Epidural vs natural environment - help please girls!?

Question

I live in a remote location and am faced with the decision of which hospital to go to to give birth to my first. I have visited both and know the stadard of care is excellent in both but the environments and what they offer are very different. One is an inner city hospital, very busy, large cramped wards, a bit scruffy like a production line, like a hospital on a TV show.
The other is a midwife run unit - very home like environment, igh degree of personal care, lovely home like labour units with corner baths and all the support for a more natural labour on hand. It is next to a big teaching hospital so if there are any problems they can just transfer you. The only thing is they don't offer epidurals in the Midwife unit!!! I really like the unit and would feel relaxed there but am not sure about the thought of not being able to have an epidural.

Help! Advice please from people who have been to both types of place or labour.

Answer 1

Please please please take my advice.... try to go as natural as possible... I have 2 kids, my eldest is 7 and i had him with no anesthetic, a normal delivery and it really wasn't that bad, i was 19 when i had him and i made myself believe that bcoz i was so young i would hav a c-section, just my luck that i didn't cause it was much easier(post natal). my second son is a year old now and i had a normal delivery with him too but i had an epidural, oh my word, it was so hectic and uncomfortable bcoz the epidural numbed the one side of me so it was really pointless cause i still felt everything, then after giving birth i had to lay with a catheter and a drip and couldn't even feel my one leg... it eventually came right after a couple of hours but its so not worth it... Now i have back problems and can actually still feel the throbbing in my spine right where i was injected on cold days... R u aware that the hospitals make u sign an indemnity form b4 they actually administer the epidural, its basically states that if over a year or whenever u might become paralyzed as a result of the epidural they cannot be held responsible... Yip yip yip! Trust me... just change your mindset and tel yrself that there will be no complications and really believe it and you'll be just fine... i will pray 4 u... good luck...

Answer 2

That's a tough one! I guess if you could be transferred to the teaching hospital for an epidural if you needed it, that would be the ideal solution.

I gave birth in hospitals with all three of my children. The decor wasn't lovely in any of them - it was typical hospital style, metal beds and green tile etc, but I felt I wanted to be in a hospital environment.
My personal priority was to be able to get help fast for the babies if there were any problems. I couldn't have relaxed properly if I thought time would've been an issue in the event of a crisis. I remember with my first, I experienced a feeling of pure relief when I got into the hospital - bit of a drama getting there! I'm sure that helped no end with the labour.
I didn't need epidurals with any of mine - I was one of the lucky ones with very quick labours every time. Even though I didn't need them, I felt safer knowing I had the option, which also helped.

I think it comes down to that - the most important thing is feeling secure and safe while you're labouring. If you're happy to put the thought of epidurals out of the picture, go for the midwife unit. If you're nervous you might want one, go for the hospital. It would be nice to know beforehand how labour will go - but that's not the way it works!

Good luck with your choice and I hope all goes well on the day!

Answer 3

i have given birth to 3 of my 4 children at a birthing center(midwife) and the other, the first was at a hosptial. I also am a midwife and nurse practitioner. I work 3 days at the birthing center and 2 days at the hosptial. Midwives are trained to handle all situations, no matter what anyone say's. You must have a at least a masters, and most have post doctoral certificates, which is over 8 years of school.
The birthing center will offer a more relaxed environment and you are able to move around. The birthing pool which is becomming more and more popular provides alot of relaxation b/c of the tempature and relaxation effects of water.
Epidural's sometimes cause complications and will force you to have a c-section, rare cases, but it happens.
An epidural also dose not always fully work, again, case by case. But, it is almost instant pain relief.
Natural labor is not as bad as many make it seem. Laying down in a bed is not a natural childbirth position. Moving around decreses alot of the pain.
I believe both are good choices, it just depends which you value most. Hosptials tend to be more of the production line, but have the good medicine and midwives tend to be more homely and more centered on personal tender care.
You might be able to find a midwife, OBGYN which will offer you both. The office that i have offers both, it is not a true hosptial, more like the structure of a mini-hosptial. but it has the best of both worlds.

Answer 4

Tough decision! I had decided to not get an epidural, but when I was induced (unfortunately), I ended up needing an epidural to bring down my blood pressure. To add to that, I then needed a c section and had to stay for four days. So! If you think you can put up with cramped quarters for four days (worst case scenario), then go for midwifes that will treat you more as an induvidual. However, if you are afraid you might need help, go with the crowded place. Either way, both will deliver your beautiful baby. In the end the most important thing is more about who's treating you. Will your obgyn go to the midwife hospital? Will the midwifes be more hospitable than the regular nurses? I know where I was was a semi- busy hospital, and it's what they call a crapshoot whether my nurse was any good. I had one that made me feel like a terrible mother... You know with midwives their actively trying to be helpful... I think go with the midwives. Final answer.

Answer 5

I've had 2 children. I had epidurals both times. With my first I had back labor so the epidural only helped to a degree. The second was a breeze. I, personally, would go for the epidural. I was in my early 30s when I had my two children. If you are young (early 20s) you may be fine without. Once you dialate to an 8 they won't give you an epidural so don't plan on being moved to the teaching hospital for an epidural - only for an emergency. Good luck!

Answer 6

If this is your first baby and you are in the low risk category, then I would definitely go with the midwife unit. Giving birth is such an amazing experience, how do you know you will need and epidural?? I had two natural births and I would do it over again. The pain DOES end and then you're in a lovely environment with your precious baby. The bond you share with your midwife is really special, you feel so grateful. Give it a go, let go of your need for an epidural, think positively!!
Good Luck.

Answer 7

I would personally go for the Midwife lead unit lol actually thats what i have chosen :)
I dont really want an epidural, i know they can do mobile ones now but knowing my luck i will end up stuck in bed the whole time, can't feel when to push, cant feel my legs etc.
Plus i'm a very private person - i would be having a home birth if this werent my first, i like the idea of personal care instead of production line care.

Answer 8

l had 3 babies in hospital 2 with epidural and 1 with gas and air and for me i enjoyed the gas and air birth so much more it was quicker i was able to move around which helped my baby move down the birth canal i plan to have this baby in hospital again in the water with gas and air if i need it. it sounds like you want to have your baby in the midwife unit its move relaxed than hospital (home from home) they
have more time for you to help you cope with labour pains. and also remember what did they do before epidurals? the thing is you could go to the midwife unit and if you find the pain to much you can ask to be transfered so you can have an epidural its your labour and you need to feel like your in control of what is happening to you and your baby. (write a birth plan and note ALL of your wishes before and after birth) hope this helped you to work out the best birth place for you. good luck with the birth of your baby.

Answer 9

I have only given birth in the inner city, production line hospital. The care in the labour suite was excellent but on the ward it was a different story.

The second time it upset me so much because the level of care was atrocious...because of quotas for forcing breastfeeding which resulted in highly stressed out nurses, I walked out in floods of tears and when ever I told people about it I uncontrollably cried!! However I don't mean to scare you but if you go to the inner city 'Production line' then try not to stay on the ward too long if they say you cant go till you have seen the illusive paediatricians, whine that you must get home right now....They will arrange for your Doctor to visit you at home.

Both of my births were natural only gas and air taken. Of course the pain is almost unbearable but you know it is only short term and deal with it as it happens. If the natural way doesn't grab you then try TENS, some hospitals do a borrowing service but I do believe that Boots the chemist sell them. I have heard wonderful things about the TENS.

Answer 10

If you are relaxed, it might be easier for you to have a natural delivery - i gave birth in the city hospital but it was relaxed and it was a night time delivery - i had just a lamp on and gas and air it was lovely - i went with the flow which helped as i was relaxed and got through the contractions with just gas and air which was fantastic!!!!
At the end of day it is upto you whether you think you need an epidural but the unit sounds lovely and a perfect place to give birth! :)