mommytashaX2

Hey. I am 33 weeks pregnant (34 tommorrow ) and I have been thinking about the epidural for a while now. Everyone I have asked so far has said to use it if you feel you need it but with my first, I didn't use it and I was a crying, screaming mess. I'm thinking about it because I don't want to remember this birth experience like I remember my last. I want to be able to enjoy it and not freak out everyone in the hospital, then again, I've heard so many things about the epidural and I get scared. I'm looking to for any advice, negative/positive experiences and anything else anyone would like to share about them. This will help a lot with my final decision so I'm counting on your guys!!!

xarlenex

It is totally a personal choice. I chose not too to take it. Mainly because I (as weird as it may sound) wanted to feel the pain. I wanted it to be as natural as possible. You should consider a tens machine the and birthing pool at your hospital, obviously not at the same time lol but I was in labour for 2days, first day and a bit the tens machine really helped me cope. Then the birthing pool along with gas and air was just fantastic!

Oh and I know a few aunts and one of my friends who suffer from backpain when the weathers really hot or really cold due to the epidural x

mommytashaX2

That’s what I'm afraid of!!!!!! The after effects!!!! I didn't really think about it at all when I was having my daughter. I wanted to go natural too... I'm wondering if it will be different this time because I was just screaming and carrying on when I went into labor with my daughter and everything was so intense and so fast. I only had a 4 hour labor with her so I guess it didn't really come to me to get the epidural.. I guess it just depends on the intensity and how long it all takes this time around. I used the gas with my daughter and that was more frustrating than helpful to me.. But we'll see how it goes Thanks for the advice

mummy&mase

I had an epidural as i couldnt hack it on just gas and air! (but then again i couldnt push him out so ended up having emerg c-section) i must say i recomend an epidural as wierd as it sounds! i loved it! no after pain no back aches i didnt feeel a thing the gas and air just wanst working for me soon as i had the epidural i relaxed and felt much better. i dont get back pains or anything like that i cant find a negative for it. xx

xarlenex

I ended up having to get my oh to hold my nose so I could get the full effect from it nurses thought a was mad!

PurestFeeling

I'm seeing how far I can go before I get one. There are other drugs or methids you can use instead of an epi. Ask your doctor what they provide at the hospital: gas, IV drugs, water births... There's actually 3 types of epi's now a walking epi where they add some extra stuff to deaden you right away but you can also walk around with assistance, a regular epi and an epi on a patent contorled dose kinda like those morphine things where the pantent can press a botton to dose themselves but it has a cut off point. I've read that usually when the patent can control the epi dose they usually give less than what the doc gives.

Try finding a book called
Easy Labor: Every Woman's Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth by William Camann, Kathryn Alexander

Ell.Bishh

I had a relativley short labour, but i held on until i thought i would need it...which was a bad decisionl I held on too long and when i was screaming for it the nurse said no
Next time im going to get one earlier on and then just keep getting it topped up if it wares off lol.
Im such a wimp
xx

Elli21

With my first i had an epidural...(i dont think they did mine right as i could still feel pain in the bottom of my stomach on the right side...and it felt like all the pain i was blocking out was going to this section of my body..and it was only about the size of my hand.) But after my long labour and being told to push..i couldnt..i had to have a vontoose as i couldnt feel enough to do so. I dont know if this will make much sense as im writing it quickly. And i couldnt move my legs after which really freaked me out. (but thats normal..i was just not told it would happen)
With my second..the labour was shorter and sweeter and i think it was because i didnt have one. But the gas and air was FANTASTIC!
To be honest, do what your body is telling you to do. And the only advice i can give is to NOT put down that you dont want one on your baby book record unless you are 100%, as they will not give one if you do. (well thats what i was told by midwife)

xarlenex

Dont know about this, I know I wrote it down that I didnt want it and the midwife kept asking me if I wanted one. Guess everyweres different though x

Elli21

Yeah, must be that everywhere does things differently..which is wrong really!