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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Epidural - side effects

40 replies

newmamaP · 26/05/2019 21:25

Hello mummies!! I’m having my first baby and thinking of epidural. Any temporary or permanent side effects from epidural?

OP posts:

doodlejump1980 · 26/05/2019 21:28

If you’re carrying a lot of fluid they don’t always work. Four years on I’m still having pain at the site of my 3 failed epidurals and 1 spinal (one labour). The spinal was bliss when it worked but epidurals for me just didn’t work. Sorry that’s probably what you don’t want to hear!

Creatureofthenight · 26/05/2019 21:29

Yes there can be a range of side effects. Probably best to have a chat with your midwife about it.

LikeTheFruit · 26/05/2019 21:30

www.labourpains.com/UI/Content/Content.aspx?ID=43

Very good impartial info here

Chartreuser · 26/05/2019 21:31

No long term ones. I hated it though, didn't work fully so was still in pain, and I really really wanted to move as being flat on my back was really uncomfortable but they wouldn't let me nice cos of the epidural.

My labours with just gas and air whilst painful were much much better as I could move.

Hiphopopotamous · 26/05/2019 21:45

I had diamorphine and it was amazing.
You can move about, you don't need extra monitoring, you can feel yourself pushing - but you just don't give a fuck about anything, I can see why people love heroin.
Hoping I will get to hospital early enough for some more when I have the next one.

Hiphopopotamous · 26/05/2019 21:46

Doesn't answer your question about epidurals but it's a super alternative!

Surfskatefamily · 26/05/2019 21:51

Mine had no side effects, apart from the obvious of no more pain 😊 when it first went in only numbed one side of me so i had to tilt to my not numb side for a bit which then worked.
Also putting it in, for me, was not bad at all.

1sttimeunicorn · 26/05/2019 21:52

I had one when in labour (induced) - DS was back to back. It was actually suggested by the Drs as by that point I had been in hospital 3 days and was exhausted. I thought it was fine although it made me a bit gittery and anxious. It also wore off while I was pushing (joy!) but I don't think that's normal. I would have one again.

Original poster

newmamaP · 26/05/2019 22:12

Thank you guys for your responses. I need to hear both good and bad sides. Where I come from (Greece) epidural is a standard pain relief, but here I see that midwives don’t recommend it and I don’t hear good comments about epidural. Different health systems.

OP posts:

elliejjtiny · 26/05/2019 22:20

I didn't like it. Not being able to move was horrible, I felt like I was being held down and I kept thinking I was about to fall off the bed.

HelloPeopl3 · 26/05/2019 22:30

It was the best thing I could of wished for. They tried for 5 days to induce me before finally breaking my
Waters.. I was already exhausted from the pains I'd been getting the previous 5 days, so the contractions knocked me for six. Having the epidural allowed me to have a nap and rest without any pain.(You'll need all your energy for when baby arrivez) They come in 6 hours after my epidural and told me I was ready yo start pushing. My beautiful little girl was delivered just over an hour later.😍 I was home 12 hours later and she's now 12 weeks old. X

HelloPeopl3 · 26/05/2019 22:30

Arrives **

Original poster

newmamaP · 26/05/2019 22:31

@Hiphopopotamous I have never heard about diamorphine. I will google it. 😀 Does NHS provide this kind of pain relief?

OP posts:

Original poster

newmamaP · 26/05/2019 22:46

@Surfskatefamily @HelloPeopl3 I am encouraged by your experience. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

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Piccalino3 · 26/05/2019 22:57

I've had 2 babies and 2 epidurals. Am due me 3rd in 6 weeks time and the thing top of my list is an epidural! It was literally like magic. My labours were both quite long and I was knackered. The epidural allowed me to rest and nap a bit. I will say the 1st ended in EMCS (back to back baby in distress) and 2nd I had an episiotomy and forceps (also in distress). I don't know whether the epidural contributed in any way to that but I still am desperately hoping I can have another. I had no long term side effects from mine although I do know a woman year ago who was partially paralysed for a long time as a result of hers but that must be so so rare.

I had diamorphine in my first labour and hated it. I felt like I was really drunk, the room was spinning and I was still in pain but couldn't communicate it.

I'd say keep an open mind and see how you get on. Labour and birth is so unpredictable.

RoseReally · 26/05/2019 23:05

I had an epidural and it was absolutely amazing, it completely blocked the pain I had been having for two days and allowed me to rest. I think it is a monumental feat of modern medicine and I'm glad I live in a time where it's possible to get one! I didn't have an side effects, I did vomit once but I had also vomited before I had. You have to have a catheter which is a bit annoying but not too bad (obviously did not feel it being inserted as epidural was working).

In my experience it was great, and planning on having another one for when I go into labour in my current pregnancy.

Zebrasinpyjamas · 26/05/2019 23:12

I had one for dc2 and Dc3. They were amazing. I could feel what was happening (and when to push) but not any pain. I had no side effects at all.

It is a downside that you need to stay lying down but since there was no pain that was OK for me.
My hospital offered mobile epidurals too which are a lower dose but allows more movement so ask about those too.
The only downside for me is having to wait for an anesthetist (can't spell) to be available.

In labour I had no pressure from my mw at all not to have an epidural but they did make sure I understood how it worked and the pros and cons.

Original poster

newmamaP · 26/05/2019 23:19

I hope that there will be more than one anaesthesiologists in the hospital!

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NabooThatsWho · 26/05/2019 23:27

I loved mine. Instant relief and zero side effects. I wouldn’t give birth again without one.

nuggles · 26/05/2019 23:30

I absolutely loved my epidural after 49 hours in labour. Had to have emergency forceps and episiotomy mind you - would take the same again anyway.
No side effects whatsoever. Had an epidural where I controlled the amount. Amazing!

soulrunner · 26/05/2019 23:51

I hope that there will be more than one anaesthesiologists in the hospital

unfortunately there may not be an anaesthetist available so you do need to steel yourself for that outcome.

CharminglyGawky · 27/05/2019 00:47

I loved my epidural, I was mid way through an induction that they started early evening and then just when the contractions started suggested I should get some sleep . DS needed constant monitoring and the portable monitor kept losing him and blaring out an alarm so I was strapped to the bed anyway as they had to use the bigger stationary one. That epidural let me sleep through 6 cms of dilation I was about 4cm at 5am ish and they had to wake me up about 11am ish to check again and I was fully dilated... I didn't have a clue I felt my son being born but there was no pain at all.

It also meant that when I needed to be wheeled straight off to surgery to be stitched up after he was born I was already anaesthetised.

The only issue I had was that it needed to be adjusted when it was first put in as it somehow only numbed half of me, I think it was the left side it worked on at first. Once it was adjusted slightly it worked on both sides.

Nat6999 · 27/05/2019 01:13

When i had my epidural when in labour the fact that the pain stopped in an instant was brilliant, but i suffered theside effect of shivering & shaking every time it was topped up for about an hour. My teeth were chattering, I was frozen, my mum ended up getting on the bed with me, wrapping me in my dressing gown & cuddling me to warm me up, also I felt panicky & my heart was racing. I've since learned that this is due to the adrenaline in the local anaesthetic & the epidural that I am very sensitive to, the same thing happens at the dentist.

flissfloss65 · 27/05/2019 01:20

Mine didn’t work. I was on gas and air and they wanted me to have an epidural. My shoulder seemed to go numb but nothing else. They attempted a second one but it again failed. I was able to still walk around.

This has always bothered me in case I ever need another one.

soarin · 27/05/2019 01:42

I had a PCA type epidural. Low back flow then just pressed when the pain got 2 much. I had a very very excellent midwife, who kept it pressed lots whilst I slept through contractions. Woke up fully dilated, and a little rested and she advised I needed to leave the epidural now so I could push effectively. It worked so well and had the most controlled calm birth (in comparison to my first natural one which was the worst most painful experience ever)

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