in April 2025 Babies 🇬🇧

Epidural - Cannula and Catheter

My due date is fast approaching and I’ve put in my birth preferences that I’d like to avoid an epidural The reason for this is I’ve really worked myself up over the thought of a cannula and a catheter. I have no idea why, I think it’s just all the unknown and I just feel so vulnerable But I keep getting people make comments about the pain and being silly to not have an epidural What are peoples thoughts? Am I being silly to be scared of these things? The epidural itself worries me less as I won’t be able to see it 🙈

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I wouldn’t overthink any of it as sometimes things change in the moment. I was induced three years ago, and had a vaginal delivery but then still had a catheter fitted due to stitches afterwards. The catheter was fine and didn’t hurt when removed and all went back to normal. You can have a plan in your head but it doesn’t always work the way you have thought it to so I would try to be open minded xx

I had an epidural with my first but didn't have a catheter until I went to theatre after birth...so check if it's always necessary. I think when your in labour you forget about the cannula too. It all depends what your like with pain though? Where you can I think it's good to be open to all options as we just don't know how birth will go.

Try not to worry about it , your mind is 100% elsewhere. I had both a cannula and catheter and they were both fine / didn’t hurt. Depending on your Labour if it’s long you might want an epidural, I’ve got friends who have said it completely transformed their birth experience in a positive way.

Do it your way. Everyone’s pain threshold is different. Also try only to surround yourself with positive birth stories before labour. Being nervous will only trigger adrenaline production and that’s the enemy of labour. I don’t know why anyone would be talking to you about pain before birth. Just unnecessary 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️ You absolutely can breathe through the pain with only gas and air if you remain calm and positive. Have the birth you want, not the birth anyone else tells you to want xx

My first birth I was anti epidural due to the catheter, (there wouldn’t have been time anyway) but ended up with one after birth as I had a PPH. So now almost due no2 and my only birth preference is give me the epidural asap this time 😂 if I may end up with one anyway I don’t want to suffer first! X

I had an epidural and honestly don’t know who I would have got through without it. However now I’m on my second pregnancy I really don’t want an epidural as it messed up my back and also I couldn’t feel contractions to push

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