Birth Plan and Epidural

[Maria04]

HI , I am a new mum to be. I am 35yrs.I'm now 35 wks pregnant and was hoping to discuss options with my midwife with regards to Epidural and birth plan. When I mentioned that I would like Epidural I felt as if the midwife tried to discourage me to ask for it at the hospital at birth. She told me that I can have gas or water Birth options instead. She said that since my pregnancy had no complications I shouldn't worry about needing Epidural . My worry is that My Mum and my other 3 sisters also had no problems during pregnancy but they all ended up with the C-Section for all births. I have also tried to speak to her regards Birth Plan and all I was told go to the NHS Website and download form and you can find all the information there. I am now filling out the form and I got stuck with birth positions what so ever as I was not told that I should be attending antenatal classes. I feel as If I am not prepared and have no information . Is it still possible to book antenatal classes now that I am 35 weeks? and where can I find the information of how to book or attend one?

[Seb9]

I don't think that having an epidural would have any difference to if you ended up needing a c-section of anything they can be unhelpful in a natural labour as you can't feel your contractions. Plus all labour's are different, so there's no reason to think before you go into it that you'll need a c section.

You might be able to get an online antenatal class, but if not you can go on the nct website and they have a lot of information.

I had an epidural because I had an induction, my contractions were irregular and strong, and I wasn't dilated, so the epidural allowed me to relax until I was ready to push.

It was good, but I wanted my both to be as natural as possible, so the epidural meant that I had to be constantly monitored, couldn't move around, couldn't change positions etc. So although it was helpful, I would definitely have preferred to not have it.

For your birth plan I would really recommend that you look at what your perfect birth would look like and how that looks for you.

The nct site has some really helpful pros and cons for different pain relief nct.org.uk/labour-birth/you...

[AGKG]

Hi Maria

All births are different so I wouldn't worry to much . I think you will only know what you want when you actually go in to labour. My 1st child I had gas and air. And then my next 2 children I had an epidural as I was in labour for long periods and was exhausted. Like seb9 said thou. You cannot move about when you have had an epidural and they monitor you . But it takes away all the pain.

Its up to you what you decide. As when you go in to hospital you can tell the midwife looking after you what you want x

[PoppyC38]

If there are any questions about certain things ask on here as well as people will probably know. I know when I did NCT they said the higher up the pain relief journey you start the fewer places you have to go if that makes sense? It’s definitely up to you though you can ask for what you want when you’re there. I did gas and air with mine and I didn’t stop moving. Also spent a lot of time in the water in all fours. Your body does just really take over and it’s almost instinctual.

[Pook27]

Firstly remember birth is natural (regardless of if you medicate or not.) and intuitive and midwives will be able to guide you on positions through early labor, sure it’s great to have knowledge but you don’t really know what’s going to feel better for you until your body starts telling you on the day.

I found the biggest hurdle to cross is fear, hypnobirthing as hippy as it sounds really helped me to enter labor without fear and honestly I had a really good experience. If you want an epidural it works just fine for lots of women, but it can also stall or slow labor so it makes sense for it not to be recommended in the first instance. I gave birth in the US (though English) and it’s an uphill struggle here to fend off intervention.

[LeoDays]

The epidural doesn't always take away all the pain. I would advise you to hold on going on epidural until you feel you can't go on but be open about wanting it if it gets to much.

[Hidden]

Talk to the lovely Tracey at birthsense.co.uk she'll help you find out about options, online courses and reassure you that your body can birth your baby.

If you have a birthing ball that can help with different positions to get comfy in during labour. You can do this, be confident.

[LondontoSeoul]

Don’t worry. Even if you said you didnt want to any epidural or gas and air at 36 week appointment, when you in labour they will give epidural if you ask and they think it’s an option for you at that time. But I saw many people who opted for epidural and couldn’t get it because they passed the time they could have though

[Randomuser2]

Please don’t stress too much about the birth. Both of my pregnancies have been completely different. My first baby was up the hospital for about 36 hours before giving birth, I had pethadine and gas and air, I kept asking for a spinal but they said your body is doing everything it needs to do, I left it and then it was too late anyway and gave birth to a 9lb 4oz boy. Second pregnancy gave birth on just gas and air as waited at home and was 8cm when got to hospital so again to late for any medication, baby was 9lb 11.5oz. I do think if you want a spinal then it’s best to wait until your at the hospital, make it very clear from the start that you want one, because they will not want to give you one as it can make the labour more difficult, you can’t feel contractions and when to push etc. Make your wishes clear from the start and be pushy if you have too.

[Hidden]

My first labour was so long and baby was back to back the midwife suggested a epidural but I had been there 6 hours in horrendous pain & they wouldn’t even give me gas and air as I was dilating slowly the anaesthetist talked me out and suggested other pain relief first which I was happy to do the midwives rolled their eyes. I had another 6 gruelling hours with pethidine and gas n air I had ventouse if I had an epidural I would have probably ended up having a section. I found the midwives unhelpful for someone’s first difficult labour should have explained more etc.

My 2nd labour was super easy I was so scared it would be like my first, the hospital I went to was far more relaxed got pain relief as soon as I wanted it they didn’t do epidurals & would have to travel to a different hospital to get one.

You can have a birth plan but it can go out the window play it by ear I do feel Midwife’s don’t want or easily give out epidurals.

[FatandPreggs]

Choices for pain relief during labour have nothing to do with having an uncomplicated pregnancy. It's very dumb for a midwife to say what she said. Also because an uncomplicated pregnancy may end up in a complicated delivery. So it's ok to consider the possibility of a c section well in advance because that way you prepare your mind, and that's good - you'll be prepared for the eventuality and be calmer if it does happen.

Everyone's pregnancy will be very different and some will advocate epidural, some will advocate air and gas etc which in my case did f*** all. It actually doesn't take away any pain, its purpose is to make you sort of feel dizzy and somehow that's supposed to help (?). I personally don't get it and could not get my epidural fast enough.

The truth is that all of us feel the pain differently because of the type if nerves we have (this comes from an antenatal class). So anyone's advice as to how much pain you'll be feeling is irrelevant.

If you want epidural make sure you have this wish written in bold capital letters in your birth plan, and tell the hospital immediately and repeatedly that that's your wish. Otherwise you run the risk of someone making decisions for you (as they like to do) such as it's too early or it's too late or whatever they like to come up with to not give it. The truth is they MUST give it to you as soon as you ask and remember there is no such stage as 'too late' even if you are fully dilated unless the baby is literally crowning.

I personally cannot be happier with my decision to have an epidural. I had it immediately as soon as my contractions started because I just couldn't take the pain. It was administered without delay and without trying to talk me out of it. I didn't need a c section. Btw an epidural may slow down labour (which in my case it didn't, actually everyone was amazed how quickly I was dilating for a first time baby), but it doesn't increase the likelihood of a c section.

We live in 21st century for God's sake, I'll take advantage of the modern medicine to the full thank you, I don't see the point of being a martyr and endure middle ages style labour. When one of the midwives tried to crack a joke about "it's called labour for a reason" I shut her up quickly by informing her that in other languages it's not called labour at all, it's just called giving birth so her logic is flawed. Her shift thank God ended and other midwives were excellent.

Anyway, the bottom line is do your research, decide on your birth plan and insist that it's honoured. YOU are the decision maker, not anyone else. At the same time though keep an open mind for the need to be flexible as you can never know how your labour goes.

[Flounder84]

I think you should be able to access online antenatal course can you look on your local hospitals website ?

The positive birth company does a really good online course it explains labour and pain relief options etc and also involves hypobirthing, even if hypnobirthing isn’t your thing it still made me feel more confident and positive about my birth.

thepositivebirthcompany.co....

[FatandPreggs]

Forgot to mention that the effect of epidural can be of varying degrees. You will get an automatic dose each hour and on top of that you will be given a clicker which will allow you to administer additional top ups every 20 minutes. So if you use the top ups diligently you will reach the stage where you have little feeling in your tummy/legs, no pain and won't feel contractions. However, in that case when it's time to push the midwive will monitor the contractions and will tell you exactly when to push. If you don't use the 20 min top ups then of course you will have more feeling and will feel the contractions and perhaps even some mild ache/pain. It's called mobile epidural and you will be in control. Epidural is your absolute right and no-one has any right to withhold it. There was actually an inquiry done earlier this year into hospitals across the UK constantly refusing/avoiding epidurals and making women suffer, it was found it was a widespread issue and should be eliminated!

And perosnally that stuff about "your body is equipped to give birth" did nothing for me, I find it a bit of a BS. My midwife suggested some hypno tracks but I just didn't get them. If we are so super equipped, why do so many women need instrumental assistance and c sections? Plus go through such excruciating pain. Please. But that's me. It's good to stay positive I guess but to me it was just too hippie.

[136gxx]

My friends a midwife and she helped me do mine she advised me to include things like:

- pain relief; what I was open to, what I didn’t want and if I was happy to be led by a midwife in what they thought I needed.

No just medical but also would you like a bath if possible? Lights dimmed to help calm you down etc...

are you Quite sicky? would like to avoid pain relief that will make that worse.

-positions; would I like to be able to move around? Birthing ball etc and think about how your comfy at home.

-birth partners: who you want there and who you don’t, if you needed to go to theatre or needed instrumental delivery do you still want them there.

-after birth; skin to skin? Baby passed to mum or dad? Delayed cord clamping? All that sort of thing, do you want to see placenta? How do you want to feed baby, breast? Bottle? Do you want to feed straight away?

- allergies you have and any concerns or things that worry you.

Hope this helps! I think the best birth plan you can have is to not plan and listen to the midwifes as much as possible! Everything that was in mine with my daughter went out of the window as soon as the pain got bad enough lol. Don’t stress, keep calm and don’t over think (easier said than done- I know) good luck! xxxx

[Anonymousy]

Hi

This sounds really frustrating.Do not worry though.You could always book online prenatal classes through your hospital website or ask them for the details.They are always accessible and helpful.Good luck xx