Did your epidural work well?

[JellyNump]

I have had 2 epidurals and both times they got rid of the pain of the contractions but the pain of the baby coming out (stretching etc) it seemed to do nothng for? Is this 'normal'? It may just be me?

[liquidclocks]

Sounds like so many people have epis that go wrong - all I can say is I had a great experience. I couldn't cope with labour - I had my membranes artificially broken and about an hour in my contractions sarted to come back to back with no breaks - OUCH! Had the epi and it all went vaguely numb and heavy, told the midwife I could still feel aches and she gave me an mmediate top up and from there until about and hour or so after delivery I didn't feel a thing.

For anyone considering an epidural there are a few pointers -

Firstly, the anaesthetist has to tell you his/her success rate before doing it so it's worth checking out what good and bad rates are before you go into labour so you can at least make somesort of informed decision (the midwife could probably explain this).

Secondly, a big concern people seem to have is about knowing when to push - if you get yourself hooked up to a pressure monitor you can actually see when you're haing a contraction so it's really easy - and the midwife will tell you - all you hae to do is imaine you're doing a huge poo - yuck htought I know but works - I got mine out in 15 minutes from when they realised I was fully dilated!

I will DEFINITELY be having one this time :)

[Smee]

I was one of the few that it doesn't work for. Had a whole possy of anaesthetists round me telling me that I was unusual and unluck to boot as DS was back to back. ouch.. Don't know why, but the thing that most wound me up, was the fact that they kept sticking pins in me, as they couldn't believe that I could still feel. And actually I could. Everything..

Having said that, I'm obviously unusual. I didn't want to go down the drugs route, but after 24 plus hours, I was too exhausted to resist and then to my annoyance nothing worked on me - not the anti sickness drugs, gas and air (pah!), pethedrine (sp?!), etc, etc.. But still, I'd say go for it to anyone who wants to - they seem to work for the majority. Just be aware you might be weird like me.

[AprilMum]

After having 2 deliveries without epidural, I was adamant that I needed one this time. I had even taken a book with me to read while I was in labour because surely I was going to get bored during this painless contractions... hahahahah. It took for ever for them to decide that it was time for me to have it, then it took again forever for them to put it, I spend a long time with my face on my knees, the Dr coudn't find the right place. THen I was still in a lot of pain. I ended having a forceps delivery, there was blood everywhere even in DH nose (!?), he was by my head. I never read that book.

[Rach69]

I've had 2 with, 2 without (1 forceps, ouch!) and I recommend them if you have any problems at all. Both of mine only worked on my pelvic area so I could feel to push which I think is best to avoid straining/tearing, I managed to deliver a face presentation this way with dd . With ds3 it was topped up for an ECS but I could still feel my feet . Both of mine also only worked on one side initially but this was resolved by me lying on one side for a bit. Last time I actually wanted to feel the contractions but still wanted the security of an epidural in place (long story!) so I didn't get the non-working side topped up until I was 8cm. When they first put it in I fainted due to a sudden drop in bp. I didn't know until later that it had pushed the catheter in 12 cm into my back! (supposed to be 7cm apparently) this is what caused it to only work on one side.

[DDsmummy]

I was one of the unlucky few for which epidural didn't work, despite having what they said was 'enough for an elephant' (i'm only a wee thing, too!). But like Smee, my bub was back to back...... the pain in my back and down my legs was excrutiating!!!! Only afterwards did they tell me that an epidural doesn't work for a back to back delivery - I maybe wouldn't have bothered if they'd told me sooner (it wasn't worth the three days of not being able to feel my legs).

Maybe try without next time, or at least ask if baby is back to back (maybe it's best not to ask if I know what I'm in for???!!).

Does anyone know if its likely to happen again if its happened once before? I have to say before the back pain kicked in, the epidural was great!

[luckylaydee]

Mine was great and made a huge difference for my 1st experience of labour. it numbed the pain very quickly and the midwife would top up when i needed it. i could stand up and the only side effect was that i was very itchy! it did slow down the process but instead of being crouched in pain for 8 hrs, i was chatting away with my husband and the midwife, chosing names for our baby, snoozing a bit, etc - quite a nice day really!

only problem was - as some ladies experienced above - i didn't ask/get a top up before pushing and although it was over in 1 hr, after 8hrs without pain, that grand finale was a shocker!!! goddam that hurt. and she was 5 weeks early!!

so hats of to my mum and all of you who did it without - my pain threashold is normally high so i think you're superhuman!!!

[madmarchhare]

My epidural worked very well. Long labour with a lot of top ups then an hour of pushing, ventouse, forceps then emergency section. Whilst the whole was fairly uncomfortable because DS was back to back, I didnt get anything like the pain I had felt when my contractions first started at home.

[madmarchhare]

whole thing

[hana]

I've had one epidural and it was fine , loved it by the time the line was in
the midwife had advised to let it tail off as labour progressed towards pushing - this helps apparantly to really concentrate on pushing as you can feel each contraction, and when to push/when not to -
I think what' you've experienced is normal

[Fimbo]

I had the same thing as tinymieow x 2 blood patches (horrendous) albeit I had a section.

[snorkle]

mine didn't work even after being topped up.

[Smee]

DDsmum - I had that too. One of the anaesthetists who came to see me after the birth, told me that epidurals don't work back to back - but when I asked why they did it when DS had been like that all the way through, she roped a colleague in, who completely told her she was wrong. Personally, I think it's a bit of an excuse they lob in when it doesn't work. ie you don't blame them for it. I ended up laughing with them about it. What else could I do?! And actually they were all lovely and seemed genuinely upset for me when nothing worked.

Interestingly, they did suggest that if I have another baby, or a major op I should mention the lack of effect all of the drugs had. Freaked me out a bit - I can now imagine waking up mid operation...

[liquoriceallsorts]

All three of my labours involved back to back babies - I gather if you have one you are likely to have the rest this way. BUT epidural worked for me twice! It was amazing relief. Very long labours all three 36 hours, 16 hours and the latest 28 hours. The first epi was 2 strong and ended up having ventose and episiotomy but the latest one was less intense and I was able to feel when it was time to push. Big age gap with my kids and they seem to give much less strong doses these days!

[Blunderwoman]

Had an epidural with gas and air when ds was born after being induced at 39+6 weeks and it was fantastic! I was in labour for almost 24 hours and it was honestly and truly a wonderful experience, and I would have done it all again seconds after ds was born too!!

Definately worked for me!

[SSSandy]

Once the epidural kicked in, I just lay back and laughed; it was like a comedy show, everyone cracking jokes. At some stage the midwife noticed I'd been pushing and then about 2 minutes later the baby was there. Piece of cake.

[FrannytheGazelle]

I was pleased with the way that I could still feel contractions and move about through mine, which sounds a bit daft, but I didn't want to lose all feeling and so asked the anaesthetist to stop after the test dose, as it had done just enough for me to feel I could cope. I was 9 cm by that stage anyway. It did transform me from a rather frightened person in pain to someone who could sit up and take stock of what was going on.

Had a very difficult delivery indeed - due mostly to ds's positioning - but I am guessing the epidural did not help. Would have hated to have had that delivery without the epidural though, so who knows really. You just go with the flow of what is happening at the time I find, not always for the best sadly.

[louise35]

I'm just wondering if mine did not work as well as it could have done because my labour was also with a spine to spine baby and I remember the pain being very intense. I've not had any more children so I don't know about the theory that if you have one back to back they will all be back to back. I'm wondering if there could be a slight hereditary connection because both myself and my brother were back to back babies. I don't know how my poor mother coped in labour because back then epidurals didn't exist and my MIL told me the tale of her giving birth to my 9.5lb DH and they ran out of gas and air so she didn't even have the luxury of that. I think I may buy them both some flowers tomorrow LOL.

[SSSandy]

Interesting that everyone has made such different experiences with epidurals. If I'd read this thread before going into labour, I might have freaked out completely. I didn't expect to feel anything with it (and luckily didn't).

[cheeseypeas]

It didn't bloody well work!

Had two doses but had all the paid down one side of my body.

I was very anti-epidural during my pregnancy, but even though mine went wrong, my view has totally changed.

In an ideal world we would be giving birth in the way that 1 million years of human instinct demands us too - somewhere dimly lit, where we feel secure and safe with people around us that we trust. That would give us the best chance we have of coping with the pain. Most women who give birth in hospitals these days experience the absolute oposite.

Yes, Epidurals come with their risks but if they give women a chance to rest and calm themselves (and the baby inside), thus avoiding further complications or intervention, then they are worth it in my view.

Maybe if the circumstances we give birth in are changed quite drastically and tuned to the natural instincts that are so imported in the birth process then maybe we can avoid using them but until then, even though mine didn't work, I wouldn't rule out an epidural if I ever gave birth again.

[HouseOfGruffalo]

Had an epi with dd after 14 hours of labour, as was scared by the pain and lack of progress - couldn't believe that in 21st century women had to endure that level of pain!!!! Anyway, it helped when it was done, but it was only a mini epi (was told I could have little top ups every 30 mins) but guess what, they were short staffed - had a top up 3 hours later when dh found someone and complained as I was v. distressed, no further top ups, then told I didn't need any further painrelief 7 hours later (for episiotomy and ventouse) as I'd had an epi!!!! All in all, really wish I hadn't bothered, felt that it slowed everything down and only helped for a short while. Ds' birth was sooooooo much better - arrived at hospital 9cm dilated, gas and air for pushing, baby born, less than 4 hour labour for 10lb babe.
I am still shocked though that there isn't a reliable form of decent pain relief for women in labour 'in this modern day and age.' Would it be different if blokes had the babies????
Sorry, have waffled, but the memory still stings (no pun intended )

[JellyNump]

My first epidural worked its best when they topped it up for a manual placenta removal - not pleasant!

[giddy1]

I know they are very good for lots of women but I wish I had not agreed to one .My DH is still mentally scarred from the blood curdling scream I let out as mine was vey badly administered (or shall I say failed to be as the anaesthetist was so uncertain where to put it). My Dh has said that he felt helpless and pathetic because he watched someone "going too far with you!!!". I can remember saying "please get him off me" to my dh.
Basically I asked the anaesthetist to stop and removed my consent but he tried to ignore me

Twice he attempted to do it while I tried to keep perfectly still but I was hit on a nerve which made me twist involuntarily.

I pleaded with him to stop as he kept wiggling it around and getting angry with me . He shouted at me over the top of my screams and said "I won't come back if you ask for one later!"
All I can remember about my gorgeous dd's birth is that bastard!!!
My dh had to force him off and say clearly "she said stop"
DH also asked for him to go away but he actually came back and popped his around the door 3 times during the rest of my labour "just to see how you're doing" . My contractions actually stopped for a good while after that whole episode.
I did not ask for an epidural ,the consultant booked me an early epidural due to severe spd but I was not afraid of it as I had a succesful one during dd1's birth.
I am not a coward, have a good pain threshold and am quite steely. I know this procedure and know he was a bastard!!!
Wow.sorry for that essay and rant