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“I gave birth without an epidural”
Even before going to the anesthetist during the 8th month of pregnancy, I suspected the diagnosis… Following a surgical intervention on the back in adolescence, the epidural was technically impossible. I had prepared for this eventuality and was not surprised by the doctor’s announcement. My reaction was certainly influenced by his kindness and his way of presenting things. “You will give birth like our mothers and grandmothers did” he told me, quite simply. He also told me that a large number of women were still giving birth today without an epidural, by choice or not. The advantage in my situation was that I knew what I was going towards and I still had some time to prepare myself, physically and psychologically.
Hospitalized for induction
To the swimming pool preparation courses that I had been practicing for several months, I added a homeopathic treatment, a few acupuncture and osteopathy sessions. The whole being supposed to favor childbirth. The term getting closer and closer and then being passed, the doses were doubled in an attempt to avoid having to induce childbirth. But Baby did what he wanted and had nothing to do with the manipulations of the osteopath and midwives! 4 days after the due date, I was hospitalized for an induction. Application of a first dose of gel locally then a second the next day … but no contraction on the horizon. At the end of the second day of hospitalization, the contractions have (finally) arrived! Eight hours of intensive work with the support of my man and the midwife who accompanied me for the sessions in the pool. Without an epidural, I was able to sit on a large balloon for the duration of labor, only heading to the delivery table for expulsion.
Giving birth without an epidural: breathing to the rhythm of the contractions
I remembered the words of the midwives at the pool and I, who took it all for nonsense, I ended up being surprised at the effect of breathing on the pain. Throughout the work, I remained with my eyes closed, imagining myself in the pool doing the exercises with concentration. Ultimately, after an hour spent on the delivery table, Méline, 3,990 kg and 53,5 cm, was born. After having lived my childbirth as I lived it, I do not regret this epidural. I think if I was told today that I can benefit from it, I would prefer not to make that choice. I saw a report on a woman who gave birth under an epidural and who managed to sleep or tell a joke to her husband between two contractions. It was nothing like the reality of childbirth. Of course, each childbirth is unique and is experienced differently by each woman. But today I can say that I did not give birth without an epidural by constraint but by choice, and I can not wait to start again!
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