Reply With QuoteSo epi means you are certainly restricted to being laid on your back? Even low dose / mobile epi's???
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No, you wouldn't be able to use the stool on an epi.
Registered User
So epi means you are certainly restricted to being laid on your back? Even low dose / mobile epi's???
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Yep essentially. Even with a low dose epi, you will be unlikely to be as 'mobile' as you think. They will monitor the baby too constantly and again, this will restrict your movement.
In my experience epi = bed.
ETA Have a look into hiring a TENS machine instead of an epi, they are supposed to be VERY effective, they are naural and allow you the freedom of movement.
Registered User
Yep, epi = bed. They're not going to want to place it and then have the risk of it falling or not working properly. Even with a low dose, I'd imagine it would be very difficult to hold yourself up on a stool.
This might seem an odd question, but do you have big boobs? I laboured/birthed on my hands and knees, leaning over a fit ball for support. I knelt on a foam mat so my knees weren't too sore, the only thing that was uncomfy about it was after the birth, my chest was a bit sore from leaning on the fit ball for so long and smooshing my boobs into my chest.
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I'm a D cup, so not huge.
Damn, I'm finding it really hard to weigh up the pros and cons of an epi (with the "bed bound" consequences) with pethadine. Peth would enable me to be upright and not immobile but it has more impact on bubs.
Last labour I though I needed to half the pain, not totally remove it. So an epi is overkill, and the idea of peth sounds good (except the consequences on bub) but the natural methods (I did try tens for the first day or so!) weren't enough.
BellyBelly Member
If you could cope with the pain of injection, sterile water injections are supposed to be really good....
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Yeah they worked for me for a few hours to reduce back pain in DD1's posterior labour, but they do wear off. And they flippin' hurt!!!
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I'm not going to say, be prepared for a shorter birth this time, all births are different etc etc, because I'd imagine thy mindset would be almost impossible after the marathon you went through. What about gas? Are you open to taking pain relief as needed, or are you wanting to head all of that of before it's an issue? It is a tough one, as you said, the pros and cons of both.
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I want to go into this birth armed with some strategy rather than taking it as it comes (I've become a bit of a control freak) but having a strategy helps me feel more in control and mentally disciplined. If that makes sense?
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Yeah, I'd say the same as Tegam but you can only ask
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did you try gas last time? did it work for you?
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I took about two puffs and threw it away, I don't think I gave it a genuine go.
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That makes sense. I'd definitely try the gas again before going to peth or an epi. I didn't have gas as such, but I did use a Penthrox stick (I think that's the name?) in the ambulance trip, mainly for my anxiety. I found I had to get a good rhythm going with my breathing for it to work. Didn't do so much for the pain as it did relax me, I'm not sure if gas would be the same. Made things calmer and more mellow.
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Have you thought about having a doula for this birth? She might be able to help you cope better without drugs or an epi, and help you make a good decisions about pain relief in labour too.
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I didn't have Peth with DD1, went straight to epi because I was also worried about effects on baby. That's also my only regret with her birth. After the epi things just went down hill because I was restricted to the bed. I would definitely choose peth based on that experience. Provided I wasn't too close to birth.
With a shorter labour next time though I never even thought of using anything, I hope it's the same food you and you don't even have to worry about it xx
Registered User
Have you got the option of a birth pool? Because that will do exactly what you're after - take the pressure off your legs and provide some pain relief.
I found hot packs and my doula applying pressure to my lower back were also good, as well as the fit ball. I used the fit ball leaning over a pile of pillows on the bed or chair in front of me (no boob pain then!).
Honestly, how you cope is going to be in a large part reliant on your mental state and how well you prepare, not just the available drugs. A doula and a calm birth course might be just what you need. Did you try those the first time around?
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Yes, I had a student doula last time. I realise that coping with the pain is MOSTLY a mental thing! And peth can go either way I guess, it can give you a mental rest between contractions, or it can hinder your ability to concentrate and focus and thus the pain management is worse. I just don't know if peth is worth it. Peth also interacts with SSRI's so I don't know if I can use it anyway. So it seems that there is really no middle ground, it's either natural methods plus gas, or bed bound with an epi? Yikes. Last time, in a better mental state, I got to the 48 hour mark before I got the epi and I was flippin proud of that, it was an endurance marathon! At the time, I felt like if I had a "normal" 6-12 hour labour I might have coped fine, so who knows this might all be theory for nothing.
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
FWIW - I had peth with DD's birth and I didn't notice if it took the edge off or not. It made me groggy and sleep between contractions.
I'm in a position where gas made me throw up so I'm not game to try again, I can't have an epi and clearly the peth does squat for me, so I'm going to utilise the shower and hire a TENS. I've just blown up the fit ball so have been bouncing on that a bit in the hope it will help my small pelvis open up.
I did wonder about the stool, so thanks for posting this!
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