Who just saw the news?

I think it was some guy who said we shouldn't have pain relief and the women was saying we should!



Edited by hannibal

wasnt it a midwife who has had children that pushes the no pain relief idea? I was only half listen while cooking tea but i heard that she in some ways has the support of the midwifery council because they believe people are too quick to jump at the drugs. They also believe that if in the case of a traumatic birth with no drugs it will also impair bonding (which i fully agree with).

I think i will watch the story again on the website before i say much more tho

I saw the article on the news, and I have to say it was hardly groundbreaking stuff - society has been divided on the merits of pain relief during labour/birth for as log as it has been an option!

Having experienced both a drug-free and an epidural delivery (and one somewhere in between with a failed epi ) I have to say that drug-free births are overrated!

I'm one of those freaks who actually enjoys giving birth, and it was a really empowering experience giving birth with no pain relief, even tho it was overwhelming and I went into mild shock afterwards, it was really, really awesome.

But with my first birth I had a very long latent first stage (30+ hours) and I wouldn't have had the energy to give birth if not for the epidural which gave me enough of a rest to be able to push on (excuse the pun).

I do have to wonder too - if me gave birth, would all births take place under general anesthetic?

Ok it was a man and i dont agree with it being a rite of passage but i do think it can affect bonding in some cases just like tramatic pain free births can affect bonding. I do believe we are too quick to jump at the drug option i know i fully intended on asking for drugs as soon as i got to hospital and i dont agree with planned c-sections (if there is no reason other than convenience)

They cant say no drugs what so ever it should be taken case by case as everyone has a different labour experience but we also shouldnt have to suffer for the sake of suffering - its a hard one i think its hard not to be on the fence about it

I agree with you on the offering of drugs, angel4. My epi was ordered as soon as I got to hospital (Ok yes they needed to slow the contractions as baby was distressed blah blah blah) but that was before an internal or anything which I thought was just ridiculous (obviously after the fact, I fully trusted my mw at the time - not now!)

I have to say that I wouldn't have coped without an epi but hope, like most people do, that this time I won't have to use any/many drugs.

It's one of those things though - every labour is different, every woman is different. If it was so black and white that every woman could have a healthy baby and be healthy herself during and after labour then drugs would have never been an option. unfortunately that's not always the case.

Im having an epidural for my next birth , I could not actually have another baby if that wasn't an option .
Both Ty and C were born without pain relief, and im still waiting for my medal , I do not ,and will not (unless its a really really quick labour ) want to do it without pain relief again .

Edited to add, nor do I feel bad or guilty about that decision , and dare I say it , if it affects bonding with my baby for a couple of days, SO BE IT .
The thought of actually giving birth again without pain relief fills me with fear , and even tho im sure I will forget the pain , I simply wont do it without an epidural again , unless I don't get there in time .
Just like breastfeeding and formular, when I go to Caitlyn's school , I cant tell which kids were born with no drugs and which were .


Edited by caitlynsmygirl

Totally agree with everything you have said angel4.. But just to add, I certainly think that women should have a choice.. Pain relief should be apart of labour/birth, however I don't believe it should be offered so readily..

I planned a drug-free birth (did give into gas and would have it again - any day of the week in fact ) and I loved every part of my birthing experience, especially the fact that I can recall every moment of it.

I think no one can make that decision but the woman giving birth.

I personally wanted a drug free water birth but as Jake was being monitored as IUGR from 34 weeks and I developed PE this was not going to happen. I had to be be induced, drug number 1.

For 35 hours I soldiered on but once they broke my waters the contractions went from nothing to OMFG in 30 minutes, so I took the gas.... 3 hours after ARM I took the epi. I dont regret that I was becoming hysterical The pain became so intense so quickly I was shaking and starting to hyperventilate. If I had not had the epi I think I would have had issues bonding with Jake. I did apologise to him after he was born for exposing him to the drugs so early in his life, I dont think he will hold it against me.

Next time around I am taking it as it comes. If baby is healthy and I am healthy may be I will get my waterbirth. If I get contractions like I had with Jake before 8cm chances are I will take the epi again, but maybe not as strong this time.

Well I think pain releif is something you decide when it is time.

A friend of mine had all her babies without pain releif, she poped them out after a few hours of labour, oh how I enved her & other women who could do that.

My plan for my first was no pain releif, tough it out, have a baby, hmmm not so easy for everyone so I found out, after hours & hours of labour pains, medical teams doing invertergations, I had a epi & an emergancy c/section.

So what I leant from that & used for the next 2 times was gas, & pethidine make me very sick, so did not use them again, (i vomit anyway), epi are a must for me.
I tried v deliverys all 3 times, & put up with the pain, failed inductions & had to have 2 emergency c/sects.

So next time, I will have an epi, & most likly a c/section.

Hats off to all that can do it without pain releif & don't have complications that demand it.

For the rest that want / need it, I say do what is best for you, you don't need to be in unbearable pain to bond with you baby & enjoy the birthing process.

Edited by jazzy

I had a drug free induced birth and I didn't think it hurt much at all. I never screamed or cried. I do think sometimes that the pain is all in your head and you are capable of managing it without pain relief. But I do believe some people think its gona hurt too much before it even happens and opt for the drugs without actually seeing if its managable to begin with.
Theres always gona be people for and against things. Just do whats best for you. Only you know what your capable of