Aren't I the odd one out!!!
There are lots of things you aren't told about though, for example with the epidural, it lowers your blood pressure and in turn this lowers oxygen circulation to the baby. Even moreso if you are flat on your back as the uterus presses on major blood supply - so your baby can appear 'stressed' because of the lowered oxygen especially during birth. I have seen pethidine and morphine given to mums at very late stages and that was awful, mum cant move and the baby is very sleepy and they take the baby away and stimulate it vigourously, one doctor flicking them - it's awful.
I am not anti-medication though, we all get to that point where enough is enough and I have no doubt in my mind I couldn't have coped with an augmented labour without it.
Gas made me throw up and did nothing. I did not want pethidine (haha I had it in my head that an intramuscular injection would hurt and not an option!) but I had an epidural and to this day, I wouldn't have done it different in that situation. The synto drip was a nightmare, I had contractions on top of each other and was screaming and crying that I was going to die!
With Elijah I had nothing and it was a massive difference, it was a great labour, I got up as soon as the placenta had come and had a shower - it was really great to be able to do that, rather than wait for the drugs to wear off. I tried getting up too soon after the epidural and my legs collapsed under me, luckily I was near John! But I felt so well, so accomplished and happy that I had beaten them at their own game!!!
Moral - get good support, ideally a doula or birth attendant and if you want the best chance at no drugs and low intervention, have a homebirth with a private midwife!They have very low rates of induction and all the drugs and tools that you end up having after an induction.
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