to those who gave birth without the epidural UPDATE!

by **Busy Mom** » Wed Aug 26, 2022 2:12 pm

Miranda H wrote:Great much about my own fear as anything, ie I'm afraid of being immobilised, of having a huge needle in my spine and of labour being slowed down -

this is me!!! really really dead against having it out of fear of what could go wrong. i just keep reminding myself of the millions of women that do without it

by **MomToEmandJ** » Wed Aug 26, 2022 2:17 pm

i have been advised not to have epidural due to back problems, i have 3 discs degenerating in my back. it is great to hear it can be done. hopefully i will be able to do it.

Mrs.slightly bonkers · by **Mrs.slightly bonkers** » Wed Aug 26, 2022 2:29 pm

Girls after having 4 kids.
1st was breech had to have epi,also induced.all was grand of course i was none the wiser pain wise and forgot very quick.

2nd i had in 25mins,no time for any epi or anything.I had to get a consultant to check as they were sending me home with hicks.i knew something was happening so i stopped the consultant on the corridor and beg him to check,so he did and then handed me my 2nd son,went home 3hrs later i think.

3rd was a bit more intense as they kept a eye so same didnt happen again.Was 6hrs or so and no epi,but i had intend to have one.

4th was a bit mad,induced she was breech,I had gone to far for epi.
But had to have it after i had her as afterbirth was stuck so they had to manually remove it,was tuff but survived.

all in all the point of this post is plan all you like you just don't know for sure.

by PP » Sat Aug 14, 2022 1:26 am

This is a brillant thread, can we have this as a sticky please admin. :o)ll

by **chocaholic gal** » Sat Aug 14, 2022 7:05 pm

My advise to anyone would be go in with an open mind and see how you go. I didn't get the epidural but got pethidine around 5 hrs before i had my son. The pethidine didn't take away an ounce of pain it just relaxed my muscles and i found that helped me deal with the pain. I didn't take gas or air as i was just so focused on dealing with my contractions that i couldn't comprehend having to concentrate on enhaling gas and air. The midwife kept on offering it to me but i kept on refusing. My son was born with shoulder dystocia (sp) and i ended up with a third degree tear which resulted in me having to go to theatre to get stitched up and having to get the EPIDURAL. I didn't feel the epi going in at all but i think my body was in a total state of shock after all the complications during delivery. I didn't find it immobolising at all but maybe that was because i had a list of problems after i had my DS.

If i'm ever blessed to get pregnant again i will do as i did the first time around, go in with an open mind and see how it goes but i have been told that i will probably not be able to have a vaginal delivery again :o(

by **JourneyNo2** » Mon Aug 16, 2022 12:13 pm

Hi All

I am so glad I managed without and epi even though i wasnt given much choice as labour progressed so fast. I was all on for any kind of pain relief I might need but I wasnt really prepared for the overwhelming experience that giving birth was for me - not just the baby emerging part - but I have been positively affected by my whole labour and birth experience every since babs arrived.

I was very lucky to hvae a very quick labour - started getting pains at about 8pm = had shower at about 9pm and everything ramped up - hospital at 10pm and found to be 9 cms !!!! I knew at this stage that there would be no drugs for me - but I think adrenaline was very important in keeping me goign - I was excited = i was about to meet our baby - AND find out what it was finally !!!

I found Gas and Air great - did make me feel a bit drunk but it helped at the time - in retrospect I wish I used it a bit less actually as some of my memories are a little hazy !!

Am hoping for a home birth the next time (fingers crossed I get pregnant next year) and thats only because I wish I hadnt been so restricted with visitors and my husband being booted out of the public ward 2 hours after our son was born. Found it lonely in teh hospital trying to cope with this massive thing on my own - so hoping to do it all at home the next time !!!!!

by **Emomc** » Mon Aug 16, 2022 9:17 pm

TracyD wrote:If having a natural birth is really important to you then some preparation ahead of time will give you a lot more confidence. It's the biggest day of your life so it makes sense to prepare for it....just like other major events in your life.
There's lots of great information and support on this thread - and hopefully lots more to come :-)

Tracy

I just want so second what Tracy said. I gave birth without an epi and I had done a course in hypnobirthing which I cannot recommend highly enough. To be honest before D day I was not convinced 100% that it was going to work but it really did and the hospital staff were really amazed at how I coped on the day. Believe in yourself and your body x

by **WorldsGreatestMum** » Thu Aug 19, 2022 7:12 am

I believe this book helped a lot towards me not needing an epidural:
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594

by **Peggy Sue** » Fri Aug 20, 2022 10:05 am

I was delighted to have a nautral birth without any pain relief- But I was so determined to have a natural birth. My mind set was that and nothing else. I wanted a home birth but it freaked my DH too much so I went to the MLU Unit in Drogheda.
I used the gentlebirth cds about 2 months before my due day date and I found them great. I also did yoga which was great for relaxing me. For me I was never worried about the labour or giving birth it was what to do when the baby came along! I asked my DH to give me memories to focus on, like things we did on honeymoon, my walks on the beach etc.. I have to say and my friends that have children think I am crazy, childbirth for me was amazing, it was the most overwhelming feeling in the world. I was on cloud nine that I had a natural birth (not to mention a very long labour!) I was wrecked after it though, but home the next day.

by **speedy55** » Fri Aug 20, 2022 7:56 pm

i also had 2 labours without epidurals. on the first i had no pain relief of any description and i flew through it. it was bloody long, took me 12 hours to dilate 1cm, but once they broke my waters i delivered 2.5 hours later, i used a birthing stool to aid pushing babs out.

however the second time i was induced. it was a completely different type of labour. once again my waters were broken, but for some reason my babs rested his head on my bowel, so i felt the urge to push even though i was only 5cm dilated. these urges went on for 2 hours. being honest it was hell, but using the gas and air i got through it.

i asked for an epi as i knew it would stop me wanting to push, but they kept telling me no. i managed without it BUT i ended up having an audience in the room as the consultant didn't believe i could get the baby out myself. the midwives had faith in me and i pushed him out. i believe though that the birth was much more traumatic because they wouldn't listen to me. i suffer from terrible incontinence still, babs is 6 months old, and even now it upsets me to think of the labour.

i know this may be disturbing to read if you are pregnant but sometimes its necessary to hear the bad with the good. my case was an unusual one, a few staff members came to speak to me the day after about the experience.

funny enough though if i go again, i hope i won't get an epidural but the next time i'll know to be more insistent and to listen to my body.

by **whirly-girl** » Thu Aug 26, 2022 9:20 am

I am another who couldnt have an epidural on number 2 due to back problems. DD1's birth was quite traumatic (for me!), I had an epi but found the whole experience very negative.

DD2 was induced at 37w due to my back, it was an amazing experience, they broke my waters at 10am, contractions started at 11am, they examined me at 12.45 and i was 5cm, like speedy i had the strongest pushing urges that i couldnt control. i was scared that id tear to bits, she was born at 1pm without a stictch or tear so i guess i just dilated super fast.

I'm so glad i had the experience of a natural birth, it was amazing, i was terrified of going epi-free, but so so glad i did (my other option was a section under general anaesthetic :()

by **Dairy Queen** » Thu Aug 26, 2022 1:36 pm

whirly-girl wrote:I'm so glad i had the experience of a natural birth, it was amazin)

Do you still think I'm nuts Whirly Girl? ha ha ha ha

I had two babies epi free, with just some gas and air on my first.
And I actually enjoyed giving birth both times

by **whirly-girl** » Fri Aug 27, 2022 7:21 am

Lol DQ! You were one of the first people I though of when dd2 arrived, could finally see what you meant!

workingmom · by **workingmom** » Fri Aug 27, 2022 2:00 pm

I think pain relief in childbirth is a very personal, and private issue. Everyone's level of pain tolerance is individual, and I don't think that a mother who has an epi is any less of a mother than one who does not, same as I don't think that any mother who has a baby by c-section is less of a mother than anyone that has one in the normal way. Go in with your mind open, your ears listening and your heart and head in sych, believe me, you'll need every bit of strength and composure you can muster when delivering a child, and make the decision that is right FOR YOU.

by **supercat** » Fri Aug 27, 2022 9:23 pm

I also could not have an epidural because of my medical history. I also posted looking for inspiring stories as the prospect of the pain had me feeling very nervous - I had to prepare so I understand the need to hear from those who couldnt, didnt want one or it was too late etc. So for me I found watching lots of stuff on tv of labour helped as I knew what was involved, One Born Every Minute was on at the time. I listened to Hypnobirthing CD, did yoga and got a Tens. In actual fact I was in labour and didnt know as it was all in my back and the feeling was nothing like I expected, I had a show and my waters went when I was getting dressed for the hospiatal at 5am. Got to hospital at 5.30am and was 2 cm.I was really keen to use water to manage it but as it was in the back I was out of the bath in 5 mins. Onto the ward and on with the tens and the gas and air which I foudn great and really helped with the breathing.I stood for all this part as thats what I felt comfortable with. People had said your body will know what to do and I am no hippy chick but guess what it works, back painwas easier to handle standing, on the bed woudl have put too much pressure on it. So then into the delivery suite and babs was born at 9.07am, it was very manageable and I just kept focusing on seeing my baby, I have completely forgotten what it felt like now and have no fear of doing it again. Thats just my own personal experience but hope it can help you as you are facingwhat I was a few short months ago. Best of luck!

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