I recently read an article about women in Britain being denied epidurals in labour. In The Guardian newspaper piece, Clare Murphy, director of external affairs at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said: “Many women who have been so traumatised by their experience of childbirth that they are considering ending what would otherwise be wanted pregnancies. Pain relief is sometimes treated as a ‘nice extra’ rather than an integral part of maternity care, and women and their families can suffer profoundly as a result.”
That is quite shocking. No woman should have to be subjected to that. While I have been lucky enough that my two labours went well, last month when I went into hospital to be induced for Baby no. 2, my long requested epidural never materialised. As someone with a very low pain threshold, I knew from the start of my pregnancy that I wanted an epidural. I had one for Baby no. 1 nearly three years ago and knew I wouldn’t be able to deliver without. I am the kind of person who can’t survive a headache without some help, so pain relief was pretty much a must for me. When discussing my birth plan, my midwife hadn’t even finished asking where I wanted to deliver my baby between home, the midwife-led birthing centre or the labour ward when I declared “labour ward, and I want an epidural”.
I went into hospital at over 40 weeks to be induced. I was checked upon arrival at midday, and induction was ruled out as I was already 3 cms dilated and the midwife wanted to let things happen naturally. When I was induced with my first, I dilated very quickly and there were fears because this was a second labour, it could go even faster and be traumatic for baby. And so I waited on the antenatal ward, told I would be taken to the labour ward as soon as a bed became available. There my waters would be broken and being Group B Strep positive, I would be swiftly given antibiotics. I waited and waited. Other mamas-to-be went ahead, I waited some more until the evening. I was told I was next to get a delivery suite room, and when my waters finally broke by themselves some 12 hours after I arrived at the hospital, I knew it was time to go downstairs and get me some pain relief. It never came. Instead a future mama next to me, herself 3.5 cms dilated, took my spot as she was in a lot of pain. The midwife asked if I had considered the birthing centre which was a minute walk away. I told her no. I knew what I wanted even though my contractions had started and were still very mild. The midwife told me the mama next door had now taken my spot and I would have to wait “It’s just the way it is”, she said when I told her I had repeatedly been told I was next. The pain of course intensified but I was told the anaesthetist was doing an emergency caesarean and wouldn’t be able to give me the epidural anyway.
Meanwhile the contractions were getting closer together and more intense. And I more vocal. My husband kept pleading with the midwives to take me to the labour ward but to no avail, Next thing I know, a new midwife arrived introducing herself and telling me she was going to take me to the birthing centre as I was getting “a bit loud for the other ladies”. I was baffled as I wanted the labour ward and was expecting to be taken there. By then I was in too much pain to even stand and before I knew it I was being wheeled on the bed to the birthing centre. I am very lucky that not even 20 minutes later, my baby girl was born. It took three hours in total from waters breaking to baby being born. The very intense contractions lasted less than an hour. It was very fast and I did it without any pain relief. But I feel like there was a reluctance to take me to the labour ward and that I was sussed as a natural birthing centre kind of case. Perhaps because it was Baby no2? I don’t know. I never thought I could deliver without pain relief which is what I did in the end and I am proud of myself. But to be kept waiting and seeing others pass before you for something you had repeatedly asked for was stressful and upsetting. I know birthing plans can change, but in this instance I feel like my wishes were just ignored. I am just grateful it all worked out in the end.
I am full of admiration of mamas who deliver without any pain relief. But it’s not for everyone and some of us need help. There is no shame in asking for it. And so it worries me that certain midwives are trying to discourage epidurals, it only makes it more traumatic for the women in labour. Already in pain and not being listened to can make you feel totally vulnerable, frustrated and upset. Labour is hard enough, let’s not make it more complicated.
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