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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:
Dailytoil · 21/02/2022 09:05

Epidural with my first. Worked so well that I fell asleep for two hours. Was woken up to push. Zero urge to push like pp and also ended up with ventouse delivery.
Nothing with my second. Ninety minutes from first contraction to him being born. Bit of a shock to the system to be honest!

StrawberrySanta · 21/02/2022 09:12

Epidural with my second, by the time it had fully worked I was 10cm, 3 or 4 pushes and baby was out. I think I could tell when I had a contraction still, it's hard to know as it all happened so fast , the midwife's obviously told me when to push too

grey12 · 21/02/2022 09:36

My epidural worked and was great because I needed to sleep Sad but then I let it wore off for the pushing part. Tbh I did a terrible job at pushing and ended up having to use ventouse (I'm a religious person but I don't think I ever prayed so fervently.....). Oh and at the same time there were 2 nurses pushing my belly witht their elbows ConfusedConfused

My next 2 births were much quicker (I fought tooth and nail to delay induction and point black refused pessaries). And had them with no pain relief at all (gas and air gives me terrible nausea). WOW what a difference! Sooo much better, yes natural queen, yes animalistic, yes all those mantras!!! I felt much more in control

Original poster
Cheekypeach · 21/02/2022 09:36

A nap during labour is also a little fantasy of mine! Haha!

OP posts:
BobbinHood · 21/02/2022 09:37

I didn’t particularly feel the urge to push but the midwife coached me through it and she was out in 10 minutes, no tearing.

BobbinHood · 21/02/2022 09:39

This was shortly after waking up from a sleep - I credit the epidural with allowing me to sleep and having the energy to push effectively! I was practically delirious with pain and exhaustion before that.

grey12 · 21/02/2022 09:39

@abbs1

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.
May I suggest you ask about other types of induction Wink for me breaking waters was much better. There is a balloon thing that I wanted to try for DD3 but it wasn't recommended for me
Original poster
Cheekypeach · 21/02/2022 09:40

I’m hoping that next time the pessary/gel will be enough to tip me into labour, as I feel then it will be manageable without the epidural. There’s no way I could do the drip again without something strong to take the edge off.

OP posts:
Alarae · 21/02/2022 09:49

I was induced at 40+5 as my blood pressure was starting to spike (although no other signs of pre-eclampsia). Had the balloon to start off with which I feel didn't really do anything (other than feel like someone punched me inside the uterus as they were placing it) however when it was removed they were able to break my waters.

Went straight onto the drip, contractions weren't what I described as painful but more pressure. Had the epidural as by that point I hadn't really slept in over two days (constant monitoring checks) so opted for that and it was bliss. Pretty sure I had a good snooze for a couple of hours!

When it came to pushing I had no urge at all and was told by my midwife when to push. Pretty sure I got to crowning (according to DH who looked) but ended up in theatre with an episiotomy and forceps. I don't believe this was due to the epidural though, as my DD had shoulder dystocia.

I had the epidural you could top up yourself (it went off automatic once an hour plus you could top up every 20 mins) but I didn't really top it up much. Most of the time I was fine with the hourly dose and only topped up a couple of times, normally when the midwife said to as I was just carrying on.

I would quite happily have an epidural again if I felt I needed it. At the time I personally had it mainly due to tiredness as I wasn't massively phased by the contractions.

redandwhite1 · 21/02/2022 10:42

The epidural worked re pain relief with me but I agree I had no urge to push and then when they told me to it wasn't enough so ended up with forceps

Cinnabomb · 21/02/2022 10:45

Just for balance - I DIDNT have an epidural and I still couldn’t feel contractions/ when to push. She got stuck and it was a constant haze of pain really. Midwives had to tell me when to push but ended up with forceps

pinkprettyroses · 21/02/2022 10:58

I had an epidural and whilst it wasn't painful as such I could feel the contractions. I also had the urge to push :)

Dyra · 21/02/2022 11:12

I'm similar to Cinnabomb. No epidural, but no urge to push whatsoever. Had to have the drip turned back up as well, as contractions started to die off to boot. I could feel the contractions though, so I knew when to push. 35 weeks with DC2 now, and wondering if it'll happen again.

RinklyRomaine · 21/02/2022 13:02

No epidural with first. Overwhelming urge to push, but pushing stage 2.5 hours. Tore to shreds.

Long back to back labour with #2, epidural in after 24 hours. Lowered dose at 10cm to feel pushing urges, breathed him out in 6 pushes, no grazes. Amazing midwife.

Induction with epidural after 4 hours. Failed. Second epi site failed. The baby transverse oblique unnoticed by monster MW, made to push against large cervical lip over an hour. No urge to push. Spinal block finally worked. Manual movement of lip and head by registrar, 2 pushes, no tears but a ruined pelvic floor.

Original poster
Cheekypeach · 21/02/2022 18:48

@Dyra

I'm similar to Cinnabomb. No epidural, but no urge to push whatsoever. Had to have the drip turned back up as well, as contractions started to die off to boot. I could feel the contractions though, so I knew when to push. 35 weeks with DC2 now, and wondering if it'll happen again.
It’s odd isn’t it? I wonder why some of us never get the urge?
OP posts:
CristinaNov182 · 03/11/2022 13:20

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

Hi, I wonder how did it go for you? I’m in the exact same situation with my 2nd after a painful first delivery, induction forceps, didn’t feel to push and too exhausted to do it.

@Dyra - how did it go for you too?

thankw

Dyra · 03/11/2022 13:44

Didn't get to the pushing phase unfortunately. Baby was back to back with their head tipped back, so I wound up with a caesarean after stalling at 5cm and baby going into distress.

However, I did have a sensation of needing to push, even though I was only 4cm at the time. It was a controllable urge though, and it's a sign he was back to back.

Hoping things go better for you @CristinaNov182

CristinaNov182 · 03/11/2022 14:00

Thank you

im sorry it didn’t go better, hope you and baby were fine in the end

Dyra · 03/11/2022 21:06

Awww ty. We were (and still are) both fine. I was admitted to the hospital a week after that post with pre-eclampsia. Mild like it was with DC1, but it was still affecting my liver, so early induction (again, as with DC1) was the way to go. I had an epidural late into the labour as well. Wonderful things!

C-section wasn't how I wanted it to end up, but it's the way it needed to go. Overall it wasn't so bad. I got to announce the sex! Didn't get to cut the cord, but that wouldn't have been possible. Took a bit of time getting baby out due to his position, but otherwise the op itself went fine. Baby was a bit grunty and mucusy, so had to have some suction at the resuscuitaire, but nothing drastic. Recovery for me wasn't too bad pain wise, but the wound took a while to heal. It's all healed up now nearly 8 months down the line.

Hoping it'll be a smooth labour for you. ❤

CristinaNov182 · 04/11/2022 09:54

@Dyra yes, we can’t control labour, have to do what’s best in the moment.

I don’t want to cut the cord, and my DH doesn’t either :)

im glad you”re both well and doing fine now

thank you, will see how it goes.

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