Hi ladies
Sorry to gatecrash, im just popping over from Tri 3 in hope of some answers. This is the story...
Well okay i was deffinately going for the natural waterbirth with gas and air but everything has gone against that for me Firstly, big baby. Secondly, Group B Strep Possitive which means ill have to be in hospital hooked up to an IV from the very onset of labour. Also, with him being so large (his head is measuring 5 weeks ahead *eek) i was thinking it would be more reasonable to get the epidural.
However, i am very nervous about this. I was wandering if you could answer a few of my questions?
1. How bad does it hurt getting it inserted. Please be honest.
2. Can you feel internal exmainations once you've got the epidural
3. If you tear badly durring the birth, do they still have to use a local to stich you up or they just top up the epidural so u cant feel anything
4. Does it hurt getting the catheter inserterd/removed
Your help is much appriciated xxx
Okay first of all how many opinions have you had about his head measurements? Scans can be up to 20% out so unless there's true cephalic pelvic disproportion (V.V. rare) he can be birthed no probs.
Secondly GBS does not mean automatic hospital and IV drip, there is a lot of scaremongering about GBS at the moment (thanks 'This Morning' for the worst item EVER) take a look over here for some good infohttp://www.babyandbump.com/home-natural-birthing/504819-group-b-strep-support-thread.html
Third if you want to go to hospital you can still use water for pain relief it is the best form of pain relief its amazing.
Oh and 4th...why get an epi because you've been told baby has a big head which may be BS anyway? Read these articles
it goes through the pro's and con's and it's fully referenced and from a reputable source - Lamaze.
...I had an epi with my first and would never ever choose to have one again unless babies life required a surgical intervention but that's personal choice.
BUT
1. How bad does it hurt getting it inserted. Please be honest.
It doesnt, it is very uncomfortable bending over while contracting and holding still you feel a scratch & sting when they put in the local then it's like someone pushing you with a pointed finger in your spine, just some pressure then a weird sparky kinda feeling runs down your legs as it goes into your spine. Each time it's topped up you get a funny cold feeling spread out from your spine.
2. Can you feel internal exmainations once you've got the epidural
Yes you should be able to feel things, its the pain you shouldn't, you'll still feel pressure and movement and contractions but they shouldn't be painful -but then again epi's do not always work.
3. If you tear badly durring the birth, do they still have to use a local to stich you up or they just top up the epidural so u cant feel anything
Depending on how you've used your epi it could be topped up, but it is preferable to let the epi wear off for pushing so you can feel and have more control so they mayb still use local for stitches or gas and air.
4. Does it hurt getting the catheter inserterd/removed
Nope, not for me, I'd had my epi in a while before they inserted the catheter, taking it out was bliss felt much better.