Epidurals?
I was facing the possibility of a C-Section yesterday for a big baby (and may still get that option) but I think my partner and I would like to try for a natural birth (I have a consultant Obstetrican appointment next week to discuss options further and a scan in 4 weeks to check the baby's size etc.).
But yesterday my consultant anaethetist had a chat with my yesterday re pain relief in labour. He says as a bigger person I am less likely to feel the contractions and my body may well not work as easily as someone with less fat (he was very nice about how he said all this) and hence there is more possibility of me having forceps or ventouse and an epistomy and strongly recommended having an epidural put in asap....however he did also caution me that with an active birth I could well pull it out and they would have to redo it again. I really don't want an epidural...pain does not scare me after having had painful illnesses in the past. I said my biggest fear was someone trying to do an epidural on me after hours - ie a less experienced anaethetist and he was lovely and said he would be on call if I went into labour and could come in to see me which I took as meaning that I could have one at whatever point ie if it got to an emergency and they needed to intervene then he would come in.
I just want my baby to arrive safely and I don't want to be in an emergency situation if at all possible and my anaethetist stressed he did not want to have to knock me out if that happened and would prefer an epidural to be already in.
But what are your experiences? Was labour slow for you? Did you need interventions? Do you know if I am more likely to need them just because I am bigger (lets assume my baby is normal and the measurements of several weeks ago are wrong - coz its only one measurement thats big)?
For some reason I seem to remember reading that bigger women often have an easier time in labour because their muscles aren't as tense?
What would you advise? Have the epidural put in early or wait and see if I need one?
If the baby is big would you try natural labour and see what happened or would you take the elective C-Section?
But yesterday my consultant anaethetist had a chat with my yesterday re pain relief in labour. He says as a bigger person I am less likely to feel the contractions and my body may well not work as easily as someone with less fat (he was very nice about how he said all this) and hence there is more possibility of me having forceps or ventouse and an epistomy and strongly recommended having an epidural put in asap....however he did also caution me that with an active birth I could well pull it out and they would have to redo it again. I really don't want an epidural...pain does not scare me after having had painful illnesses in the past. I said my biggest fear was someone trying to do an epidural on me after hours - ie a less experienced anaethetist and he was lovely and said he would be on call if I went into labour and could come in to see me which I took as meaning that I could have one at whatever point ie if it got to an emergency and they needed to intervene then he would come in.
I just want my baby to arrive safely and I don't want to be in an emergency situation if at all possible and my anaethetist stressed he did not want to have to knock me out if that happened and would prefer an epidural to be already in.
But what are your experiences? Was labour slow for you? Did you need interventions? Do you know if I am more likely to need them just because I am bigger (lets assume my baby is normal and the measurements of several weeks ago are wrong - coz its only one measurement thats big)?
For some reason I seem to remember reading that bigger women often have an easier time in labour because their muscles aren't as tense?
What would you advise? Have the epidural put in early or wait and see if I need one?
If the baby is big would you try natural labour and see what happened or would you take the elective C-Section?