Epidural or soldier through?

[MamaDuckling]

I had a fairly traumatic first birth. Waters went early, horrendous contractions for 30+ hours, pethidine, still only 4cm... Then came the water pool, gas and air, and eventual attempt at pushing some 10 hours later. Then it all stopped, I was 'induced' and ended up in theatre with a ventouse delivery. The epidural was a god send.

Throughout this pregnancy I'd sworn blind I'd opt for epidural at the onset of bigger contractions. MW is very much pushing me to go to MLU as labour ward is next door, but I've heard too many stories of women being 'too late' for an epidural by the time they get over to the labour ward.

Anyone else out there so put off by their attempt at a natural birth that they went straight for the drugs with no.2?

I know there's an increased risk of needing assisted delivery/episiotomy but I suspect I might anyway. Consultant commented last time that there's not much space between my two holes down there!

I also know this baby is back to back at 35 wks, so pain could be even worse?

...but if you had a positive experience with an epidural first time round then I would just go for it :)

There must be varying degrees of epidurals or maybe it's the way different women react to them, with both of mine I was pain free from below my boobs to mid thighs, I was a bit shivery and my legs were a bit itchy but still better than the pain I'd been in.

I did stay on the bed but it didn't bother me as I'd already done hours of pacing and bouncing on g&a and pethidine and it was flipping awful.

I did lose track of time a bit so can't be exact but with both by the time I'd been stitched up and cuddled the baby a bit I was able to stand up and go in the shower, I'd guess it was less than an hour as they like to get the delivery rooms back asap for the next person.
I was a bit tingly for a while but definitely mobile and able to care for my babies, with dd2 I stayed in overnight as she was born at 7 pm, dh was sent home at 10pm and I was up and about on my own all night looking after her with no side effects.

Dogs - both. There can be lower doses, but some women also react less well. Basically like any drug or pain relief . I am still bitter that mine was shit! It was the main driver behind home births the next twice - if the epidural was shit why not stay home

I had a mobile epidural so could move around and pressed the top up button when needed.

I let it run out before pushing started so I could feel the urge to push - wish I hadn't. Worst pain ever as ds was back to back and hand up on head, tore bad.

But the epidural was v positive for me as it allowed me to sleep through awful contractions so I had enough strength to push. I reckons I would've needed forceps if I didn't let it run out.

Dd1 was born at night so once I got transferred to the ward I went straight to sleep and don't recall when exactly it wore off, I think I would have found it quite frustrating if she was born in the day, being aware of the weird sensation of my legs coming back to me whilst waiting to be able to go shower.

I must admit it was nice to be able to get up and shower an hour after giving birth with dd2, that was definitely one of the positives of not having one this time round.

I had a section and after a few hours you are encouraged to get up put of bed. I had no difficulty looking after my baby and didn't ask the staff to do anything (I did buzz them the second night at 3 am after having no sleep for 2 nights I couldn't manage to popper the poppers up on her sleepsuit