ryn

i have had 3 babies, from way before becoming pregnant i heard a couple of horror stories re epidurals and i made up my mind i would never have one. when i had my first baby i was induced with the drip after my waters broke and contractions went walk about lol, imo the drip causes the contractions to become much more intense and painful, i tried the gas and it made me throw up everywhere, i then had pethidene which to be honest i don't think made a difference. anyway onto bubs number 2, i didn't have any drugs at all, and i must say i am no matry and i don't think i handle pain to well but i was determined to try and do it without drugs, i used the hot water from the shower and also aromatherapy. with number 3 i was induced via the gel being 10 days late i chose to be induced and dd was born in 1hr - i do remember however begging for an epidural when her head was crowning and midwife and ob just laughed and said it was just about all over.

so i have had 2 completely drug free births and i can honestly say afterwards i felt so good, whereas with my first i was a bit out of it from the pethidene had really showed no interest in my baby i was just glad it was all over.

if i have another child yes i will endeavour to go drug free again, but i will always keep my options open even tho i am still scared to death of epidurals lol. it is not for everyone and everyone handles things completely different but it is a different kind of pain in a funny way it is a good pain.

just don't listen to all the horror stories and believe in yourself and your abilities in what you can do, you will be fine. make the decision you want, make sure your birth partner knows what you want. i remember with my first i was begging for an epidural after i was sick with the gas and my dh was wonderful and kindly reminded me that we could try something else before the epidural as he knew how scared i was of them.

sorry i have rambled