Naive question about epidural

[WriterofDreams]

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and have started that oh-so-fun mental discussion about what labour will be like. I'm open to anything pretty much, but I have one question about the epidural for those who have had one. Does it make you numb?

I know it takes away your pain but does it do this by making you not feel anything at all? The reason I ask is because I don't think I could handle that sensation. Numbness freaks me out and I would be worried that if I did go for the epidural I'd panic if I stopped feeling my body from the waist down. The reason I think I'll feel this way is because the only thing I hate about the dentist is the numbing injection - it really really freaks me out not to be able to feel part of my body. I know it might seem weird but I just want to know what it's like so I know if I'd be better off not to opt for it.

I didn't want an epidural because I couldn't handle the thought of being numb. I had a previous csection where a spinal anaesthetic was used and you are completely numb from the waist down, I wrongly assumed that it was also the case with an epidural.

After being determined not to have an epidural I ended up with one and it was fine. You are not numb at all. The epidural takes the pain away but you still have sensation.

i have had epidurals with all 3 babies, yes they did make me numb, a sensation that started in buttocks and spread to my legs and made them feel heavy, BUT it did take away all the pain and after the initial numbing sensation it sort of fades a bit and you dont really notice it, you cant walk about obviously but i think there is also a diff sort called a mobile epidural but i didnt have that sort so dont know what its like.

they do need regular topping up so if you tried it and didnt like it you could just wait and not have it topped up.

iam horrendously needle phobic and said i would never have an epidural but i really didnt find it that bad when it came to it, i had a bit of gas and air when they were putting it in and i was fine, to be honest it is really brilliant for the discomfort and just takes it all away so if you feel like you need one i would def say that the pros outweigh the cons!

good luck!

i had a mobile epidural, didnt want one at all but after hours i caved in, not all hospitals do them but it was great, i had no tingley sensation, i had pressure with each contraction so i knew when to push but when i got cut didnt feel a thing, and weirdly i could still move legs! within 45 mins i was up with feeling back in legs just a bit wobbly around hips, i had a midwife with me from the moment i had epi to giving birth as youtop them up yourself if needed every 30 mins, good luck

lost all feeling and sensation with my epidural - was very grateful!

Would hate the sensation of numbness if not in labour. Funnily enough I felt quite differently about it after 24 hours of racking unproductive contractions.

As other posts have said, you won't give a hoot about being numb; you'll be pleased the pain has stopped. Labour hurts!

But in any case, it isn't a horrible when-your-leg-goes-dead kind of numb, it is just an absence of pain. You really don't think about or focus on how your legs feel.

The biggest problem most people have with epidurals is getting one in the first place; often by the time you've decided you can't take it any more, there are no available anaesethists (sp). I found that it is best to ask for it slightly earlier than the desperate, shoot-me stage, so that it actually happens at the time you need it. It takes a while to set up/for them to get organised.

But then I am a fervent supporter, as you can tell!

I had a spinal block (had to, they wouldn't do the em cs without it) and was numb from the chest down. I thought I'd hate it but tbh, after a 2 day labour and 6 hours of unproductive pushing, I was just glad that the pain had stopped.

There's many things that you hate the idea of in principle that become normal in labour. Pooing in front of an audience, wandering naked and screaming obscenities, crying hysterically and asking somebody to 'put you out of your misery', being awake during abdominal surgery etc.

Pretty much in agreement with everyone else here. I had a fear of epidurals too - viewed them as the Big Evil. But ended up having a very positive experience - took away the searing agony, gave me a much needed rest (both emotionally and physically) and enabled me to get to 10cm relatively quickly, where I'd been stuck at 5 for hours. There was some numbness, but I did still have sensation - the hospital acupuncturist came and stuck some needles in my legs when it was up and running and I certainly felt those go in. And I still had mobility in my legs and was able to sit up and stand up, although I was a bit wobbly. But that was a vast improvement on my pre-epidural state when standing up was completely impossible . But as everyone here has said, when it gets to the stage that you want one, particularly if you feel that an epidural is a last resort option, you will be so grateful that the pain has gone that disconcerting numbness won't matter one jot! And each dose doesn't last for that long, so you can always decide not to be topped up if you don't like it.
Good luck! It WILL be fine - you will be brilliant on the day and will have a gorgeous little baby!

showofbloodystumps - very true indeed about stuff that horrifies you in a normal setting being totally acceptable in labour! Like moaning and 'making funny sex noises' with each contraction, as my husband helpfully pointed out I was doing.

I've had two. My experience was that it deadens the pain, but I still had sensation. I could feel the contractions, but they didn't hurt, I could feel to push, but had no pain. Pretty blissful way to give birth imo.

I had one - no idea if it was mobile or not! I'd been induced and labour was not progressing and I'd got very upset and was offered an epidural.
I had not been keen on having one prior to labour, but it was a blessed relief - the pain went away completely but I could still feel and move my legs, but I didn't try standing. In the end I needed a c-section and the epidural was topped up.
I think it was a bit uncomfortable to put in, but by that time the pain is relative. It was a much better experience than I would have anticipated.

Thanks guys, really appreciate the input. I don't mind needles at all so actually getting the epidural in wouldn't be a problem - it's the actual sensation of it that I was worried about.

I feel reassured that it would be a good option if I felt I needed it, and it's a real weight off my mind. I had sort of decided that I shouldn't opt for it, for fear I would panic at the numbness once it was in, but the experiences you guys had sound quite positive. Knowing the epidural is an option is great, even if I don't go for it.

Hello there

It's good to see that many Mumsnetters have had positive experience of epidurals.

I'm an antenatal teacher and VBAC coach in Mill Hill (and now Swiss Cottage) London and spend some time looking at different types of pain management available, particularly epidurals.

I highly recommend you google 'epidurals and risks' so you can go into labour knowing all the positives AND negatives.

If you're properly informed, you'll be able to make the right decisions for you when you're in labour.

Best of luck!

Mads
Bump to Birth and Beyond