Epidural or no epidural???

[dafaulter]

Hi,



Im new to Singapore Motherhood forum.



Im now 34 weeks pregnant... Am still deciding on Normal delivery with epidural or without epidural..?



Can some mommies out there advise me or share some experience with me...



Thanks!

 

[lynfam18]

Hi,



My first option was without epi cos I'd like to experience fully what childbirth is all about. And since our mothers can do it, why can't we?



However, after about 5 hrs of enduring contractions without epi, i wasn't dilated at all when doc checked me. He said perhaps another 10 hrs to go.



So I then changed my mind and went for option 2 - epidural. Within an hour and a half, I was fully dilated and it happened so quickly. I guess I was more relaxed after the jab and would dilate faster.



However, now with my #2, I will still try not to have epidural, unless necessary.



I guess it all depends on your threshold for pain and what you want. I have friends who knew what they wanted and once into DW asked for epi.



Good luck and have a smooth delivery

 

[pfy]

go with the flow.

be flexible about your pain relief options.

when the pain comes and u need help, seek advise and opt for something.

 

[ehlana]

Yup I agreed with Golf, sometimes you are too stress about enduring the pain, it will be harder for you to dilate. At that time, even with epi, you will still feel the pain. Furthermore by the time when you need to push, you might not have enough strength.

 

[yasminelala]

Epidural or not is not the most important thing. What is more important is a safe delivery. I started off telling myself not to have epidural. The contractions is very painful, i remember feeling scare when the see the CTG machine's read-out climbing (contraction coming). I guess i still be able to cope then but not too sure if i have the strength to go for the final push. So i ended up opting for epidural at abt 5-6cm dilations. It is really a personal choice but at the end of the day, have a safe delivery.

 

[enyi]

I gave birth to my 2 gals without epi.



I agree with the others. Go with the flow and keep your options open. Everybody's threshold for pain is different, and every delivery is different. Stay positive.



In my case, I pysch myself to think that every contraction brings me a step nearer to seeing my baby. My hb tells me when the CTG readings is at its peak - meaning another round of pain is over soon.



If permitted, my preference is not to be confined to bed, especially during early contractions. My midwife encourage me to remain active and walk ard. Soaking my body in a warm tub of water was a very effective pain relief option.



If all these pain stress u up, there's no reason not to opt for pain relief. Just make sure u know ahead of time what are your options and their implications.



Hv a safe delivery!

 

[83ps]

Little People- which hospital did u deliver? cos i didnt know sg has warm tub for labour.

 

[gin_]

i wanted to give birth without epidural, wanted to have the feel of natural birth.. but when i was 4cm dilated, the pain was just intolerable to me and I opted for epidural..



the dosage they gave me was quite high that i couldn't feel any contractions at all.. i couldnt even feel my abdominal muscles at all.. and when it was time to push, i was quite scared, cos i can't feel any of the muscles and i dunno how to push..



i always constipate in the past, so kind of used my mind to recall how i release my constipation in the past and push my boy out. Lucky was quite successful and he was out very quickly.. haha



its really up to your own preference and how well you can endure the pain..

 

[xenophilia]

I was advised by a friend that when about 6cm dilated, to ask the nurse to lower the epidural dosage because if the nurse is inexperienced & she ups the dosage, what will happen is that you totally cannot feel your legs and it's already tiring to be pushing PLUS having to hold your legs up as you push (it's like dead weight) is a nightmare.



I'm 35 going on 36w pregnant. I'm nervous!



@Patricia : I read from another thread that TMC has the tub but need to top up $200 or something.

 

[gin_]

oh is it? ok i didnt know.. but strangely, i couldn't feel my lower abdominal.. but i could feel my legs and move them on my own.. nurses were also shocked that i could move my legs on my own.. i didnt need their help to lift my legs up to push..

 

[joandnis]

Hi Ladies..

I am very new to SMP..currently i am 33 weeks pregnant..feeling the stress and very nervous because seems like delivery process is approaching real soon..

I am still at a lost on whether to take epidural or not..i wanted to skip epidural..but everyone is asking me to take to enjoy the delivery process..

 

[dingdong]

Hi Joanne



I opted for delivery without epidural. Actually the key driving factor was to for the experience and also my fear of the opssible epi effect of back aches.



Halfway through my first child, I almost wnated to give in due to the pain, but you can tell your heart and mind to be calm and stay composed. The really unbreable pain lasts only 1 hour. It passed very very fast and was glad when baby came out finally. It was a rewarding exoerience, so much so that I went without epi for my 2nd and 3rd babies.



No hard and fast rule. You can opt for without and actually change your mind anytime. [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif] Congratz!!!

 

[joandnis]

Dingdong: i also fear of the side effects...and wanted to be strong and go thru without epidural..but everyone is telling me to go for epidural..telling me is very very painful and unbearable..telling me that when the time the doctor wanted to remove the parcenta will be very painful..is that true?

 

[elise_chua]

my doc mention that epidural no side effect.. haha

whatever la.. i got low tolerance to pain,so after an hour after i induce,i took it le..



Joanne Teng: i have to agree the 'delivery' of the placenta is damn painful... even though i had epidural,towards the end after i deliver my girl,the doc reduce the epidural already.. so i could feel the pain when the placenta was removed...

 

[kodomomama]

i heard by then you deliver ( normally without epidural) you won't feel a thing coz the pain numbed your lower body & you cant feel him/her stitching you up.. ( not comforting at all) but still, i gonna opt without first =)

 

[aoife]

I heard from those mums who had epi during delivery, they said they will have post-epi effects long after birth like backache every now and then(which previously don't have). Did any mum experience the same thing after epi?

 

[highheels]

I had epi when I gave birth 2 years ago. No backache.

 

[babycupid]

For mummies who opting for epidural thinking it will be painless, pls note that not apply to all.. I am one of those unfortunate ones.. epidural doesnt work well on me when I delivered in June 2008.. So now i am about to due in early september.. still tinking abt epidural.. My frend whom just delivered in july having same problem too.. [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif]

 

[babycupid]

I managed to deliver my baby girl without epidural.. it is painful but the feeling is great! [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif]

 

[fashionbabes]

I'm at a total loss too! My Gynae checked my cervix n told me its already ard 2 to 2.5cm dilated, wanted me to admit hospital tomorrow for induce but my hubby n I have no preps at all so choose to wait a few more days.



Gynae says I have low threshold for pain as whenever I have checks pertaining to my vaginal area, I'll get very tensed up. Anyone of you have this experience as well?

 

[zmerchant]

I just wanna share that am glad i took epi