Did you have an epidural when you didn’t originally want one

Hi all, I’m doing the positive birth company videos and loving it!! I’m half way through and can see that epidural is not ideal as can’t be in best birthing position/feel the need to push etc. However I do feel like I’ve got a low pain threshold 🙈 So my question is: if you’ve done a hypnobirthing course, given birth ideally not wanting an epidural but viewed yourself as someone with a low pain threshold did you end getting an epidural in the end? Ideally I’d like to give birth at a birthing centre as this will be the most relaxing but they don’t offer epidurals there at all, do I risk it?

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So I fully went into my labour not planning to have an epidural at all but ended up having one and was so much better off for having one! I didn’t end up pushing due to complications but it helped me a lot

Hi lovely. I gave birth 3 weeks ago. I did the same course. Wanted to give birth in a birthing centre too. Unfortunately, I ended up having to be induced as I was close to 42 weeks pregnant. I lasted 19 hours of contractions, until they were hitting me every minute, continuously. I couldn’t catch my breath, & I was so exhausted, I opted for an epidural then, & wish I had asked for one sooner… the relief & calm that came over me once I had it was incredible. I could still move my legs to get into different positions on the bed, & I could still feel when a contraction was coming on as I knew when my tummy was getting hard, I was having one. If an epidural will lead to you having a more positive labour & overall experience, please do have it. 🤗 good luck ! x

I have a low pain threshold, but I didn’t find labour “painful”, it was intense and hard work. my first daughter, my labour was long, I planned a home birth but transferred due my daughter’s heart rate dropping. I didn’t plan to have a epidural but it gave me a break and I managed to have a nice 6 hour sleep. 2nd daughter the labour was so fast I didn’t get chance to get tired. How far is the birthing centre from the labour ward?

I did the hypnobirtjing course and I needed an epidural because my son was in the wrong position, but I can honestly say it didn’t matter at the time. I had a good birth up to that point and hypnobirting helped me massively up until that point when intervention wasn’t an option anymore. I say just go with the flow and try to embrace whatever your path is. X

I will share even though I don’t fit the description you’re describing . So I was pretty open to whatever when I went into the delivery. I had practiced hypnobirthing beforehand and had hoped to go unmedicated all the way but I knew I was open to help if I needed it. When I got to the birthing center I actually asked for fentanyl because I wasn’t experiencing pain relief from my hypnobirthing meditations and practices. However, I was nearly at 10 cm so I was not going to receive anything and did just fine without it. Had a great, safe delivery! Blessings to you friend 🤍

I also don’t fit the description but definitely consider my pain tolerance to be low and planned to keep pain relief to a minimum but was thinking I would probably end up asking for an epidural. My contractions lasted from 5pm until her birth at 9am and I managed on gas and air in the pool x

If you have a doula and a birth partner you can still move with an epidural.

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