Epidural stories

[Tolo210]

Hi, I’m 36 weeks an increasingly nervous about delivery as I’m such a wimp with pain. I’m booked in for an epidural, what’s everyone’s experiences with it? Do you feel any pain at all? Epidural stories please

I had an epidural with DC1. Nope, I felt no pain at all but couldn't feel to push effectively either and ended up having an assisted delivery (ventouse). That needed an episiotomy and I tore as well; the recovery was painful (I didn't sit properly for weeks ). I had a catheter in for a few hours and couldn't get out of bed for 8 hrs I think as I couldn't feel my legs well enough to stand.

DC2 I had very strong, painful contractions and begged for an epidural on arrival. I was already 9cm though so too late. He was born with just gas and air and it wasn't that bad at all. Recovery was much better; I was up and showered within the hour after baby was born and I only had a small tear and no ongoing pain.

I'd play it by ear. If you're struggling with the pain then don't be afraid to ask for one. If you're coping, then don't bother.

I had a very long labour and had an epidural about seven hours in. I would have married the anaesthetist.
I did end up having a C section (long story) but I don’t think it was at all connected.

I had one with each of my kids and yes it does stop the pain.
I think it’s also worth mentioning that they need topping up every so often, so if you decide you’re ok for it to start wearing off to feel the contractions better you can say so.

I passionately didn’t want one, but after 2 hours of pushing a very wedged back-to-back baby they took me to theatre to try and turn him, which the obstetrician wasn’t prepared to do without an epidural (arm up my Fanny to his elbow job), I did have one. It was glorious. I asked the anaesthetist to marry me (in the presence of my actual husband).

I couldn’t feel anything, including when/how to push. But for me I’d have ended up needing an assisted delivery anyway so it didn’t really matter. Other friends who’ve had them in less emergency situations have been able to push ok.

The catheter is a bugger if you’re otherwise well after delivery and want to go home, but after a 42 week pregnancy with a 10lbs9oz baby trampolining on my bladder, and with injuries that would’ve kept me in anyway, it was heavenly to lie on the ward thinking “oh my god, this is what it feels like to not need a wee every single waking moment”

@Florabritannica I wonder how many anaesthetists get proposals/undying devotion on the labour ward? (Mine was Scottish, big, knew his single malt. Still think about him sometimes 4 years on 🤣)

The prospect of giving birth is pretty terrifying OP, but you’ll be surprised at what you’re capable of. I cried when the hospital rang to say I could come in for my induction!

I also had a ventouse and couldn't feel, but I was hooked to a monitor which showed when I was contracting.

Couldn't feel a thing, which was brilliant as my induced contractions were hideous! I slept through the early labour thanks to the epidural. There was a part of the birth that was uncomfortable and felt so weird (for about 30 seconds) but even that was more in my mind than a physical pain.

Basically, the epidural was amazing. I also would have married my anaesthetist. She was lovely!

If you’ve not seen it already, there’s a lot of info about epidurals as well as the other modes of pain relief on the labourpains.com website (managed by the obstetric anaesthetists associations). They explain the pros & cons (including the chances of still feeling pain) really clearly.

I had an epidural and didn't feel a thing - in fact I had a nap until 10cm. It had then ran out and the midwife said that there was no point topping up as it would last 2/3 hours - (the pain was definitely not as bad as it could have been I imagine but was definitely there.)
I did tear a very small amount but all in all had a really easy and painless labour :)

DC1 I had an epidural that I had a button to top up. Couldn't move at all from waist down so also had catheter. Took away all pain. Was magic. Midwife advised I stop topping up when I reached 10cm and waited about an hour before pushing. Not gonna lie, the pushing hurt a bit, but I think served me really well to have let the epidural wear off a bit as I was able to feel all the pushing and didn't have any intervention or tearing. Physical recovery was good.
DC2 I requested an epidural before being put on induction drip after a slow 24 hours of earlier induction stages. Different hospital. Was a 'mobile' epidural where you're still able to move a little bit (though still restricted to bed) and didn't need catheter as could still wee. Anyway, it failed. As in, the epidural only took effect down my right hand side. It is explained to you this is a possibility (and not a super rare one either apparently!) Less than ideal having restricted movement but still feeling all the contractions in one half of your body. Having said that, it wasn't at all as bad as I thought it might be. The best thing with this one was that I instinctively felt when I needed to push whereas first time round I needed the midwife to guide my pushing as I didn't have full enough sensation of what was going on.
My advice would be, stay open minded. There are no prizes whichever choice you make with regards to pain management or not. But just be mindful that epidurals aren't always fully effective. But that you and your body will do incredible things however things work out. I am big fan of Holly de Cruz 'Your baby Your birth' book - helped me get in a really great headspace towards ends of second pregnancy after feeling a lot of anxiety about labour etc. Wishing you all the best.

DC1 was back to back and the pain was excruciating. I hadn't planned to have an epidural but it was amazing when I did. Took away all the pain and I was able to get some proper sleep before he was born. It took them a long time to site it though (get the needle in) and it was awful having to try to sit still for 90 mins whilst they struggled with this - so my advice would be don't put off asking for it! DC2 is due soon and epidural is deffo part of my plan.

Had an epidural and it dulled but didn't fully remove all the pain. It reduced it to a dull manageable ache whereas previously I had been in agony. I could stand up, walk (although limited how far I could go, obviously, since you're attached) and move around easily. Had an allergic reaction to the fentanyl in it and itched like crazy. It wasn't pleasant (nothing about the birth was) but it made it more tolerable.

I'd grab it with both hands. I had an induction with contractions for 2 days with gas and air and swore I'd never have an epidural. It was the best thing I did.

I had an epidural with my third. I'd always been scared to have one, I thought my third baby would be my last so I thought "sod it, I'll give it a go, this shit hurts, I'll not have chance again"

Oh my god, I could have kissed the anaesthetist. I wanted to take her home and be her best friend.

I could still feel the pressure of contractions but no pain, I could still move my legs and move around the bed (I didn't try to stand up properly but I'm sure I could have managed). I went from dripping with sweat, struggling to breathe through the pain, wanting to curl up and die... to complete relaxation. I chatted away, watched my series on my phone, laughed and joked with everyone, then had a (pain free) pressure like I needed to poo, I let the midwife know and she told me to crack on pushing if I felt like it. So I did just that, I did feel a very intense pressure which I had to "oooh, aaahh" through as I pushed his head out, but still not pain. Fucking magical it was.

So magical that I went on to conceive DC4 and am desperately hoping I make it to the hospital on time to have another epidural

I had an epidural when I was transitional (didn't realise at the time!) and was fully an involuntarily pushing as they inserted it!
Kept bloody still for them to do it.
Loved it. Because I had it in such advanced labour I didn't lose absolutely all sensation and still did feel a little bit of crowning but nothing like I would have without.
I have not once regretted my decision.

@accidentlygothereagain it ran out?! Crowning “ring of fire” and the tearing is one bit I’m most scared about so this sounds a terrifying possibility!

Interesting that a few of you have said you could still feel pain when pushing and crowning etc as this is what I’m most anxious about. Eeek!

@Tolo210

Interesting that a few of you have said you could still feel pain when pushing and crowning etc as this is what I’m most anxious about. Eeek!

Honestly crowning is over so quickly! The pain of crowning lasts seconds - even if you still need a few more pushes, you've already 'stretched out', so you don't need to feel it repeatedly don't worry about it!

I didn't have one with 1 and 2 and managed with the first to deliver a wedged back to back baby (with a little help from a doctors hand) without a tear. They wanted to take me to theatre to give me a spinal and forceps, whilst the anesthetist was talking me through what she wanted to do I pushed as hard as I could and out she popped! I've no doubt had I already had an epidural, the forceps would have been out as they were planning.

Second baby was bigger and kept having heart declarations on the monitor, the doctors came in and said OK x time to push then assisted delivery. Again I pushed as hard as I could and out he popped no tears. If there'd been an epidural in place I doubt I'd have pushed as effectively and it would have been easier to whip him out via forceps in theatre.

Third baby was again back to back but unfortunately 2lb heavier than the first. Same course of events as the first happened, only that time I couldn't get the baby out (even with the doctors hand guiding the head). Had a spinal in theatre and an episiotomy with forceps. 10 months on I am still recovering from my injuries and still can't have sex without pain. I obviously had no choice as the baby was stuck but I wouldn't opt for an epidural due to the risk of other interventions such as an assisted delivery.

I honestly wouldn't wish the horrible recovery I had on anyone. At the time of the birth and the 12 hours after it was great as I felt nothing (couldn't walk mind) but then months of pain. My first 2 hurt at the time but as soon as the baby was out the pain stopped, I went home 4 hours after I had my second and on a 4 mile walk the day after, completely fine. I only stayed in with the first due to the time/day she was born - sunday evening. Just something to think about, short term pain at the time vs increased risk of intervention/injury, longer stay in hospital and then potential long term issues/pain.

[quote Tolo210]@accidentlygothereagain it ran out?! Crowning “ring of fire” and the tearing is one bit I’m most scared about so this sounds a terrifying possibility![/quote]
It really wasn't that bad ! I could feel it but was definitely more like a pressure than a pain. And the tearing I didn't notice , the midwife just told me and stitches didn't take long, they just felt like a small tugging. I am so bad with pain and I'd rather give birth again (with the epidural lol) than have a bad period !

Didn't feel any pain with dd1 having the epidural, it was amazing got told when to push she came out in two pushes ds I didn't have anything but gas and air and my god the pain was bad I did it but I didn't feel any better for feeling the pain he also came out in two pushes although I felt the contractions this time . I was up and about quickly after epidural and was fine after .

I had one during my induction when I thought I still had hours to to and the pain got too much. It fact I dilated quickr than they thought I would and was at the pushing stage immediately after the epidural was placed. I could still feel when I was having contractions but they didn’t hurt. Zero pain when pushing but I did know when to push. I had a monitor attached anyway so the midwives would have been able to tell me when to push. I needed an episiotomy but that’s probably because my baby was enormous and they wanted him out quick because he heart rate was starting to do strange things.

Epidural is amazing for pain relief! I went from painful contractions to nada! And my midwife turned the lights off and told me to have a nap (I couldn't but possible if you are a good napper!). But it came with cons. I definitely used it too late and couldn't feel to push. They ramped up the dose and prepared me for c section but she was born with forceps. I couldn't feel a thing, couldn't feel her come out. I couldn't feel anything from boobs down. My arms were like jelly and I couldn't hold her very well. I thought I would hate the catheter but it was a blessing in disguise. Quite nice not having to get up and go to the loo!

Also the epidural made me shake and feel really cold! So maybe pack something warm in case you're the same

Best decision I ever made having an epidural
Couldn't feel a thing, I was cut front to back, had stitches inside and out whilst cuddling newborn son with no pain etc.