[center]Hi Girls,

I'm so scared about going into labor! My mums done it 5 times and says its not THAT bad but she doesn't have a low tolerance of pain like me lol!! She only used gas and air and she expects the same from me.. she says she doesn't know anyone whose had an epidural and its for wimps. I don't care about being a warrior lol!! My midwife also advises against them!! Can anyone whose had an epidural give me some advise? Apparently it can affect your back later on in life..in some cases.

Thanks [/center]

I have heard from some friends that they have pain in certain areas of their backs and some say they have pain in their legs and numbness but I don't know if it's related to an epidural or not.

Gas helped me with labour with my son, unfortunately I didn't even have time for gas with my DD lol You'll be surprised at what you can handle when you have to smile

I think you should do what you feel comfortable with at the time. Try the gas but if you really can't handle have the epi if need be. Who knows you might be in labour for 4 hours or 45 hours it just depends.

I only had gas with DD an honestly it's not that bad( I say that now but at the time I probaly thought I was going to die laugh ) Put it this way i am so happy with dd's birth that next time I might even try it drug free!......well maybe.

In saying that I figure if Epidurals were terrible thing that harmed you they wouldn't be allowed to issue them, many women have them. I would ask your midwife why she doesn't like them, that might help you with your decesion. Good luck, I'm sure it will all go fine smile smile

My mum was like that, saying I was wimpy as i chose the epidural. For about 4 months after my back was playing up in parts. Now i've had 3 back labours, my backs a bit srewy anyways lol.

I went 10 hours with each labour before having the epidural. Like Lyra said you'll be suprised what you can handle. Think positivly!!!

To be completely honest, the only advice i can give when it comes to labour is to have NO expectations. Anything can happen, labour can either be easy or very difficult but once the baby is born, none of that even matters. I personally had a horrible labour but theres nothing that is going to stop me from having more children, i mean i'm pregnant again so nothing is gonna hold me back. I was in labour for 32 hours and eventually had to have an emergency c-section. the next day i was in pain and exhausted, sure, but all i could think about was my amazing baby boy. So no matter how your labour goes, afterwards none of it matters. Only your adorable baby does.

[center]Hi Girls,

I'm so scared about going into labor! My mums done it 5 times and says its not THAT bad but she doesn't have a high tolerance of pain like me lol!! She only used gas and air and she expects the same from me.. she says she doesn't know anyone whose had an epidural and its for wimps. I don't care about being a warrior lol!! My midwife also advises against them!! Can anyone whose had an epidural give me some advise? Apparently it can affect your back later on in life..in some cases.

Thanks [/center]

I didin't have an epidural with ds so i have no words of wisdom. My best friend had one with her ds2 and she said she had headaches for months after but other then that she said it was great.

I only had the gas with ds and they took it off me 2 and a half hrs before i started to push sad
I kept on asking for one and my midwife wouldn't let me (she was all about doing it as natural as can be).
Well if i could have that time back again i would have demanded one lol. Having an epidural is not about being weak or a wimp, some people need them for medical reasons and have no choice.
Your a warrior no matter how you bring your baby into this world.

Also, never let someone else's experience influence what you decide to do. Just like every pregnancy is different, so is every labour.

Hi there,

Well I just had to reply to this one!

I had my first baby 3 months ago - and was the same as you, terrified about childbirth, but whilst in labour my midwife asked me if it was worse than I thought it would be, and I said no - it was honestly better. And that's the truth - I guess it just couldn't be as bad as when you let your imagination run wild.

I had an open mind about using pain relief (though I have always thought I have a low pain tolerance like you - I am a real wimp when it comes to things like getting a prickle out of my foot!!) I was in labour 23 hours and tried gas/air a little while into it but didn't really find that did a lot but it's worth a try. It is a good distraction. I don't think I ever really got to the point where the pain was unbearable. But I guess you get to the point where you are wondering how much worse it is going to get and so that's why I opted for an epidural when I had what was probably about 3 hours to go of my labour.

I can honestly say it was the best thing ever! A couple of my friends had recommended getting an epidural and I kind of felt like they were trying to scare me - but now I just know it is because they are so amazing! Getting the epidural in didn't hurt at all, and it is just instant relief, you can still move around (well I could) but couldn't feel any pain. It just gives you such a break and lift your spirits after coping with the contractions/not having a lot of sleep etc. I think they last for a couple of hours because mine started to wear off when it came to the pushing part and by that time I was re-energised for that after having the break. It was so worth it though, I only wished I'd had it sooner! Never had any problems afterwards with headaches or anything either.

When it comes down to it - you have nothing to prove about how you deliver your baby, just do what you need because in the end it's the outcome - your baby - that's important, not the means you had to take to get it. Don't worry about what other people think either! My midwife was somewhat trying to discourage me from having it because I was so close to the end and she thought I could manage without it (I probably could have), but after the birth she told me that she thought I did the right thing having it because it gave me the energy and rest for the pushing part.

Also, never let someone else's experience influence what you decide to do. Just like every pregnancy is different, so is every labour.

This is very true smile

Hey

Just do what you need to feel that you need to do. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for the decisions that you make for pain relief - your the one in labour, not them!

As pp have said, every labour is different. Start off with some gas and if you feel comfortable to continue with it then do. If you feel like you need an epidural, then get one. I told DH that I didnt want an epidural, but he said if you want one, get it thats fine. I found for myself that I wanted to be in a bath and just have the gas. DH said it looked like I was smoking crack! But ended up having an epidural as I needed an emergency c section.

You'll be fine, just think to yourself, at the end of this, I'll have my bubba.

Thanks everyone, that really helped. Its hard to think about now but when I'm there I'm sure I'll just get on with it! It's just my first baby so i have no idea what to expect.. I hate it. I guess if i'm really in that much pain and its not too late I'll just get the epidural done lol!!
Thankssss smile

I suggest you go in there hoping for a drug free birth (if thats what you want).

With my DS i wanted drug free birth, in the end i decided to just chew on the gas mouth piece because all i wanted to do was bite/grit my teeth. My labour was only 4 hours long (from start to finish) and the pains were in front of my belly. The labour was painful but no where near as bad as i thought.

With DD i went in thinkin i dont need to be a hero and would take drugs if the pain was too bad. this was the wrong mindset to be in, as as soon as the contractions started (pains felt like my tailbone was about to break in half) i wanted anything that would make it go away. i think it was because i didnt care if i had a drug free birth that made the pain worse. i didnt end up having anything in the end as i was only in labour with her for 21mins (from start to finish) midwife said instead about worrying about drugs, push instead as she was almost out anyway.

If you chose the gas, suck the gas just before you get a contraction otherwise it wont work. it didnt work when i did try to suck it, then was told afterwards that was why.

Back pain is far worse then belly pain, but try to hold off the drugs for as long as you can smile it also depends on how long you labour for. mine were fast labours so easy to resist drugs, my friend had a back labour for 2 days (contractions 5 mins apart the whole time) so needed the epi.

Good luck, i hope you have a quick and enjoyable (as enjoyable as it can be) labour) smile

I wanted an epi but by the time we got to the hospital I was too dilated and wasn't allowed one- DS was out before it would of been put in anyway. So I just had gas.
Just wanted to say though, only you know what YOUR birth experience is like, only you know how painful or not it is for you, people go oh its not that bad but every single person is different and you really can't compare - what I think isn't painful someone else might think its extremely painful.It all very well and good for your mother to say that but she doesn't know how YOUR body is going to react to YOUR birthing experience. (hope that makes sense)
I'd go in with an open mind - as PP said you might have a 4 hour labour or 45, you never know.
good luck

Dont be scared smile if it was'nt worth it every women would only have one kid.I had an epidural i even started falling asleep after i had it lol.

You just have to do what you think is best for you and your baby, it's nice your Mum has a super high pain threshold but you could be really unlucky lol. I had a 30 hour labour and to put it nicely, it wasn't too pleasant.. but in saying that I would be happy to do it again like all Mum's would smile I tried to stay positive and went into hospital thinking I would have a drug free labour.. but I didn't lol. I tried gas, which did absolutely nothing for me and then after I had enough of being in labour for 30 hours with no relief, I ended up having an epidural. It was bliss & I had no side effects from it. I wanted to have a 1/4 epi so I could still do something & just have the edge taken off the pain, but the hospital didn't offer that yet sad I don't regret having the epi, I only wish I could have had a drug free labour. I'm having another baby in June so hopefully I might have a better time with it lol. Anyway, you can get as much information as you can from people around you but when it comes down to it, it will be up to you and what you can handle. Just don't put any pressure on yourself because the worst thing you can do is worry about what everyone else thinks is right. You will be fine, us women are built for giving birth smile

It is your choice! Who cares if you have an epidural, it's your choice and yours alone. The pain can get terrible, so I think it depends on your choices pre-labour. I decided no drugs before I ever went into labour - because drugs also effect the baby. But your mum has no right to guilt you about that! Childbirth is personal - it isn't a competition and it means different things to different people.

Saying that though, epidural does come with risks so look into those before labour and weigh up your options.

I think everyone has given you great advice. I had my first baby at 20 and was absolutely petrified but by the time it all happens you will go with the flow and won't have chance to worry about being scared. My best advice is go in with a rough idea of what you would like and take it as it comes. If you find gas and air or even perhaps pethidine doesn't work go for the epidural. It's not about being a hero just about getting a healthy happy bub at the end. I never had an epidural for my other 2 and this time around I hope to be the same.I will have one in an emergency if needed. I made sure my partner knows exactly what I want as well in case I need his help with my decisions at the time.

I think everyone has given you great advice. I had my first baby at 20 and was absolutely petrified but by the time it all happens you will go with the flow and won't have chance to worry about being scared. My best advice is go in with a rough idea of what you would like and take it as it comes. If you find gas and air or even perhaps pethidine doesn't work go for the epidural. It's not about being a hero just about getting a healthy happy bub at the end. I never had an epidural for my other 2 and this time around I hope to be the same.I will have one in an emergency if needed. I made sure my partner knows exactly what I want as well in case I need his help with my decisions at the time.

Thank you everyone! Really great advice :)I'll do whats best for me not anyone else.

[center]Hi Girls,

I'm so scared about going into labor! My mums done it 5 times and says its not THAT bad but she doesn't have a low tolerance of pain like me lol!! She only used gas and air and she expects the same from me.. she says she doesn't know anyone whose had an epidural and its for wimps. I don't care about being a warrior lol!! My midwife also advises against them!! Can anyone whose had an epidural give me some advise? Apparently it can affect your back later on in life..in some cases.

Thanks [/center]

Personally i would considder hireing a tena, it takes pressure off back for early stages of labour, and also water birth takes weight off smile seriously considder searching this UK programme called One Born Every Minute it shows you different women and different experiences during labour it helped me make my choice smile