Epidural: Yes or No?

Anon Imperfect Mum

Epidural: Yes or No?

Epidural or no epidural? What did you do and why?

Posted in:  Pregnancy, FAQ

9 Replies

Anon Imperfect Mum

Cascade of intervention ; so no epidural.
I really wanted a water birth and it's not possible with an epidural.
Th water was great pain relief and I didn't need anything else it was a perfect birth and neither myself or baby had drugs in our system which can affect recovery, initial bonding and breastfeeding and mental health etc.
If necessary then it's great we have it available, but best case scenario would not use it.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I think you wait until you are there! I said no epidural, but bloody hell in the moment I begged for one and enjoyed it! Everyone is different and there are no prizes for getting through the pain without one. Do what you feel like when you are there.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Epidural for sure!! I reached 2cms before I was screaming for it. 8cms I finally got it!! My baby was turned, and turned in the birth canal ((OUCHY!!)) individual decision and don't let anyone judge you on what you decide!

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I did. I was certain I wasn't going to go there, but after 30 hours of on-off posterior labour I was so over it (I'd been in the tub, shower etc, used sterile water injections etc prior to this). The epi helped with the pain, but bubby ended up being stuck so we had a caesarean in the end.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

With my first after telling the midwife i need to push (and her saying no) I begged for one. As the doctor was about to inject it I moved and the midwife saw that bub was crowning. I have have had 4 bubs with no epidural but the longest I had been in labour was 4 hrs. Never say never to one I would wait and see how your labour progresses and how you are feeling.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Do your research and be open to everything. My first i went in thinking i was going to go natural all the way after 21hrs and an emergency csection i had a bit of everything.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I think the best thing to do for yourself and bub is to 'try' to have a natural birth, but put absolutely no pressure on yourself if in the moment, you just feel you need pain relief. Do a bit of research on babies post birth after you've had an epi and when the mother hasn't. They breastfeed better, latch on quick, less trouble in the first hours breastfeeding, baby is less lethargic (generally speaking - there's of course many exceptions). etc etc. I've had three without any drugs. All extremely long labours, BUT with my last I wasn't in a good head space. I had a leak, so they induced me (by popping my waters and the labour started after that), so it wasn't like my other two labours and progressed very slowly and far more painfully. It was very late at night when labour STARTED so I was already tired and it hadn't begun. I think they told me I was 8cm, it was about 7am after a night of labouring, walking the WHOLE time because everytime I sat down the labour would slow, and I wanted it over and done with. I asked for an epidural. In fact, I begged for me. I felt like I was in 10cm pain, but the midwife was telling me I was only 8cm. I kept asking her if she could see a head. No, you've still got a couple of cm to go, she said. So the anesthetist was called, he came in the room, they wiped down my back... and I just said to the nurse "seriously, I have to push, I crawled backwards up onto the bed (very hard to do at 10cm!) completely ignored everyone in the room... the midwife quickly checked, yep I was 10cm. I started pushing... and out came bub literally within 3-5 minutes. So I wouldn't have felt bad if I'd had the epi, I truly was done.. emotionally and physically. But I am glad I didn't have it in the end. I was able to get up and walk around after each labour. You get a massive adrenalin rush that can't be described after you push out a bub.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

First:
Had an epidural because I had very high blood pressure. Epidural held brings the blood pressure down and I was also induced. They used forceps. I had to be cut and stitched. The labor pain didn't disappear though it went directly to my right thigh (weird. I know). I was screaming at them to amputate it. I didn't really have a choice that time. Recovery was hard. I could hardly move due to the cut and stitches and peeing!!! Omg it was so painful!!!!
Second: epidural again because I had twins and they said I needed it in case I had to have an emergency Caesarian. I told them I didn't want it. I was petrified. They assured me it was for mine and the babies best interest.
It worked a treat! I felt nothing. I was in labor, in the delivery suite, reading a magazine!!!! Didn't feel a single contraction and I pushed when they told me too. Recovery was fine.
Third: no epidural. I used pethedine which made me sick. Used gas. Mostly uneventful.
Fourth: no epidural. Event free labor. I used gas during the early stages.
Every labor is different. You do what you want and don't feel guilty about your choice.
Best of luck xx

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I went in to be induced. I was deadset I was not getting an epidural. Within 30 minutes of being induced I demanded the epidural! Intense pain! Glad I did as I would not have been able to pull through and push him out. I was on the verge of emergency CEASER due to exhaustion.
Don't think your a failure for opting for pain relief. Take it if you want it!

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