AIBU: to ask for positive epidural stories?

[Dontgetmewrong87]

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 :)

I have a very positive birth story but I didn't have an epidural.

Partly because I didn't need one, the pain wasn't that bad and secondly because I was super quick (3 hours)

My early labour pains were like period cramps and passed quickly.

I had a water birth and the warm water really helped with the pain. I had gas and air with it and I felt no pain with some contractions, just a tightening.

My daughter was born in the water, no complications and no tears.

Good luck with your birth.

Giving birth to both my babies were the greatest experiences of my life and if I could go back in time I would do it again in a heartbeat! ❤️

DS1 was a hypnobirth, easy presentation, no pain relief and out in 4 hours. I wasn’t planning on no pain relief but figured I’d ask for it if the pain became too much but it never did.

DS2 was an epidural at 5cms as he’d been unwell in utero and I may have needed a c-section so they prepared me in case. Active labor from 11pm, epidural in and I slept from midnight to 5.55am. OBGYN woke me to let me know it was time to push, and DS2 arrived in 3 pushes at 6.05am. Zero pain but I could feel when to push.

Absolute magic, I couldn’t recommend an epidural highly enough to make the experience comfortable.

I feel very strongly about women being able to access any pain relief they want during labor and delivery - when you feel you’re listened to and respected, it helps make the whole experience positive. With my first, I knew that I could have any pain relief I wanted at any time, and that was the biggest comfort, knowing I didn’t have a “cut off” or that I was pressured into not having any.

Wishing you the best of luck, epidurals are wonderful things. As long as you have one once in established labor and everything is progressing well, you should have very few issues.

Epidurals can be great. I wish I'd asked for mine earlier. After the epidurals I felt no pain but did feel pressure which meant I knew when to push. It was a great feeling, especially with my second. When she was born I felt really strong and capable.

I asked for an epidural as soon as I was in hospital, so I never felt any pain at all. It was great and I gave birth quickly and easy with no other interventions and no stitches. Recovery was quick and was walking around normally next day.
Second birth was an elective c-section so obviously had an epidural for that. More pain afterwards but well controlled. Left hospital next day, recovery was as expected, no infection or problems breastfeeding.

Epidural greatest invention since the wheel, IMO.

One possibly painless birth after induction, one C-section I bounced right back from.

@newyearnewwname2022

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!

Thank you. Yes, that’s still on the table if I get really bad or if there’s a medical reason why it’ll be better. Thankfully the consultant and the mental health nurse both said I could have one and one felt well supported in whatever I decide to do! Feel very lucky

God I so wish I’d asked this question sooner - your stories are really boosting me. I’ve been so scared. Thank you all so much xxx

Please don’t be scared OP. With childbirth the fear is of the pain and of the unknown.

There is a big difference in pain and suffering. I knew I could handle “pain with a purpose”, but the minute it turned into suffering I knew I would request all the pain relief I could. Luckily I had an OBGYN who firmly believes that a comfortable and stress free birth is the only thing that matters so I knew he would get me whatever I needed.

You are entitled to give birth safely and as comfortably as possible so please don’t be afraid to speak up for what you want.

Anecdotally, 100% of all the women I know who had horrendous birth experiences were because they were left to suffer and not listened to.

Unfortunately laboring women on the NHS are left at the bottom of the considerations on the basis that “women have been giving birth for a millennia” - sure they have, but now they can do it comfortably, and without the potential suffering and pain that can accompany it, especially when you’re not reassured about what is happening.

I've had two inductions, two epidurals and my labours were awesome. I genuinely enjoyed them.

After each epidural I slept as I dilated to 10cm in a few hours. Then slept a little more and was woken up to start pushing.

The midwives actually commented on how chilled it was in my room. And all my friends who are doctors have requested epidurals - as they say, you don't get any prizes for being in pain!

I didn't do any hypnobirthing or have a birth plan as surely birth is unplannable?

The only word of warning is that they prefer to give them later to first time mums as they can slow dilation. Maybe discuss this with your midwife x

Epidural was the best thing I did. I was induced so after about 30hours of contractions I wanted that epidural. I wish I'd have had it at the start as the pain just went. I couldn't feel my legs so that was hard when I needed to move in the bed but was a huge relief to not feel the pain anymore. I could still feel contractions and was still able to push (albeit ended up with a c section due to baby getting stuck)

I had feeling, but no pain with my epidural, although it hurt during crowning as you have to push the button to deliver another hit and they said not to at that point !!! No regrets.

I had my first baby without an epidural and I was useless as it was so very painful I couldn't push.

I had an epidural with both of mine - gave birth in France where it's that or nothing. Both births were fantastic - shortish pain-free labours (7.5 and 5.5 hours respectively), but I could feel enough to push when the moment came - around three sets of three pushes for each. Up for a shower a few hours later. I have no idea why this is not offered routinely in the UK - I was raving about how marvellous it all was and the midwives just shrugged and said that it was standard for France. Good luck

I’m so glad I had an epidural. My waters broke in the middle of the night and my contractions were stop start. 33 hours later I was hooked up to the drip and had an epidural two hours after that. I hadn’t slept, I needed a rest. I infinitely preferred it to gas and air. I felt high as a kite on gas and air and far more in control with the epidural especially as I had a button to top it up. I could still feel my contractions but it was pressure rather than pain. My overriding memory of my labour is chilling with my husband. I definitely felt the birth. I did lose a lot of blood and they had to remove the clots by hand (tmi sorry) but I didn’t feel it because of the epidural. The best advice I was given is if you think you might want one, have one. Don’t spend 99% of your labour in pain because you want to see how it goes if you’re going to end up having one anyway.

I was terrified to have an epidural, it honestly kept me awake for a week or so before my due date. The thought of it made me feel like I wanted to pass out! I was determined to have a natural birth mostly to avoid the epidural! But…nature doesn’t always go to plan and I had to be induced AND have an epidural, literally my worst nightmare!!

It was FINE! It was better than fine, it was amazing!! They got it in right away with no trouble or fuss, it didn’t hurt, I was mentally in control, but my body was wonderfully numb and as soon as it was working I felt so much better! I ended up having an emergency C section, but as I already had the epidural it was much easier.

With my second child I had a planned C section and epidural and it was a total breeze! I wish I’d know how easy it was for my first pregnancy and not been so focused on a ‘natural’ birth.

You will be fine. Have the epidural early and you’ll not be worn out by the time the baby comes.

I had to have one early on in labour with my first due to complications after being adamant that I wanted a ‘natural’ birth. It was fabulous. I was in labour for many hours and didn’t feel a thing, I even managed a little nap.

I wanted to do the same with my second but the midwife kept telling me it was too soon. By the time they finally got the anaesthetist I was too far gone. After experiencing my longed for ‘natural’ birth I’d take the epidural every time.

I didn't opt to have one, but ended up having one as I was having a long and difficult labour.

Honest to god, as soon as it kicked in, the relief. MY GOD, the sweet sweet relief.

It made the last part of pregnancy a breeze compared to what I was enduring previously.

I could walk fine etc after it had worn off.

Would not have hesitated to have another if we were going to have another.

I had an epidural with #1.

I hadn't planned for one, but the labour went on for quite a long time and I was exhausted. It meant I was able to get some sleep and was then able to push as it wore off.

I think if I hadn't had one I'd have ended up with more intervention because I was so tired. I'd been awake for nearly 24 hours at that point.

Because of that my birth plan with #2 said:
"Epidural asap on arrival at the hospital."
I didn't have one that time! (quicker labour)

I wish I hadn't waited 12 hours to ask, Labour was making me vomit everything up leaving me exhausted. I loved the anaesthetist as soon as I saw him and I was able to rest a while although needed a section eventually. It also gave me my favourite birth story, DH tried to watch but it caused him to throw up and almost faint, I was enraged as the staff fussed over him and brought him toast, I wasn't allowed toast

I'll make you laugh with a story an older lady told me, who had an epidural when they were fairly new in the 70s. She had an epidural as soon as she arrived, then got her magazines out and sat there reading them while her body laboured and she didn't notice.
Eventually one of the midwives, as they fussed round her and checked her snapped at her:
"Will you please put that bloody magazine down and start pushing Mrs Browne..."
She still finds this incredibly funny, and tells people that she'd recommend an epidural every time, adding that they need to take in magazines so they aren't bored.

My epidural was fucking amazing. I ended up on a (syntocin?) Drip which was painful had an epidural and felt amazing. I coukd still feel but it just felt psin free!

I did hypnobirthing for early labour with my first, but by the time I got to hospital in active labour I had been at it for days and was exhausted. Asked for an epidural as I thought I might have another 20+hrs, turns out I was fully dilated by the time it took effect.
Was amazing, such a relief to feel nothing and midwife had to tell me when I was having contractions so I knew when to push. Was especially glad of it when I needed stitches after and I raved about epidurals for months afterwards.

With #2 I wanted to at least try a waterbirth, but it wasn't available when I got to the hospital. I said straight away that I then wanted an epidural. They tried to talk me out of it suggesting I would progress quickly etc maybe a pool would become available in a few hours... nah I don't see why I should endure even a few more hours of pain? This epidural was even "better": no pain but I could feel the contractions and my legs, so could walk (stagger) slowly. I was able to walk properly a few hours after the birth and home the next day.

I had heard of the "cascade of interventions" but in both cases my labour continued to progress quickly. If I had a 3rd I'd 100% want an epidural again.

Had an induction of labour for my last baby. It was really lengthy and I was totally exhausted before even being in active labour. I had an epidural, and the relief! I slept though most of my labour and regained some energy, waking up to push. My first three were born with no pain relief-wish I’d have had the epidural with all of them . Felt fine afterwards, was up and about a few hours later.

Two epidurals. Bloody brilliant. Was tempted to write across bump number two "I want an epidural" in permanent marker...