pain relief/no pain relief

[gamblesrh]

So i am going to have my 4th child in the next 4-5 weeks and i was wondering what everyone had to say about a no pain relief labor, when my other 3 children were born i had the epidural; i am considering doing this birth with out any pain relief what so ever but i dont know if i can do it or not, (i can't even deal with a slight tooth ache) but i would like to know what everyone thinks so please be very forward about all experiences with a no pain relief birth.

 

[Rachiebaby24]

I had gas and air with my first and nothing with my second. Although it hurt more, my secon was a nicer birth because I felt everything, wasn't out of it, listened to my own body and felt so great afterwards. Look up hypnobirthing - you don't have to embrace it all but I only used the breathing techniques and it was fabulous! Dint even think about it first time round but it really was helpful to manage the pain. You nee to get in the mindset if u want to do it without pain relief. You can do it. Relax and accept the pains and it will be so much easier. Yes it will hurt but it won't kill you and won't last forever. You will be fine and if I have another baby I would do it without pain relief again x

 

[MommyxThree]

I had two births (soon to be three) using only the hypnobabies method. It's very similar to the Hypnobirthing mentioned above. I think it's definitely do-able to go without any pain meds. And I'm in the US, we don't even have gas and air here!

 

[canadabear]

I am planning on having a natural hospital birth without medical pain relief.
This does NOT mean I don't want any pain relief, I am just not going to be using medication.
Breathing, water, hypnobirthing, aromatherapy, meditation, massage etc are all forms of natural pain relief. There is also the option of TENS... there is no gas & air where I am so that is not an option.

Also, as many people have mentioned, it is better to accept the sensations and try to breath and relax into them instead of tensing and pushing away from them.
This is my first baby, so we will see how it goes, but I strongly believe that our bodies are made to go through labour and birth. We can do it!!!

 

[Connah'sMommy]

With my first i had G&A which i think just spaced me out more that relieved the pain so pretty useless IMO and i had diamorphine which was crap! It did bugger all for me,it crossed the placenta and LO was pretty spaced for a while after he was born and i had dead legs for about a week :/

This time im planning on having no pain relief except maybe the use of the pool. I really dont think that any of the pain relief i had last time helped in anyway.

Best thing to do is go in with an open mind,maybe learn some breathing techniques? get some clary sage oil (i hear this works wonders...and even if i convince myself it works and its all in my head...then so be it! )

xx

 

[emmi26]

dont plan anything hun just have an idea what you would like then see how it goes. i had a completely drug free natural birth with my daughter 11 years ago i was 17 too this time i managed 19 hours drug free without anything but the last 5 hours i had to have an epidural mind u harry weighed 11lb 5oz so thats prob why lol xx

 

[moomin_troll]

go into labour with a open mind!
with my first i wanted a water birth, i didnt get it and used gas and air and also tried pethadine which i dont recommend at all.

my second i planned a home water birth, with the plan to use g&a and my tens machine. labour was fast, i used my tens and just made it to the pool to push. i then had g&a while having my stitches and its horrible stuff, so glad i didnt use it during labour.

i hate the thought of epidurals altho they are used for good reason im just very pro natural birth

good luck

 

[PeanutBean]

I've had everything and would highly recommend no pain relief.

First birth I had gas and air (useless), pethidine (halted labour), epidural (paralysed me so I couldn't push and needed ventouse but disn't touch my uterus). Second birth I did hypnobirthing and thoroughly enjoyed the first 20 hours. The last two were too fast and furious for anything. I had an oxytocin high afterwards like nothing I've ever experienced before. I also had a hugely profound experience during second stage. It was awesome!

 

[lynnikins]

ive been through 2 labours with only tens, water and gas and air this time im hoping to survive with just my Tens and water if i need it as im planning a Homebirth its about how you deal with the pain not how bad it is! jst remember that if you can avoid tensing up and pulling away from the pain then you will be able to do it

 

[FeistyMom]

As others have said, its important to accept the fact that its going to hurt but that it will be handlable, and to avoid tensing. Tension makes the pain worse, but embracing the contractions and making them work for you to deliver the baby seems to help.

My first labor was unmedicated - but not by design! I just had the baby took quickly once I got to the hospital. Once I realized I could do it, I decided it was worth it for any other babies I had, to avoid the side effects of epidurals, etc. I probably would have done G&A and/or TENS if it was available, but I'm in the States so nothing like that for us.

My second was natural as well. Lasted a bit longer, but I was more prepared for it and knew I wouldn't have any medication so it was less stressful.

This time I hope to be even more prepared and avoid dropping any f-bombs Things got a wee bit tense during the end of transition/beginning of pushing during delivery of DD2...

 

[snowangel187]

I had a med free delivery. I didn't know what to expect pain wise and I have a very low tolerance for pain, but I went in very determined to do it med free. And especially epidural free. The number one reason I was against an epidural is the potential side effects on the baby. That and I watched them do an epidural on discovery health... yuck!! LOL. My thoughts were labor and delivery really can only last so long, I'll survive. I asked the nurses not to mention pain relief,not to offer it, and that if I wanted it I would ask. I think that helps..
I know that next time I will absolutely do it med free again. I had 5 people not counting nurses and dr's in the labor/delivery room so there were plenty of distractions.
My sister in law was rubbing my lower back during contractions and dh kept bringing me a cool cloth for my face, that helped me alot. Next delivery I'm going to try my iPod to see if that'll help too.. One thing I didn't think of while in delivery was to walk around or move around to progress labor so next time I will def do that to try to move things along more quickly.. The first half of labor I was fighting the contractions which really made them worse. Try to keep yourself calm and focus on something and it will bring you some relief.. Good Luck!

 

[fidget]

i managed no pain reflief, just tried to keep breathing and trusted my body. as it was my first baby everybody told me i didn't know what i was talking about, that i'd need pain relief to do it. my theory was that people had given birth for thousands of years before pain relief and managed fine. i told my midwife i didn't want anything and although she kept checking i was okay, she left me to it!
i'm so glad i did it painkiller free as my mum had pethadine and said all it did was make her high and sick, and my friends who had epidurals had longer labours, plus i managed my pain walking around my living room lol

 

[xxEMZxx]

I only had Gas and Air with Liam and am planning to only have it again but you never know.