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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Opinions on epidurals

49 replies

Keyperfect · 16/04/2020 09:53

I'm 40 weeks pregnant today, and booked for an induction next week if Baby hasn't arrived by then, due to my being over 40 now! I have 4 DCs already, but have never had to be induced (even though two went past 41 weeks), and had gas and air as pain relief with all four. Luckily never needed any interventions.

I've been reading about people's experiences with inductions and it scares me a bit. Lots of people advise having an epidural so I want to find out more about having one. The thought of an epidural scares me too..!

Please let me know your experience of epidurals, good or bad, and also of being induced past 40 weeks.

Thanks!!

OP posts:

123456kent · 16/04/2020 14:28

I was induced (under 40 though) by pessary (unsuccessful) leading to a drip and epidural put in at same time. No issues at all, easy, pain free birth, no injuries, no interventions.
39 weeks and what I would do to have the option to repeat that birth!! Terrified about the unknown. My first birth was great

Minkies13 · 16/04/2020 16:12

I've not had an induction but I did have an epidural. It was bliss.

lauryloo · 16/04/2020 16:14

I loved my epidural. Completely took the pain away

Miranda15110 · 16/04/2020 16:31

Another vote for epidural. I wasn't planning on having one but changed my mind. Best decision I ever made

PinkLisianthus · 16/04/2020 16:36

I had an induction and an epidural with my first child. It all went very smoothly, if quite slowly, as it took more than 24 hours for the pessary to work and I was still in labour for another 12 hours after the epidural. No injuries and no interventions. The only downside was that I got a painful UTI afterwards from having a catheter inserted, but on the whole I had a very positive experience.

bulliedintonamechange · 16/04/2020 16:39

Amazing!!

Wearywithteens · 16/04/2020 16:39

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This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

BasiliskStare · 16/04/2020 16:49

I was induced via a drip as I recall ( 41 ish weeks ) - brought things on very quickly but then after a while I had an epidural for pain ( prolonged labour ) and then another for cesarean . It was fine - I would not worry about an epidural or induction for a moment. As I say - DS was born via Cesarean with one. Gas and Air & A tens machine didn't even touch the sides. Epidural was just fab. Only thing is you may need help to get to loo whilst it is in effect but apart from that I honestly could not tell you a downside - all best to and best wishes to you and new baby , Basilisk

PeppaisaBitch · 16/04/2020 16:49

I had an induction. ARM was fine. Then drip and it was unbearable. I could t have done it without an epidural. But remember it's not the same for everyone.
An epidural will leave you completely pain free. As you are sitting right now. It's not pain relief like gas and air which makes it bearable, it makes it non existent.
My advice is keep your options open and assess as you go.

Mmsnet101 · 16/04/2020 16:49

I was induced and had an epidural.

I was scared of them pre labour but at the same time didn't rule it out because I reasoned that it must get bad when that seems like a good option!

In the end I had one mainly through exhaustion as I was 2 weeks overdue and had contractions for 4 days, solid before the hosp let me in. It let me have a nap before it got to push time. In the end it was a forceps delivery because baby wasn't breathing and it was that or emergency section, very glad I already had the epidural at that point. Didn't feel a thing, got a nice sleep after without pain and would recommended! A friend said it also helps with the aftercramps you get after multiple labour's.

Induction and going over are supposed to make the pain worse, but I don't have anything to compare to tbf.

CroissantsAtDawn · 16/04/2020 16:53

DS1 - I had an epidural and could control the dosage so allowed a small bit of pain to be aware of contractions but it didn't become too much (like it had been before the epidural).

DS2 - I had an epidural but it kicked in after the birth so I gave birth with no pain relief and then had the inconvenience of not being able to use my legs afterwards (which hadn't bothered me for DS1 as it was midnight before I was in a room and all I wanted to do was sleep!)

I would have an epidural again every time.

Doobedoobedoobe · 16/04/2020 16:59

I was induced after my waters broke but nothing happened. I’m sorry but it’s horrendous. I’ve never felt pain like it. I had the drip and went from zero dilation to 4cm in 8 hours. I had every other kind of pain relief plus hypnobirthing but for me it didn’t touch the sides. I consider myself to be very mentally strong and to have a high pain threshold also.

Having the epidural was the best thing I did. It was organized within minutes, I didn’t feel a thing whilst it was done and then had nothing but blessed relief! No one was going to give me a medal for carrying on in agony so I’m glad I did it.

Good luck with your induction and try not to worry! But honestly don’t rule out an epidural, they can be good in the right circumstances.

Megan2018 · 16/04/2020 17:02

My induction failed! They don’t tell you that bit...
First they tried the catheter- couldn’t get it in, then they tried the pessary. I had an immediate adverse reaction to it, projectile vomiting, diarrhea and insane hyper stimulation of the uterus which was agony. My BP went through the roof and they had to remove it within an hour. I had to have some Codeine for the pain, was horrendous.

Some 8 hours later though after it had all settled down my waters went spontaneously. I wanted an epidural but progressed really fast and there was no-one available to do one. I had 1 shot Pethidine and gas and air, glad I didn’t have the epidural in the end

I was booked for induction right at the start of pregnancy due to being over 40 and then had GD too. But nature had other ideas!

Megan2018 · 16/04/2020 17:03

I went 2cm to 6cm in under 2hrs and whole birth was about 6hrs!

Original poster

Keyperfect · 16/04/2020 17:08

Thanks everyone, reassuring to hear positive stories about epidurals. Before I had my first child 10 years ago, we did an NHS antenatal "workshop", which put me off epidurals for my previous four births. They were pretty negative about them - especially about increased incidence of interventions like ventouse/ forceps, baby being less well able to breastfeed, and the potential for a debilitating headache lasting for six weeks afterwards!! Didn't really sell it to me

OP posts:

GrumpyHoonMain · 16/04/2020 17:11

I had one. My pessary induction was so painful I was blacking out l, (literally) tearing out my hair, and not making right choices (it doesn’t matter whether you are in agony your decision is the only one that counts even if it risks the baby). The epidural returned me to sanity.

SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 16/04/2020 17:17

Not induced but had an epidural and then a ventouse as DD got stuck. It was brilliant, i felt calm and in control, i wasn't in pain so i wasn't scared, just really excited. I felt empowered and absolutely jubilant, DD was born safe and healthy, took to the breast like a hero, and i only needed one stitch and recovered fine. I would recommend an epidural to anyone.

Midwives don't like to promote epidurals to women, as it means their Birth Unit numbers go down, so they tend to paint a very dark picture of them. My parents are both doctors so i got a much more balanced view.

Yesterdayforgotten · 16/04/2020 17:21

I had 2 inductions unfortunately and both epidurals. I got to 6cm dilated with my 1st pregnancy and then had to give in and have an epidural; I was petrified it would increase my chances of intervention. I was wrong and had the delivery I had wanted. I later found out the nurses had been taking bets on how long it would take me to get an epidural because they knew how painful induced contractions are as they ramp up fast. I was begging them for one! The epidurals I had both times were the one where you can press a button to release it and of you try not to press it towards the end it gives you some feeling back to push.

carolebaskinsheadband · 16/04/2020 17:23

I've had 3 births.
The first was a back to back and a ventouse delivery without any pain relief (because I was an idiot and didn't realise I was 9cm when I decided I should probably go to hospital).
Second was a water birth again no pain relief.
Third unfortunately a water birth wasn't an option so I decided at to have an epidural. Admittedly they only got the line in 5 minutes before I gave birth but honestly it was great. If I knew that it was like that I would have probably have had them in both previous deliveries haha.
To add I'm someone who won't even take paracetamol unless I really really have to ever so I was surprised at how I was ok with the epidural.

Yesterdayforgotten · 16/04/2020 17:24

If the pessary doesnt always work they will try again and if necessary break your waters and then start the syntocin drip. I had them break my waters and the drip.both times.

BasiliskStare · 16/04/2020 17:32

Well - re intervention , I had a cesarean so pretty much as much intervention as you like - but that was entirely unconnected to having the epidural- other medical reasons. Other than that DS breastfed quite happily for nearly 6 months - no head aches here - it's only one experience but I personally would not worry about it. The Cesarean ( stitches ) meant there was a longer recovery time , the the epidural - not a sausage - it was absolutely fine ( in my case ) Again - I wish you well & if you want my advice would be do it. The induction in my case was necessary and yes it brought things on quickly but it was doable

Try not to worry - I have had both inducing via drip & epidurals - it was fine - I just have a rubbish womb - ha ha ha - DS is now 23 and 6ft tall and healthy . My main thing at the time was DH trying to be helpful and during a long labour bringing pizza in ( NHS but not great labour so in a separate room ) Well Do I look like I want Pizza - " Oh well I got you a side salad " - that is what I remember - not the epidurals or drips so I think that tells you neither were bad. All best x But breastfeeding fine - no headaches .

Greatbunch · 16/04/2020 17:36

I had the most amazing first birth with an epidural. I was induced first with a pessary which hadnt worked after 24 hours so was given a drip.
Drip went in at 2cms dilated, pain started, then had an epidural about an hour later while using gas and air. I was checked about half an hour later and was 10cms.
Pushed for less than 30 minutes and felt nothing but pressure.
I then had a shower an hour later and had complete use of my legs etc.
It was honestly a wonderful experience!

NoRoomInBed · 16/04/2020 18:12

Seeing as you've had four babies already you might have a fairly quick labour. my 3rd was an induction by pessery and was only an hour and 15 from start to finish no time for an epidural or much else just gas and air. Wasnt too bad for me.

woollylizard · 16/04/2020 20:50

My induction was great. I did want an epidural near the end but it was all over and I had baby after a couple of pushes. Try not to worry. I felt much more in control with the induction.

Loti92 · 16/04/2020 21:04

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