Pain relief...

[MysticTeen]

I am a huge wimpy ftm who would happily go through labor not feeling a single thing. So it only makes sense that I want to have the epidural. I am however reading soooo many horror stories and how people suffer from back problems years later. My back is already quite fragile and I am quite scared to do it more damage.

Can you ladies tell me what your experience with the epidural was like? Any other pain relief meds you took? How much did you feel and how painful was it?

 

[xjdx]

I had an epidural with my first. I had to be induced because my back waters had gone, because we didn't know when they went I was open to infection. When I was induced they popped my waters at 3cm and I was in agony. I had an epidural, I was totally out of it. I can still feel where it was put in, this was 9 years ago now. But it did drop out of my back and they had to insert it again. I feel like being induced is an unnatural thing to happen to your body anyway. You have to have a catheter in for 6 hours after birth, until you start feeling your body functions again. I just felt dirty it was awful.

I always labour in my back it kills, my second I had in a bath with gas and air. My third I had a pool birth with gas and air. Being in water has helped me the past two times. This is certainly what I've picked this time to, a pool birth. Obviously you can move around and have a shower etc without having an epidural after birth. It feels more normal to me xx

 

[MysticTeen]

So you would rather feel the pain and be able to move around then not feel anything and lay in bed afterwards?

 

[Missybee]

I've had an epidural during my vaginal delivery and a spinal during my cesarean section. If I were to have another vaginal birth I'd go with an epidural all the way!! Makes so much of a difference from being in excruciating pain the whole time and getting anxious each time a contraction starts as you know what to expect when it reaches the peak! I don't see the point in being a martyr when it comes to pain and would rather savour the moments of the birth than be out of touch with everything around me due to the agony as I am also not too good with pain. Yes, you can manage and billions of women have done it and are doing it all over the world without any form of sedation but if modern medicine makes a pain free birth available, I say "Why not!"

There is the argument that it may slow down birth but there is also an equally strong argument that it speeds up birth as well. If you are someone who gets anxious and panicked when experiencing that kind of pain then you can very well slow down labour as the supply of oxytocin in your body decreases hindering labour. Your body may even tense and go into fight or flight mode and inhibit labour even more and create a myriad of complications.

So the argument is equal on both sides of the spectrum in my honest opinion. I think it is a godsend for some and problematic for others. Everyone is different but in my case it has been remarkable and I would totally go for it again.

I had no pain during the application of the epidural. There was only a slightly weird rippling/numbing sensation running down one of my thighes. I had no other form of pain releif during childbirth as the epidural is more than enough. Afterwards, I didn't experience any backaches or headaches either.

 

[MysticTeen]

Thanks for your experience! It is so reassuring to read good epidural stories. I totally have the same idea as you, why go through the world's biggest pain when you can do it pain free, be awake, and enjoy the actual birth.
My mother had 8 natural pain free births and is sooooo disappointed I want the epidural. I think she is crazy!

 

[xjdx]

I've had it both ways and would rather not have an epidural. I didn't know when my body wanted to push with my first and I was told I nearly broke his neck by pushing at the wrong time. I had no control because my body was so numb. For me I felt in less control.

Depending on the time you have your baby to and if your partner gets sent home. I didn't like relying on nurses to have to pick my baby out of his cot because I wasn't steady enough to do it. It just limits what you can do.

I had a 12 hour labour with my son when I was induced and had an epidural. My other two where two hours long and natural. If you use gas and air right you don't feel the pain anyway.

It's the way your body copes on the day, if you go into hospital and you've progressed far, they won't give you an epidural anyway xx

 

[Sprout]

I'm also a massive wimp with pain, I'll always take some kind of pain relief for anything - slight headache, stomach ache etc...so I really surprised myself at having no pain relief at all through a 40 hour labour! Well, I was in a pool which I would say counts as pain relief but no drugs.

So my advice would be to go in with as little fear as possible (I was in pain but I wasn't suffering, very hard to explain, but I think it was because I wasn't scared?) and start off small with pain relief if you feel you need it, leaving epidural as a last resort if you really feel you need it. Oh and try out a pool if you can!

Nothing wrong with needing to have one if you really feel you do, but it can result in further complication as you've said.

 

[Kiagirl]

I was induced as my waters had gone. The midwife said you will have to have an epidural as your contractions will get stronger quickly and your body won't have time to adjust to them ( I think try wanted me to labour quickly as it was busy)! I went 5 hours before my husband said enough just have it lol. It didn't hurt at all and I managed to get some sleep. I woke up and could feel my contractions again they were just about to top it up when she said she would check me and baby was there so I pushed her out and could feel everything. It didn't hurt much at all. Well until she proceeded to stitch me up. Ow I said - oh I thought you were still numb as I pricked you and you didn't scream. Er no - I've just pushed a baby out nothing compares to that!

I was fine afterwards. I would def have an epidural again, I could see how it could be difficult if you had to push when it was numb but she did say she could give me something to reverse it if needed.

 

[heatheror12]

I was induced had a epidural after about 7 hours in labour. I was in agony and only 4cm dilated. I have had no problems since he's now 15 months. I am 4 week away from having my 2nd and I would absolutely have one again. Like my midwife said you dont get a medal for giving birth without pain relief so do what ever makes you happy. X

 

[littlemonkey]

Can't comment on epidurals, but I've had two spinal anesthetics with two c sections and no back problems.

It's the same as anything, it's usually the ones with the horror stories who like to tell you more about their experiences.

 

[MysticTeen]

Thank you so much everyone for sharing your experiences!

Part of me tells me it's natural and if keep calm, relax and move around, I will be fine and it wont be anything I can handle. But then my entire life everyone tells you how awful labor is and how much it hurts. I think I will suck up the pain for as long as I can and then get the epidural. Maybe even try other pain relief options and see...

 

[Tmum]

When I had my LB the one thing on my birth plan was that I DID NOT want an epidural because like you I'd heard of horror stories, my mum being 1 of them lol!!! I'd also never had to be in hospital before so I thought I'd have this baby and be home....yep I know cloud coo coo lol!! Unfortunately things didn't go my way and after they broke my waters I was in so much pain. The consultant spoke to me and in the end I had an epidural....best thing ever!!!!! It was brilliant! This time, atm I am in the mindset that I'd like to try with just gas and air but if that doesn't work out I will have an epidural and not get into the state I got myself into last time lol!!

 

[AmeliaM27]

I had a water birth at home with my first and was planning the same with my second, I was deadly against having any pain relief other than Gas & air and water. However I ended up having to go in to hospital and be induced, the contractions came on unbelievably quickly and were very intense and painful and I wusses out and asked for an epidural. I was on my 3rd night of no sleep at that point and it gave me a chance to get a couple of hours kip before giving birth. You're in control of topping up the epidural so if you wanted to have a bit more feeling for pushing you can opt to stop topping it up once nearly fully dilated. My epidural bag actually ran out completely an hour before I started pushing which was great as it wore off just enough for me to feel the need to push without having the burning pain I had when I delivered my first.
I did feel very sick and dizzy afterwards though - had an out of body experience and didn't feel normal until about 2 hrs after.
I'd just go with the flow and do what feels right at the time. You may surprise yourself and cope with the pain really well. If you get a chance try water for pain relief - it gave me incredible relief with my first x

 

[Emapot1]

With my first I had a posterior labour which in sight is bloody painful. Because baby's head is crowing against your back and not towards your cervix in the right position, I had to have a epi. Worst labour of my life as the epi failed working only down one side of my back. Anyway second labour was all anterior and perfect. Nothing but mild period contractions all until the last hour where it was a bit more intense but again was ok and I had gas an air and some diamorphine which helped me relax through contractions and sleep. This labour I am having a meeting about using remifentanyl. A bit apprensive as it labours oxygen for the mother and needs monitoring so I might not do that depending on labour pain. Perhaps I'll just have pethidine however it makes me sick x

 

[candymycandy]

I was worried about having one for the same reason as you (back issues) and wasn't planning on having one. But I was induced and the contractions were on top of each other and the pain was impossible to manage (I tried for a loooong time). Was also worried about being bed ridden and having a catheter. Didn't particularly slow my labour down and I had no issues with the urge to push etc I felt it all just fine! Also needn't have worried about the catheter you obviously don't feel it going in and I didn't feel it coming out. And by the time i needed to get out of bed I was able to easily move around quicker than me or the midwife expected! Like someone else said just go with the flow and try not to put too much thought into it now as when it's happening all best laid plans can go out of the window! There's certainly no shame in having one either.

 

[JJ Mum]

No back issues at all with having 5 spinals, haven't had epis tho
Have had 6 catheters and only one I had issues with more an infection and pee issues after, but you could easily have that anyway.

 

[H16]

I have never had an epi - I had gas and air and pethidine. I will be honest and say I screamed the hospital down as I found the contractions horrendous - I actually found contractions far more painful than the pushing part. I still screamed after the pain relief as it only took the edge off but I was also really happy and laughing my head off (thank you gas and air) so I only have good memories of my labour. I did have to have a catheter for a bit though as my bladder was so damn full and I couldn't pee - that wasn't a great experience, I got an infection from it after and ever since I had it my pee sprays in 5 directions at once lol x

 

[Gillyboos]

I didn't have an epidural but I did labour with only paracetamol. I wanted the lot when it came to pain relief, but it wasn't meant to be. I'm not going to lie, it was painful but it wasn't unbearable. Your body just takes over, I felt like I was off my head even though I hadn't had anything, I was scared right up until being in labour. Once I was in labour it was fine, just an odd experience. It certainly hasn't put me off having another!!

 

[rozyt]

Hello, i am doing a dissertation of alternative therapy in pregnancy and was wondering if anyone could help me by answering some questions on it please, all responses will be gratefully received -

thank you.

 

[Blueclass]

I am a wimp and like other take pain killers when I feel the slightest bit of pain. I don't like needles so I hope not to have epidural but if I need it il have it. It's just the idea of a big needle going down my back makes me feel sick but if I'm honest with my self il probably end up having one. I am hoping for a water birth and hoping to use that and gas and air to help me. I will go with the flow and see how it feels. I think if you can try and go without it then it's better as you will be out alot sooner.