Epidural ? Yay or Nay?

[louiserachael]

I've been told the pain of having the epidural administered is so painful ?? Any ladies had one with some advice ??

I've done it both ways - labour with an epidural, labour without. A definite YAY for me.

I now get angry so when women are pressured into "natural childbirth" (I didn't used to feel that way - I've done hypnobirthing etc and am from a very hippy neighbourhood where women are encouraged to birth at home to the smell of lavender and have their other DC watch).

Labour hurts like hell, sorry but it does. Why should you suffer? Get the epidural if you want to at the time. Don't worry - it doesn't hurt AT ALL getting put in. Agree the cannula and catheta bothered me more.

My other half offered to put on my hypnobirthing tracks after I had my epidural and I apparently said "f**k hypnobirthing, it's all about the drugs" 😂😂

Another epidural fan-I was TERRIFIED of giving birth and needles! I was so scared that I just wasn't dilating with the contractions. The cannula didn't hurt me at all when put in or taken out. The tiny local anaesthetic was a tiny pin prick in my back- I was then warned to keep still for a potential electric shock but this didn't happen.

I could still feel my legs after, I could still feel pressure and also when to push, it takes nearly all of the pain away. My issue was I remained anxious for the whole labour and just couldn't calm down which isn't great as the epidural makes you shake but I was like uncontrollably shaking.

I would have ended up having a c-sec had I not had an epidural - the labour went on for hours and I had a ventouse delivery, I would have been too exhausted to push by that point had I been in pain all those hours.

I was a little worried about getting an epidural if I wanted one because the thought of a needle in my spine made me shudder, it was sweet sweet relief to feel it going in when I finally got one

Honestly it doesn't hurt, sharp scratch for local anaesthetic and then nothing painful, the worst bit was trying to get a canula in and trying to stay still through constant contractions so the lovely anaesthetist could work his magic.

Don't do what I did though and wait til you are at transition to get one, as the relief was quite short lived and would have been lovely to have that relief much earlier.

I'm due with my second in November and and the only pain relief I will consider is an epidural!

Yes, do it!

Yay for edipural!!

Yay from me! Managed it both times despite everyone telling me #2 comes too fast to get one / I was determined!!
My dad who is a Dr once told me "you'd never have a tooth extracted without anaesthetic so why have a baby without?"
Made total sense to me
Full of admiration for anyone who did pain relief free I just know it wasn't for me to do it that way

Epidural is not painful. Childbirth is painful. Take the drugs OP. No one gets a medal for being a martyr delivering without them - despite what they might think. So, if you feel you want one then have it

Penguins - yes all that !!!

Mine was painful when put in, didn't work and had to be resited. Maybe I just got a dodgy anaesthetist.

Yay!! Loved my epidural, no pain just discomfort on insertion but by then I was in so much pain from labour I was delighted to have it!
It completely took away the pain and I snoozed until ready to push a few hours later. Definitely the best of my births. Good luck.

I'm due 18 days and terrified. I never had epidural with my other 2 as I was scared of the thought of it.

I think I may opt for it, thanks for your positive stories everyone.

I agree the canula is worse. I have bad veins and for my last birth it took the midwife and the dr 5 attempts before they managed to put it in. That was the point when I decided to get the gas and air! It was excruciating.

I had an epidural for both my births and the worst part was the anaesthetic before the epidural went in. The anaesthetist worked around my contractions, it was super quick and the relief afterwards was bliss. Good luck with the birth whatever you decide!

I've had two, first one during labour and it was fine (compared to the pain I was in anything would have been)

Second one at start of labour and again fine.

I had zero intentions of having an epidural. All natural for me. Midwifes were told I didn't want one..

Until I'd been having contractions for days, no sleep and labour progressing nowhere. I needed hormone drip to progress and was warned the pain would intensify. Immediately wanted an epidural as I'd reached my threshold. It was lovely. I slept for an hour after and before birth.

Only thing is I really didn't like being unable to feel to push. Ended up with forceps delivery as baby was getting in distress. Subsequently have issues with pelvic prolapse. I have no idea if issues are related to epidural but for this baby if I have a vaginal birth I might not have one incase. However I recommend them to any of my pregnant friends. You don't win points for being a martyr and labour is hard.

Had one with ds1 and the first didn't work. No one believed me and resulted in me being ridiculously stressed (and quite unbearable by all accounts). A second aneathetist came and did it again and it was pure bliss. Ended up with an emcs carried out with just the epidural which I wouldn't recommend!
Ds2 planned section with spinal block - much better!
Epidural didn't hurt at all though.

I had an epidural with DS1 three years again. I still remember the feeling of relief as the pain went away. Definitely well worth it!

I've had several epidurals, one for labour and some more later on in life for arthritis of the spine - all of them a blessed relief.
The miniscule amount of pain is 100 times less than the pain of labour I can assure you. I would have had one for every child if I'd had more than one child. I don't "do" pain

Lol in advance of my labour I was pretty determined to do everything as naturally as possible.
All that went out of the window of course.
DD did not arrive i.e. I did not go into labour, and so was called to the hospital 2 weeks overdue to be induced.
20 minutes later I began having one intense contraction that more or less lasted for next 36 hours - yay!
I began on gas and air (still opting for the least clinical option possible).
Spent 18 hours like that, refusing anything else - during which time I had still not dilated more than 4, and was exhausted.

Because I then had pretty much no option but the epidural (so that I could keep going), I had to be taken to another part of the hospital. The anaesthetist ran in to put my epidural in - the midwives said the quickest one they had ever seen. I had to try to stay still (very difficult with intense contractions), bent over forward over my bump while he basically punched it into my back and ran off to A&E.
The pain, honestly? - by that point compared to the contractions it was nothing, I barely felt it.
Within minutes I was floating serenely on a cloud with a button I could press for top ups (I was pressing it like crazy - it doesn't let you have any more than once every 20 minute though!)
And stayed that way until DD was 5cm, which took the full 36 hours.

At which point I was advised to have a c-section. No emergency, I waited to go into theatre.

So when it comes to it, you may or may not care. And whatever you plan in advance, it's unlikely that's what will happen. Doesn't work that way.
I know ladies who have had completely natural births, within minutes of going into labour - at home, in a lift, in a taxi. Others like me a very different story.

The most important part is the healthy baby you get at the end of it, however it happens x

Yay from me too!

I had one with DD and have also had two spinal block anaesthetics with knee replacement ops. They didn't hurt, but you have to bend forward and stay quite still while they do it. Pain relief is pretty immediate from memory.

Yay from me. Asked for one after 36 hours, utter bliss, managed to get a nap in. That one fell out so had another put in for theatre for forceps. Didnt feel a thing

Utter bliss. And I fell for the hypnobirthing bollocks. Could still feel when to push etc. Ask if your hospital do mobile epidurals.

As other posters above said, it was not painful at all. The canular in my hand was a lot more bother.

I was induced and the contractions started thick and fast, so I was quite unprepared: just remembered that I should ask for one as soon as I think I want it. With the naivety of first birth I didn't think I would and was also unprepared for the no eating/ lying still etc

I'm glad I asked for epidural first time round. THe only thing I would add, which some people mention is the healing. My second birth was almost identical. I was induced early and things progressed relatively quickly, I did ask for an epidural - but there was no time. . though I was glad afterwards. I feel like I healed much quicker (including tears both times) without the epidural, and I felt I had more energy and was less drained.

I had one after they brought me to hospital from the birth centre because DD didn't descend after two hours' full dilation. By this time I had decided I wanted a caesarian under general .

I felt nothing when they put it in. The only thing on my back I do remember was the lovely woman anaesthetist's finger nails (or she said they were, maybe they weren't), though by this time I had probably been given a pain killer, because they couldn't do anything with me, apparently, as I was completely off the planet (the midwife's words, not mine). I must have been, because I still am terrified of c-sections lol.
The pain went instantly. Amazing things epidurals are. The plaster being ripped off the next day was worse than the thing itself.
I'm glad I had one, as DD eventually came with ventouse after some pushing and a male gynaecologist on my chest who ended up bruising my ribs (they still hurt now, three weeks later lol).

However, having progressed to the full 10 cm without pain relief, with part of it on a hormone drip because my contractions weren't strong enough, I would still do the whole thing again without and preferably the birth itself as well. With that epidural, I couldn't feel any contractions anymore, so had to rely on the midwife to tell me when one was coming and then push with all my might, gasping for air three times. I for one prefer to feel what I'm doing, so I'll try it again next time without, and mentally prepare even better for the agony (though apparently my cervix was very tough and didn't want to let DD's head through permanently, which is why it was so f*cking painful, and I don't use that swear word lightly) and not scoff at homeopathy to soften the cervix.

It was a bit uncomfortable going in, but by then I was desperate for the pain relief. Which was frigging amazing. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was very itchy for 2-3 days while it worked it's way out of my system but otherwise no ill effects.