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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU: to ask for positive epidural stories?

78 replies

Dontgetmewrong87 · 07/03/2022 10:05

I’m pregnant and the mental health nurse says I need to seek out some positive birth stories especially with epidurals. I’ve found the whole conversation around childbirth really frightening and negative, so if anyone wanted to share theirs I would be most grateful :)

OP posts:

SoftwareDev · 07/03/2022 10:15

I had a textbook labour experience. Contractions started around 7:30am on Sunday morning. I used an app to track them - it alerted me when to go to hospital which was around 5pm that evening. Told the hospital I'd like an epidural - was worried about it being painful but it actually felt less painful than an arm injection - just felt a slight scraping type sensation.

Entire lower body was 100% numb. I felt NOTHING. Midwife told me to pretend I was having a poo! LOL.

Baby was born at 6:30am on Monday morning. Came out in just 2 pushes.

So so glad I opted for an epidural - I have a very low pain threshold. I did experience pins and needles type numbness for 24 hours afterwards but I was just lying in hospital bed anyways so it was no big deal.

Anon9990 · 07/03/2022 10:17

I had an epidural at 2cm dilated, the best thing I could have done. I felt no pain. Baby was born 7 hours after (I was induced at 37 weeks as baby was BIG)
I’m currently expecting no2 and if a c section is not required I will definitely get an epidural again.
Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!

DropYourSword · 07/03/2022 10:19

I had an epidural at fully dilated.
Don't regret it for a second!!
Had a great birth experience

RainbowCrayons · 07/03/2022 10:25

I had an epidural because I wasn't dilating despite being induced and had been stuck at 3cm for about 18 hours and my waters had already broken. I was really freaked out by the idea of it but in the end it was absolutely fine. Plus as soon as it was in I got to fully dilated and DS being born in an hour or so. I had wanted as natural a birth as possible but that wasn't happening (DS had stopped moving and needed to come out ASAP - he's totally fine now). I felt a lot of guilt after but honestly the experience was totally positive.

Newjobformoremoney · 07/03/2022 10:35

Epidural are amazing.
I was all about the drug free labour but due to water breaking and no real movement I got the drip. Did it 20hours without drugs and then they couldn’t control my contractions. Got the epidural and it was bliss. I slept for a few hours which could have saved both our lives as when it came to pushing we had a couple of difficulties. Those pain free hours of sleep really helped the outcome I think.

Babdoc · 07/03/2022 10:37

Retired anaesthetist here. Inserted literally thousands of epidurals over a 36 year career.
The patients invariably said they wished they’d asked for one hours earlier!
For pain relief in labour, an epidural is the gold standard - nothing else can match it, although other methods will all provide some lesser level of relief.
Labours vary in degree of pain, too - a modest sized, well positioned baby, in a good sized pelvis in a multiparous mother might be quick, easy and need nothing at all, whereas an unfavourable induction on an O-P positioned baby may be lengthy and excruciating.
Look at your options in advance, and then see how you feel on the day. If you are in a hospital unit, an anaesthetist will be available on call to labour suite 24/7. Stand alone midwife units have no anaesthetist and no epidural service - you would need to be transferred if you want one.

Original poster

Dontgetmewrong87 · 07/03/2022 10:51

Thank you. I’m pretty set on an early as epidural as possible because of my mental health history. It is comforting to know how effective they are. I am currently 34 weeks and due to see the consultant in a few weeks who will help me assess what sort of birth is realistic!

OP posts:

Original poster

Dontgetmewrong87 · 07/03/2022 10:53

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far - these stories are really helping me already!! It makes such a difference as some of the hypnobirthing content I’ve looked at - helpful for staying calm but not the be all and end all - has been very irresponsible imo in its promotion of unmedicated birth at all costs. Really much appreciated

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 07/03/2022 10:55

Mine was lovely
I didnt have one with DD but had one afterwards for manual removal of placenta and I thought “bloody Hell I wish I had done this sooner”
With DS I was VERY determined to have one and did.
I was very chilled and was able to doze and chat with DH and then pushed a couple of times and DS arrived. I had some feeling as my BP dropped so they hard to turn it down a bit but I wouldn’t call in pain exactly
I was up and walking about 3 or 4 hours later and had a shower then went home after 6 hours and walked to the car unaided. No ill effects at all

thing47 · 07/03/2022 11:36

I had one @Dontgetmewrong87, at one point I asked the anaesthetist if she could let me know when she was going to administer it and she said she'd done so about 20 minutes ago! A couple of minutes after that I was holding my happy, healthy PFB

sunflowerdaisyrose · 07/03/2022 11:42

I had a long labour with my first and had an epidural at about 6cm dilated and it was great - didn't hurt at all going in, gave me a chance to rest a bit before pushing. Recovery fine and home later the same day. Second baby the labour wasn't as long and never felt I needed one so I didn't, but would definitely have had one again if i felt I'd benefit.

FrangipanFlower · 07/03/2022 11:53

I had a tricky first birth that I found tough but the epidural saved me! It was really easy for the anaesthetist to site and I felt really in control afterwards. I think it worked a little too well because I couldn’t feel anything including the urge to push! I was all set for one for my second birth but didn’t need it in the end.

actiongirl1978 · 07/03/2022 11:54

There hasn't been a nicer sensation in my life than having my epidural topped up - the ice cold feeling spreading down my back.

actiongirl1978 · 07/03/2022 11:54

BTW I had one with both DC and never regretted it for a second

DimebagDarrell · 07/03/2022 11:55

I had an epidural with one of my babies and not with the other. I much preferred the one with the epidural. Hardly any pain, although I could still feel something, and so definitely felt like I was giving birth. I also managed to snooze for a few bit post epidural which meant I was less knackered once baby was born (compared to 24 hour labour with my other baby.

Yes it took me a few hours post birth to get full feeling back in my body after the epidural, but it wasn’t like I was going anywhere anyway!

Phos · 07/03/2022 11:56

I was ok without one for the first 12 hours but then it suddenly became agony with the position my daughter was in, it was so much better. And because I ended up having an emergency c-section (nothing to do with the epidural), they just topped it up and it was easy!

PliqueAjour · 07/03/2022 11:57

I had epidurals with both of my labours and they worked brilliantly. I was a bit sick with both of them as they wore off, but it was worth it for the calm and pain-free births.

Giggorata · 07/03/2022 11:58

I had one in the early days, in the 70s, and it was brilliant. My second labour and no pain!
I can only assume that they have refined it still further since.

newyearnewwname2022 · 07/03/2022 12:00

Obviously no idea what your mental health reasons are so this may not be of interest to you, but don’t forget you are entitled to ask for an elective c-section if you feel that’s the best birth option for you. Your consultant and midwife either need to approve that or refer you to a consultant who will. Check the NICE guidelines!

steff13 · 07/03/2022 12:00

I had two babies with epidurals, and two pain-free deliveries. No trauma, no issues with me or the babies.

HeyBlaby · 07/03/2022 12:00

Planned on water birth with gas and air, waters broke without contractions and had meconium in waters so no water birth and put on syntocin drip, decided on epidural before the drip started.

One of the best decisions I ever made, so much that I am pregnant with my second and will again be having an epidural (if she doesn't shoot out giving me no time...)

I slept, ate and read rubbish magazines all the way through until full dilation, when I said to the midwife 'I feel a bit of pressure'. That was the most I felt, had a sore back for about 24 hours after, but this may have been from being lay down for so long rather from the epidual, managed to get stuck in the hospital bed Fine the next day though.

fairislecable · 07/03/2022 12:02

My 1st I wanted natural no drugs birth etc but baby was back to back and eventually was stuck so I was given an epidural in case of emergency c section. He was eventually dragged out but I felt so much better and more controlled.

2nd induced at 42 weeks I insisted on epidural and it was amazing if I sat up a little I could feel the contractions (just like a pressing) before they were registering on the monitor.

3rd twins I had no hesitation in having epidural again and this really helped as 2nd twin was footling breech.

I had no adverse effects and happily recommended to my daughters.

AmbushedByCake · 07/03/2022 12:06

Mine was great. I had been labouring for almost 20 hours, they broke my waters, I was still only at 4cm so they wanted to put me on the drip to speed it up a bit. I said "epidural first" and got one. They gave me a low dose, enough so I could sleep for the first time in days, but could walk about and use the loo and get into an upright position for pushing. 10 out of 10, highly recommended

takealettermsjones · 07/03/2022 12:06

I had planned on having only gas and air but ended up with waters breaking, contractions not speeding up, not dilating. I was induced, baby shifted and then dilation slowed right down. It was hours and very painful. I had multiple other pain relief types and absolutely nothing made even a slight bit of difference. I eventually had an epidural after 39 hours in labour. I honestly wish I hadn't been so stubborn and had just got one earlier. My anaesthetist was obviously very talented because I didn't feel a thing, never saw the needle, and about 20 minutes after it was administered my husband says I was a different woman. It was another 4 hours before DD was born but it was so much more manageable. I can't say it removed the pain completely, but I like that because I still had enough feeling to be able to feel my contractions, which made pushing easier. All in all I have plenty of bad things to say about the preceding 39 hours but honestly nothing bad to say about the epidural part of the experience.

ShirleyPhallus · 07/03/2022 12:07

My epidural was amazing

I’d have one today if offered

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