Worrying about labour, pain releif suggestions?

[mrsmnk101]

Since finding out i am expecting again, labour is one major thing thats been playing on my mind. With my first labour i used just gas and air. The pain was horrendous. Although i have a high pain threshold & going through long heavy periods most of my life, I wasnt expecting labour to be as bad as it was. When labour actually commenced i thought i was going to die.. With my second baby i was expecting things to be easier and faster. Well it was maybe an hour less. But my god it was even more painful. I was screaming my house down till reaching 7cm's as the hospital wouldnt take me in and kept telling me to stay home. Well when they did eventually take me in, again i had the gas and air. Didnt help and could feel every wave of pain. Horrendous, felt like my insides were getting cut appart with a thousand knifes. I couldnt take anymore pain and asked for an epidural (They told me its too far along for that now).I felt my body giving up i actually thought i wasnt going to make it. Started having flash backs of memories in earlier life. I was ready to die.

I was told by my grandmother before any of my children labour is no worse than a bad tooth ache? Well seriously ive had to deal with 2 impacted infected wisdom teeth and ide take that anyday over labour which is a millon times worse.

So girls, sorry for the big story but advice would be highly greatfull. Ive always be warned against epidurals. People have always said it can cause long term problems? Can someone whos experienced an epidural shed some light on this. Or if theres anything else you think i would find helpful? All my pain is in the front, never the back. Thank you.

Also i did suffer a hemmorhige with the last labour, worrying this will happen again.

 

[mylullaby]

I think the best thing to do would be to explain everything you've just said to your midwife and ask what would she suggest you do to ensure you get the pain relief you need when you need it. If you'd gone to the hospital against the midwives instructions they wouldn't have turned you away that far along, so make sure you go when you can't tolerate the pain anymore. Of course if you're 1-2cm they might send you home, but it doesn't sound like you're going to go in that early. You have the benefit of having done it before (twice) so if needed just get your stuff together and turn up! Hopefully it won't come to that, but it can at least be an option. Speak to your midwife about your history and explain your aim is to avoid a repeat! X

 

[mylullaby]

PS there are always "warnings" for pain relief. Basic explanation of the potential side effects, etc. But they wouldn't be offered if they didn't have their place. Make sure your OH is 100% up to speed with your wishes so he can be assertive on your behalf if needed during labour when you might not be as able to stand up for yourself.

 

[mrsmnk101]

Yes infact i did go to the hospital twice and was sent back home. My husband also made several phone calls to the hospital. All we kept being told was to take paracetamol and take a bath. Also my waters always break first. Labour started soon after. I spoke my my midwife at my last appointment. She understands my concerns but said they dont have the birth plan book anymore. Everything seems to have changed. She just told me to research my options and write them down. Not much help really.

 

[Browneyed Girl]

I've had 2 babies and 2 epidurals, the way I see it is that labour is agonising and there is no need to suffer all that pain. I appreciate that some ladies feel strongly about having as little pain relief as possible but personally I don't see the benefit in it. Both times the epidural didn't work fully (always a risk but I was unlucky) and I had a window of pain - the first time I used gas and air still but the second I used daisy birthing techniques and avoided the gas and air. I would recommend daisy birthing if you have classes near you, they teach you breathing that can help and techniques to keep you calm and these helped me especially with early examinations which were painful. My pain was under control at all times, if you want an epidural just go straight for it you don't need to try other things first. I've had no lasting effects from the epidural whatsoever and would recommend it. From you what you've said about your previous experiences I think it is a good option for you xx

 

[Selina13]

It sounds like you panic like me! I thought I was gonna die too which looking back for myself feels a bit ridiculous but I had everything! I had pethadine, diamorphine, gas and air then lastly and epudural. I feel this time Im going to try hypnobirthing to use as a tool for me to try and not panic.
Dont get me wrong, Im not going to use just that as I would happily have all the drugs I mentioned having last time if needed but Im going to try to not panic as much as last time. It can be a very frightening experience for some women and others breeze through (which Im veey jealous of)! Lol.
Do you think you could talk through your previous labours with a consultant and see if that helps? Personally I wouldnt fancy a section unless I had to as the recovery can be longer and still as painful after but that could be an option for you if you really want to go down that route? X

 

[mrsmnk101]

Lol, when my waters broke. Which always happend just as i was about to get into bed. Made me very panicky. I was shaking like a leaf. But i spent most of my time at home. Didnt have time to panic once the pains started. I used my pillow to bite and scream into. Neighbours proberbly thought i was getting murdered. I think i might just go for some pethidine this time. Ide go for an epidural but i dont like the thought of the forceps been used. I really do need to speak to someone about my concerns. Xx

 

[louisa2008sash]

I'm pregnant wth my 4th. For my previous 3 labours I had a shot of pethadine and some co-codamol. Gas and air made me violently sick with my 1st so I never bothered with it again and the thought of a needle going into my spine is worse to me that any natural pain I might experience (that's just my opinion though, I wish I was brace enough to have an epidural). All 3 labours were pretty painful from what I can remember, although my 3rd was a lot shorter than my 1st and 2nd. This time I'm just planning on doing what I did with my other 3.