epidurals

[clairemf]

does it hurt having an epidural? and how soon after giving birth does it wear off?

[lulumama]

there is a stinging / scratching as the local anaesthetic is injected, and can be a sharp ( but brief pain ) if the aneasthatist touches a nerve when placing the epidural itself...but once the meds are flowing through it..you get quick relief from contractions....usually wears off within an hour or two iirc.....

[KathyDCLXVI]

It's a pinprick, but believe me, by that point you really don't care. (I thought it was very funny that the anaesthetist apologised for it hurting!)

Can't remember how long till it wears off though, as when you've just been handed your baby you don't really think about anything else

[Pinkchampagne]

It doesn't hurt anywhere near the pain you are experiencing through being in labour - believe me!!
I had one with both of my births & would very much reccomend them!

[Pinkchampagne]

My midwife let mine wear off for the second stage of labour so that I could feel to push.

[JoolsToo]

I had two and can't remember any pain.

I had a kip after each birth and epidural had worn off by the time I woke up!

[eenybeeny]

mine took the better part of the whole day and a bit to wear off but i had loads of top ups as i had a failed epidural. it numbed one side and not the other but paralysed both. trust me it was hell! BUT having said that if I were to ever have another child (and I am not) I would have an epidural again. I doubt they fail very often.

It was uncomfortable going in but I was already in so much pain I didnt care. The worst part was having to be still during contractions. I agree with Kathy that by that point you dont care you would walk across hot coals for the hope of pain relief.

[Olihan]

I definitely agree that by the time it goes in you don't care in the slightest about what they are doing to you. The worst bit is trying to stay still through contractions. I had to have a couple of top ups then a full spinal block (boobs to knees) for the actual delivery as they thought they may have to do a c/s if the ventouse didn't work. It took a while to wear off completely but I could move around easily after a couple of hours and was up on my feet by mid afternoon, having had the spinal at about 9am.

[angelhunter]

Didn't feel it at all going in they numb the area first with small injections but they didn't hurt either (had a very good anethetist?) Wore off after about an hour or two it doesn't matter and you won't notice once they hand you your little bundle of joy

[cowmad]

epis are FAB!!! they saved my life/sanity
(it is like a momentary scratch)

forget the horror stories that people may have told you, tho happily not here!
trust the meds,if they think you need one,your having one ...

you have to trust them at the hospital,an try to not to focus on the birth,but think of the great times ahead with your baby!

[Gemmitygem]

I didn't find it hurt at all when I had one (gave birth 3 weeks ago). It felt weird but really not painful at all (and I was welcoming it so much to get rid of the pain). However my DH came over all peculiar watching it and had to sit down..

The bloody thing only worked on one side though, so I was in quite a lot of pain, however it was still better than not having it. I would definitely have it again next time. Try for a mobile one which gives you full control of your legs, more control of your bladder (I was terrified of having a urinary catheter but didn't need it in the end), and means you can get into more active positions like hands and knees. Good luck!

[FrannyandZooey]

Sitting still was a challenge but I was already 9 cm by that point

Although not the nicest sensation, it really isn't a problem compared to the contractions

[ludaloo]

I had one with my dd1...It was fine but I think they overdosed me....It didn't wear off until the next morning (she was born 8.08pm)It was not a great experience for me...the midwifes thought I was putting it on as it usually wears off after an hour or so, I had to keep buzzing them to help me pick dd1 up...they were NOT my friend!!...I got up to pee as I didn't feel I could keep buzzing...collapsed and peed on the floor.....really really bad!!!!
That put me off ever having it again...next two I just had gas and air!

Don't let that put you off though...I think I was quite a rarity...they just really dosed me up I think...they had someone come in to "flush" a mixture of something down the tubes????? No idea what that was all about as I was out of it!!!

[3andnomore]

I think it depends a bit really, not just individually but also at what part of labour you are, i.e. by the time I got my spinal block I was heavily contracting and 10cm's, so, I didn't feel a thing of having the Spinal placed, but at another stage or maybe without having any contractions I probably would have felt more!
As for wearing of, depnds on how much anaesthetics is used and topped up, etc....!

[vesela]

From what I've heard the best thing for an epidural is to have it so it wears off a bit in time for pushing (as Pinkchampagne said). Is that right?

[Iklboo]

I slept through most of my labour thanks to an epidural!
Because of positioning of DS I had to labour on my side and so the left side of me got most anaesthetic and i still had some feeling in my right side. Totally lost all feeling in my left leg. It wore off pretty quickly though, about an hour or so

[millysimmons]

Had one, it was fab as I'd tried most other things!! If you lie on your side it can make one side not work- someting to do with being on a slant or something. Had a catheter too, that was fine, just didnt know it had been taken out afterbirth!! Was up & showering on my own within a few hours. Keep an open mind, you dont know how you will react to labour, my birth plan had NO EPIDURAL highlighted all over it but it was the best decision I made to change my mind!

[mrspf]

I had a spinal block which is similar I guess, but had some strange reaction once it wore off - I couldn't stop shaking and felt really cold.

But even then, I would recommend it to anyone who wanted one, and could still push even though I couldn't feel things (the best way to give birth I'm sure!).

After 40 hours of contractions, which were then speeded up by a drip (can't remember the name of it but often used to induce labour) it was such a relief for the pain to be taken away, and would have one again.

[BuffysMum]

I've had 3 seperate ones, all worked a bit different all wore off a bit different. Compared to the contractions it's nothing having it down although it can be hard to keep still!

HTH

[poppyseed]

I've had two epidurals.......but then I'm married to an obstetric anaesthetist so I was kind of expected to!!!!
With DD - had a total block and felt nothing, she ended up being a ventouse delivery and with DS had a mobile epidural and it was the best thing since sliced bread. Painfree but you can still feel the contractions as a sensation - strange to describe!! Pushed DS out in a 3 hour labour/birth .
My advice is not to worry about feeling it - it fades into insignificance in the heat of the moment. Don't rule it out - if you take a paracetamol for a headache why wouldn't you want an epidural for birth. IMO pain in childbirth wouldn't have made me a better mother, but I know everyone's different .
Good luck with whatever decision you make .

[tribpot]

I honestly have no idea how much it hurt, I do remember having to try and keep still whilst it was done, whilst in the worst pain of my life (induction with syntocinon, will never fall for that one again without insisting on the epidural first).

Wore off pretty quickly, some random doctor came to see me in the morning to see if I had any leg movement and I was already prancing about dressed only in a t-shirt (I think maybe the mental effects lasted longer than the physical one! By that point if the Queen herself had turned up I would have greeted her clad only in a t-shirt).