Hi Ladies,

I'm just wondering.. aside from those women who wanted to avoid interventions or have a drug free labour, why would you choose not to have an Epi? What are the bad side to them?

BTW this is just out of a curiousity from a few conversations I've had with friends lately who have had babies and me saying I'd definately choose to have any pain relief I could get if I was in labour!

Thanks

For me, it was more that I didn't want a needle THAT big anywhere near my spine. The thought terrifies me.

Also, my mum had a bad experience with her epidural when she had me, it only worked down one side of her body, which made labouring difficult.

The other thing I was a bit scared of was the chance of having back pain and recurrent headaches as a side effect from the epidural. This of course doesn't happen to everyone, but it was at the back of my mind.

At the end of the day, I wanted to avoid an epidural and am glad I did. That being said, my labour was 4hrs and 55mins. If it had been a more drawn out experience, I may have changed my mind.

For me, i wanted to have an active labour, and with an epi it would have meant being hooked up to a baby monitor, a catheter, and a drip.

Turns out i ended up getting all those things anyway, but it was what convinced me to try without the epi.

Well I had to have a c-section so I was definatly having an epi

Friends of mine who have gone totally drug free have said various things including they were worried about drugs passing to the baby, they wanted to experience the full thing, they wanted to prove it to themselves that they could, they were more scared of the needle than of child birth

I think there are lots of reasons for and against having an epi, when it comes down to it it's just what you are comfy with and what will make the birth experience the best possible for you and your baby.

I ended up having an epidural however planned to try not to and I hope not to have one this time.

Reasons:

it's a medical procedure and carries risks - they are sticking a needle in your spine after all

it's medication - why take it if you can avoid it

it usually means you can't stay as active and also might mean you need more monitoring

it can delay labour - especially the pushing stage, and increase the chance that you will need an assisted delivery and an episiotomy

it might delay how soon you can get up and moving after the birth

You can't use the bath for pain relief with it of course - but then you probably don't need to with the epi in place!

FWIW - my epidural probably sped up dilation towards the end, Will was posterior and I think it helped me relax my muscles and allowed him to turn which encouraged him to descend and me to dilate (and probably helped me avoid the c-section that was looming). However, it did slow down my contractions later on (despite syntocinon) and probably contributed to the need for forceps and a large episiotomy (which took a long time to heal).

I ended up having an epi because I laboured for 70 odd hours and needed relief BUT I didn't want one initially for all the reasons previously mentioned but mainly I wanted an active labour with a lot of time spent in the bath. Probably the only thing that didn't bother me about having one was the needle, millions have gone before me and been just fine so I didn't feel it was a major risk.

Now obviously I can better answer this in a few weeks time..BUT they talked a lot about it in our birthing classes.

Its always been one of those things I haven't even contemplated..but would be open to it if it meant a better and healthier experience for bubs and I.

Our midwife was extremely negative towards epi's - I could see both sides but it enhanced the reasons why I would not actively choose one. I am a person who likes control in situations and the thought of not having that makes be break into a cold sweat!

Each labour is unique and hopefully I can do it without one but I may be screaming for one 10 mins in!

I guess with any medical procedure there are risks involved so there is that aspect. I found the midwife that ran our ante natal class focussed on the negative side of the epi so I think that could put a lot of people off.

Melissa has given a really good list of the things that were in my head too prior to going into labour.

I ended up having the epi probably halfway through and to honest didn't really think too much about the risks as it was happening - there was too much else going on. Mine worked perfectly and I had no side effects really.

With the having to be monitored more etc - that is true to an extent but I thought most hospital used the "walking epi" these days where you can still use our legs, get out of bed etc?? I couldn't tell you if the epi slowed down my labour or not. I was progressing extremely slowly already and had a synto drip put in at the same time so who knows what did what IYKWIM.

I do think in general the length of your active labour probably is a big factor. Shorter labours that progress quickly would generally have a lower epi rate I would think. Of course that is just a generalisation on my behalf which could be completely wrong.

I also had an epi cause of my c-section, and will most probably be having another epi/spinal block as ill most probably have another c-section.
FWIW - i have monthly lumber punctures which requires the same sort of needle into my spine and its not that bad. Im getting quite use to them now.

Sorry, a bit confused by that - do you mean you won't have control over your labour anymore if you have an epi? Just geniunely curious, because I've never heard that before

I was wanting to go as natural as possible but freaked out during transition after a long-ish labour and got one when I was 10 cms My midwife gave a lame attempt at talking me out of it but they can't actually refuse you if you demand it. It was great for me, before it I was in this terrifying world of pain where I couldn't understand anything or communicate with anyone and after it I could sit up, understand instructions, and I pushed Zack out in 20 minutes I loved that part of my labour, it was brilliant and to feel him being born but not have any pain associated was amazing. Getting the epi in didn't hurt at all because of all the labouring pain but I was surprised at how long it took, or how long it felt like it took if that makes sense.

I'm really of 2 minds if I'm blessed with another child as to whether I'd have it again or not. I had no side effects and it was a completely positive experience for me but part of me thinks that I got to 10 cms and the pushing was so quick it would be incredible to feel it all and the other part of me remembers the pain and fear so clearly and I keep thinking I want to go straight to hospital when my first contraction hits and demand one as I'm being admitted

I didn't have a walking epi and until reading about it on here a few weeks ago I didn't know they existed

I had one with Hayden because to be honest it hurt too bloody much not too However it did mean that the pushing stage took a lot longer as I couldn't feel contractions to know when to push and my pushing was pretty ineffectual.
Because of that I decided I would try without with Adam, but had given up and wanted one 3& 1/2 hours after getting to hospital, but I was too late so spent the entire time I was pushing panicking that I had to go through it without one
Lisa description of Adams labour describes my experience totally
For me all I can say is go the drugs!!!

I thought so too. I;m not sure if mine was a complete epi purely because they expected I was going to have a c-section, or if it is routine practice to do a complete epi at my hospital.

I couldn't feel a thing - no contractions, no crowning etc etc. It meant I couldn't push as effectively or use gravity in any way to assist. Will was born just after 10pm and when I got to my room at 2 or 3 am I could still hardly stand on my legs so obviously mine was quite strong!

I must remember to ask the midwife tomorrow actually...

Candy, I was like you before I started looking into it. I used to be like "just give me the drugs, why wouldn't you want the drugs!"

At my antenatal class the midwife said that epidurals can be a good thing but also a bad thing in that it can lead to further interventions. There are also complications that can occur with it.

Epidurals can possibly slow down labour, but could also speed it up by getting the mother to relax.

But because you have to lie down, then that means you can't use gravity to help, which can slow things down and then more likely to need a episiotomy, vacuum or caesar.

But at the end of the day, if you're buggered and can't labour effectively anymore, then you're likely going to need the above anyway. If you have a short labour then having no epi would be ideal.

I loved my epi I had already gone 11 hours without drugs so I welcomed it with open arms. I actually got to sleep through contractions and when it was starting to wear off I was able to hit a button and pump it up again. I even pushed without feeling any pain (of course the midwives had to tell me when to push though and they said they'd turn it off if I wasn't pushing well enough). It took me an hour to push her out but it was so calm because I couldn't feel a thing.

Because I had such a good experience with it, I am seriously considering having one this time if my labour isn't quick.

My epidural was the most pleasant thing I have ever experienced. I said right from the start I wanted one (I hate pain) and ended up having a c-section so would have had to have one anyway.

I am actually looking forward to that numb feeling with the next bubba!

I didn't want one because I wanted an active labour and I didn't want to be restricted in any way. With the standard epi, you're hooked up to monitors, made to lay down and this can lead to difficulties like futher intervention. But I was also open to one if it was necessary.

I was six hours into my labour and was talked into getting one when I was getting distressed from the labour stalling. Funny thing was, I didn't even think of getting it, it was my obs who suggested it. The anaesthetist botched it; it was the most horrendous experience I've ever been through and hurt worse than the most extreme labour pains. I screamed louder than I ever have in my life. If I have another child, I'm terrified of it happening again, like if I need a c-section and my obs assures me he'd get someone he knows next time (it was a contract anaesthetist).

For the record though (and before I talk all women about of getting an epi), he did get in a small dose of pain relief that gave me an hour's break and I was able to get my strength back to go through the last 2.5 hours - including transition - on my own. It also meant I could give birth kneeling which I probably couldn't have done had it worked.

Loved my epi

Was terrified of a needle in my back but honestly once your that far in labour i dont remember even feeling it.
I remember thinking hurry up though lol.

I ended up with a c sec so i would have had 1 anyway

I had an epi with Noah - high BP and being induced I was recommended it Labour was less than 5 hours...I let it wear off in the final stages and was able to push really well as I wasn't fatigued at all...I had a walking epi and I was allowed to get off the bed here and there...

With Mitch - I only used gas...I wanted to go naturally this time and as I had no BP issues I was confident to do it And he was born in under 4 hours

Having experienced both - both my labours were very different - but they both allowed me to deliver my boys without any risks...I am just so very thankful that I got to experience a 'natural' labour...I loved it And yes the epi was great - I didn't feel a thing until transition That was probably really difficult - I went from feeling nothing - to feeling everything!

I had an epi with my son Oliver. My labour was 13hrs and 58 minutes. I wanted no pain relief but after about hour 7 i wanted to no have such harsh contractions (i was induced)

I have already even seen the bad side to the epi, as it punctured my spinal colum and was leaking spinal fluid. I was in alot of pain (headaches that wouldnt go away even with pain relief, i culdnt stand or even sit up) and i had to have a blood patch (blood taken from my arm and kind of like another epi needle to patch the leak in my spinal colum.)

This being said, next bub i am definately having another epi as i realised i am not one for labour pain, and the gas and whatever the injection was did nothing and made me quite sick.

I ended up having one after not necessarily wanting one. Labour was too long and painful not too and at the time felt like THE BEST thing I'd ever every done. It was bliss. I seemed to hit straight away and the relief was like nothing I've ever felt before. It sped up my labour .... it had taken me 6 or so hours to go from 3 to 4cm and within 20 mins of the epi I was fully dilated. However, I ended up having a ventouse delivery with episiotomy....whether that was the epi or not, who knows? As for the needle - any idea how many years training an anaethetist goes through....I'm pretty happy they know what they are doing.







This really pisses me off - why do midwives in so-called educational classes do this!!?? Sure they have negatives but they also have positives - how are people meant to make an informed decision with one-sided advice?

I was completely thrilled that the midwife who took the classes in The Mater in Sydney (heads up to them!!!) who gave us a completely balanced, informative view of epidurals (and indeed all birthing options). We were told the pros and the cons and not made to feel that there was one better way. As it turns out she was the midwife in attendence when I had Harry and was completely supportive of me requesting one.

I also went to the mater and found the information given was very balanced.

I didn't want to have any pain relief as I had heard and read that pain relief during labour can make the baby sleepy which can affect their feeding and attaching. We were shown videos in our course where there was a baby born with no pain relief and within minutes of being placed on the mums chest the baby found the breast and attached and started to feed. The other video showed a bub born after pain relief and it was very sleepy and couldn't attach correctly. I was always open to pain relief if that was what was going to be best for my baby and me.

I ended up having pethadine and a spinal block for my c-section as i had a gallbladder attack and couldn't control my chest pain. My little girl was seperated from me for a few hours as I had to go to ICU so i don't know if she would of fed straight away. She was very sleepy when we did try to feed but even now at 4 months she loves her sleep so that could of been personality rather than pain relief. Even though I didn't want to use pain relief i know it was for the best as my baby was showing signs of distress and the pain relief allowed me to relax and therefore my baby was ok.

There is a big chance I will have a c-section again next time. But if i don't i will try for a labour without pain relief but i will have no problem asking for pain relief if i feel it is best for us.