Epidural questions

[Heatherbaby]

Hi ladies

A few questions for ladies who have had epidurals:

• did it hurt?
• could you feel when to push?
• could you still feel pain or discomfort?
• did the birth result in any intervention?
• would you recommend it?

I had a drug free water birth with DD last year. It was ok, but giving birth in an area where the water may not be an option and I'm bricking it for a dry land birth. I used to be scared of the needle bit after the birth last year, I had to have a spinal tap anyway to get a 3rd degree tear repaired and the numbness was bliss and the injection I barely remember so I was thinking wtf did I just do a natural labour for when I could have had this?! But i may have been high on birth hormones so would like to hear your experiences.

Thanks in advance x

When I was in labour with my eldest the anaesthetist tried nine times to put the epidural in (I was told later that they aren't meant to try that many times so I hope my experience is a one off!) when she finally thought she'd got it in properly it popped out again and I ended up giving birth without any pain relief. My back bled for weeks after my daughter was born. The epidural injections were by far the worst part of my labour and I didn't go anywhere near one with my subsequent babies.

• did it hurt?

No, didn't feel a thing

• could you feel when to push?

Yes. But was just pressure, not pain

• could you still feel pain or discomfort?

No.

• did the birth result in any intervention?

No

• would you recommend it?

Absolutely. Was amazing to go from sweating and chewing my pillow because of the pain to totally relaxed and pain free in matter of minutes.

I had one. I didn't feel much when they put it in. The only thing I felt was a cold tingling sensation then nothing which was heaven. It was so strange to really want to move my legs but not being able to. I couldn't feel a thing so had to be told when to push and I did need a ventouse delivery which required an episiotomy.

I have three children, all with epidurals. The first the epidural worked and I didn't feel anything. Before it started working I was in agony.
The second it didn't work and it wasn't resited or topped up. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me and worse than anything I thought would every happen to me.
The third time the labour was too quick. I went from 2cm to fully dilated while the epidural was being put in place. I cannot recommend the epidurall enough. I didn't have gas and air.
My advice to anyone having a baby is to get the epidural in plenty of time and agree with your midwife at the outset that they will resite it or top it up if it doesn't work.
I can't understand anyone who would want or encourage another human being to experience that pain.
On the other hand I love love love my children. I had infertility issues and I'm grateful for the three of them arriving safely every day :)

@amazing

"It didn't work for me. Half of my body was numb the other half wasn't. I could still feel everything but was immobile. It was horrid."

Exactly the same here. I could feel everything but could move - terrifying. I was induced and narrowly avoided forceps in the end, thank god.

*cound't move

• did it hurt?

Absolutely minimal, I can barely remember.

• could you feel when to push?

No. Nothing, no urge and couldn’t even tell if I was pushing or not.

• could you still feel pain or discomfort?

No, nothing.

• did the birth result in any intervention?

Yes...4 hours pushing, an episiotomy and secondary tear, ventouse delivery and then I haemorrhaged and needed two transfusions.

• would you recommend it?

Absolutely NOT. Never. It was the only thing in my birth plans for dc 2 and 3 - no epidural under any circumstances.

It’s interesting that they say there’s a problem with filtering the gas out the pool room.

Where I work the only room where they filter gasses out is the operating theatre. No other room filters. There is some evidence saying that it’s not good for midwives to continuously be working in rooms where they’re exposed to high levels of entonox.....the women breath it out into the room and midwives are always being exposed to low levels of it. But didn’t know some hospitals are actually filtering in delivery rooms.

• did it hurt? I don’t remember the need,e going in hurting - the worst thing was having to hold perfectly still during a couple of contractions while they placed the needle. My back felt cold the whole time though, I think from the anaesthetic fluid going in.

• could you feel when to push? Nope

• could you still feel pain or discomfort? Nothing. Dead from the waist down

• did the birth result in any intervention? Yes, I had to have forceps because DS got his brow stuck on my pelvis. I ended up with damage from the forceps which was repaired when DS was about 6 months old. That wasn’t the most fun ever.

• would you recommend it? I had to have an epidural because my blood pressure had shot up, they were concerned that it would get worse during the pain of labour, and I had some dodgy blood tests that made them suspect I might develop pre eclampsia. At the time, I was pleased to have the “excuse/justification” to have the pain relief. The contractions I had before they administered the epidural were painful beyond belief, i was incredulous at how awful they were. I couldn’t wait for the epidural. I can’t imagine going through another labour without that pain relief, but the forceps delivery also caused me a huge amount of problems. So my preference would be for an elective c section next time (and yes, I know that wouldn’t be trouble free either).

I had an epidural and it was awesome. Got to six cm dilated and stopped, so was given the drip (after 35 hours of labour) and they gave me the epidural at the same time. I could still feel myself, it was like having your mouth numbed at the dentist. It didn’t really hurt going in, just discomfort. I could feel when to push, and it still hurt a bit when she came out. No intervention required. I would absolutely recommend one. I hadn’t slept for ages so it allowed me to rest before the big push.

did it hurt? I don't remember it hurting at all. After two days of painful contractions I don't think I cared, I was just grateful relief was on its way.

could you feel when to push? Yes. I felt pressure and told my midwife I was feeling the urge to push. She had a look, confirmed it was time and they turned it down so I'd be able to push. I could certainly feel her head and then her shoulders coming out but it was manageable.

could you still feel pain or discomfort? No, not pain just pressure and my belly tightening during contractions.

did the birth result in any intervention? No. Only pushed for ten minutes. 2nd degree tear but this healed well.

would you recommend it? Yes.

2 children, epidurals both times.

First time was induction after rupture of membranes. Took me 24h from prostin pessary to 3cm after which they wanted to start syntocinon - I insisted on an epidural first. Painless insertion, good effect and I got some rest in while I dilated. I could still feel to push, but his heart rate dropped so I had a ventouse delivery.

Second, I’d been contracting on and off all week; realised it was labour when it didn’t stop. Got to hospital at 4cm, had an epidural on arrival, delivered in one push 4h later. Painless insertion, worked brilliantly.

Would I recommend? Yes and no depending on the circumstances. They are not without risk. In some cases they are necessary. In my case it was personal choice both times - I probably didn’t need one for the second delivery in all honesty.

(I’m an obstetric anaesthetist)

did it hurt? I don't think so - I was in pain from having contractions every 5 mins for over 24 hours so I didn't notice.

could you feel when to push? Yes

could you still feel pain or discomfort? Unfortunately mine had worn off by the pushing stage so yes it hurt like hell.

did the birth result in any intervention? As above I had an episiotomy and forceps.

would you recommend it? Yep - would still do it again. I got some sleep as was in labour for almost 48 hours and would never have been able to push otherwise.

I remember being at a pregnancy group and the midwife (very stupidly) showed everyone the needle (you don't see it in the hospital so why do that to expecting mums?!). Everyone looked mortified because it is huge and quite scary looking. I became obsessed with it and was utterly terrified of having one. BUT they numb you first and honestly I didn't feel a thing with either of mine!! Once you experience contractions having a needle put in you will actually be a blessing because it'll take your mind off of the contraction pain, now that's a pain there are no words for xx a close friend gave me the best advice I've ever been given in my entire life. When you start pushing just push like your having the biggest poo of your life and the baby will come out epidural or not!

I've had three, totally recommend. One baby needed forceps to turn them, two had no interventions. 3rd one I asked for the moment I arrived at hospital and that was perfect - natural birth, no tears.

did it hurt?
No. But my husband found it the scariest thing as I couldn’t keep still. They had to turn the drip right down to do it safely.

• could you feel when to push?

No but I had a top up ther was probably too close to the end point.

• could you still feel pain or discomfort?

No/ I even had a lovely sleep m before pushing.

• did the birth result in any intervention?

Yes instrumental delivery but my mother and sister both had intervention so I suspect there is a genetic element.

• would you recommend it

If I need a drip induction I’ll have no hesitation in getting an epidural. I’d ask for an exam before any top-ups though.

I had an epidural, admitted on Saturday night with pre eclampsia, given gel, left overnight & most of Sunday, taken to Labour ward to have waters broken & within 30 minutes was writhing in agony, sweating & screaming. Asked for epidural & had to wait nearly 2 hours as anaesthetist was in theatre, when he finally turned up my mum cuddled me while they put epidural in, only thing I felt was an electric shock down my right leg & a massive twitch as needle went in, pain stopped straight away, everyone said my face relaxed the second the needle went in. Local anaesthetic don't agree with me & every time epidural was topped up I spent about 20 minutes shivering. Drip for induction was started & despite them increasing it to rate that should have catapulted DS out, 19 hours later I had to have EMCS, found out that DS was back to back & midwife told me that his position meant I probably wouldn't have ever delivered him naturally. I can't remember the epidural wearing off, I was quite poorly & in high dependency for 48 hours due to massive haemorrhage, HELLP syndrome & pre eclampsia.

2 births and 2 epidurals here. The first one was such a huge relief after the agony that I knew I wanted one as soon as possible with Number 2.

I had an episiotomy with number 1 but with a careful midwife nothing and no tearing with number 2.

I could walk around, sleep and feel to push.

Epidural is the only pain relief that doesn't make me puke continuously through labour. Puking labour is super fun!