Anyone had a mobile epidural at UCLH

[grove10]

I'm only early [edited by MNHQ] so realise childbirth is still some way off but for as long as I can remember have been really scared of childbirth. Think it stems from my mum recalling how traumatic it was having me, she had a particularly hard birth, her stomach muscles broke and she found labour pain dreadful. Am booked in at UCLH and know they offer mobile epidurals and just wondered has anyone had any experience of having one there and will it definitely be administered if it's ones express wish, also at what stage can you have one? It seems they don't go through the birth plan until much later on in pregnancy, about 34 weeks i believe whereas that's all I can think about now. Have only had 1 midwife appt so far but found it quite rushed and to a set format with barely any opportunity for asking questions and don't think she would have felt it appropriate if i brought up my worries at this stage. I'm hoping the approach will be more personalized as I go along. Grateful to hear from anyone.

I'm at UCLH too but I think it is pretty universal that midwives won't spend much one to one time talking about birth plans early in pregnancy. I'm 33 weeks now but at midwife appointments they have tried to deflect a lot of questions saying that it is important I have the official birthing choices workshop/ teaching day first as that answers everything.

It's annoying that you don't actually get that session until quite late. I had mine at 32 weeks but most of the women there were further along. Also the MW who lead the session often said things like "that is really a question for your anaesthetist" which was honest but not very helpful. I appreciate she had a big group of women to teach and a lot to get through though.

My advice would be to ask your midwife at the next appointment to get you booked into the birth teaching day early and start raising any specific issues and questions early/ be a squeaky wheel with your questions. If you know you'll definitely be wanting an epidural it means that you'll be booked into the labour ward rather than starting in the midwife led birthing centre. The midwife did tell us all that it is easy to change your mind mid-way and that lots of women request an epidural in the birthing centre and they just transfer them into the labour ward so that they can have it straight away. If you knew in advance you definitely wanted an epidural then probably best to start in the right ward so as not to risk missing it due to beds full etc

Hi Betty
Thanks v much for your response, interesting to hear someone elses' experience at the same hospital. In fact according to my notes I'm already booked into the Labour Ward as considered high risk. All the same I'm still worried that for whatever reason I won't get an epidural eg. MW or anaesthetist busy and I miss the window. Think i was a bit unlucky with the particular MW I saw as she was slightly on the brusque side and not terribly approachable. On a related point, how have you found the MW's so far? I'm hoping there are some really nice ones too. It's a shame there just isn't an opportunity amongst all their standard questions to ask you if there is anything you're particularly worried about so they can put your mind at rest at an early stage. Is the birth teaching day the same as the 1 antenatal class you get?

Yup - it's just one day antenatal class. I think they do a separate shorter breast feeding one too. I've found all the midwives I've seen so far to be really lovely. Had one appointment with a lone 3rd year student and he was good too. I'm not sure if its the same everywhere but I sometimes leave thinking "is that it?" after an appointment as you sometimes wait ages then they just check your urine and blood pressure and away you go again until 6 or so weeks later. I'm really glad to be doing NCT classes too as that has given me lots more info and support.

grove it's totally understandable to be anxious but I would try to put this worry out of your mind for now. There is a pretty huge 'window' with first babies to get an epidural and UCLH has a 24 hour epidural service. If you think you might want one be sure to pop it in your birth plan. Obviously emergencies take priority so sometimes you have to wait (so a good idea to think about other coping strategies too!) but more than 50% of first time mums have an epidural. It will likely be fine esp as you're starting out on labour ward

Bue - thanks for your reply and reassurance. Have just read stories of people who didn't get an epi in time and worry that for whatever reason the MW might advise against me having one and guess I'm looking for reassurance that if it's my express wish that it will definitely be carried out. Not always sure the birth plan is always properly read or carried out. Even though I can't really afford it, have even considered going privately as realise it'll be guaranteed then. Think because of my mum's experience have built up this deep seated fear of childbirth which is difficult to dispel now. Did you go to UCH yourself?

I gave birth at UCLH and had a mobile epi. It was very good. I think it's unlikely you'll request an epi and not get one at UCLH. Because its a large teaching hospital they have more anaesthetists than other places so availability tends to be good. Go to the labour ward though if you think you'd like an epi (and not the birth centre) as it signals your intentions. You obviously don't have to have one once you're on the labour ward but its "part of the system" there as opposed to something unusual if you need to transfer from the birth centre to labour ward. Good luck.

Thank you HandMini, your post has made me feel better already - do you mind telling me a tiny bit about your experience - what stage were you at when you had the epi, did it remove most of hte pain and was it just a case of asking for one? Also how mobile actually are you? Any side effects? Finally were there students observing when you gave birth? Wasn't sure if that's path of the course with it being a teaching hosp.

I've already been told I'm going to the Labour Ward as considered high risk so at least will be in the right place.

I've PMed you Grove.

Thanks HandMini, PMed you too.

Any others ? Thanks!