Who had an epidural and could you have gone on without it?

[JeuxDEnfants]

On the back of news that epodurals are being rationed... I was in last star labour for 4 hours when contractions stalled and I needed oxytocin. Without an epidural... I think I would have experienced torture. I had to beg for one. What do you think? Aibu?

I had one. Fucker didn't work (except a random patch in my left leg iirc).

Fortunately the spinal tap for the EMCS did.

I'm actually considering a VBAC this time around (DC2). I must be crazy in the coconuts.

The only reason I needed oxytocin was because they didn't believe I was ready to push and left me unsupervised for over an hour with no guidance!!!

Epidural with no 1, syntocin baby could not of done it without.

Natural labour with no2 because nobody could find the anaesthetist, twas very very nard work but was glad when It was over I'd done without.

Baby no 3, syntocin I tried really hard not to have an epidural despite everyone in the hospital thinking I was mental. I lasted 2 hours with full pelt contractions every min and then the consultant said "dear you don't get a prize you get a baby" so I gave in and it was AMAZING I had to be very proactive at the end to avoid an instrumental delivery because I couldn't feel to push so I got my dh to hoist me up on all fours to the shock of the mws and whoosh baby was born, felt nothing but did a world of damage!

I pretty much wasn't given an option after being put on the oxytocin drip. I started getting two contractions at once so I reckon it would have been unbearable without the pain relief. They also said that I needed a rest in order to push and it certainly gave me that. I could still feel the big contractions so it wasn't like I was completely numb.

Thank goodness for the epidural!

I had one. It was bliss. I was in labour for 43 hours and then had EMCS. Turns out ds was stuck in the pelvis and would never have come out naturally. I suppose I could have gone on, if I had to, people do don't they but I was in bits.

I was managing the pain ok in the birthing pool until dh had the bright idea of draining it ( water was cold ) and it took over an hour to refill. I was chewing the carpet in despair. Gas made me vomit and labour had stuck at 9cm after 24 hours, was so sore. When the lovely midwife, who'd had six labours, sympathised 'I know hen, it's that awful pain you'd take your head off to get rid' I pleaded for epidural. It was manna from heaven I tell ya. The doc said it was invented by a Russian so I developed a new and deep love of Russia thereafter.

I dare say I could have managed without it, I mean, what choice do you have if they say no? With it, i had a good labour experience and happy memories of the whole thing. Was up and about three hours after the birth, stitches were great.

perfumedlife "What choice do you have if they say no?"

Bite the midwife in the leg, I should.

Meant to say, the labour slowed as ds was back to back and I needed ventous and what not. Really glad I did go for epidural.

I had an epidural when I didn't really need one. Went into labour when there were lots of stories in the press about women not getting epidurals, basically said 'could I have an epidural?' and before I knew it, was signing consent forms and had a massive needle in my back! I was too far along for it to work, because I remember them saying 'tell me when you are in between contractions because you hav to really still' and thinking that there wan't a space between contractions. The epidural didn't work, I felt everything, then had a massive backache afterwards from the epidural. Wish I hadn't asked for it!

Interesting that we all think we can't cope without one - women used to have to cope. Not saying that things haven't improved and that maternal mortality hasn't dropped, etc, but to a certain extent, I do think we don't know we're born.

I insisted on one for my first, induced labour, and as I have a curved spine, it only 'took' down one side, so I might as well not have bothered.

With the second, I was begging for one - default mode when in pain - but there wasn't time and I managed fine without it, in the end. I didn't think I could cope either, but clearly I could.

I realise my births (both vaginal, both induced) were more straight-forward than most, but I do think there is a lot to be said for minimal intervention, where possible, in terms of recovery and establishing breastfeeding.

stubbornstains I almost did that when I arrived in hospital. She said 'pop up and I'll just check you are actually in labour' I almost fainted,, I'd been in agony for a full 24 hours. Turns out I was 8cm but it slowed right down. The thought of being told to go home was too much to cope with.

Saying that, maybe I'd have cracked on quicker at home but I wanted help with the pain.

Yes to the first question and no fucking way to the second :)

NurseBerard does an epidural slow recovery generally? I was up and about three hours after birth, had a bath, tea and toast and feeding ds for the eighteenth time

I think I'd have taken longer to recover from the trauma of all that pain, felt like he was coming out my arse the whole miserable time upto epidural.

I said no to an epidural. This was on the Monday morning and i'd been in the hospital since the Friday. Contractions had started 1am Friday morning after a sweep, and i'd had 2 pessary's and the drip, but my daughter was a stubborn little bugger who just didn't want to come out.
I can only think that my saying no was as a result of sleep deprivation and the fact that i did not want to spend one more night in that bloody hospital - which i knew i would have to do if i had an epidural. Dr told me bluntly to take the epidural as the likelihood was i'd be going down to theatre shortly for a cs and it would save them time.

Wish i'd had the epidural sooner. My (ex) partner chose the moment of me having the epidural to start crying as he 'couldn't bear to see me in pain'! He clearly thought the days of agony before that was a walk in the park for me! Anyway, epidural + forceps = healthy baby (with very squashed head). Baby was in distress though when they got her out, with cord wrapped around her neck, and i do think they left me too long before taking action, but that's another story. At the end of the day, i have a healthy 18 month old now and i would not go through that labour again. I would be demanding an epidural instead of suffering for 3 days.

I had one. Midwife offered it when my response to the question "how do you cope with period pains" was "heavy duty anti-inflamatories." Given DS was massive and had the cord around his neck so couldn't descend (ended up forceps and episiotomy) I'm very glad I had it.

I don't remember thinking the anethatist was gorgeous but apparently asked DH "where has the nice doctor man gone?" when he left the room to get the drugs.

Had epidural with DC1, for no other reason than i wasnt coping with the pain very well. With other labours ive been really adamant it was definitely NOT what i wanted again at all, and i've coped perfectly fine without one. I felt that the reason DC1 labour was sooooo long was because the pain wasn't there to give me any incentive to get the job done so to speak - it took over 17 hours, other labours have been 2-4 hours max. But also feel the choice should be there for women to have one should they feel they want/need it.

I had two. Both worked a treat, (I had a lovely nap while going from 5 to 8cm) but I then couldn't actually push babies out which is a bit of a drawback, had 1 EMCS, 1 forceps. Main problem was that whilst G&A relieved the pain from unbearable to awful it left me unable to understand what was going on, and why I was in pain.

Yes of course I could have managed without it - I wouldn't have died, and I'd probably have been in better physical shape by the end of the process, but if someone says "I'm in such appalling pain that I would choose to stick a huge needle into my spinal column to stop it hurting" then I think you should believe them.

Two births. First one no epidural, nope didn't need one. What's all the fuss about etc etc etc.

Second time around I did have an epidural and no, could not have gone without out. Well maybe I could, but then I would want to see Andrew Lansley have his balls cut into with no pain relief...seeing as I ended up having a c-section under epidural. Actually, lets make AL shit a melon without pain relief...

However, even if I had not ended up in theatre, I would have gone for the epidural anyway.

I had one with DC1 and then that led to a more comfortable and enjoyable experience of birth. With DC2 the midwives said I couldn't have anything until 4cm dilated and were going to send me home, despite very frequent contractions. I asked for an epidural and it became too late when the baby arrived before the anaesthetist. Again not many around on a Saturday night. Next time I will ask for a c- section and perhaps then they might consider the epidural. The second experience left me in agony and yes it felt that they were rationing healthcare. I still feel a little traumatised by the whole experience. If all I will be given is paracetamol and gas and air once 4 cm dilated (why this was I don't know), I might as well have a home birth next time.

Its so hard to know what you really could or couldn't have managed without. First birth I had 1 dose of pethidine, second birth I had nothing at all ( though had some ibruprofen afterwards for agony of many, many stitches)

The first time round I felt like I couldn't have coped without the pethidine and after the second birth I realised that, looking back at the first, I probably could have done. At the time I thought I needed it and maybe I really did and I wouldn't have coped without, but it is impossible to say really.

What I can say for certain is that the pain was beyond what I had previously even imagined was possible, it was excruciating.

I was induced with syntocin 2 days after my waters broke and my baby had turned back-to-back (which the midwife knew a few days before but didn't tell me, so I didn't do anything about it. I was in agony - the pain felt wrong, not life-affirming or whatever - and when I finally got my epidural it was bliss. Mind you, I was told to push at 9cm dilated, haemorraged and was given an emergency cs.

My pain threshold is high; I got straight out of bed the next morning, took my baby to town in her pram 5 days later (4 bus rides and a lot of walking) and went back to work after 2 1/2 weeks (as soon as I got back into my normal clothes, sorry for the boast ). But that pain wasn't right.

I was determined not to have an epidural, but the diamorphine and gas and air just weren't touching the pain.

DS was back to back, and I was begging for an epidural, I actually wanted to die, the pain was that bad. The anaesthetist took an age to get to me, and when she did, she sited the epidural in the wrong place and my leg was involuntarily kicking! She tried again, but just kept hitting bone. I remember being hunched forward over the bed, in absolute agony, but telling myself that if I could just sit still for a moment, the epidural would be in, and the pain would be manageable.

She still couldn't get it in, and so declared that she was abandoning the procedure. The look on my face told DH everything he needed to know, and he begged her to give it one last go. Thankfully she did, and it went in ok.

The pain vanished, and I was able to have a much-needed rest.

Unfortunately it started a cascade of intervention, and I needed syntocin, and eventually ventuose, but I know that I physically would not have been able to cope with any more pain. I did feel DS crowning though, and needed gas and air when my episiotomy was stitched up!

No epidural first time, even though I was beyond agony, was convinced I was going to die, and kept bring promised one.

Ten minutes after he was born, I was in theatre, with an epidural, having a two hour procedure to repair a third degree tear.

Second time, my consultant put on my notes that I should have one if I asked (he told me he didn't want me to sue...). I asked for one when it got too much, they gave me one, then examined me, and it turned out I was already in transition, so had to wait before I was allowed to push.

So - the answer is, I didn't really manage the first time without one (Post Traumatic Stress etc afterwards). Didn't really need one the second time, but it was nice.

Had an epidural for DD2s birth, could not have done without it, she was an EMCS! That would have fucking hurt!!

Can anyone link to a reliable (i.e. non-DM!) source for this?

Am about to get really angry but want to check the facts first!