Please help ! advise me on epidurals ( Not first baby..!)

[4blue1pink]

I should be more chilled - This is my fifth.

However I am not and am becoming increasingly over-anxious.

I had four natural ( ish ) deliveries with a few gallons of entonox even with one induction ( Hotmama!)

I am now deliberating about an epidural as I am working myslef up into such a frenzy over the pain...

I was supposed to be having a home birth and have a pool downstairs ready but am tearful and panicky re the whole thing.

Any one had 'natural' followed by epidural and got any comments - or just had a go at both and have a preference.

PLUS - a big plus- how long would i have to stay in hospital following am epi as i like to go home pretty pronto...

Please advise me........

I had pethidine and it was fab......

I did have pethidine ( well dia- morphine) with number one and vowed never again....

you'll have to wait till your legs start working again, if it hasn't worn off by the time you want to get out of hospital. That effect depends on the dose though, of course.

Have you felt like this before previous births?

I was quite edgy with ds3 - i had a 6.5 year gap between baby 3 and 4.

I know i am being a wimp but cannot stop the anxiety - day and night! Everyone else is willing their baby to come - not me! Its beyond a joke

I was just wondering if something like hypnobirthing might help reduce the anxiety? (haven't had any personal experience of it though)

You can get "walking" epidurals, but the one I had (for a syntocinon drip) left me literally unable to move my legs and catheterised and I wouldn't do that again unless I had to (I ended up with an emergency cs with a spinal block, so couldn't move at all really until the next day).

I had a syntocin drip and a mobile epidural and it was great. Had the epidural when I was eight cm dilated and stood up for the rest of the birth, was able to walk around the room, chat to midwives etc. Really comfortable. Delivering the baby was fine - no pain, but enough pressure to know how and when to push. When the baby was born, I was able to go to the loo (again, without pain and totally unaided!) and walk about. No headaches or any ill effects, and I had a happy little bubba as a result. I know some people have bad experiences of epidurals, but there are plenty of us who have good ones too! In fact, I was discharged from hospital six hours later, and it was my first baby. There's no reason to think you have to stay in longer.

4blue1pink

ds1 - pethidine - hated it!!

ds2 - was supposed to be homebirth but was overdue and had to be induced - just gas and hair. M/wives surprised I didn't want/need epidural.

dd1 - overdue again, was 4cm dilated for over a week, so thought I was going to have a long labour. So opted for epidural!!!

WHY DID I NOT USE IT BEFORE!!!

It was great, I was totally in control, unlike gas and air, which I hate as it makes me feel drunk! Checked in at 10am, had epidural at 11.00 dd born on the dot at 3pm, after 2 big pushes.

Out of bed and in the bath by 4pm, dressed and ready to leave hospital by 5pm.

Maybe I was lucky, but will definately be having an epidual for baby number 4 (if/when get pregnant )

Don't know why I was so opposed ot it!

i hated the fact that epidural makes you so immobile. helped with the pain obviously, but was still uncomfortable. was bullied into having one with ds2 (combination of awful midwife and even worse xp), it didnt work, had a horrible birth and backache for months. had a waterbirth with ds3, was wonderful. felt so much more free, i know you cant move far but much easier to wriggle about. also made a huge difference to the pain, was so much better. think it depends on the person, the circumstances etc etc. dont rule anything out ot set your heart on definately having anything in particular, that way you cant be disappointed!

I'd check out with the hosp. how epidurals are 'allowed'. My hospital seemed to have a 'rule' that you couldn't just opt for an epidural because labour was painful!!!! Seems a damn good reason to me....

Anyway, a consultant had to be consulted and the midwives had to give a clinical reason. mine was 'maternal distress' due to v long labour over three days and still being only 5 cms. But i had to BEG for it, basically and only got it when I just broke down - can't even remember what I said but I got an epidural.

However it was not in a calm, planned way, it was very upsetting and stressful. So try to get a picture of what your local hosp will be like about it.

Mine was a godsend, blocked the pain completely. However it took three attempts to site the damn thing so it didn't go smoothly! But it was BLISS when the pain was gone. So certainly worth having, but not an easy option in my experience!

Anyway hope this birth goes really well for you, respect to you for doing it so many times!!

Agree with finding out how hospitals allow it. I asked for one as I was in pain and when they checked me I was only 2cm. Their policy is only to give over 3cm. Crazy as I was being induced and third inductions can be quick. Anyway, half an hour later I begged for one, and it was too late as I was about 8cm. Peeed me off no end as it was hard work. And the next day when I was in the ward I heard so many new mums say "I'm so glad I didn't opt for any pain relief". Even now 9 months later wish I'd had epi!!! Good luck

Hi.
I had an epidural for the birth of my third child 11 days ago and profoundly regret it. I'm not trying to negate the wonderful effect of epidurals for pain relief - and I WAS relieved at that side of it for the relevant twenty mins(it went in at about 4cm dilation and i was fully dilated and pushing half an hour later). HOwever, I had what I think was a bad/allergic reaction to something in the epidural and felt iller than I've ever felt in my life for the following 4 days.
I'd like to stress that I've had an epidural before with no ill effects, with my first child and it was helpful then and I had nothing with my second child except two puffs of gas and air (unexpectedly fast delivery, not bravery). Of my three experiences, the second was BY FAR the most preferable, despite the pain and IF I were ever to do it again (which I don't intend to!), I would do everything to avoid an epidural. I think the pain/discomfort of the actual siting of the epidural can sometimes be underestimated and to be honest I found the electric shock type feelings of that happening very freaky.
As I say, I know in most cases epidurals are wonderfully helpful and cause no side effects, but I thought I would mention my reservations in case it helps.

Thanks girls...unfortunatley I have just read all your posts and they swing so much......

I would love a chilled epidural tbh - i have done the other 4 times and it does not get easier just quicker and a little more shocking!

Have to wait and see - probably wont but want to...

As a midwife, I would dissuade a mother who had had 4 babies without epidural who asked for one for 5th birth.

Epidurals can be great for pain relief but they have many 'down sides' which interfere with the process of labour. As a result you may have a painfree labour which lasts for hours longer resulting in a forceps delivery. The discomfort for days of a forcep delivery outdoes the pain relief in labour of an epidural.

I would say go with the pool idea....

As a Mum,I wouldnt have an epidural

I had epidural with ds1 induced labour. I felt no pain, the thingy was in straight away and didn't hurt at all. Then i had a nice big sleep and woke at pushing time, took three hours to push him out and labour lasted three days but i was induced so it was to be expected. Stayed in for 5 days after couldn't walk for a good few hours, no side effects after though. Ds2 gas and pethidine labour lasted about 6 hours was painful but i enjoyed it miles more. The pushing lasted 10min and hurt soooooo bad but after he was born i felt absolutely ace got up had a shower an nearly went home but ds2 had a minor complication. Preg with ds3 definitely will not be having epidural unless i'm about to die. I prefer the natural approach and felt so proud at my efforts with ds2. Maybe induction affects my views but i just think i have to accept that it will hurt and try to be calm. I can be in control and use birthing ball, rocking chair, gas, pethidine, breathing techniques etc. I'm sure whatever you choose will be fine. I'd give epi a go if i were you you might love it. You're probly best to see how you feel on the day. Hope it goes ok.

I had an epidural for 2nd baby- basically because my first labour could only be described as horrible 30 hours of agony followed by a post-partum haemorrage and I just couldn't face going through pain like that again. I remember thinking afterwards that I felt like I'd been put through a mincer.
I found the epidural great, once I finally got it- was sent home from hospital in agony because they didn't believe I was actually in labour. Possibly the labour did last longer than it otherwise would have, I don't know, but I had no problems pushing the baby out naturally and didn't need forceps or any other type or intervention.
With no 3, I decided not to have an epidural as I felt quite positive that I could manage without it. Coped with only gas & air.
With no 4 had a water birth but labour went on much longer than I had expected, even after waters were broken, so I started to panic and feel out of control because of the pain. Was given diamorphine, which I found absolutely marvellous despite having it during my first labour and thinking it was awful.
Personally, I think if you are feeling anxious about a home birth then maybe you would be better having the baby in hospital. You may not actually need an epidural when it comes to it, but you might feel happier knowing that if the pain gets too much for you, the option is there.

I had gas and air and pethidine 1st time round (I thought epidurals were for wimps!) and decided not to have pethidine 2nd time as really did not like it. The 2nd time I tried with just gas and air, used a birthing ball and having a bath nothing could distract me from the agony so when the pain really kicked in thought sod it and had the epidural..

OMG it was heaven, the birth was so quick and easy and the next day didn't even feel like I had given birth! def having one next time!

Not what you want to hear/ are asking maybe, but I had epidural with ds1 (after gas/air and pethidine or morphine, can't rem.) as couldn't cope with the pain - but ended up with c/s as he got stuck and distressed. Always felt that it didn't help that he was op and I was immobile (regrets....)

With ds2, I only had gas and air which worked brilliantly for me second time round.

You might be able to get an epidural like I did for extreme pain and to help cope with slow progress. But from what you say, you progress quickly and I don't think you'd get one in anticipation of not coping with pain, esp if at very early stage of labour. Am absolute amateur though and completely defer to others!

4blue1pink, you sound a bit like I was just before I went into labour last time. It seems to be a feature of late pregnancy to have a bit of a crisis of nerves. I had epidural with my second and whilst the pain relief was good the not being able to feel while pushing led to failed ventouse and caesarean.
The feeling of triumph as I pushed baby out into the water with no 4 was absolutely fantastic and I did get REALLY good pain relief with the water (and believe me I don't DO pain!) . All I can say is if you haven't tried water don't write it off. I also just kept imagining myself coping with the pain whilst wallowing in the pool in the days before labour started. Every labour is different - was the induction the last one, is that what you are remembering? I found spontanous labour so different and being at home seemed to make the pain so much less as well.

Sending you lovely, low pain labour vibes

hi just a few quick things to think about. Make sure you find out before you go into labour what stage the anaesthetist will do the epi up to.Most will only proceed if you are 6cm or less.
Also find out if they will allow you to have top ups because again in some situations they wont top it up if you stop dilating or featal distress etc.
Sometimes not all the time you can be confined to bed post the epidural depending on how long you've had it in.
There are side effects such as headaches that can last a couple of days ,infecions,etc so make sure you talk to your mw/dr about these before you go into labour.
BUT when all is said and done the relief from an epi can make your birth a really wonderfull pain free experience

I have a d of 17months and due in Sept, I had an epidural with my first bubba and it did not work, intially it worked sort of by taking the edge off the pain but at the end, and I was topped up regularly I felt everything! Although it had it's advantages- I didn't tear or need to be cut and labour was only 5 and a half hours once in hospital.

Had Epi with first DS and it was awful resulted in cutting and stitching and forceps. Afterwards I could not sit for about 2 weeks and couldn't change his nappy (one advantage)cos I couldn't stand. I was soooo sore in my whole vulva area. Sex hurt for about a year.

Second baby had nothing not even gas and air cos we were late getting to hospital. Hadn't planned to have nothing but I was so involved in the pain that I found it difficult to speak. Much much better afterward. No pain, minimal stitches could stand and sit.

Epi's do remove pain but for me the relatively short lived pain of childbirth was much easier to handle than the trauma my vagina experienced after forceps which I believe was a direct result of epi (I couldn't feel enough to push).

Properly managed Epi probably can be effective and not lead to assisted birth.

I really believe the epidural I had stopped my labour from progressing. Was going great guns had the Epi and stopped - ended up with a C-section

Another pro-epidural vote here (based on one experience. Not sure what I will do when this baby is due in 3 months).

I was induced, had an epidural after 15 hours of strong contractions when I was one inch dilated. (Midwives were opposed but nice male consultant luckily came in for a ward round at this point and commented on how much pain I was in and what a high pain threshold I must have. I said I didn't have a high pain threshold and could I have an epidural and luckily he sorted it ).

I had 7 top ups to the epidural (roughly every 2 hours). Until the 5th top up I was walking around the room and had no problems with mobility. The top ups were not strong enough to stop me feeling the need to push when fully dilated but stopped the pain so were perfect.

It was a long labour. Personally I think it was because the baby was not ready to come out (induction didn't work first time) but epidural may well have slowed it too, I don't know. On the other hand, I couldn't have gone 37 hours with no pain relief and I definitely didn't want morphine/pethedine and gas and air didn't work for me.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I would say, don't rule anything in or out. Epidurals certainly have their place but are not always appropriate. As you will know with your previous birth experiences much better than most, you can never tell what will happen on the day .

Natural first birth, epidural second time around due to complications and by god I'd have married that anaesthetist if he'd asked me. It was bloody FANTASTIC after hours of contractions to have someone turn the pain volume from 11 down to one. I could still feel each contraction but could rest and wait until I really had to push (still had that sensation) rather than pushing too early and tearing. If I ever have another baby I'm having an epidural from my due date onwards