Is there a way to guarantee an epidural?

[darkblu]

Please help me! I had a terrible birth with my first child. Induced and then incredibly painful labour ending in forceps and other complications.
I had an epidural and it was the best thing ever! Like honestly the best invention in the world!

Because of how bad my birth was and the complications that followed I am eligible for an elective c section.

I would probably lean towards a natural birth again purely because I've heard how painful c section recovery is. But I would NEED an epidural!

Any advice on either would be SO appreciated!

Anyone had a positive c section story?

Thanks for reading x

My second c section was AWESOME. It was an elective (first was a horrible emergency after 2 full days in labour and with a stuck distressed baby). After the first there was no way I was risking a second emergency section.

Oh my word the difference with a planned one was incredible. It was a beautiful experience - so calm, my music playing, DH with me the whole time. Lovely. The recovery was completely fine, even with a toddler at home. I was able to shower and walk around easily enough less than 24 hours after the op, I went home when DS was 3 days old (I chose to stay an extra night for bf support). Walked to the park at 10 days. Was able (with my doctor’s agreement) to drive at 3 weeks.

Honestly such a positive experience.

Oh although I took pain relief in hospital I didn’t need any from day 4 onwards so never had to take any at home.

Yes ask for one over and over be pushy and forceful. You will get it as long as you are not too far gone. But you need a doctor not a mid side that's the most important thing

purely because I've heard how painful c section recovery is

Varies massively. I've had 2 emergency sections and the back to back labours which preceded them both hurt around 1000x more than recovery.

With my last, I had no pain relief after the spinal wore off, left hospital the following day and was out for lunch on day 2 followed by Messy Church. 2 weeks pp saw me pushing the pram to pick ds up from preschool with zero issues.

I had a c section about 5 months ago and loved it, will definitely have a c section should I have another DC (too tired to even contemplate such madness right now). I had a failed induction with a back to back baby and 30 hours of non stop contractions with no dilation at that point I asked for a c section as I was exhausted and couldn't face any more contractions.

Had my c section at 7pm, up out of bed at 7am the next morning once my catheter was taken out. Had a shower and pottered around the ward and was discharged at 7pm that evening once DS had all his checks and had a wet nappy! My scar got slightly infected afterwards but a course of antibiotics sorted it out.

It is major surgery, I was fairly lucky that we had no complications. I'd say it took me 4 weeks to feel normal again. Up to that I was mindful that I had to take it easy and everything was still pretty tender.

A bit like vaginal birth every woman's experience is very different some good some bad. Giving birth either way isn't easy, do what's best for you and baby.

I didn't realise there were issues (unless labour was too far progressed).
With my first they asked what pain relief I'd like, I asked for the epidural and got one.
I hope it's that simple this time as well!

You can't guarantee one to be honest. If the anaesthesist is in theatre they can't be pulled out to do an epidural. But you might find a second birth, even an induction goes more smoothly. I asked for one as soon as I went on the drip with DC2. But I was fully dilated within 40 minutes so there wasn't time and I actually managed ok with the gas and air in the end.

I agree with pp.
I had a horrible delivery with my first - even my dsis who is a midwife said I should have had at least an epidural or possibly a CS (back to back baby, swollen cervix so involuntary pushing, syntocinon drip, failure to progress) so a very protracted labour all in all, plus a nasty episiotomy due to baby's heart rate falling badly during contractions.
I arrived in labour with my second, and knew I either wanted nothing or an epidural based on my experience.
I was too dilated for an epidural (so they said....)
But, second baby was delivered after only an hour and forty minutes in the hospital. It was far easier than my first labour, and a much more enjoyable experience.
You can't really tell how it will go until you're there.
Ask for an epidural as soon as you arrive, certainly. But be prepared that your body will know what to do and will get on with it also.
Good luck!