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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Did you have an epidural? If so, would you again?

114 replies

firstimer30s · 29/12/2013 16:41

Would very much like one as want the full whack on pain relief. Did anyone have and would recommend OR has any advice for things to watch out for?
Thanks!

OP posts:
Aquariusgirl86 · 30/12/2013 07:45

Dc1 no
Dc2 yes but it only worked on one side of my body which was a nice halfway house as I didn't have full on pain but could still feel contractions on one side (completely)
Not sure what I'd do next time though

GiraffesAndButterflies · 30/12/2013 07:54

I had one more for sleep than pain relief. My contractions started on a Wednesday night and were frequent and painful enough to keep me awake all Wednesday night and all Thursday night, while doing bugger all in terms of progressing my labour. By Friday lunchtime I was sobbing from tiredness and the epidural and subsequent sleep was utterly amazing. I hadn't wanted one originally, so the mw lightened the dose and then let it run out altogether for the pushing stage. I don't think there's any way I would have had the energy to push had I not had the epidural.

OP you sound very set on the epidural. The one thing I would say is, be aware birth plans often need to change :) I think it's good to have an idea of what you want in advance, but don't set yourself up for disappointment by thinking that the planned way is the only way for you. Have some 'if that isn't possible I want X' or 'if I change my mind I might go for Y' options in mind too.

MigGril · 30/12/2013 08:24

There are epidurals and epidurals though. I would never have a full epidural again as it completely nums you and you can't feel anything. A walking epidural on the other hand I'd consider but not all hospitals can offer them.

DD was back to back, long labour I didn't have the epidural until take to theater for an attempted forceps delivery. which did work. But I was num afterwards for a good few hours. Couldn't pick up my crying baby ect, and I know I needed as it could have ended in an emergency csection. But I wouldn't and didn't choice to have one again.

Even when rithing in pain with DS I still refused anything other then gas and air. it was a much shorter labour though and I don't think they would have got onein time anyway. I felt much better afterwards.

HoHoHopelessAtNamingBabies · 30/12/2013 08:44

I had a walking epidural with DD1 and it was great. Wore off enough for me to feel I has control when pushing. I was adamant that I would do the same again with DD2 who is due today but found myself opting for the MLU when discussing options with a MW. Will see how it goes...

peacefuleasyfeeling · 30/12/2013 10:41

If you decide to go for it, make them promise you that they will not let it run dry for any reason. Take arnica as labour is likely to take longer and you will be restricted to labouring on your back or side and you'll be quite pummelled internally. And read up on good advice for how to nurse yourself after an episiotomy or forceps delivery, so that if it happens you are prepared and have the stuff you need to hand. There should be lots of advice on here. The very best of luck and enjoy your new baby!

atthestrokeoftwelve · 30/12/2013 10:53

Good points peaceful.
I wanted to avoid an episiotomy at all costs and knew that having an epidural would greatly increase my risks of requiring one.

I was prepared to endure the pain of labour if it meant no stitches.
Thankfully it worked and I had no tears or cuts with my births.

crabwoman · 30/12/2013 12:55

I had one with dd1 at 4cm after 2 days of painful early labour and a back to back baby. Could not take any more, and desperately needed sleep. I had pethadine + gas and air whilst waiting for the epidural and it was amazing! I think if I had any strength left in my body I would have stuck with that.
However as soon as it was in place I promptly fell asleep until I was woken fully dilated. Then spent 2 hours trying to push but to no avail. Baby was in distress so I delivered in the operating theatre. Ventouse didn't work, so ended up with episiotomy and forceps. I also lost a lot of blood, so I had to have blood transfusion, antibiotics and iron pills. The effects of the iron pills were slightly traumatic after an episiotomy!
I have no idea if it was the epidural that caused this level of intervention, or if it would have occurred anyway. I would say that the episiotomy took over a year to recover from.
I am now due dd2 anyday and will be trying to avoid epidural, in the hope that it does reduce the amount of intervention.
However, if you really want one then ask. It's your body, your baby and your childbirth.

AnAdventureInCakeAndWine · 30/12/2013 16:26

If you want no tears then you need to have a stern talk with your baby about keeping hands down and away from mouths while being born...

rallytog1 · 30/12/2013 17:25

I had one and would have another in a heartbeat. It was amazing. I ended up with an emcs but that was nothing to do with the epidural and everything to do with my malpositioned dd.

It's worth asking if you can have a mobile epidural. With these, you can still feel all the contractions (they just don't hurt) and move around a bit, so you feel more in control of things.

iklboo · 30/12/2013 17:31

I had an epidural as I really wanted to push but wasn't dilated enough. Promptly fell asleep & had to be woken to push. However, due to DS's position I had to lie on my left side so wasn't fully 'numbed' on my right. This might have helped me have some control over pushing & DS was out in 4 big pushes with no intervention.

MarlenaGru · 30/12/2013 17:35

I had one and won't have one again unless they force me to!! The epidural meant I couldn't feel to push and I ended up needing ventouse after two hours of pushing. Would rather trust my body this time. I mainly had it as I was scared as I was doing fine without it.

MurderOfGoths · 30/12/2013 17:40

I did, well, sort of. I was on the Syntocin drip and had the epidural, then they turned the epidural off an hour before I was due to start pushing. Only letting my have it again when DS got stuck and had to be delivered by ventouse. Would rather have it all the way through for DC2!

Bowlersarm · 30/12/2013 17:41

Yes!

MrsMargoLeadbetter · 30/12/2013 17:53

Yes, twice. They were both great!

Was on my back both times, had fairly quick labours (6 hours or less once equip in) with no interventions.

On my 2nd labour they let me keep topped up until the end, not sure if that was because the guidelines had changed (5 yrs between births) or because my body reacted ok last time? It didn't stop me pushing effectively.

Ask about one as soon as you arrive in hosp, the anestistic (sp) might be in surgery so you need to get your name on the list.

Good luck.

PenguinsDontEatStollen · 30/12/2013 18:04

I had one with DD1 and although it was the right decision at the time (needed syntocin), I would fight tooth and nail not to have one again.

It was traumatic getting it in (problems locating it, three attempts, lots of blood). It 'worked' in that I was utterly numb, but somehow DD1 was still pressing on my spine and I was still in pain towards the end so had to have gas and air as well. It failed to wear off for friggin hours down my right side so couldn't get myself cleaned up for about 12 hours after delivery.

Episiotomy and forceps as I couldn't feel to push, B2B DD1 couldn't turn and I was quite battered and bruised.

DD2 was another B2B labour and it hurt like hell, but overall a less traumatic experience with less total pain (when you include recovery) than DD1.

I might consider a mobile epidural but my hospital didn't offer them.

DangoDays · 30/12/2013 20:00

Like crabwoman I had a really long labour with ds1 and wound up asking for an epidural as was exhausted. it wasn't something I intended to have but I was knackered. The birth involved interventions and was traumatic. I felt pretty rough and blue afterwards but I may have felt that way anyway. It is very hard to say what role the epidural played in that.

Having had a great natural delivery with ds2 I can only say it was a much better labour and delivery. I had a lovely doula 2nd time round who was a fabulous support. I wanted to help myself avoid anything that might lead to intervention. Although it was just so much easier as I was much better prepared and relaxed, I do take my hat off to my labouring self with ds1 as a long back to back labour is hardcore. It was a long time before gas and air, let alone an epidural were an option. So even if you plan on these you might need to prepare for other ways to cope until you can have them!

I will say that for all the will in the world childbirth is one unpredictable experience. Keep an open mind.

daisylulu · 30/12/2013 20:06

Yes for DC2 and yes. With.out.a.doubt

FrankAndFurt · 30/12/2013 20:43

I had one for my first but I am sure it fave me a bad back. I refused to for my subsequent births as the short term pain relief wasn't worth it for the long term pain of bad back.

FrankAndFurt · 30/12/2013 20:46

THIS suggests they don't cause bad backs but I am not convinced Confused

MarlenaGru · 30/12/2013 21:13

Siting it was awful too. You have to keep dead still. Whilst contracting. On your side. Excruciating.

Original poster
firstimer30s · 31/12/2013 00:13

Thanks all. Will look into whether my hospital offers a mobile epidural as these seem to be a good middle ground...

OP posts:
Chacha23 · 31/12/2013 12:25

really wanted a mobile epidural as they seem to be the best of both worlds, but my hospital didn't offer them. Was suprised as it's a huge university hospital and one of the best in the country.

Zara1984 · 31/12/2013 14:20

Chacha I was told by the hospital where I had DS (major teaching hospital, 9000+ births a year) that it's because with a walking epidural you need one to one midwife care at all times and that's often not possible in a busy hospital.

Yes I had one with DS and it was fucking marvellous. I don't know whether mine was dialed down (was in so much agony I didn't really give a shit what the anaesthetist said) but I still felt a lot of painful pressure during pushing and I felt myself tear when DS crowned. Sometimes I wonder if I would be able to not have pain relief next time, but then I think I've forgotten just how awful the pain was. So yes, unless I have a rare low-pain labour I will get one next time. I will ask for one as soon as I arrive at hospital as I would hate to miss out on one if I leave it too late for the mw & anaesthetist 's liking!

Epidural did not affect the speed of my (induced, gel only) labour. I had some trouble pushing because I couldn't feel exactly how to push at the start and I was tilted so far back. Next time I will try and remember to ask if I can have the bed tilted more upright IYSWIM.

There is an excellent book about epidurals for expectant mums by an anaesthetist, it's called Epidurals Without Guilt.

Chacha23 · 31/12/2013 16:34

thanks Zara, that's good to know

bumpybumps · 01/01/2014 20:54

I had one, I didn't get a break from contractions they were continuous and painful because dd was in a weird position, my mental and physical strength for a "see how it goes" approach just went and I found myself demanding one even though midwife tried to talk me into gas and air. I would have one again as it was lovely, I managed to sleep and was calm and very relaxed. Downside though- being restricted to that bed and ill never know if it was the position of dd or the epidural which led to forceps,episiotomy,tearing and pph.