'Walking' epidurals

[GingerDoodle]

I have no real intention of having an epidural. However, as its my first I am not ruling it out completely.

That said I do not want to be on my back with a full traditional epi. Has anyone had, or know about, the newer 'lite' options which are low dose to take the edge off but enable you to keep moving?

I know the option exists but I'm not sure how common it is, esp in the UK!

Many thanks

GD

When I had mine - 4 years ago - midwife said they couldn't do this on the NHS - 'everyone would want one and that would be too expensive'

lol that sounds likely! I'm giving birth out of my local area so will give the centre a call to ask!

My midwife suggested not topping up and feeling a bit of the pain in established labour and then turning it off altogether in time for pushing.... She said that plenty of women are on birthing balls with an epidural if they want to.

So it sounds like a normal epidural but less of it, rather than a different thing altogether.

This was for a planned induction on the drip plus epidural though, might not work the same way for natural labour which I think is what you are probably referring to.

Also, I was able to move with my last epidural despite topping up all the way through (although we did let it wear off a bit at the end - again this was a planned induction) and tried pushing whilst kneeling on the bed, so I wasn't on my back the whole time. For that labour I hadn't really thought about moving around more generally... but I will try this time if I get the same kind of labour.

I think you're sensible not ruling anything out until the day comes.

I didn't plan to have any pain relief, but after 36 hours of excruciating labour, I was too wiped out by pain to continue without it. My options were continue with pain relief or go into surgery for a c. section.

I had a walking epidural and it was amazing. I told the anaesthetist that I loved her! I still felt all the contractions - I was still in pain, but it was manageable pain - and knew how and when to push. I was up and about straight after delivery.

Sorry, this was all overseas so have no idea about the UK, but it's certainly worth looking in to in my experience.

I'm overseas too but had it on my first. Could still feel the urges to push when the time came. I had it put in and there was a tube taped up my back and around to the front of my shoulder. I got a top up about 5 hours later and promptly vomited all over the labour room and myself. I was able to get into the bathroom to clean up though. I spent most of the time laying down and monitored by machines.

Second time I tried hypnobirthing and kept active. I got through the labour without any pain relief.

Definitely see how you feel on the day. The labour is never the same to every person. Great that you're researching it now. I assumed it would be horrendous and took the epi as soon as they offered it. I should have done my homework.

Forgot to say that the tube was for the top ups. Had to get a thingy inserted in my hand too in case they needed to put me on a drip. The midwives forgot to take both out until the morning so it made sleeping rather uncomfortable.

When I had DS in 2010 mobile epidurals were the norm - in the sense that you could still walk, rather than losing the feeling in your legs and having to stay in bed (a full spinal). I was kept well topped up so couldn't feel anything but was still able to move around. That said, you are hooked up to the epidural drip thingy so you are a bit limited as to how much you can move by the big needle in one hand. It may depend on hospital/area as to whether a mobile epidural is standard (I am in south east) - your midwife should be able to advise you on your hospital's policy