Has any one had an epidural that was NOT followed by interventions?

[DivaSkyChick]

My family keeps telling me that there are no bravery points for tolerating the pain, to just go for the epidural. But from what I've read, it seems like epis lead to cutting and finally forceps or ventouse. Is it really "a = b+c" ?

Anyone have GREAT epidural stories?

Yes - have an epidural!!

Have not read the full thread but I had my first in January and and the full menu of pain relief ending with epidural which I have to say was absolutely brilliant and I would have it again - I was back to my normal self, it calmed everything down and helped me keep my sanity.

It meant I didn't feel the terrible urge to bear down which meant that I spent 2 hours after being fully dilated snoozing (gathering strength after 30 hours of labour) and allowing dd's head to fall very low down in the birth canal.

This meant that when it came to pushing (I could feel when and how to push as the epidural was "switched off" or whatever the term is at that point) the second stage only took 25 minutes and I had very little pain.

I can highly recommend an epidural IMO! Hope this helps.

Sorry - also meant to say I had no interventions for second stage.

Also, although my legs were wobbly I could still move them during labour and walk afterwards.

I had an epidural with dd in june 2005. was the only pain relief I had, I was 7cm by the time I got to the hospital. I had a fantastic experience no problems or interventions. I was pushing for 20 mins only with no assistance. Didn't have an episisotomy (sp) only needed two stiches. my labour and birth was thankfully a great experience and I'm happy I had the epidural as I copesd for so long without any pain relief and I knew I wanted some at that point.

good luck with everything xx

I was totally convinced before ante-natal classes that I wanted an epidural, but the midwives convinced me to try active labour and I was very well informed and supported about that and in the end I had a nine-hour totally natural labour with my first child. I'm so glad I did. Try to find midwives who are really into active labour because it IS different and there is, statistically, less risk of medical intervention (episiotomy, ventouse, forceps etc) with active labour than with any other sort.

I had an epidural that WAS followed by episiotomy and ventouse, but wanted to reassure that it's not the end of the world - it was a loooong and excruciating back labour (48 hours) and I was so tired and in so much pain (gas and air did nothing for me), I just felt I couldn't carry on without it. Once I was hooked up to the foetal heart monitor they found that DS' heart rate was dipping alarmingly with every contraction, and as I was dilating so slowly, by the time I was 10cm I was desperate for them to get him out as quickly as possible. They only used the ventouse at the last minute as my contractions suddenly stopped, and aside from a few scratches on his head, he didn't seem to suffer from it. As for the episiotomy, honestly at that point I really didn't care what they did to me as long as my little fella came out OK. I certainly think it's much less of a big deal than a CS!

Of course I would rather have had the natural water birth that I had planned, but things just didn't turn out that way - I think it's vital to keep an open mind and don't be scared of ending up with intervention, as long as the baby and you are both OK in the end!

First time around I had an epidural fairly early on and it did lead to ventouse. Epidural took a long time to wear off and combined with loss of blood meant that I was very weak and wibbly for a few days.

Second time around I already HAD the complications before hand (had to be induced due to OC, long story). Had a walking epidural once in established labour and from that point on everything was a breeze. Had a swift labour and delivery - still had some feeling to push. Was feeding straight away and up and about within an hour after birth having a bath. No after effects whatsoever.

sorry ... "mobile" epidural is the correct term I think not a walking one!

I did the works( bar a CS) BUT the reason I may have needed the epidural was that ds was back to back and had his head at an awkward angle so wasn't 'coming down' properly...thus causing irregular, useless but veeerrrrry strong contractions and lots of back pain. With his head at that angle I would have need intervention even if I hadn't had an epidural.

Divaskychick I had 2 ventouse deliveries.
With Ds1 after 40+hrs of labour (with just G&A) baby was in distress and the decision was made to get me to theatre (for c/section), I had two huge contractions en route (I insisted on walking), an epidural and then they said that they could try a ventouse as the contractions had brought Ds down....easy peasy from then on and stitches were clean and no prob at all.
With DS2 he was that huge that ventouse had to be used, I had had an epidural (after 40hrs last time I wanted some sleep!) but am convinced that ventouse would have had to have been used in any event.
FWIW I thought that ventouse/forceps were instruments of doom beforehand but once in the position I would prefer ventouse than emergency c-section. After DS2 the stitches were pretty hellish and my recovery was prob about the same as my friend who had her 2nd c-section at the same time BUT, how to put this politely.....things are so much tighter down there now. Sorry if TMI!

(I would say that I wouldn't mind betting that the reasons stats for further interventions are high are because those that have an epidural are more likely to be having it because they already HAVE complications anyway - so it's not necessarily cause and effect).

I'm due in 3 wks with number 2 and I'm keeping my options open after having epi 1st time around (fantastic).

1st time round - had G&A (which I wasn't taking properly and baby OP) and then FINALLY got epi after 26 hours and getting stuck at 9cm. I needed sleep before the home stretch. It was the rolls royce of pain control - everything disappeared. Got some sleep for an hour and then delivered normally (on my back with MW help!!), no stitches, no tears, took myself to the shower a few hours later. MARVELLOUS.

But, I WAS on my back and couldn't feel the pushing bit (which could have been shorter if upright) but MW was fantastic and after all that time, I was glad of the relief.

So 2nd time round...I'll give the other options a go for as long as possible (g&a properly along with proper breathing etc) , and if not working, ask for the epi later on. Everyone's different and IT'S YOUR BIRTH!!! The lesson I learned - expect to surprise yourself and keep options open..

Good luck..

diva, I had mobile epi which didn't work down one side, think baby was OP (had him in Belgium and they didn't write it on the notes but DH said he came out facing up), so had 3 days of contractions which only got me to 5 cm, so agreed to synotocin to speed things up but only if I could have epi first.

delivered on my side, no tears or stitches (I think due to doing perineal massage).

a big, big, big help was tens machine, which I never fancied idea of but my cousin lent me it, my God it worked! It was great! Got me to 5 cm without too much agony...

please don't worry and best of luck!

Statistically, an epidural does increase the likelihood of intervention, from 8 per cent to 12 per cent IRCC. But that means nine out of 10 women don't have intervention after an epidural.

For me the main thing was the kind of birth i wanted. If you feel very strongly that you don't want a very 'medical' experience then i'd say an epidural is to be avoided at all costs, simply because it will mean having an anaesthetist, probably continuous monitoring, and ups the chances of things slowing down and leading to other inteventions. I chose to give birth in a midwife-led unit where epidurals weren't available for dc 1 and dc 2. The births were painful for sure, but i found the relaxed surroundings, the smallness of the unit and the fact it didn't feel like a hospital, made me much more able to cope with the pain. In contrast, I had to have dc3 in a big hospital with with consultant care (due to a risk factor with dc3) What was interesting to me was that despite having given birth to two previous babies on just gas and air, the fact that I was in a big impersonal place made the experience of labour far worse. I almost got to the point of asking for an epi though managed without in the end. Quite a lot of the mums i came across in the big hospital who had epidurals ended up with forceps/ventouse and an even larger number had stitches because they hadn't been in control of the pushing stage.So although you may have an epidural and get away without further interventions, be aware that it turns birth into a medicalised event, which is what some people want, but not everyone.

lizzie, that's interesting cos I really felt the pain was worse because of a horrible doctor and very medicalised environment. the nice midwife was like an island of calm and consolation! however, the epi, even though not very good, worked well for the pushing bit, managed to push him out but had no pain, and avoided intervention and tears, so my experience was pos overall, and I'm too scared to go to a low tech unit for next kid because I think 'what would I do if epi just wasn't available?'

it's tough isn't it, trying to work out what choices will have what consequences.. luck comes into it so much as well..

yeah, I'm convinced that there is a strong link between how relaxed you feel in your surroundings and how well you can cope with pain. Obviously other factors come into it, but I do feel that people sometimes underestimate the calming and positive influence of a homely and non medicalised atmosphere. Every one has to make their own decision in the end, but my view would be to go for a low tech unit if you have that choice Gemmitygem. I'll admit I have a bit of an axe to grind here - my local midwife-led unit seems to be permanently at risk of closure, and one of the reasons is that so many mothers choose to go to a bigger hospital because they're afraid they may need an epidural. The unit also has trouble recruiting and keeping midwives and the reason is so ironic:- the midwives get bored because there aren't enough births!! Interestingly, all the new mums who give birth at the large hospital want to transfer back to the unit for the postnatal care, and the midwives say they end up feeling that all they get to do is look after mums and babies rather than actually support mothers through labour and deliver them! So, the central part of their role is sidelined. The mothers I do know who have chosen to give birth in the small unit, like myself, have said without exception how right they feel the decision was, and how empowered they feel by the fact that they their delivery has been as far as possible a natural rather than medical event. And interestingly, the ones who started out saying they didn't think they'd cope without an epidural are the biggest fans of the unit!

why has no one commented on my message back in feb? i was really looking forward to some feedback.

what feedback would you like?

Yes, I'm a little confused! I'll give feedback enyway - I presume you mean the post about your own experience which was a positive one of epidural. I think thats great that you had a good experience, and that your epidural was well timed. But the point I made, and still stick by, is that firstly, not all epidurals are as well timed as this, for many reasons, and women can end up totally unable to feel anything , which may be great in terms of pain relief but not in terms of the hard work needed to push out baby. And secondly, even if the epidural were to work as well as yours did, there are many mothers who just don't want the whole medicalisation that goes with it. The fact are that an epidural requires a hospital environment, an anaesthetist, high level of monitoring and IS more likely to lead to further interventions. I felt very strongly that I wanted to deliver my children with just my partner and a trusted midwife. I realise this isn't for everyone, but to me it was immensely empowering, particularly as it was my first baby, to know that I could do this. Is this enough feedback?!

By samam on Tue 27-Feb-07 15:12:36
Hi, I have to admit to being one of the lucky ones! My son was born in the 'face to pubes' position which means he was born with his head up rather than facing down. I managed to push him out and I honestly don't think I would have been able to do it had it not been for a perfectly timed epidural which meant that by the time I began to push, some of the spinal had worn off and I could really concentrate on pushing, which in the end took 14 minutes, but that was after a 24 hour labour! I also think that pushing on your side helps if your baby is not for coming out, and if ventouse and forceps are being recommended! I know which Id rather do! Also, pushing on your side is also kinder to your pelvis, if you suffered from symphysis pubic dysfunction, like I did. Anyway, like I said, I was very lucky partly due to a very supportive partner and an angel of a midwife. I had a terrible pregnancy with my first son, but an easy birth and sometimes that can be the way it goes.I do realise however, that there are some women who have an absolutely awful time and maybe that will be me next time but hope it won't! God, Im scaring myself now! SAMAM

have read it again, and not sure what feedback to offer either ! sounds like you had a positive experience..that;s great and it does not mean a second labour would be worse...probably better..! you had a great midwife, lots of support and a good , positive birth..what else is there to say?

re face to pubes - ie OP baby, they can give you a longer , more painful back ache labour, but i had an OP baby, with pethidine , gas and air and not lying down for most of the labour ! so it was a great experience for me without an epidural, and for you with an epidural....

with a second labour, you know what to expect and how strong your coping skills are and what level of pain you can cope with so don;t scare yourself !

HTH x

I would avoid it if you can manage it but if the pain is too bad have it. I had one with the second twin as labour had stopped after his brother was born (we are talking hours here....) and I was fed up so we did the epidural and put in a drip to speed up the contractions but he was still born very normally on the bed with no complications at all.

Had an epidural with my first 3 labours all of them were fine - I had a slight nick the first time, the second time had the same nick but they put one stitch in it (and she was huge baby), next one no stitiches - 4th time no epidural thought it was a breeze - but couldn't sleep afterwards becuase of the pain!!!!!

If you are really not coping etc they are worth considering but my best advice is being relaxed and positive.

ok well thanks. A little confused still but maybe this site isn't for me. I guess I am one of the very few who have had a positive experience. Feel I should almost apologise for it. Surely as long as your baby is healthy etc, it shouln't matter what intervention you have. Thanks anyway x

In one sense no, it doesn't matter in the greater scheme of things. A healthy child is obviously the most important thing. But a lot of women do have a strong desire to make childbirth as natural as possible. I suppose the question is really, in this day and age, why don't women automatically get taken into hospital, given an epidural and a painfree birth. Why don't all women request that as an automatic right? After all, as a lot of people say, you wouldn't have an operation without an anaesthetic. I suppose the answer is simply that childbirth IS different from surgery or other procedures - yes, it is a medical event in some respects, but it's also so much more. It's difficult to define exactly what that is, but I guess you just need to look at the facts. I certainly wouldn't have an op with no anaesthetic, but I DID choose to cope with a high level of pain in order to experience as natural as possible births. So do many other women. Some people may think that's mad, but there must be a reason why! The best answer I can give is that natural childbirth is incredibly empowering. I definitely feel I can cope with whatever now!

1st with ventouse
2nd no intervention

Both epidurals and induction