Seriously I wish they offered it to me sooner. Total bliss until the last 4 pushes (then see the previous post )
I <3 epidurals
My experience of no-meds came from the "lovely" woman in the birthing room next to mine. She went the "natural route" and was screaming bloody murder well before the birth, so the team at the hospital slowed down my contractions, so as to "stop that ****ing racket" (my love for my doc increased 10X's at that point) next door...
I just don't see the point in suffering. I was born in the 60's (cringe) and my mother had an epidural and always said "your birth was wonderful" and I am able to say the same to my daughter! [/quote]
Just to say that this is actually totally unhelpful. For you natural birth may be unnecessary suffering and that view is perfectly OK. Epidurals and Caesarians do have their place, but really -- what is the point of telling horror stories of painful birth to women that are about to go through this experience for the first time except to make them even more scared?
[quote=Dawn Clifton;192566]We plan to have number 2 in CH straight away, and I want to know if once you have already had a c-section, will they alow you to have the next one natural?
quote]
The answer is: it depends. In Geneva it is very very hard (although not impossible) since 'once a Caesarian, always a Caesarian' is the fast rule for most doctors. There are few doctors that would not immediately try to dissuade you from trying a VBAC and there is a birth centre in Aigle (VD) where it is a possibility (and it is run by midwives).
Well, it's actually no more helpful than women being made to feel that any pain relief or intervention they accept is some kind of failure in their birthing because it's "not natural". What poppycock!
Yes, but every birth is very different and nothing can really prepare you for what is going to happen next time or whether there is going to be a next time at all. So I don't see the point here really.
What is wrong with wanting to try unmedicated birth? Contrary to what many people think, the pain is not necessarily unbearable. You can always ask for pain relief if it does becomes unbearable. And what is bearable is really so individual that whatever you or I or hundreds of other women say in the end each woman will have to experience it herself.
And here I agree with you, no woman should be made to feel like a failure because she did not deliver her babies 'naturally'. Just as no woman should be labelled masochistic and weird if she did.
Every mother I know has done this. I think this is how most births proceed. I, for one, decided to give it a go with no pain relief then hastily reassessed my decision once the big contractions got going. I don't think anyone demands pain relief from the first slight twinge.
Those that can take the pain carry on without medication, those that can't, don't.
It's the "naturally" bit I have problems with. Because you accept pain relief, suddenly your birth is no longer in the "natural" category?? Is this a bit of a "badge of honour" among those women who bit down on a piece of leather and took the pain??
I had an epidural but I still count it as a natural birth. Baby came out of the right "exit" as nature intended. Mum just didn't feel as much.
[quote=Sandgrounder;192853] I don't think anyone demands pain relief from the first slight twinge.
quote]
But some people here actually advise women to decide on pain relief now, ie while they are still pregnant. Birthing is a lot about the right frame of mind and if everyone around you is telling you that there is no way you can do, then this may well become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
By definition, natural birth is unmedicated. There is some logic to this, since it was not exactly impossible to give birth thousands of years ago, before epidural anaesthesia was invented. But definitions do not really matter as long as both the mother and the baby are healthy and everybody is happy with the outcome.
I am currently looking at my 3rd "all natural" birth and believe me it is by no means my choice... Both my boys took less than 3 hours start to finish and basically I was told there is nothing they could give me that would work in time to make any difference...
It is survivable and nature does strangely seem to take the edge off the memory a little (thank god or maybe none of us would have made it this far!) but I for one would gladly with open arms take any relief I can get and I am envious of any of you who found it a peaceful and calm process!!!
I whole heartedly agree that birth is something you have to do at least once before you figure out what works best for you. I have to say however, from my experiences that I do feel that after years of not being given a choice and sometimes excessive medical intervention women are being pushed nowadays (mostly by their peers) into giving birth without pain relief when perhaps they would in all honesty rather have the help on offer. I was practically applauded at a meet up of my birthing class buddies?!! and had one friend say she felt such a failure because she had caved in???? and had pain relief in the end....
You are the best judge of your own body and if you are someone who feels pain, then the thought of being able to get relief can sometimes be all the extra help you need.
They did it without any pain relief in the olden days squatting in fields because that was their only choice... I for one am might glad we do have a choice nowadays even if I don't get to take advantage of it!
We put enough pressure on ourselves to be the best we can for our kids, lets not make extra stress and hassle for ourselves before they even get here! They won't care how they enter the world so long as they get a big cuddle once they arrive.
Hey, I was just giving my personal experience and that is what this thread (especially) is all about; pain relief during childbirth.
Some prepare in classes to do things "naturally", whereas I prepared by seeing and discussing the epidural with my anesthesiologist.
My wish for all is to have a great, memorable, happy experience giving birth- because there is nothing like it... .
Just your personal experience, J.L-P? Then stick to telling stories about how wonderful it was. I think it is great to tell other women positive stories.
But your post above is quite the contrary. I don't really understand the purpose of this example above except to illustrate your clear revulsion of unmedicated birth, not to mention the shocking lack of empathy towards a woman that was at the same time as you going through the same experience (albeit by a slightly different route).
Geez, I didn't mean to upset people with my experience! The subject of the thread is "pain relief". And I felt no pain. Obviously the woman next door did; she was having her 4th child and as it was explained to me by the staff- she had refused any aid (perfectly her right). Yet her "vocality" (please, I'm trying not to offend) not only bothered the staff, but also me. Did I feel any empathy for her, I should think not.
I do not have a "revulsion of unmedicated birth", I have a revulsion against pain. There is an enormous difference.
I just wanted to give a real experience example, oh well... .
Good night and good luck...and keep on self-congratulating.
Ladies please! either support one another or PM with your snipes. Life is to short and new life is wonderful and not something that is granted to everyone.
Don't turn this most informative thread for new-comers to Switzerland into a battlefield. Just be glad you all delivered healthy children by whatever means and give a thought to the would-be mums who seek information in this foreign country.
Please.
Please dont stoop her levels by explaining yourself... you really dont need to. Its shocking how there are always people who "turn threads into battle fields"!!
I think we all wish for a great, memorable, happy experience giving birth but unfortunately nature doesn't always agree with us.
I'm curious how you would view a screaming fellow woman-in-labor like myself who had the unfortunate draw of luck that the epidural didn't work one iota. All the preparation in the world doesn't help when nature simply decides that today is the day it won't be done according to plan.
Again, I am against being in unecessary pain. As you said, your "...epidural didn't work...". Of course I feel bad for you!
I am bowing out of this thread as there seem to be some kind confusion about how I feel about pain management.
In case you ladies want to read more about this... It was published a few days ago i the (respectable) BMC Medicine, an article called More in hope than expectation: Women's experience and expectations of pain relief in labour: A review
Link to the abstract is here, you can download also the full article:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/6/7/abstract
The conclusions for this study are:
And i bail out from this thread - i am not a mother and have little hope of becoming one.