hi mummies to be
i am due end May and just started reading this thread. After reading the extensive discussion on epi, thot i shared my birth story to encourage. I delievered my first daughter 2 yrs ago without epi. I only used a bit of laughing gas during the actual delivery and mostly during stiching up time (too tired to endure pain anymore).
I admit myself during active labour and delivered her 3 hrs later. Its true that once in hospistal they will strapped you to baby monitoring machine, bed bound and just waiting for time and dilation to take place. Being home has advantage that I can walk and do many things. I was still doing laundry, cleaning baby room etc. The distraction helps to pass time esp early labour.
During active labour ie contractions 5 mins apart and more intense, i found breathing technique taught at antenatal class very effective. My hb will practise with me and pace me in the early stage. So by the time it was really intense, the technique is second nature to me. It kills the hyperventilation tendencies, fear and intense pain. I found that once i breathe right, i can rise above the pain literally. Its there, but i
am very calm and can take it. Walking around and changing positions eg. squat, sit etc. helps as well. I survive the most intense 4 hrs of active labour this way. Hope this sharing helps for those determined not to take epi.
after all that endurance, i thot i will take epi. but they told me i was too late and the worse is over. if i can handle that few hours, the next few is nothing. oh well....
so with some prep, it is possible to not take epi. And by the way, those ladies who suffer from intense menstrual cramps, take heart, you have a higher pain threshold than u think. Our mind is very powerful and critical when it comes to pain. If we are afriad, the pain is overwhelming. Breathing essentially takes away the fear for our body to manage the pain. As a mother, we always have to rise above ourselves to do the impossible. It starts with the experience of labour.