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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

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

196 replies

purpleneon · 16/09/2021 15:33

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

OP posts:
Occitane · 17/09/2021 12:23

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@PaddleBlue, I'm not sure about epidurals for child birth, but we use them
For post op
Analgesia after major orthopaedic surgery. Many of the patients have cerebral palsy and have had a scoliosis repair. They can't have an epidural. Because of the metal
Work/ position of the spine. [/quote]
@Toddlerteaplease

That is interesting. My DD has very mild scoliosis. You wouldn’t know unless you looked at her naked back, and then it’s not that obvious. Do you think she would be able to have an epidural during childbirth?

Moonface123 · 17/09/2021 12:25

I had one with my first after 18 hours very painful labour, it only partly worked on one side of my body.

Occitane · 17/09/2021 12:26

I had a very painful labour, I was induced by drip and the baby was back to back. I wasn’t given an epidural for a long time, but I begged for one, and it was the best thing ever. I had no pain at all after having it, and had an episiotomy, forceps and stitches.

mytortoiseisill · 17/09/2021 12:27

PaddleBlue Thu 16-Sep-21 15:37:59
Has anyone had an epidural that has scoliosis, by any chance?

@paddleblue yes - my scoliosis was first identified by the anaesthetist as he prepared to do my epidural.
I went on to have a second one. I guess it all depends on the nature of the scoliosis.

BertieBotts · 17/09/2021 12:27

Oh bloody hours :o I am not a speedy labourer.

Actually I don't really know, time ceased to exist for me in that labour, so it could have been five minutes or seventy million hours.

I know DS2 was born at 3am and I was in the labour room asking to use the pool at 10/11pm. I think epidural was around or just before midnight. To be honest the staff were rubbish with that labour. I clearly needed help/support but they didn't offer anything.

With DS3 I had gas and air which only sort of worked but it did make me feel I was able to do something.

SvartePetter · 17/09/2021 12:43

I have an epidural with my first baby, and then two births without an epidural.

With my first birth I was put on drip to start contractions as there was a risk of preeclampsia. It was incredibly painful and I think I lasted about an hour before I got an epidural. As many people say here, it was bliss, directly stopped all pain and I also slept for about an hour. The downside is that I didn't feel any contractions in the final stage and this meant that the actual birth took a long time, I think I was almost at the verge of a section when we finally got there. If I remember right almost 2 hours of "pushing" - and I say that in brackets because I couldn't feel anything. I think my baby was a bit squished by the whole experience as he had a bit of a sore neck.

My other two births were relatively quick 3-6 hours each from start to finish, and there simply was no time for an epidural. I'm not going to say it was pleasant but it was doable. In my view my recovery from the second and third birth was a lot shorter, and I felt much most comfortable in my body quicker. Not sure if this was because it was a second and third birth or because of the epidural.

If I had known what I know now, and if I hadn't been on the drip for my first birth, then I would not had had an epidural. I am happy I didn't have one for my second and third birth because I feel it would have extended both the pushing stage and recovery afterwards.

I say this as someone who is fully supportive of epidurals and think every woman who wants one should get one. In the end I can't feel your pain so I can't tell you what is best for you. Good luck!

likearoomwithoutaroof · 17/09/2021 12:43

I had an epidural for first birth thanks to the horrible hormone drip (torture!) and it was amazing, didn't feel a thing and I had a horrendous forceps birth, episiotomy, surgery for retained placenta, the works. Horrid having it put in but very worth it.

Spinal block for second birth (ELCS) again totally pain free but weirdly I could still feel and wiggle my toes!

Plumtree391 · 17/09/2021 12:47

I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Bertie, it sounds dreadful. Mine was quick and easy so I needed no pain relief or intervention; I have the greatest sympathy for people who go through Hell giving birth and have complications.

You were brave to go on and have a third baby and I'm glad the gas and air helped.

When I read about things like this I am not surprised that some women opt for a C-section (though that is no walk in the park).

Honestly, what women have to go through!

mrssunshinexxx · 17/09/2021 13:09

They have their risks
I had one last year but sadly it failed so was totally numb legs but still in agony I will do everything I can to not have one this time x

whatagloriousthingtobe · 17/09/2021 13:13

I could still feel pain with mine but it was bearable pain, it was a welcome break from the intense contractions I was having before that ! I think it's what they call a 'mobile epidural' I could still feel my legs etc they just felt heavy, I didn't try walking on it though as I wasn't allowed off the bed due to monitors

LauEli · 17/09/2021 20:33

Magic 100% recommend.
Horrendous long labour at start to get to 6cm when they broke my waters. Asked if I wanted a epidural which I agreed to.
Slept for 6 hours. Woke up 10cm. Told to push. 15 mins pushing, episiotomy and my boy was born, other than knowing that I needed to push no pain at all.
Will definitely ask for one for my very near (38+1) next Labour 😁

shas19 · 18/09/2021 22:29

Mine didn't work at all other than I couldn't move. Midwife didn't believe me so turned the monitor round and asked when I thought I was having a contraction, safe to say I wasn't lying.

EnidFrighten · 18/09/2021 22:43

Op don't watch labour videos. It doesn't help prepare you, it just scares you. Especially one born every minute, it's edited for entertainment value.

I was in labour 24 hrs then had an epidural, it was bliss to have the issue stop as people have said BUT I felt v odd snoozing and waking to find myself covered in tubes and monitors with a belly contracting of its own accord. The catheter etc was horrible and I had c section eventually, I wonder if I might not have needed one if I could have walked around. They do make episiotomy, forceps etc more likely.

Second time I was asking/squealing for an epidural but there wasn't time, overall I was glad as I was fine straight after the birth and could get up and shower etc.

samsalmon · 18/09/2021 22:55

Some pressure, no pain at all. Like PPs, totally agree that women in the future will look back and wonder why so many of us refused pain relief when it was there.

MySaladDaysAreGone · 18/09/2021 22:57

Bliss!

Aw273 · 18/09/2021 23:19

Mine didn’t work- it only took the pain away in patches. The midwife didn’t believe me that I could feel the cold spray- sarcastically said it must be a bad epidural in that case. I was sucking so hard on the gas and air that I was hallucinating before they agreed to top me up!

Newmum29 · 18/09/2021 23:20

Mine wasn’t painless at all, it was still painful (very) but 100 million times better than just gas & air and contractions. I was induced and the pain of contractions just honestly took my breath away. The epidural I had is designed to have you still feel things as the movement is required to allow you to get in a good position and push (I could walk with mine for instance).

MajorCarolDanvers · 18/09/2021 23:23

I had an emergency c section with an epidural and felt nothing

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 18/09/2021 23:24

I was very scared of the idea of an epidural and refused to have one when induced with my first (midwife wanted me to have one)... my second pregnancy was twins and an epidural was pretty much compulsory in case a Caesarean is needed. I was still terrified, but once it was in it was marvellous... couldn't feel a thing! Gave birth naturally as it happened but kept asking "why didn't I do this first time round?"...

fastandthecurious · 18/09/2021 23:27

I didn't even know when I was having a contraction. Worked like an absolute dream.

Haudyourwheesht · 18/09/2021 23:29

Totally. I wanted to name the baby after the anaesthetist. I was in absolutely agony. Mooing, the lot.

mswales · 18/09/2021 23:29

I could still feel the contractions but they were completely manageable. When they started to get really painful again I got a top up, which happened a couple of times. The first epidural I had didn't work at all and they couldn't figure out why, and the second one they had to use loads more than they expected, so I must have had an unusually high tolerance or something.... it was amazing though! Wasn't painful having the injection, just really hard to sit completely still as you have to, while having an unanaesthetised contraction.

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 18/09/2021 23:40

Mine were both amazing. First one especially, was induced and contracting almost constantly but just wasn't dilating. Felt it was going on forever so grudgingly went for epidural as I was exhausted and in pain. Relief was almost instant, but I could still feel the contractions just not the pain and feel when to push.

Second time induced again and contractions seemed to flare my SPD horribly so I asked for epidural earlier. Again really good experience, still had some pain unlike first time but really manageable.

Would recommend if you have bad pain/prolonged labour. I had non assisted deliveries with both but I think without epidurals I'd have been too exhausted by the time pushing stage came.

user1481050140 · 18/09/2021 23:43

After being induced and having waters broken , al
hell broke loose pain wise. Absolutely excruciating agony. I was so happy and grateful for the epidural and would encourage a friend to have one. I almost kissed the anaesthetist when he finished putting it in and was immediately pain free..! Made it so much more fun and pleasurable..! I could still feel pressure and waves and when it came time, knew when to push and stuff.

AliceMcK · 19/09/2021 00:01

Hardest part was having it. I don’t think it’s supposed to hurt but I had 2 with my first and was very uncomfortable both times but I think it was because I was unwell with an infection at the time so was very sensitive. Once it’s done it’s amazing. As well as being in labour I was also having an adverse reaction to some medication, without the epidural I’d have been really ill and in pain but the epidural meant I didn’t feel a thing.

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