Birth stories with an Epidural?

[Canttouchthiss]

I’m currently 32 weeks pregnant (first pregnancy) and I’m currently writing out a birth plan.
For some reason I don’t feel nervous at all, maybe because I don’t know what to expect?
I’m definitely considering an Epidural as I don’t want the pains of childbirth to traumatize me!
I understand you cannot get the Epidural straight away so you do of course have to go through some pain!
But I want to hear some stories of women who had the Epidural..

Did it make labour easier?
Was it worth it?
Would you do it again ?

I had an epidural recommended to me after a long induction and they decided to give me the epidural prior to the induction drip. it was fine although I found I couldn't sleep weirdly as I felt really wired. however, my DS was back to back so when I started pushing this took a lot longer with no progress and suddenly my epidural wore completely off. bloody hell. but... after that they decided that I was making no progress so they topped up my epidural and they sent me off for what was going to be a C-section but my DS was pulled out with forceps. I am now expecting DC2 and will definitely be requesting an epidural again, whatever happens.

Loved it!

24 hours into a back to back labour.

It ended calmly and it was lovely. Snoozed through contractions. Got to 10cm and pushed her out in 23 mins. No interventions, minor stitches. I had the button I could press every 15 mins so you are in control.

I’ll put it on my birth plan next time, I’m definitely more of a medical birth person.

I think with the back issues, pregnancy and carrying a baby around effects your back a lot. I don’t think it’s necessarily to do with the epidural.

I was terrified of having the epidural, the actual needle in the spine placement bit. It hurt less than the cannula and was wonderful! I had a mobile one where you can still love your legs (ended up having having full spinal for emcs).

Oh, yes yes and yes

I had two kids with epidural. I will agree with everyone else . Yes Yes Yess it was great . Didn't feel any pain with the first one . I was asleep and the doc came in saying ok let's have this baby . Second one was a little different but still good .

Thank you ladies I feel more reassured than ever hearing positive stories, I’m not afraid of needles so that’s not a worry for me!
I will be attending an antenatal class soon for the first time I’m hoping they don’t make me change my mind! But I think once I’m in labour I know I will want that Epidural for sure!

I had one (last week!) and I was 8cm by the time I got there.

I think that I had it at the right time, later on you have done most of the work and I feel like I avoided forceps etc when I opted for it later.

I didn’t want one at first.

My epidural failed. I hadn't wanted one, but was in back to back labour for 16 hours before they decided to give me a drip as my waters had broken two days before by this point.

It only worked down the left hand side of my body I honestly felt like my body was being torn in half. I think I'm just bitter I never got the nap I so desperately needed by this point.

But honestly, if I could guarantee it would work the next time I'd have it again!

I had epidural with first. It was great in terms of pain-didn't feel anything! I was sleeping a lot, read a book etc before it was finally time to push. I quite enjoyed the labour! BUT it was a long labour, I did not feel the need to push and baby was getting distressed so ended up having forceps used. I've since heard it's common when you have an epidural.

With second i only had gas and air. I had considered epidural but the labour was so quick it was too late by the time I got to hospital. I felt everything, felt the need to push and was quite traumatised by the experience. BUT once the baby was out and a few weeks passed I felt good about it.

I've decided 2 kids is definitely enough for me but if I was to have a third one I'd try no epidural again.

OP unfortunately nothing with birth is as simple as a thumbs up or thumbs down, you have to weigh up risks and benefits and your own circumstances and body will be different from anyone else's.

Epidurals come with risks - look them up. Things like more likely to have interventions (forceps/ventouse, which means episiotomy, which means harder recovery and possible long-term issues). They can also give you sudden low blood pressure which is bad if untreated, and cause a terrible headache for the first few days if they go wrong. They also mean you end up on your back in bed with wires and tubes around the place rather than being active and able to change position.

I had one, it did make labour easier in the sense the pain stopped, I could sleep a bit and that was heavenly. Not sure if it was worth it, I had an EMCS. I'd have one again if the circumstances were right, but I wouldn't just opt for one from the get-go because of the risks. You might have a quick, easy labour, let's hoe you do!

I think when planning for labour it's hard to think beyond it, that there will be weeks afterwards when you're dealing with recovery and a newborn. Make your choices bearing that in mind, that bit lasts longer than labour itself.

Yes, yes, yes 😊
Mine was planned with my midwife well aware of my choices. I was really glad we had made that call because where I am (NZ) they always takes bloods first so it meant as soon as I was checked in to hospital my midwife got straight on the tests. This cut down my waiting time to get the epidural. You need to factor in that it's done by an Aneasthetist (or whichever title they have where you are) so if they are busy you have to wait your turn.
I had been in early labour for almost 24 hours by the time we got to hospital so once the drugs were in I went straight to sleep for 5ish hours (midwife checking me constantly). Was woken up properly to push and baby was out in 21mins. The midwife also kept an eye on my pain levels and the epidural was times well so I had some sensation but no pain. It meant I was aware of where baby was at and was able to push.
Side note if you go ahead with one and can still feel pain in any part let them know as they can often rectify this.

Iv always been really on the fence when it comes to epidurals, Iv had 2 friends have epidurals and it not work and I watched my sister have an epidural which really freaked me out, theres also the risk of an epidural leading to c section especially if you are induced it means its a higher risk which is my worst fear ... I didn't have a epidural with DD because when I finally asked for one my midwife said I was near the end and if I had an epidural I would have to wait a couple of hours to push and DD's heart rate had already dropped a couple of times so I didn't want to take that risk and end up with a c section, I ended up having pethidine at the end of my labour which did nothing until DD was delivered and then I really noticed the effects of it, thank god because it all went 'tits up' from there....

But I think if your not scared of the risks and you don't want a more 'natural birth' (water birth or being able to use the ball etc) you should have an epidural ESPECIALLY if you have to stay on the bed, I was on the bed on my side and wasn't allowed to move...

I can’t advise as haven’t given birth yet but I’m 38 weeks pregnant and also making a birth plan but your post reminded me of me as I’m not worried yet but feel like I should / will be!

@HoustonBess

I think you give the greatest advice, my fear was much greater than my need to feel pain free, even if I did tell my DH to kill me 😂

@AliceRR I think the best way to be is to expect the worst and hope for the best, theres no point in worrying over something you cant control, and the only thing that matters if that you & baby are happy and healthy at the end of it after all many women go through it and do it again!! My mum had 5 natural births, my sister had 4, none of my siblings had an epidural other than my SIL and they have all had multiple children other than my SIL who had one 🤷🏻‍♀️

Be aware that some people react to epidurals and become flamingly itchy. I did with two standard epidurals and also with one spinal block for a Caesarian. Not sure what the ingredient is but basically my whole body goes on fire with itchiness. It lasts for about 48 hours, slowly diminishing. It is outrageously itchy and hot from head to toes to fingertips. But it's still something I chose to do again so I'm not anti, just want you to be prepared.

@namechanged2019 I think you’re right. It’s just difficult when you don’t know what to expect. I’d like a natural birth with only gas and air but the fact is I don’t know how it’s going to feel so maybe that’s unrealistic. But then other people do it I suppose. And it’s different for everyone im sure.

I’ve signed up for the positive birth co hypnobirthing pack so they might help

I like it so far so would recommend you consider it OP

@AliceRR Louise Pentland has a great hypno birth story on youtube, I did it naturally but mainly because of my fear on c-sections, so it cant be to bad can it if my fear over rid my pain 🤣🤣🤣

@namechanged2019 Thanks I’ll look out for her! I must say I’m quite early on as I only got it last week but it’s only about 6 hours of videos which I could do in a day if I just sat and watched it! I think it will help as it suits how I’m thinking about the birth already in a way

I was always terrified of the idea of giving birth but now I’m pregnant I’d just seems quite natural and the most important thing to me is baby being born safely. I still might be really scared when it actually happens! It’s hard to explain but hypnobirthing seems to be in line with that