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 have had an epidural and a no pain relief whatsoever birth, and there is no way i would have an epidural again.
I couldnt feel to push and ended up with a very long labour in theatre after failed ventuese. Was prepped for a cs if the forceps failed, but thankfully they didnt. Classic what can go wrong with an epidural.
Exactly 2 years later gave birth to dd with no pain relief but i was able to walk around which was my instinct. Gas and air makes me sick so i cant have that. DD was born 4 hours later. It hurt but it was so much less traumatic.

I have had three epidurals (and three babies). I don't remember them hurting to be honest, though I was having contractions during two of them so the pain was from having to sit still and upright while they were being done between contractions. And the relief is so quick and so huge. For my second I was 8cm dilated at point of epidural (4-8cm in one hour) and if it could have spared the pain of one contraction it would have been worth it. I think they are marvellous.

ON the other hand I have had two friends that it didn"t work for and one who go the headache side effect they warn you about.

Just remembered mine made me itch each time but they gave me an anti histimine and it stopped.

I was totally not wanting 1 , but I had 1 in the end and I'm so glad I did !! It's the thought of it all put me off but it really helped loads!

I had epidural with my DD and in a way it was a good job I had it and also it wasn't.
My DD's heart beat disappeared suddenly when I had it put in which is apparently more common that you'd think. It was a scary moment, though. The emergency alarm was sounded and loads of people rushed in. Thankfully, DD was fine.
I did end up having ventouse delivery (not causes by epidural). DD was large (9lb) in an awkward position and according to the consultant I am narrow down there, so there was no way she would have been born without an intervention. I am glad I had sufficient pain relief at that point.