Epidural only worked down one side in first labour, will the same happen again?

[FurryFox]

That's it basically. After being quite sure I wouldn't need an epidural during my first labour I ended up having one after all other pain relief had been tried and tested.

However, epidural only worked down one side of my body and casued me more discomfort than relief as was laid flat on a bed unable to move but still feeling all pain down other half of body.

So I am 35 weeks pregnant, again I'm hoping for as natural birth as possible but am wondering if I feel like I did last time and think I want an epidural is it likely to only work down one side again?

Thanks

[TuttiFrutti]

No, I know people who have had epidurals at different births with different results. I think it's mostly down to the skill of the anaesthetist you get on the day. It's certainly not the "fault" of your body, so it's unlikely to happen again.

I've had one epidural and one spinal block, and both worked exactly as they were meant to straight away, which I think is more common than not.

[ExpLEUSIveS]

No, and if it happens again get the anaesthetist back in to straighten it out.

[FurryFox]

Thanks. When it didn't work the first time we asked why and the anaesthetist said he "didn't know" and that it would probably be the same again but I have always wondered if what he was saying was correct. He kept coming back to top it up but it had no effect at all.

I ended up having a spinal block, which worked completly and the relief was amazing, as they were going to take me down for an emergency c-section although ended up trying ventouse first and that got DD out.

Am feeling quite nervous about the birth as want to try and avoid the epidural and don't want to risk it not working fully again as would much rather feel the pain everywhere and have the freedom to move around and get in positions which help. Your posts have been encouragig though, thanks

[hairycaterpillar]

Down to the anaesthetist...so no unlikely to happen again.

Mine only worked down one side in my first labour...so can sympathise it was a nightmare being stuck on my back in agony down one side.

My 2nd and 3rd labours were much easier and I didnt need an epidural. Hopefully your's will be straightforward too .

[frankie3]

Exactly the same happened at the birth of my DS1, and my epidural didn't work at all. At the birth of my DS2 I tried just gas and air, but decided to have an epidural towards the end which worked this time! Although I didn't have the freedom to move around I was still pleased to have the epidural as I felt no pain during the last stages of labour.

[Scanner]

I've had three babies, each planned to be natural each ended up with an epidural. One time it only worked down one side, but the other two it was fine and tbh a total relief.

[GloriaInEleusis]

Oh FFS, your anaesthetist is a twat. The reason it only works down one side is because it's like trying to feed a thread down a pipe and it is difficult to control where it goes. Sometime the thread goes over to one side. This happens. It doesn't mean it's a bad anaesthetists. BUT, he/she can usually fix it by pulling back on the little tube and this usually straightens it out so the medicin flows to both sides of your spine, hence numbing both sides of your body.

I can't believe any credible anaesthetist doesn't know this!

This one sided thing happened to me with DD, I told the midwife, and she said oh I'll get the anaesthetist back in to sort it -- and she did.

[FurryFox]

Thanks for all your replies. Feel quite confident now that if I do end up having an epidural again then it should work properly and I can now stop blamming my body.

DH is quite sure the anaesthetist never tried to adjust the tube once it was in, I was too drugged up to remember things that clearly, I just remember he kept saying he couldn't understand why it wasn't working.

Thanks again