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Childbirth

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

Original poster

what about epidurals?

34 replies

thegardener · 25/05/2007 21:33

What is your experience of epidurals for pain relief?

I had just g&a with my ds, asked for an epidural but they said it was too late, had a quick labour, very very painful & they had to use forceps and the ventouse, due to ds's heart rate slowing down.

OP posts:
Kathyis6incheshigh · 25/05/2007 21:35

mine was bl*dy magic

Coolmama · 25/05/2007 21:37

I promised to marry the anaethetist after he gave me an epidural - sheer bliss!

Hilllary · 25/05/2007 21:38

wonderful - although my spinal was better

hana · 25/05/2007 21:39

oh yes, loved my epidural with dd1, made a world of difference
didn't have one with second
had one for third, but baby born about 15 min after it was in

Califrau · 25/05/2007 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oooggs · 25/05/2007 21:42

with ds born dec03 it was rubbish & had 24hrs of hell. With dt's born 8 weeks ago it was FANTASTIC. Didn't feel a thing sorted within 4 hours and didn't even know dt1 was out

paulaplumpbottom · 25/05/2007 21:43

I didn't get one and regretted it

TuttiFrutti · 25/05/2007 21:44

Most blissful experience of my life. From sheer agony to no pain at all in a split second.

SenoraPostrophe · 25/05/2007 21:46

I had an epidural with dd, but it wore off and it was horrific. ventuose followed.

had nothing with ds and it was easier.

would not have one again, plus I'm in the natural birth club now. it's v exclusive you know.

bristols · 25/05/2007 21:46

Excellent. I had the most wonderful birth and I'm sure that's because my pain was so well controlled.

maisym · 25/05/2007 21:48

great - had one for dd1 - back to back labour. Gave birth fast no tears & no problems. Felt that as I was relaxed after terrible pain things went well.

Amapoleon · 25/05/2007 21:53

First was fantastic.
Second was awful only worked on one side, they fiddled constantly had it done 3 times in the end and still didn't bloody work.

Original poster
thegardener · 25/05/2007 21:53

do you have to have a catheta afterwards

OP posts:
hana · 25/05/2007 21:58

i had a catheter for first one, didn't have one for second

hoxtonchick · 25/05/2007 22:03

marvellous. 2nd better than 1st.

ellemo · 25/05/2007 22:08

Hey, I had EC-section with DS#1, then I tried for VBAC with DS#2, which was successful but I hated every minute of it. I had g&a & a diamorphine injection, i was totally off my head, having outer body experiences, I don't remember any interaction with my midwife & then when baby arrived I felt utterly horrified & traumatised by the whole experience. I tore quite alot too & had internal & external stitches - it was just horrible, painful, shocking & scarring. I took a long time to recover & felt quite low for a while. To my horror 7mth later I was pregnant again!!! Vowed not to go through with a natural delvery & booked a c-section. However, at pretty much the 11th hour I had a change of heart - although I was terrified of the birth - it felt wrong to have a section planned. And so I logged on here, talked to many a mum re. birth experiences, especially mums who had previously suffered tearing & trauma. I decided to opt for an epidural so that I would be 'with it' & I am so happy to say it worked for me. No pain, although I could feel the contractions & urge to push, the epidural meant I could relax & have a handle of the whole experience. Its boring & tedious being on the bed all the time, with the monitor & drip on but to be honest the time passed quickly, before I knew it, the babies head was making its way down slowly & I was pushing at the right times & he arrived safely, healthy & I had one little stitch. I have recovered really wel & am so glad I decided not to 'brave' it, the epidural enabled me to have a last ditch attempt at a 'nice' birth experience.
DS#3, Louis Taylor, was born on 13th may, weighing 7lb 14 (DS# 1 & 2 were both over 9lb). Hope you come to a decision you are happy with - good luck.

Klaw · 25/05/2007 22:17

It is worth doing your research into the risks of epidurals and then make an informed choice about what risks you are willing to take.

Personally, I refused to take them. Epi risks

What about TENS, G&A, Water birth, Hypnotherapy, massage, Doula support.... ? non drug pain relief

berolina · 25/05/2007 22:19

Epidural was fabulous for making me feel human again after I'd been in intense pain for what felt like hours and had only got to 3cm. Within an hour of the epidural I was fully dilated. (Contractions stopped again ater that, though...)

I did, though, miss the 'working' sensation I'd had with the painful contractions. It took until right to the end for me to really feel the contractions enough again to work with them properly. And ds still needed ventouse, but I doubt that was down (entirely) to the epidural.

I'm 24 weeks pg again and hoping that my placenta praevia has really resolved itself and I can go for a vaginal birth - I'd like to try without epidural, but if for whatever reason I really felt I couldn't, I'd probably ask for one again.

jabberwocky · 25/05/2007 22:21

Both of my births were c-sections so had epidurals with them. No problems whatsoever - even tho I had been really nervous before ds1. One thing, the first time around, an evil nurse put in the catheter before I got my epidural Totally unnecessary pain Second time around I knew better and made sure epidural was in place and working before they came near me with a cath!

puppydavies · 25/05/2007 22:31

after 30 hours of posterior labour it was the biggest relief of my life - no way could i have coped with augmentation to get me dilated last couple of cms without it. had a mobile epi which was fab cos i really could walk around and be upright with it and stuff. also managed to get some (desperately needed) sleep before pushing stage so it had worn off pretty much completely when that came. ended up with ventouse cos persistent posterior but i think that was more down to my mw breaking my waters at the wrong time than anything to do with the epi.

ScottishMummy · 25/05/2007 22:31

nowt much to worry about, necessary analgesia, necessary for c sectiom

kittylette · 25/05/2007 22:35

My sister had one, because she had been pushing for 2 hours and was re-examined as was only 8cms!

So they reccomemnded an epidural to give her a break whilst he dialated fully,

but id didnt work at all, there was no ease at all in her pain and she had a HUGE bruise on her back and now suffers (3 weeks later) from backpain

Pan · 25/05/2007 22:36
jabberwocky · 25/05/2007 23:04

Hiya Pan! I was actually thinking about you the other day and wondering how things were going. Not much internet time lately, I'm still trying to figure out how to go from parenting one child to two

Pan · 25/05/2007 23:08

Hurray!!

dd hasn't changed(and nor should she) but my interpretations and understandings have enormously, esp. when other peeps say "isn't she shy?"..and often hear myself say.."no, she is just particular"......

thank you again, and congrats to you.