Birth is NOT predictable, don't try to be a hero!

5 Comments

BIt of a horror story here, so please click onto another page if you prefer to avoid the gory details. This is the first time I’ve written about my second daughter’s birth. I guess in hindsight I had subconsciously visualised how things would go, but unfortunately I was wrong. Given that it was my second time around I kind of thought it should be easier and faster, but nobody told my bub. After persisting with gas and pethidine for hours, I finally relented and asked for an epidural, but the anaesthetist took around 2 hours to get there without any reason, explanation or apology for the delay. I think I was lapsing in and out of consciousness during that time as the pain was so intense. We found out later that the bub was facing posterior. Finally when the anaesthetist arrived he couldn’t get a simple drip into my arm, and then tried twice to do the epidural and neither of them worked. I won’t go into the rest of the experience but it’s safe to say it was quite traumatic. Luckily both my little girl and I are now physically fine but both my husband and I are quite emotionally scarred! As a result of that experience, my husband refuses to contemplate having any more kids.

So, the moral of my story is that it is not a weakness or a failure to ask for an epidural, despite what your preconceived ideas are about how the delivery will go. In fact, I believe any way you can get the bub out while ensuring both you and he/she are healthy and with minimal pain is perfect. Kids are about more than their birth, there’s another 18 years+ to enjoy them for!

Posted by billyjean, 6th April 2013

5 Comments

- - BellaB said
  - 30 Apr 2016
    11:08 pm
Yes, it’s best not to have too many fixed ideas about what will happen.

- - Nas01 said
  - 05 Apr 2016
    11:54 pm
Well said!! I’ve had 4 kids and all labours were different.

- - mom81879 said
  - 08 Nov 2015
    12:51 pm
Absolutely, the end result we should all focus on is the delivery of a healthy bub and for mum to get through it unscathed. What a dreadful experience you have had, I understand why another child is off the cards for you

- - mom81879 said
  - 16 Sep 2015
    5:28 pm
My first Bub was undiagnosed breech, so I had gas and pethidine. Second Bub was all ok and I had nothing for pain. I think you have to go into these things with an open mind, don’t discount anything, expect anything

- - mom71809 said
  - 27 Jul 2015
    3:20 pm
Amen to that! There are no special prizes for non pain relief – we all get the same prize at the end – hopefully – a healthy bub.