Hi there

My waters broke at 37w1day and given that I was Strep B positive from a much earlier swab (22weeks with a UTI) I was given little choice but to try and have the baby that day, hence I was given antibiotics and syntocin to speed the process up (this was my choice as I'm a pretty impatient person and I wasn't really given any alternatives and at the time just wanted a happy, healthy baby they led me to believe that given that i was early I would proabably be labour for a long time....who knows really but scare tactics do work)

The contractions were pretty full on and the gas didn't suit me (trust me I don't think they were going to offer it back to me anyway lol) and the thought of the Pethidine worried me - so i opted for an epidural - it took 2 goes to get in and it gave me 20mins of kind of relief and my left side went completely num - but having said that - the 20mins I got gve me the strength to continue - i would probably do it again if the circumstances were the same - however next time I'm hoping they will be different and I won't be FORCED into having my baby in such a tight time frame.

I was fortunate enough to be able to stand and walk not to long after and in all honesty I can't remember much about the catheter other than it KILLED going in but my bladder was full and Brodie was pushing on it - so OUCH all round.

Good luck with your decision - I'm sure you make the right one

PS - My friend pretty much arrived at hopsital and asked for the Epidural straight away - she thinks it was the best decision she ever made - so who know's who's right??