with her first but I honestly don't know what type of birth that was for sure but I think it was a natural one x

 

[daydreamerx]

I've only had a natural birth but i will be this time aswell, I had a 9lb 2oz back to back baby and all the midwives were saying that if i had an epi i would've definitely needed help getting him out, which i didn't. All my walking round and changing positions got my son to turn the right way up right in the last 20 minutes!

 

[callypygous]

following..