For those who opted for epidural - how "painless" is it really??

[purpleneon]

For those who had a VB + epidural, is it actually anywhere near "painless" (think I need to stop watching birthing videos & being horrified by the screams!) or still v painful, but just less so than gas & air

I want to ask.....just curious, nobody has to answer me.....does an epidural stop you from walking around? I kept moving through most of my labour and that was extremely beneficial.

Mine took ages to kick in but when it did it was great, could barely feel contractions. Could hold a conversation and everything! Couldn't feel a thing while being stitched either.

Yes it was but unfortunately it worked toooo well and I was numb up to my collar bone and so they had to counter act it with something else and so it only lasted an hour or two.
When I started feeling contractions again i was so scared of them.

I'd take epidural any day!

Had two and no pain. Second was much better though as I could feel pressure and sweet spot for me was only topping up once an hour. First time couldn’t feel to push second time I could and pushing was much more effective and she was born much more quickly so keep in mind not to go mad button pressing if you’re nearly there!

@Plumtree391

I want to ask.....just curious, nobody has to answer me.....does an epidural stop you from walking around? I kept moving through most of my labour and that was extremely beneficial.

Not sure but id assume it may stop you?

But since you can't feel anything there isn't really the same need to move around if you see what I mean.

I remember being assisted to the shower a few hours after the birth by a midwife - probably incase I fell or something lol.

@Plumtree391

I want to ask.....just curious, nobody has to answer me.....does an epidural stop you from walking around? I kept moving through most of my labour and that was extremely beneficial.

Traditional ones, yes. You can get walking epidurals - I don't know much about how those work though.

@Plumtree391 I could actually move a bit but I don't think I would be able to walk really. They asked me to wee in one of that paper hat things and I did manage to clamber on it but then I couldn't actually do it...I felt the head and said I wanted to push. So they then had to give me a catheter (and a urine infection from that...)

Lovely, 10/10 would recommend

Painless and they top it up every 40 mins if needed from what I remember

Bloody amazing

Painless plus I had a button I could press to self administer

The only issue was at pushing stage I couldn’t feel enough and nearly had a CS. I had about five minutes left as they were prepping and dd arrived, tg

Meh, I was supposed to have an epi but I had diarmorphine and baby came too soon and didn't feel a thing, didnt even really feel the contractions was just told when to push. I wouldn't go for an epidural now only diarmorphine and potentially gas and air if I did feel somethinf

It was overnight and like pp I fell asleep

BEST THING TO COME OUT OF SCIENCE

I had a button and I used it frequently

Completely painless and meant that when i needed an emergency c section that everything was easy to top up with the spinal! Loved it

Labor was still painful for me. I had been shaking and vomiting for hours from the contractions -- the epidural was an amazing relief in that regard. I wasn't able to sleep but I did get a break from being sick all over myself. I vaguely felt everything during the delivery though, and crowning hurt like hell.

Brilliant. Took the pain away. Mine were wearing off for the actual births and still felt the ring of fire as babies were born. All naturally and no stitches.

I cannot comprehend why some pressure groups object to them. You wouldn't have a fracture reduced without adequate pain relief; why have a baby without it.

@purpleneon

For those who had a VB + epidural, is it actually anywhere near "painless" (think I need to stop watching birthing videos & being horrified by the screams!) or still v painful, but just less so than gas & air

Really painless. Even when they out the line in. But the pain when it wears off really hits you. I had mine fairly late and so had experienced child birth pains but even then the agony afterwards was something else. (i had forceps delivery)

So from my perspective you can’t really escape the pain lol.

Totally painless and totally wonderful. 100% recommend.

It was bliss - like someone switched off the pain. I slept and rested and was flet fighting fit by the time DD1 decided to make an appearance!

For middle dc I did it really differently - walking around no pain relief etc

But since dd was induced I thought natural already out window may as well embrace the pain relief

Friend gave tip to request anaesthesiologist / drugs pre drip which I’m glad I did as it can take an hour or so for them to be available

No way I could have walked, I couldn't even shuffle myself up the bed without help. This was when I was being particularly button-happy.

I suppose that's the main negative of them isn't it, you are on your back in a a bed which we know from physics isn't the best position. Other than the side effects a few people get of course, I'm not belittling those at all.

Mine had a button where I could top it up if needed. I barely felt them insert it. If I left off the button I could feel the contractions but as soon as it got painful 'boop' gone! Bliss!!!

Plus when I then needed episiotomy and ventouse (I was headed there with or without epidural) they just topped it right up and I felt nothing.

It was amazing.

Now pg with no 2 and due to trauma (pre-epidural!) associated with no 1 they have offered me an ELCS. I've declined and asked for a low threshold for epidural (ie I can have one just as soon as I ask for it regardless of labor stage) instead.

Couldn't feel a thing.

Oh I’m so jealous! I asked for one and was told I wasn’t advanced enough. Next thing I was too far gone.

So be aware you can plan for one but it may not happen.