Epidural or not to epidural - that is the question. Advice needed, pro & con from both sides please!

I think an epi is good if you've been induced or its going to be a long labour. I had one with my 1st, in fact I had 2 as the first one only took on one side, and was in labour all day with loads of intervention (foetal monitor, drip, episiotomy, ventouse etc).
With the 2nd it was a dream, no comparison, - an injection and gas and air and she came v quickly. I felt in control once I'd gor the hang of the gas and air and was thrilled to have a "natural" birth.

I had an epidural with DS1 after 20 hours of labour and no sleep for 2 days. I was extremely fragile and felt I couldn't take anything more. So when a sweet little MW informed DH (not me as was in middle of contraction) that my contractions were getting weaker and further apart so they'd hook me up to a drip to make them stronger and quicker, I pointed out (quite forcefully as DH remembers) to sweet MW that this was not happening unless I had an epidural. And that helped enormously. I literally came back from the brink into sanity and was able to cope and fathom what was happening to me. I did push for 2 hours but I seriously couldn't feel a thing. In the end the epidural was topped up for c/s. With DS2 I wanted to give VBAC a go but was willing to have another epidural rather than feel so fragile again. I did ask for one after 8 hours so they checked how I was doing and found I was 10cm so I carried on stoically on gas and air. PUshed for 2 hours without joy (but significantly more pain than for DS1). No progress meant a spinal block and ventouse with an outside chance of another c/s. At this point I was desperate for the spinal block and again the effect was fantastic. DS2 was pulled out with ventouse. Labour for me was an experience and very painful, in both cases there came a point where I'd had it and desperately needed for the pain to go. An epidural did that for me.

Had an epidural after 36 hours contractions (can't call it labour can you unless you're 4cm - try telling that to someone in pain!). Am convinced it slowed my labour down.Ended up having to switch it off after 2 hours because it had risen up to my chest (Knew nothing about this previously and wish I had!)so ended up in my nightmare birthing plan - forceps in theatre, episiostomy(sorry about spelling) and no contact with my baby for 45 minutes.
Second birth - no epidural. Gas and air. 1 and a half hours in hospital and he was on my chest after 5 pushes. From the worse birth to the text book. I really think it was the epidural that slowed it all down and me not being able to then feel the contractions to push properly or stand up, etc to try and help.

Hi. I had an epidural - I was offered pethidine and a hot bath and i was like 'no way, an epidural please!'. It didn't work down one side so I had to have another one but once it was working the relief from the pain was incredible and I went on to have an epistiomy (sp) and stitches and din't feel a thing - I would definitely have one again That was 5 weeks ago today and stitches have given me no trouble apart from a little soreness at first and no back ache as yet (touch wood!)

During my pregnanacy I refused to even entertain the idea of an epidural. I hate needles and I have heard some awful stories about back pain and paralysis following failed attempts.
However, an hour and a half into labour following induction I was offered an epidural, even though everyone knew I had said no before and that time there was no way I was going to say no!!

I gave birth to my DS on Friday, was pretty keen to avoid epi or any intervention - ended up so exhausted by inco-ordinate (sp?) contractions that I opted for an epi after about 14 hours on gas & air & TENS, sitting on birthing ball, and only getting to 7cm dilated. I agreed to the oxytocin drip (to try to make the contractions more effective) on condition that the epi was put in.
It was absolutely the best thing for me, and did remove the pain of the contractions. Was a bit disappointed that my body wasn't able to do the dilation thing itself, but by that time, I was so knackered I'd have done anything for a respite!
I was able to feel some of the pressure later on so that I could push, so it must have been a good one.

Hello everybody i had a 17 hour labour went without any drugs for the first six hours. Then i felt like i was dieing. I had an epi and it felt really good, wished i had taken it from the out set. I wont be hanging around with the pain with my second baby.

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I had an epi for my first labour, in 1975, in a hospital where they were mainly given for medical reasons, not pain relief. I had an OP baby that wasn't shifting and the epi was part of a 'package' with a drip to speed things up. Although pain relief was total and first stage was speeded up the second stage was a 'mare. The epi wore off which supposedly meant I could feel to push but in fact I had no pushing sensation, only intense pain and agony for 1.75hrs. I was also very out of it, confused and disorientated. I don't recall it but dh said they brought out the 'salad servers' to deliver ds and I managed to manufacture enough of a push to get him out!

I didn't have an epi for any other of my labours but if I had, I'd have wanted to make sure it continued right until the end of second stage. To go from no pain to an OP second stage was a nightmare, worse than the building up pain of my other labours, even another OP one.

I had an epidural 31 hours into what had previously been a drug-free labour. For me it was a godsend, because I had been stuck in the 2nd stage for 10 hours, and needed to rest. The epidural actually allowed me to go to sleep, and when I woke, labour had thankfully progressed. It was also brilliant in that it started wearing off when I reached the pushing stage, so I could feel when and how to push.

Oh Bloss, what a horrible story. I feel very sad for you. I know I go on about cs and loved mine, but am honestly v pro choice about birth and think it is v sad if anyone feels like crying about their birth whatever their experience. What a vry brave person you are.

I had an epidural with dd1. It was fantastic for the pain relief, and I actually managed to sleep during the contractions. However I disliked having to lie there and have continous monitoring. I wanted to move around but couldn't. when the mw were telling me to push when I saw the contractions on the graph monitor - I couldn't feel the muscles in which to push. However, towards the end, the epidural did wear off so feeling the pain was a bit of a shock after previously feeling nothing. I ended up having a ventouse and a very long second stage (4hrs).

With my second birth I used gas and air which is definately more painful - but I liked the fact I could move around during labour and get into positions which felt comfortable for me. I still ended up having a long second stage (2hrs) but I really didn't want to have an assisted delivery and was told that having an epidural increased the chances.

I was like Bron - epidural that only worked on one side (actually, didn't work at all the first time, and had to be re-inserted). The labour did stop and start afterwards - which may or may not have been the result of the epi, but certainly was one reason I was made (sorry, under the circumstances I really didn't feel I was in any position to say no) to have syntocinin.

I did come out of that labour saying no way would I ever have another baby without an epidural. In the event I did decide to try and go without one; but I'll freely admit that if I'd been in hospital not at home I'd have been bellowing for one (probably at the transition stage, in retrospect).

Ok - make that 10cm !!! whoops - I'm a little hormonal 4.5 weeks pregnant!!!!

Had epidural with both, and it was brilliant!!!! couldn't have done it without.

Was able to push them out without intervention too, and could actually feel dd coming out so don't feel that I missed out on anything, except the pain of contractions - In fact for the last hour of labour I slept!!!! When I woke up the midwife checked me and I was 12 cm

I LOVED my epidural with dd1. Wasn't allowed one with dd2, though

I had an epidural with ds1, it was a long labour and I have to say it was wonderful as after I had it there was no pain at all, with ds2 I had no real plan just to see how I felt at the time. As it turned out there was no-one to ask for an epidural as I didn't really have a midwife (long story!), by the time they arrived it was too late so I just had gas and air. The birth of ds2 was more traumatic for a variety of reasons, and had I had the option at the time I would have gone for an epidural, but I suppose in a strange way I am glad I have experienced it both ways. If we go for no.3 we are thinking about a home birth, don't know what that says?? Hope all goes well whatever you decide!

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just to add more relevantly to this thread: i laboured for a long time at home (37 hours) and when it got too much 5 hours after ARM and v v strong contractions, but still not completely dialating, we decided to go to hosp. they were fantastic, gave me v light epidural straightaway, i was completely mobile and could feel everything to push, which took a total of 12 minutes! i was in hospital for a total of 4 hours and walked back to the car. so epidurals can be brilliant imo. but i think if i'd had one a lot earlier, it might have been a different story...

i know pupuce: but it wasn't me, it was my sister and I didn't think having a fight about it was going to help her stress levels which were quite high at the time. nor did i think it would be helpful for me to explain her rights: tbh, she was in another place iykwim.

Epidural is fantastic if it works (did for dd) and shit (excuse language) if it does not work (did not for ds). Good luck deciding.

sorry if I'm repeating anything oo as not time to read whole thread.

I had a epidural with DS. Had 'back to back' labour (can't remember proper name!) and it went on for 4 days (yes really .Epidural didn't work properly so that across one part of my back it was agony. ENded up worse of both worlds, couldn't really feel to push properly but still had the pain. Personally I would try to avoid it next time.

Sophable : " when i asked if it was strictly necessary they insisted it was. " - YET she can decline..... they can not force it on her,... of course most women feel that if MW says they need to do this, they will comply - but believe me hospital policies and protocols are for the masses - each case is different and as Mears says hospitals have different policies and protocols.... which means that there is INDEED another way of doing this !