Epidural

Interesting.....I just got home from my hospital appointment, told the specialists what I had heard and they laughed! They said, (for normal labour)if you are at 2cm and want an epi they will encourage you to try other pain relief first, if you are at 8/9cm and they feel you will be delivering soon they will encourage you to keep going with out. But at no stage will you ever be denied an epi. Then they said with inductions if they need to use syntocinon depending on how much and how the body reacts most mothers will have an epi.
My appointment was in the delivery suite and a couple of m/w heard my question they came back after the doc left and said "could you imagine us saying no to a mother in labour? dont worry hun if you want that epi you get it!"

Would be interesting to find out what the other hospital really do, rather than worry about it

my first midwife was reluctant but i did get one, second midwife/labour my lovely midwife told the doctor to chart it before she even started the induction so i wouldnt have to wait

I am a woose when it comes to pain so definatley want an epidural - am not wanting a C section as really dont want to be cut open -- to sore

I was always worried about the cathetar too, it was one of the main reasons I didnt want an epi and begged my midwife not to put one in but in the end I didnt even notice it.

You are numb when they put the catheter in I think (correct me if I am wrong!) so it dosnt really bother me.

I was dead certain I wanted a natural labour with no pain relief at all. I was induced, and they recommended me to take the epi, but still I refused! Had two panadol after 9 hours which were amazing and took the pain clean away.... NOT When they decided that he was not coming out naturally (after 30 odd hours of labour) they gave me an epi so I could rest til theatre was ready for me, and OMFG THE RELIEF!!!!! Totally amazing. My advice is to do what you want to do - but my encouragement to my friends is GO THE EPIDURAL!!!

lilnutnut wrote: Ok so if you have an epidural you need a cathetar (not sure how I feel about that) how long do you have to have this for

I think there are two different types of epi... one with a spinal tap...??? Maybe one requires a catheter and one doesn't??? I'm just stabbing in the dark here.

I didn't feel the catheter going in, or being taken out, and quite frankly it was awesome not having to get up to go to the loo after the c-section. The idea of it was far worse than the reality, in my opinion. I didn't want them to take mine out as it was so hard to get up and down after the surgery, but they force you to start moving after 24 hours to make sure that everything starts healing as it should. Don't be afraid ladies - I'm the biggest wuss in the world and I was sweet

nikkiwhyte wrote: catrad wrote: most people i know that have been to rotorua hospital have had a epidural. i think she mite be just saying that as there are alot of risks. have you got the same midwife as ive got?? i really dnt want a epidural thats why i dont want a c section mainly tho as i soooooooo dnt want a catheter. id rather put up with the pain. but actually, i dont remember the pain being that horrific, yea it hurt but soon as you see your baby the pain gos instantly, well thats what i thought anyway I heard it was the opposite and I gave birth at Rotorua hosp as well. As far as I know, they have the anaethetist on call but he/she isn't always there... so the chances of having an epi with a spontaneous onset of labour are slim. Of course, with an induction this becomes a bit more likely.

yea they didnt even have time to fill the bath let alone ring a anethnatist when i was enduced haha.

cant say the thought of a humungus needle being stuck into my back sounds great either tho, the catheter thing is mainly as ive had major major kidney and bladder problems in the last few years so dont really want them agrivated by anything.