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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Epidurals & pushing

45 replies

Cheekypeach · 20/02/2022 19:56

Evening ladies

I had an epidural with my first birth (induced) which did not work at all - could still feel every bit of pain. On top of that I had zero urge to push - not sure whether that was because of the epidural or not. Ended with the predictable forceps.

Can I ask your experience with epidurals and pushing? Could you still feel the urge to push despite the epidural? About to ttc number 2 so wondering whether to give epidurals another chance Grin

TIA

OP posts:
IfIwasablackbird · 20/02/2022 19:58

Mine didn’t work either but managed to push still. It did take a while though, he came out with little dots caused by the pressure apparently.

IfIwasablackbird · 20/02/2022 19:58

With hindsight I wouldn’t have bothered with it. Didn’t have one with my first and it was a long labour but the pushing was easier.

FTEngineerM · 20/02/2022 20:00

No ‘urge to push’ but I successfully pushed. They confirmed with their hand up me 😬😖sadly he was transverse with cord around neck (only found this out post emcs) so ended up with cat 2 emcs and he was massive.

First one was forceps like you.

Ursusmajor · 20/02/2022 20:02

Yes I had a strong urge to push and could tell when the contractions were happening even though the pain was completely taken away once the epidural kicked in. However, I dilated quicker than expected and was pushing before they vould even lay me back down on the bed after placing the epidural. In hindsight I probably would have done fine without it. I thought I had hours more to go of syntocin induced contractions though.

DragonMovie · 20/02/2022 20:03

Following with interest.

I had a fine first birth with gas and air, but I’ve become very unkeen on giving birth again. I had pinned my hopes on an epidural being the solution but these posts are dashing my dreams… grateful for the reality check though!

RabitWhole · 20/02/2022 20:10

I couldn't feel when to push however midwife was monitoring contractions and told me when to push. Even though you can't really feel anything you can still contract your muscles to push. I can't really explain how but you just sort of clench everything up I guess!

Good luck with everything and congratulations!

EmptyVices · 20/02/2022 20:12

I had my baby 5 weeks ago and had an epidural which worked amazingly.

I knew when to push as I felt sick before es tu contraction and the midwife could tell by the reading on the screen and by placing her hand on my tummy Smile

student26 · 20/02/2022 20:13

First epidural I had an urge to push and could not feel anything when pushing, thankfully! Only thing I felt was the pressure when she was crowning.
Second baby I had the epidural and again felt nothing and had no urge to push. But this time when pushing, I did feel myself push him out and it felt amazing - I know that sounds odd, but both babies had a ventouse delivery so to feel that I had ‘helped’give birth felt good.

LemonDrizzles · 20/02/2022 20:20

Epidural at first birth, I was 9 cm dilated!!! Couldn't push, vonteuse. Then they showed me the forceps, got the baby out to the shoulder in 2 pushes!

1st baby Timeline: 11am water broke, contractions. 2/3 pm arrived at hospital, triage, ok contractions. Incident with triage midwife, painful awkward contractions till about 6 pm. 9 pm epidural. 11 pm taken in to push. 2 am baby out (time are estimated memories)

2nd baby timeline: 11:30 pm contractions start. At hospital by 12:30 am, feeling like contractions are getting intensely quicker.seriously midwife carts in birth stuff and I give birth in what feels like a side room on the floor at 2:15 is.... So so quick!

Didn't even have enough time to say the word epidural with second birth. As it started crossing my mind as an option, the midwife said, heads coming out!

LemonDrizzles · 20/02/2022 20:20

Ps I requested and read with interest my first birth hospital notes

abbs1 · 20/02/2022 20:29

I was induced and had epidural even though I didn't really want it but was kind of pushed into it as I had a complicated labour. Didnt work at all.
I'm having to be induced this pregnancy in a few days and Ive declined epidural unless it medically necessary i.e emergency c-section.

Geranium1984 · 20/02/2022 20:35

Epidural first and only. Loved the epidural but didn't feel the urge to push. The midwives told me when to push and I gave it my all.
I had used the epino balloon thing to practice 'giving birth/stretch my perennium in the couple of weeks ahead of my due date. It was super useful as I knew what position worked best for me and how to push. So even though I couldn't feel anything I knew what to do.

Greybeardy · 20/02/2022 20:36

If the epidural didn't give you any sensory or motor block then it probably wasn't working enough to interfere with the sensation of needing to push either. Having had 1 failed epidural will mean there's a chance of the same happening, but it's not an absolute given. We top-up epidurals so they're high enough to do a section when women come to theatre for a trial of forceps delivery and they still push pretty hard even though they can't feel it at all. An epidural for labour interferes with strength much less than an epidural for surgery and the midwives can tell when you're contracting even if you can't. HTH.

GalactatingGoddess · 20/02/2022 20:37

I had a mobile epidural I believe so they turned it down and I felt an urge to push and successfully did without any further intervention.

Twokidsanddone · 20/02/2022 20:37

I had an epidural with my first. It didn't take the pain away completely but maybe just enough to make it bearable. Definitely felt a very strong urge to push. Kept telling the consultant and he didn't really believe me. He wanted to prep everything for episiotomy and ventouse delivery. When he left the room midwife told me if I need to push, push. Less than 20 minutes later DS1 was in my arms. No intervention needed!

Original poster
Cheekypeach · 20/02/2022 20:39

Interesting responses thanks ladies.

@Greybeardy that’s what I assumed, that if it wasn’t blocking the pain then it wouldn’t be blocking the urge to push. It seems so strange though, everyone else talks about this overwhelming urge and I never got it - not even a little bit Confused

Active labour was only 8ish hours last time, if it’s speedier next time I might see if I can do without the epidural and have something else instead.

OP posts:
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 20/02/2022 20:44

I had an epidural, 5/6 hours into a syntocinon induced birth. Asked for a small dose and didn't top it up too much. Took away about 50% of the pain, but I could walk, move, go to the toilet, and feel the contractions for when to push. No interventions, a couple of grazes, with a back to back birth. Would definitely have one again, esp if I was induced

WhoWants2Know · 20/02/2022 20:45

I was able to push with my first, not because of any urge but because they told me to.

With my second, I was resting and getting ready to push when baby took it upon herself to emerge on her own! Luckily the midwife decided to examine me at just the right moment to catch her as she flopped out. So I suppose sometimes the pushing just happens on its own.

Tee20x · 20/02/2022 21:01

I had no urge to push but the midwife would look at my contractions and tell me when to. I managed to push successfully and get her out.

Original poster
Cheekypeach · 20/02/2022 21:45

I’m hoping that will be me next time Tee! That’s my ideal birth, a working epidural and no instruments! 🤞🏻

OP posts:
PullingAtTeeth · 20/02/2022 21:56

Had epidural 1st and 2nd, both times took a while to site properly and get right but when it did work it was pure heaven! Couldn’t feel a thing but midwife could tell when my contractions where but the monitor and told me when to push. Pushed them both out no problem.
3rd birth wanted an epidural again but he came so quickly I didn’t have time and it was hideous…I was seriously under prepared for the pain!
I am an epidural fan if you can’t tell!

BobbleWobble1 · 21/02/2022 08:40

Had an epidural first time. Worked really well and I'm sure I'd have had the urge to push or at least been able to with the help of the midwife. That was until I got to 10cm, it fell out and I had all of the pain with none of the sensation. Ended in a forceps delivery in theatre with a spinal block. Hideous experience and extremely bad luck.

Second time swore I was not going near an epidural. Very quick delivery, my body basically got on with it whether I liked it or not. Contractions felt manageable to the point that I didn't realise I was so close to holding a baby until I was actually holding a baby. I wouldn't have said I actually had an urge to push. It basically just happened but he flew out in one push so I didn't really have time to think about it!! Clearly from my experience, no epidural second time was entirely the right call not that I got much choice as everything was so quick!

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 21/02/2022 08:57

Mine worked. But nope zero urge to push. I was watching the monitor for contractions to see when I should be pushing. Ended with ventouse delivery.

With DD2 I just had gas and air and the urge to push really really shocked me! It's so intense! She was out in three pushes.

WoMandalorian · 21/02/2022 09:02

Didn't feel the urge to push with my first but did with my second (both were epidurals).

11stonesomething · 21/02/2022 09:04

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