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!

Tiddler my sisters didn't work for her either.

Great stuff, had it with DD. Did have forceps and episiotomy but that was because she was dragging out her short cord over her shoulder and the cord was being stretched. Very bloody glad of it. I got to 3cm before I had it (induced) and that was enough for me! I insisted on it before they went anywhere near me for an internal check and the drip!

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

But the good thing is, if this happens you won’t feel it! Plenty of risk of both these interventions being required without an epidural as well.

First birth - only gas & air, second - had epidural- best decision I ever made, would never give birth without one again!!!

I was induced and had one as I could have never been able to handle the level of pain I was in for the whole labour (30 hours) it was amazing and couldn’t feel a thing. I did end up having a forceps delivery and episiotomy but don’t know if I’d have ended up having these if I hadn’t had an epidural. If you want one go for it. There’s no prizes for being a martyr giving birth with no pain relief if you think you need it

I was desperate for an epidural but was not what I expected. Would definitely have one again though as it worked for the most part. It took ages to get put in, I thought it would be a lot quicker. My blood pressure also totally dropped and I nearly passed out, so they had to stop it all and get me back to normal then start again. After all the hassle though, it was great and I had a 'magic' button I could press to top it up when I wanted. It wore off when I was actually pushing (partly my fault as I stopped pressing it about an hour before, on advice of a midwife) which was a mistake. When it was in and working though, it was amazing. Never felt so chilled out.

Good luck, how exciting!

The only bad thing about it was the local anaesthetic beforehand.

They're amazing! I wouldn't have managed without one. My birth plan now reads: "EPIDURAL"

Get the epidural - is wonderful! Get them to give it before they induce you as induced contractions can be much more painful. Good luck! Not long until you have your baby!

I had one 19 hours into labour best thing I did wish i had it earlier,,, the only thing that put me off was the needle but I didn't feel anything!!! Good luck Cx

NotTakenUsername

You don't feel it at the time but you sure do the day after. Plus episiotomy sites are more likely to become infected (mine did) as opposed to tears.

When an epidural works as planned, they're brill. But it's not guaranteed to be a positive experience for everyone. It wasn't for me. It made me vomit (alot), my pushing was not effective and after 90 minutes of pushing/vomiting I needed episiotomy and ventouse delivery. Episiotomy site became infected (agony) which required antibiotics which triggered breast thrush which in turn meant weeks of painful breastfeeding. It was grim. All of that could have happened anyway, but the epidural certainly increased the chances.

My so called 'natural' births were far better experiences.

But thats just me. Everyone is different.

I think your natural birth might only have been better by comparison. It sounds like you had a rough time.

You trade less pain in labour for more chance of long term problems after the birth.
Stick with the gas and air for as long as you can.

You trade less pain in labour for more chance of long term problems after the birth.

It's instrumental delivery which causes that, apparently, which yes is more likey with epidural, but not a foregone conclusion. You don't have to consent to forceps / ventouse; you can say epidural > then if baby gets stuck/any issues, c section.

I had 3 and none worked Neither did my spinal for my emcs initially...apparently I'm a rare case 🤷🏻‍♀️

4 births, g and a for the first, epidural was recommended for second as I was induced at 38 weeks and needed the drip, I bloody loved it! Amazing relaxed birth even had a little doze at 10cms dilated.
Next two births all that was written in my birth plan in huge letters was EPIDURAL ASAP!
I may have just been lucky but I the three epidural births were back to back and one was 10lb 8 and I had no intervention or stitches.
Highly recommend them!

If I was induced again with the hormone drip I'd definitely be a ski g for epidural

I was induced with my first and had an epidural... the induction was horrendous and I could not have done it without the epidural...
Epidural was the best bit.. the other pain relief did nothing...
My epidural was very good in that I still had a fair bit of movement and some feeling/aching but not real pain.... so I could move my legs about and still feel enough to know when and how to push when required.
It also wore off very quickly after the birth... I was walking only a few hours later and went home without staying the night.
I would certainly have it again if I were induced again.

This time round im trying for a home birth with as little pain relief as possible because I hated and had bad side effects from the things like gas and air and pethidine.... but were I to have to go into hospital and be induced again for any reason, I would not hesitate to have the epidural again as I found it to be a very positive thing.
I also think induction can be very slow and much more painful than natural labour for many women... and epidurals are routinely offered during inductions for those reasons.

Good luck

I had 3 and none worked. Ended up with a spinal, episiotomy and forceps.

C section second time thank god.

Go with how you feel. I've had an EMCS and a natural birth after with no drugs, am on the fence for the third. I think a great natural birth is better, but not every natural birth can be that!

Did want to correct some misinformation though - you can't simply say as @pandarific says earlier that you don't want forceps or ventouse and would like a section instead. Doctors do not do forceps lightly - they are because there is a medical need. In some cases the baby is too close to coming out and in others time is precious and they need the baby out asap. For me this was a factor in wanting a natural birth (plus my sister had the bad luck of an epidural that worked on one side only ) - but many of my friends have had lovely births with epidural and no more issues than those without.

NotTakenUsername

My natural births weren't just better by comparison. They were straightforward and recovery was easy and quick. I felt practically euphoric after having my second DC. The feeling of pushing her out (only took 5 mins) and delivering her was amazing. My 4th labour (VBAC) was similar and recovery was very easy. I think being on my feet or on my knees helped to speed things up a lot and as a consequence I wasn't completely shattered afterwards.

My one and only experience of an epidural was not positive.

Likewise with my third pregnancy which ended with a sort of emergency c section. Failed ECV for transverse baby who went into distress. Not a good experience.

I would always try to pursue a 'natural' birth experience. Just because it suits me best it seems. However, I have never needed the oxytocin drip which I know can make labour far more painful. Thus increasing the need for an epidural and other interventions.

It's all swings and roundabouts really. Every choice has a good and bad side and so much is down to luck of the draw.

So, for complete clarity, that's 1 epidural, 1 episiotomy and instrumental delivery, 2 vaginal deliveries (1 of which was a VBAC), 1 manual removal of the placenta and 1 c section. A bit of everything! Nature is a fickle mistress.

I had one with DC1, it was fantastic. I had a potentially high risk labour and was rather relieved to be strongly advised to have it. No pain during procedure or labour and no trouble pushing, I had a good idea of what to do and did it. 4 hours , I had rupture of membranes when it was in and had been niggling for a few hours. No exhaustion . If you have stitches they would be pain free. Drawback obvs is the paralysis afterwards and being like a beached whale for 6 hours.
Pregnancy 2 I was again potentially high risk and grateful for epidural. Unfortunately the baby shot out in a very few minutes and so I got no benefit from the epidural as they were still fiddling about in my back as he made his entrance!
On both occasions the insertion and after effects were absolutely fine.
Having a spinal for a planned section is much the same. I had one with DC3 . Again , nothing negative.

Had a epidural after hours of painful labour. Wish I'd have had it hours before. The blessed blessed relief. As pp said, no prizes for enduring agonies.

I had one, after a really long early labour it gave me chance to relax and have a nap so gave me the energy to get to the last stages. I still had a bit of feeling. I did have an episiotomy though. I asked for one really early on with the second and that worked out well as well

I had to have one and hated it, didn’t have one with the other 3.

I say don’t decide now, see how you feel and keep an open mind.

Good luck, exciting times!