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Childbirth

Question on delivery tools

32 replies

UCM · 13/10/2006 21:59

If I have an epidural during vaginal birth (hoping for vbac), do they have to use tools to get the baby out. I know this sounds ridiculous but it just struck me whilst reading the breath baby out thread that if I can't feel anything down below, I won't be able to push etc so how will baby come out???

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marymillington · 13/10/2006 22:03

I think (but I don't know) that you can still push, but will have to be guided by midwife as to when.

lulumama · 13/10/2006 22:05

first, if you want a VBAC - i would advise against an epidural, you will need to stay active and aware of your body especailly the urge to push. i had an epdirual during first induced labour - eneded in c/s, had a vbac this time with pethidine and lots of gas and air.

an epidural can prolong labour , as you can;t move around.....also, it makes n instrumental delivery more likely as you might not be able to feel the urge to push...and might not be able to push as efectively. so yes, you might need help with a vventouse or forceps,which will mean an episiotomy, which will mean stitches!

so you are more likely to have more intervention with an epidural.

are you scared of not coping with the pain?

TuttiFrutti · 13/10/2006 22:31

First of all, check with your hospital whether they give epidurals at all for VBACs. Some don't, because they would prevent you feeling a scar rupture starting.

If they will in principle give epidurals, then yes as lulumama has said an epidural makes it more likely that you will need ventouse/forceps. It's not cut and dried though - epidurals are used in a lot of births, and ventouse/forceps in a very small percentage. Also, epidurals can be given in different strengths, so you can have a mobile epidural where you are left with enough feeling in your legs to walk around, and it doesn't totally take away the feeling of the contractions, just dulls the pain.

A lot depends on the skill of the particular anaesthetist you get, and how long your labour lasts - if it goes on for ages and you need lots of top ups of your epidural, it will increase in strength so you have less and less feeling.

lulumama · 13/10/2006 22:34

good points tutti - also, your hospital may impose a time limit on your labour - i was given 6 hours from getting into established labour to get to full dilation and pushing....and did not want to do anything to prolong the labour , so check that too....

Frizombie · 13/10/2006 22:37

just for the record, although I've not had forceps used in either of my births, I've heard and seen some nasty things happening when these have been used, so personally would say ventouse or sod it c-sect me.

UCM · 13/10/2006 22:38

I am a bit scared of the pain, yes if I am really honest. My biggest fear in the whole world at the moment is splitting/tearing. My local hospital will give me an epidural, I have already asked but I am not terribly sure what I am doing really. Keep going into the childbirth section on here, reading about 2 lines - get to pain and go back to chat or a&c.

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UCM · 13/10/2006 22:41

I am 25+2 now so need to get my head around what I want. First time was elective c/s which was groovy but I don't want the repercussions of my scar saga which resulted in surgery a year later.

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lulumama · 13/10/2006 22:46

well, i had a vbac and it was soemthing i spent my whole pregnancy investigating...

the pain is bad, yes, but bearable, and there are ways to get through it without an epidural....the pain is positive and each contracton brings baby closer....think of it in a good way...trust in your body..

BTW i had a small tear as DD being born, only had a couple of stitches....and in comparison to the c.s i had, it was nothing!

there will be lots of support on here for VBAC

UCM · 13/10/2006 22:59

Thanks Lulumama. I think I need to read a book on it or something. Also read on here once that having read up on every aspect of birth, ie why certain pains are happening at certain times etc and EXACTLY why what & how, helped some people through it. Would you say that it true?

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HRHQueenOfQuotes · 13/10/2006 22:59

hmmm I'm probably not the best person to ask on this one - had a VBAC with DS2 (DS1 was CS without any contractions at all - classed at Emergency - but really ended up being Elective as they waited 4hrs before doin git - though not totally my own choice - long story).....

I was induced, strapped to a monitor all night, had 2 shots of pethidine and the maximum number of allowed 'top-ups' (haha) of epidural......and only the 1st shot of pethidine worked.

I ended up delivery DS2 in theatre (they were going to give me a GA and CS if ventouse didn't work), with my legs in stirrups, with DS2 dragged out with Ventouse, an episitomy and a 4th degree tear.....oh and then then local they'd given me for the epi wore off so quickly that I was stitched up with no pain relief too !

HOWEVER, having said all that - I'm now pg with no.3 - and am hoping for a homebirth !

UCM · 13/10/2006 23:12

Arggggghhhh!

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lulumama · 14/10/2006 08:31

UCM - for me personally, learning about birth and the physiology of labour & delivery made me feel better ... i wanted as much knowledge as i could and wanted to feel i had done everything i could to ensure i had a succesful VBAC -
there are many websites and excellent books

if you are nervous about it , then you might need to start gently and ease your way into it...

birth is a natural physiological process - if you feel safe and supported then your body will have the freedom to do what it needs to do...

the sense of achievement i felt after my VBAC was so immense it has inspired me to start training as a doula and i eventually hope to train as a midwife !!

instead of worrying about an instrumental delivery, focus on a positive , natural birth with you in control...

hope that helps....

UCM · 14/10/2006 08:48

LM, I think you have it spot on there. If I know why it's happening I can focus on the positive. I think I will research research research and try not to have the drugs.

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lulumama · 14/10/2006 08:52

glad that helped -

i did have the pethidine which made me relax ( i the term loosely!) in between contractions , which i'm sure made my labour quicker......and the gas & air! biting on the mouthpiece was very helpful......!

you'll get loads of support on here xx

Daisymoo · 14/10/2006 09:26

UCM, I wonder whether it would be helpful for you to read some really positive, calm birth stories where women haven't had pain relief. There's a book called Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, which has a whole section devoted to such stories. It's a bit hippy but I found it really helpful when planning my vbac.

TuttiFrutti · 14/10/2006 09:40

But don't be totally anti-pain relief either.

I think the best advice is to be open-minded. Until you've been through it, you just won't know how you will react and what the pain will feel like. I'm not trying to scare you, just pointing out that it is a journey into the unknown, so do lots of research beforehand, but don't make any plans which are set in stone.

UCM · 14/10/2006 09:46

D'ya know what, it feels like the first time, which is daft as my 3 yo is running around like a loony so I KNOW I have had one before. It's just completely different this time.

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lulumama · 14/10/2006 09:49

second the ina may book--definitely .. anything my ina may in fact...

i felt like my VBAC was like having a first baby as first labour so medicated and i was induced, never really experienced it, so it was a step into the unknown....

lulumama · 14/10/2006 09:49

*by Ina may ...!

UCM · 14/10/2006 09:51

don't suppose any of you lovely ladies have it to lend me do you? I am very reliable at returning things. Ask book club or A&C

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lulumama · 14/10/2006 10:15

i've a copy of spiritual midwifery by ina may....but you might scare yourself with the midwifery bit!

you can borrow

it, but i would need it back as bought it for my doula work...!

i found it on amazon for a really good price...also check out
the book depository...google it!

UCM · 14/10/2006 10:25

That would be great LM, I will cat you now. Thank You very much.

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lulumama · 14/10/2006 10:27

ok...will go and check email in a minute -

lulumama · 14/10/2006 14:50

not had an email yet - maybe as its the weekend??

megandsoph · 14/10/2006 14:53

With DD1 I had an epidural and in the end due to it not working I had to have a forcep delivery.

With DD2 I had an epi again about two hours before I was ready to push and I still felt the pressure to push with no need for forceps or vontuse (sp?)

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