HELP! Talk to me about your SECOND births with epidurals please (especially of bigger babies)

[SubOptiMum]

Hello.
I am in a muddle. Traumatic first birth. ELCS agreed due to secondary tokophobia but now I seem to be wobbling back to VB option. I am 34weeks and have to decide in next two weeks. My blog explains my head wobbles a bit better childbirthptsdandme.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/not-such-an-easy-decision-after-a-day-of-appointments/

But I would love to hear from women who have had epidurals with their seconds (ie. was it easier than firsts etc) and their experiences (positive or negative!) as an Epidural is a non negotiable part of my birth plan (and hospital are very supportive of that and know me and case very well so would have to be some incredible mishap for me not to get an epidural when needed).

Is pushing stage with epidural I am mostly worried about but there is no fucking way I am doing it without one end of. (DD I couldn't get out and was oxygen starved as a result :( )

Help me ponder!

Hi Murtette,
Great points thankyou. My hospital and I are discussing that exact eventuality with me this week as they are determined not to promise me anything they can't deliver. They have capacity for 3 women with epidurals with one to one care and say it is extremely rare for women to have to wait too long for an epidural if they want one but we are going to look at alternatives plans if I did find self in that situation. Am pleased the hospital aren't lying to me but trying to do everything they can to support me. :) I bloody love the NHS.
Thankfully although this is a city hospital it is nothing like as busy as London (where I had DD)- everytime I have been to delivery suite there has been lots of staff standing about and it is always quite calm there which is fab.

That sounds very positive. I like the fact that they are acknowledging that there may be staffing issues and are considering how they will deal with it. I am also very envious of the quiet delivery suite. Where are you? I may be tempted to come to your hosp when I go into labour with DC2.

Thank you for this thread. I am due to give birth at any point now (40 +1) and am terrified after my first experience - 43 hours, forceps, lots of internal and external stitches. Will remember to add my own second experience once I've had it.

Just reiterating what elsjas said earlier about sometimes you can't plan for these things so try and keep an open mind so you arent panicked. With my second, i was determined to have an epi, it wasn't an option at all. DD2 had other plans, and arrived so quickly I didnt have time for one! I think because I hadn't considered this I was more frightened than needed to be, and wasnt mentally prepared for this option. I wish I had thought about the possibility of it not being available due to fast delivery as I think I would have enjoyed the experience more. It was totally different from my first, much easier and my god, i felt like I hadnt even had a baby after I had her in terms of pain, being able to walk around etc, it was the best feeling ever. Oh, she was 9lb 4oz (im 5ft so not exactly built for big babies) and my body just knew what to do.
Good luck, hopefully you'll have time to have your epi, either way once it's done it's done and you'll have your beautiful baby in your arms, and it will be so worth it whatever happens :) x

Hmm not sure I am mentally prepared for a fast arriving baby with no pain relief. panics slightly.

Just brought a book that comes highly recommended www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0091922143 guess am going to focus more on breathing and staying calm not screaming my head off and panicking this time. Or something.

Murtette nip over to Bath - ;)