Epidural

[moose234]

what's people experience of a epidural? I suffer with anxiety, and pain makes my anxiety flare up, and have panic attacks, so am thinking epidural! I'm in process of being induced, they are gonna break my waters later on this evening!

I had them with both my DCs... amazing stuff. I could feel all the pressure and contractions but zero pain.

I had one and have nothing bad to say. Talk to your midwives and do what you feel is right for you with their help. Good luck with it all and congratulations!

I had one with my first it was bloody amazing didn't feel a thing but did end up with forceps and and episiotomy

Wanted to have a water birth with Ds2 however due to his position had quite a swift Emergency c section and I actually found the recovery from that a lot easier

Best thing ever. I did one without and two with, loved my epidural births. Was up and about with in a couple of hours. Good luck. Live birth thread pretty please?

i had no problems with it. glad i had it with my 10lb baby!

I'd go for it! No prizes for enduring pain...

Loved it. I was induced too. I found that I wasn’t getting any pain-free time between contractions as I had been promised by NCT so jumped at the chance when offered it and it made the whole experience much more bearable. That said, I had no real idea how well I was managing to push and DS was eventually born by ventouse but the intervention was minimal and the tear healed very quickly. I’d do it again were I to have another.

Epidurals are amazing! Why go through all the unnecessary pain? I’m not having any more babies, but if I was I would have an epidural 100%.

Good luck! Exciting times!

Ive done both ways. Get the damn epidural. It is the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. Never ever want to go natural again.

I had one for my first because I was heading for an emergency section. She was dragged out in the end and my goodness I was glad I had it! What frightened me the most was the thought of the actual needle but I can honestly say I didn't feel a thing at all and it was a blessed relief. Don't fear it, but equally, you may not need it! See how you go.

Lots of luck OP! How exciting

But late to be making a birth plan now!
I always wanted to avoid one as they increase the risk of needing intervention. But then I was never induced.

I had an epidural with my first dc. Best decision ever.

They’re bloody amazing! Kinda felt like that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you’re quite pissed boobs downwards, but didn’t feel any pain or anything, I was aware that they were doing something but had no idea what they were doing (ELCS). Good luck giving birth!

Just to jump in, didn’t have one. BLOODY WILL NEXT TIME!!!!!!!!!

Epidural 100%

Had one the first time, didn't the second time (9 1/2 lb baby), and sure as heck had one the third time. The pain with #2 was no unbearable, but I wouldn't want to repeat it if I had a choice.

Amazing! No one gets a medal and is a better mother for being a martyr.
If you have an easy birth and don't need anything, it's your body, but I think you'd be mad not to go for one.

Be very careful!!! Do not leave it too late in the labour to demand one, they try to refuse when they pretend it's too late (it happened to me, but I insisted so much and found a lovely specialist so had one quite late, no regret for a minute!)

They do increase the chances of certain things like episiotomy and instrumental delivery which can increase recovery time.

I had one with my first and regretted it due to the above. BUT everybody is different. As evidenced here, loads of women have a positive experience with them.

I coped better by staying mobile or on my knees with gas and air.

Whatever you need to do, all the best of luck OP. Wishing you a peaceful, positive delivery. 💐

Odd one here: mine didn't work 🙈

I had one when I was in constant pain, even in between contractions, I just had no time with no pain. Was instant relief. Although, within an hour I could feel contractions again, and it turned out the epidural hadn't worked properly so I had to have a second one. Guess I was just unlucky at the start! The second one took though, and I even managed a nap before I had to push 😂

I was induced too and had one.
It was a walking one and I think they set it to "taking the edge off", only. About an hour after getting it, I was at 10 bloody cms and they turned it off. I'm not sure it was worth it.

Good luck though! You're going to meet your baby really soon!

Definitely get one. I had one with my first and I’ve already requested one for my second. Don’t know why anyone would do it without to be honest

Re induction: I wouldn’t let them bloody touch me until they’d promised the anesthetist was on site and ready to administer!

(In case that isn’t clear enough... get the drugs!! Done it ‘naturally’ before... never again!)

I've had epidurals with both my kids, first one seemed straight forward (no pain for the rest of the labour). That was until the next day when I couldn't get out of bed! Had the most severe headache, turns out I had spinal fluid leaking which required a blood patch. Those few days felt like hell!

Second labour still decided to go for an epidural, and guess what?! It didn't work!! I had scar tissue from the first labour and it wasn't allowing the medicine to pass through properly so my body was numb but I could feel every single contraction! They repeated the epidural twice more (so 3 in total) and none of them worked. Ended up in theatre.

But obviously everyone's experience is different, don't let it put you off. If the epidural works and all is well then it's an excellent form of pain relief!!

Good luck with your labour.