Pain Relief While in Labour

[terra_dawn]

Is anybody going to attempt natural childbirth (no pain meds)?  The doctor told me that the epideral was the safest for the baby because it doesn't get to the baby. Apparantly, the gas and the morphine may...

I'm scared of the epideral. I know the risk of paralysis is extremely low but I still can't help but worry because I seem to have such bad luck sometimes..  I imagine myself taking the epideral but then constantly worrying throughout the labour that something has gone wrong. Am I the only one who thinks like this, or is there any others?

[StressHead]

I agree with lilpixie too, the exams without the epidural were sore (prolly cos mosty done by men LOL) but with the epidural I could feel the exam but not the pain, or the cathetor(sp) when that was given to me. Only one of my legs went numb but I still couldn't get up to the toilet.

[StressHead]

When I had my twins they started me on the epidural to try and slow my labour and because other pains meds were not working. I could cope with the pain, it wasn't that bad because once you got the full brunt of a contraction it was going away again BUT when they were only five minutes apart several times during my long labour, I just couldn't recover before the next one came :(

I had a walking epidural which meant I could feel all the contractions but the pain was numbed. I did feel contractions and some pain but it was spaced out which made it easier to deal with.

Now when I went into labour I hadn't considered any of this and we had just had a story in the news where the epidural was given wrong and the woman had died. Then they gave my this A4 sheet to read before I consented. (I didn't read it, I said I had because I was also worried about paralysis especially as she said not to move a muscle while she did it. I was a bit hysterical at this point as well because I wanted to slow my labour/ease the pain a bit but I was scared.

The Doctors do them all the time and do not make mistakes, I had always imagine this big needle or something and I barely felt it and I was so glad it was there in the end :))

[yelloweskimo]

I don't plan on being a superhero! I will definitely be having an epidural! It's the most widely used form of pain relief for pregnancy, and honestly, I haven't really heard of any stories where someone has become paralysed from it (I'm sure they're out there, but it is generally a warning).

[lilpixie]

After having some contractions that only reg as lil ones on the monitor in L & D today Im for sure having an epidural.  I've always been told by people I had a high tolarence for pain ( had fillings and dental work without meds, cyst next to my eye removed with out meds)  but these lil contractions I was having today hurt and dont even get me started on the exam.  Thankfully nothing came of my lil episode today and my cervix is still closed but it defintly got me good and scared for when the real thing starts.

[Tarobinc]

I was all for natural until I had my kidney infection.  That pain was enough to convince me to not go natural even though I was told by a friend who had a kidney infection in pg and went onto deliver without drugs, that the kidney pain was far worse than labor pain.  However, I'm more than likely going to end up with an epidural.

Based on my 2 friends that delivered naturally (one friend all three babies naturally and my other friend's (so far has only one) baby was 10lbs and she was in labor for 14 hours without any drugs.  Both delivered with midwives; one was at hospital and the other one who had the 3 babies, delivered each time at a birthing center.  I firmly believe that if you do go without drugs you need to be fully "equipped": with a midwife or doula that practice at an OB that 100% supports a drug-free childbirth and is williing to work with you to achieve that.  My one friend attended a natural childbirth class and my other friend learned about natural through doing her own research. She never attended a class but gave birth at the birthing center.  

Since I had already signed up for hypno-birthing classes when I was pro no drug birth, I still am attending the classes.  Its just a different approach and one that right now, I have come to decide, is not my cup of tea.  However, the other women in the class are so for it and I support their decisions but its not going to be mine.   I figured these classes will help me to remain calm and focused until I get my epidural!

Good luck to all!

[terra_dawn]

I was thinking the same as you Cheesecake but then my friend told me that my birthing plan will be out the window once the pain starts! She was laughing telling me how she was in labour for 30 hours and after awhile was begging her husband to suffercate her with a pillow! ;)  My sister just gave birth to a 8lb 10 ounce baby girl. She swore by the epidural and told me I was nuts to even think of passing it up. Another friend of mine just had a 10.3 lb baby boy and she used gas and demeral to help her...  

I guess we really wont' know until we experience the pain on our own...  I can't wait. Jan 5 still seems so far...  Even though I only have 26 working days left :)

[Cheesecake7]

If my baby turns around (breech right now) and I am not forced to have a c-section, then I am going to try to go all natural, I do not want an epidural if I can help it.  Im not dead set, Im leaving the option open if I can't take the pain, but I want to at least be able to say I gave it my best shot.  I figure if women have been doing it for thousands of years, then I can do it....  i think  ; )

[Helen72]

If I am lucky to deliver naturally, I am taking all of the epideral I can get!  I had several surgeries and never had any problem with pain relief.  I don't think you should worry about that.