hi am 23+3 and i have a condition called intacranial hypertension (sorry about spelling??) its where i produce to much fluid around my brain and i have a shunt in the bottom of my back what drains the extra fluid off! any way i have just got back from the hospital and they have said that they wouldnt really want to give me an epidural because of the shunt as in they are worryed they could go through the shunt or that it my not even work because the shunt is in the way!!
i have a very big phobia of needles and really would do any think not to have one but now they have said i carnt have one and i havent even got the option it worrys me because i dont know what i will be like in labor and how ill react!
also am now worried that if i need a c section they have said i will have to be put asleep so i wont see baby for ages and i'm goin to breast feed and i want to give baby first feed but if am not with it and half asleep i wont be able to!!
i will be using gas and air and i would have wanted it that way even if i had not been told i carnt have epidural but now am just worried about how i will cope!!
sorry this was so long to read u must be very bored now!! lol!!
ruth xxxx

i didnt have an epidural wiht my first, i think i did quite well just on gas and air and pethidine and i dont really have a high pain threshold. im now 25 days away from having my second and i dont plan on having an epidural. ive heard too many bad stories about it, which puts me off it alot. and as regards to a c section, unless planned these are quite rare. so i wouldnt worry yourself about it too much. xx

I was due on sunday and don't plan to have an epidural unless I am induced via a drip just gas and air and pethidine!

xx

Just to say I had to be put to sleep for an emergency c-section and although it was tough not seeing my boys for 12 hours (we all were really quite unwell) I still managed to b/feed and 9 weeks on they are still excluxivly b/fed. it can be a bit more of a battle but its worth it. i hope you dont need one, i found gas and air amazing and think had it not been for medical complications i could have managed just on that, and im a complete wuss. good luck xx

i was really worried about the pain and everyone builds it up so much. i am crap with pain and was really worried but when u r going through it u just deal with it. I was in labour for 28 hours and i was on the TENS Machine for 22 of thoughs hours and then i had pethidin and then for the pushing i was on gas and air and was really calm on it. I was shattered after it but i dont look back and think it was a horrible birth i thought it was an amazing experience and to be honest i was very proud of myself. Try not to worry about the pain too much u body is designed to cope with it and u will be amazed at how well it does. Just stay positive and think of ur goal the birth of ur baby just think of that the whole time and u will be fine

good luck

lots of love karla and Aimee (8 weeks and 2 days)

thank u for your replys its strange how i've gone from not wanting an epidural and not being scared about things to a bit of a panic think its just cos the option isent there for me any more!!
i can do it plenty of other people have!! lol!!
thanks again
ruth xxxx

thank u for your replys its strange how i've gone from not wanting an epidural and not being scared about things to a bit of a panic think its just cos the option isent there for me any more!!
i can do it plenty of other people have!! lol!!
thanks again
ruth xxxx