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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Epidural stories

53 replies

Tolo210 · 19/01/2022 22:19

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

OP posts:

Original poster

Tolo210 · 20/01/2022 17:59

People with epidural and assisted delivery - did you feel the forceps or ventouse? My friend had epidural and forceps and said it felt like they weee breaking her bones 🤮

OP posts:

PinkMoon22 · 20/01/2022 18:02

@Tolo210

People with epidural and assisted delivery - did you feel the forceps or ventouse? My friend had epidural and forceps and said it felt like they weee breaking her bones 🤮

I had forceps, couldn't feel a thing honestly. Not even a scratch. I was quite shocked at how hard they pull, doc was red in the face.

blyn72 · 20/01/2022 18:09

@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!

Not everyone suffers terribly with crowning.

I remember every bit of my labour; it wasn't a big deal with no pain relief but I did have a small episiotomy which was neatly stitched.

Suma2021 · 20/01/2022 18:12

I had spinal and forceps, after pushing for 2 hours and a long labour. When it kicked in, I felt nothing - not even pressure, and in that moment it was the most glorious relief. I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, they had already used the forceps and baby was out!

I would 100% have an epidural again if my labour goes on for ages.
Having said that, I had the following problems:

Extreme shaking afterwards- couldn't hold baby.
Catheter - I couldn't pee after they removed it so had to stay in hospital another 24 hours until I was able to without the catheter. That part was extremely annoying, especially when you're alone (visitor hours strict due to Covid). All I wanted was to be home.

itsallaboutthehoney · 20/01/2022 18:22

I had an epidural with my first child 3 years ago as I was in agony and after the epidural I couldn't feel my contractions so had to be told when to push, I still felt something but it reduced the pain. The labour slowed down, I got tired, the baby got distressed and they had to cut me and recovery took quite some time.

Compared to 10 days ago, I just had my son, my contractions started and I asked for an epidural. I got my blood tests done and was waiting for the results before I could get the epidural and then was told the baby was was coming and there'd be no time for epidural, I had a natural labour with just gas and air, it was painful but as soon as I needed to push I knew it and did it instinctively, he came out within an hour and with just a small tear and I already feel much much better.

Overall if I was to have another baby, I wouldn't go for the epidural but that's my personal experience.

itsallaboutthehoney · 20/01/2022 18:24

Worst part is the burning pain when crowning but you're so close then and few more pushes and they are out

blyn72 · 20/01/2022 20:18

itsalieaboutthehoney, I am glad your second experience of giving birth was less stressful. I wouldn't have wanted an epidural, the idea of not being in contro,l and some people can't even walk, does not appeal at all, I would have panicked. Also I dread the thought of catheterisation.

Crowning was no problem though the midwife cut my perineum a little.

Unless there are health concerns, I really think it is best to have most of your labour at home, walking about and doing things. I went into hospital when my waters broke and my baby was born two hours later. It was lovely watching him come out.

CurtainTroubles · 20/01/2022 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Tee20x · 20/01/2022 20:28

I had one. Like someone else said they need topping up. I was told to ask for a top up once I could start feeling a bit more as it would take a bit of time to work - don't over do it tho because I vomited a few times. Apparently May have been because of that.

It was absolutely fine though, couldn't feel a thing just pressure. When baby's head was moving down kept feeling like I needed to poo. So still had those sorts of feelings just no pain.

Would do it again a million times over. Don't see the point of putting yourself through agonising pain when there is a solution.

I was worried about it prior to giving birth and was convinced if I did it I would end up paralysed or in a wheelchair but for me gas&air wasn't helping at allllllll and needed to get rid of the pain.

LavenderBlue95 · 20/01/2022 20:34

Mine only worked on one side which wasn't ideal! I then had to go for a C section anyway where they had to sort it out.

One side was totally pain free though I do know a few people who said theirs failed but it is extremely rare!

Lastater · 20/01/2022 20:41

Has an epidural, blocked the pain for an hour or so, then despite to-ups unfortunately could still feel pain. To do with baby positioning.

SonicBroom · 20/01/2022 20:42

Best time to have epidural is when you’re already so far into labour that you’ll do anything for pain relief

It’s worth it, that’s all I will say.

SonicBroom · 20/01/2022 20:44

@Lastater agree but you need to top up BEFORE the hour. I had a B2B 10lb baby birth and epidural self top up button… was amazing. Second time I did feel sensation returning but was prepared to demand the top up early which I did. Basically tell DH to set a timer every 45 mins and start complaining around then. Then you’ll get topped up before it wears off much.

Beware of wobbly legs later!

Sleepyquest · 20/01/2022 20:45

I had one. Didn't feel a thing except for the extreme pressure and still knew when to push highly recommend!

Lastater · 20/01/2022 20:53

@SonicBroom well I was in labour for 14 hours and had several top-ups, none took the pain away as I had severe back ache. I imagine would have been worse without the epidural but only the first hour was really pain-free.

CaMePlaitPas · 20/01/2022 20:57

My advice would be to have it early because when you're in full on contraction (or "surge") mode its hard to stay still.

Original poster

Tolo210 · 20/01/2022 21:54

@Suma2021 in regards to what you said about the catheter (another fear haha!) - when you couldn’t pee did they have to put it back in? And did that hurt?

OP posts:

Original poster

Tolo210 · 20/01/2022 21:58

@LavenderBlue95 so if they fail they don’t attempt it again? Unless of course you go for a section, I’m guessing they don’t just cut you open after a failed epidural

OP posts:

Original poster

Tolo210 · 20/01/2022 21:59

@Lastater what position were they If you don’t mind me asking? Baby is back to back and I’m worried…

OP posts:

GoodnightGrandma · 20/01/2022 22:02

I had one but it left a large patch where it didn’t work. I then needed forceps. I wouldn’t have one again.

Sleepyquest · 20/01/2022 22:05

@Tolo210 I had to have my catheter in for 10 long days afterwards. I've always had a bit of a bladder problem. It wasn't great but I didn't have to stay in hospital with it

123FishAlive · 20/01/2022 22:13

[quote Tolo210]@Suma2021 in regards to what you said about the catheter (another fear haha!) - when you couldn’t pee did they have to put it back in? And did that hurt?[/quote]
I couldn't wee after, they scanned my bladder, it hadn't produced a lot.
So I had to have an in and out catheter and after having an episiotomy I cried saying no, they said they'd numb me and it was fine (it was a needle but literally a scratch) they basically drained what urine I had and gave me a deadline of 4am to pass urine myself.
Thankfully I did.

ClearButtons · 20/01/2022 22:27

I had an epidural and it was wonderful. Baby was back to back and the contractions were unbearable even at early stages, gas and air did nothing. Didn't feel the epidural going in, could move my legs a bit (though I stayed in bed and had a catheter) and didn't feel a single contraction afterwards. I had it before going on the induction drip as I didn't want to cope with the stronger contractions on G&A - I ended up with a c section in the end due to failure to progress (not epidural related) and the c section was actually quickly sorted as I already had the epidural so they just topped it up with stronger stuff and was good to go to theatre. I'd definitely get an epidural again!

Greybeardy · 20/01/2022 22:28

[quote Tolo210]@LavenderBlue95 so if they fail they don’t attempt it again? Unless of course you go for a section, I’m guessing they don’t just cut you open after a failed epidural [/quote]
There are often things that can be done to get a one sided block working (different top-ups/positioning the patient differently/pulling the epidural catheter out a bit). If the tricks don’t work though or the block fails completely then re-siting the epidural is an option, but that may depend a bit on whether the patient’s happy to go through the process again (including all the risks) for a block that may still not work and to some extent how imminent delivery is/ how likely/soon a trip to theatre is.

Epidurals are flipping brilliant when they work well, but they’re a pain in the bum when they don’t work, and because we can’t actually see where the epidural tubing ends up/what the problem is (the whole technique is done by feel) it isn’t always possible to explain why they fail.

If someone with a completely wonky or useless epidural needs to go to theatre for forceps/section/manual removal/repair then it’s probably more common to take the epidural out and do a spinal (which is a different technique) than to try getting the epidural dense/high enough for a section. HTH.

Stripes22 · 20/01/2022 22:40

I had a epidural due to being put on the hormone drip, I went to sleep around midnight 4cm and woke up in the morning 8cm dilated!

They told me when to start pushing but I could feel the baby, no pain when pushing and no assisted delivery.

I was up and in the shower about 1.5 hours after birth.

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