Does epidural almost always SLOW labour down?

[vannah]

Me again with my endless concerns. Feel Im more likely to get some honest truth out of mnetters than my midwives.

Had epidural at 5cm, with ds1 - and though it took forever to get to 5cm it took even longer to get to 10 so like many others I was put on a drip (really dont want to be induced this time!) and came v close to having a cesaeran.

Im due in less than 2 weeks time...any mums had no 'slowing down effects' after epidural? Or any experiences similar to my 1st, but then with epidural for baby no2 no slowing down and no further intervention needed?

thankyou all

I had an epidural with both DSs and it slowed down labour both times. Sorry.

my own experience was that it stopped labour, but it was given before i was 3 cm.

also, aswell as potentially slowing labour, it can make an instrumental delivery more likely as it relaxes the pelvic floor, which can stop the head rotating correctly as it needs the resistance of the pelvic floor to position correctly for birth. also, being mostly immobile not always helpful re speed of labour, position of baby etc.. you do need gravity

of course, there will be many mumsnetters with positive epi stories, but for me, it was not a good experience. i also had synto, but did not dilate past 2 -3 cm, if i had known then what i know now, would not have had it. managed 2nd birth with gas and air and a bit of pethidine.

it did mine, but then again perhaps it was given too early, but i was in so much pain, contractions so painful but not dilating much. Interesting what you say lulumama about baby's head not rotating correctly - that's exactly what happened with ds, and we ended up with a emergency c section. Have heard of others who had good results with epidural though - depends so much on who gives it and when.

I had one with ds1, and it had two effects. First, after struggling for 2 days to get to 3cm, I got to 10cm within an hour of having it . Then it stopped my labour. Cue syntocin, distress, ventouse.

I don't regret having it as such, but am very glad I didn't have one with ds2 (there was no time, anyway - but I think I remember screaming 'I want an epidural' practically as the head was crowning ).

Just to be different...it sped mine up.

Things were not progressing well at all for both my pregnancies but once I had the epidural I was able to relax more and the contractions took more effect. Beforehand I was so tense that the contractions were hardly doing anything

i had an epidural with DD1 and it slowed it down, but that was a good thing for me.

had the epidural at 8cm, couldn't take any more - the epidural was fab, i had a sleep and a rest, then a few hours later was at 10cm. let the epidural wear off for an hour then pushed DD1 out in under an hour. no stitches.

for me, the epidural calmed the whole thing down, calmed me down and let me cope effectively with the last stage. If i had just carried on without it it probably would all have ended with rushed, frantic pushing and tearing.

i was induced & had epidurals with both my children. with ds (1st baby), i had an epidural at 6cm. it had taken me 3 hours to get to 6cm after my waters were broken. he was born 12 hours after i had the epidural. he was a failed ventouse/forceps delivery. but i didn't have a section! so yes, the epidural definitely slowed things down.

with dd, i can't remember how dilated i was when i had the epidural. but the whole labour was about 8 hours, so much much faster than ds. and i pushed her out myself in about 5 minutes, a much much better birth (she was 1lb smaller mind you).

so i reckon you could have an ok time. ime, your body knows what to do 2nd time around & it's altogether easier. good luck!

thankyou everyone - very interesting read. I do feel encouraged after reading about your second time hoxtonchick...

I had an epidural with both of my children, and it didn't seem to slow things down at all. With DS1 I was in labour 12 hours, with no complications, and with DS2 I was in labour 5 hours.

I had mine at about 5cm. I really do not know and did not care much about whether it slowed things down much or not. It got rid of the pain!

it sounds like our first labours were quite similar, so fingers crossed your second is like mine .

had my epidural at 7 as midwife didnt believe i was over 5 till i made him check didnt think it slowed me down ds was born 40 minutes later though i did have an [excuse the spelling] epismi...little snip

My first took 9 hours, natural birth. Not a good experience.

My 2nd took 5 hours, induction, immediate epidural. Fab.