Pain relief is different for everyone but I can almost guarantee you’ll differ from your birthing plan when you’re actually in labour.
With my first (2010) when I had just turned 17, I had gas & air & pethidine. When I was 8cm gone, I was begging for an epidural. They told me it was on its way but they actually had no intention of giving it to me as Jay was pretty much coming out by that point. They lied but only to keep me calm! I don’t remember having an established birthing plan, I was 16 years old throughout 99% of the pregnancy so their main concern was just helping me on how to be such a young mum rather than doing in depth birthing plans so I don’t remember picking a pain relief.
With my second (2014) I was adamant I only wanted gas & air, which I stuck to & that’s all I had.
This time round, almost 10 years later, almost 10 years worth of migraines, excruciating back pain, general body aches & pains, I was fed up with being in pain. As soon as the contractions started to twinge a little, I caved & asked for an epidural even though I had only planned on having gas & air. My only thought when the pain started was “fuck this” as well knowing I’d be in pain for weeks after as well!
Gas & air is great. If you’ve ever played around with doing nos balloons, it’s the same stuff & I love it! I’d love to get my mum on it 😂 I used the gas & air whilst they were putting in the epidural. No one prepared me for the pain of them actually putting the epidural in! Christ almighty that was painful! Some people (& I was one of these people) get a god awful electric shock down their leg whilst they’re inputting it all & I have a high pain tolerance but that electric shock brought me to tears! I wasn’t expecting it at all!
Once the epidural was in, I was allowed to control it. So they have a certain amount which is always going in to you, then there’s a button I was allowed to press when I wanted a bigger hit. I started off by using the button any time the contractions got a bit more painful but it takes about 20 minutes for that hit to come through so they told me to press it every time I was allowed (the button flashed green every 20 minutes & if you press it before that, it doesn’t work so it’s impossible to have too much/overdose).
After about 5-6 times of pressing it every time it flashed green, I noticed I couldn’t actually feel my legs or feet any more. I had no feeling down there whatsoever from the top of my coccyx to my toes! No sensations to push or pee or poo. Nothing. It was great but weird.
When you’re in labour, you’re on a monitor so you have 2 little circle things kind of stuck to your belly. One for baby’s heartbeat & one to measure contractions. The midwife told me every time I was getting a contraction & when she told me it was time to push, I had to try. But again, didn’t really know I was pushing. I felt pressure after a while when he was actually coming out, but no pain! Whatever is in that epidural, I want some at home!
When I first asked for the epidural, I had a specialist epidural doctor come to my room & explain the risks & general ins & outs. You may be told “it will give you back problems if they put it in the wrong place” but I was told that risk is so minimal.
It’s not a midwife who puts the epidural in you, again, there’s a special epidural doctor. I think it took about 30 minutes to put it in. You have to try stay really still as well whilst you’re having contractions & the pain of them putting it in too. Big needles & all sorts poking one of the most sensitive & nervy bits of your body. It’s not easy to stay still!
I mentioned pethidine at the beginning of this. I’m honestly not really sure what it is but I found that personally for me, it done nothing. I’m pretty sure it’s just paracetamol which, during labour, is not gonna touch anything at all 😂
If anything is gonna put me off having another kid, it’s that epidural! Never again! Maybe I’ll stock up on condoms & all other types of contraception 😂
Peace out ✌🏼
If I can do it, anyone can! 