what about epidurals?

[thegardener]

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.

Fecking wonderful.............
Agony at only 3cm but I was induced.
Total pain free after epidural.

That said, I did stop contracting and ended up with ventouse but bloody glad of epidural
Told anaesthetist I would marry him

Would Never consider having another child without one again

But I am a wimp

Thank you Pan

and you're welcome

thanks for all your messages, dh & i are going to try for another baby sooner rather than later now due to all the epidural recommendations, as soon as i get to the maternity ward will be asking for one this time

Has anyone wanted an epidural & not been able to have one?

A friend planned an epidural - she had one with her first labour and really wanted one for her second. Unfortunately the anaesthetist was busy so she could not get one - despite begging! She had a water birth with gas and air. She was not happy but did admit that her recovery was quicker.

Labour: baaaad. Epidural: heaven! It dragged me out of hell and made me realise I wasn't going to die from the pain (not that I'm a drama queen or anything...).

I had a patch of pain with mine but it was still a zillion times better than without one, and the midwife rolled me to one side when they did the top up and the patch went!

I was told by the way that I couldn't have one as I was less than 4cm dilated. I screamed all I could, got seen by the consultant who told them to give me one. Sorted.

Fab - except for my third(!) top-up when it only worked on one side which was quite a surreal experience. Still, would definitely have another one. DP said it felt like he'd had one too as the screaming - and the ringing in his ears, poor lamb - finally stopped.

I really never realised that labour could be as better as all of you have mentioned, like i had mentioned with my ds it was awful, pain like i thought i was going to die, truely wonderful when ds arrived but then had to have stitches as i had an episotomy aswell which was really painful too after ventouse didn't work & forceps had to be used.

Thanks for all your messages.