Letter of the week: 

Dear Karen and Charlene, 

I have just finished your course - and I loved it by the way, but I have a few questions about pain relief. 

I have been thinking about about how labour will be - and if i will cope. I have heard that epidurals are amazing for pain relief - but have also heard that they can have an adverse effect on the baby. Is this true? What options do i have for pain relief - and should i opt for an epidural? 

From the course I learnt about having a doula present to help with natural forms of pain relief. How do they compare to the big guns of epidural and pethedine? What other options do I have? 

I think i have a high pain threshhold, but my husband thinks I will be begging for an epidural from the get go. I am hoping to prove him wrong - but I also have no idea what to expect. 

Thanks for your help - and for the course, I learnt so much! 

Elle in Cape Town.

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