Has anyone had epidural birth?

[Kardelen]

Hi!
so I have a condition called vaginusmus, so on my first baby i could not tolerate being checked if I was dilated or induced.

When I was 10cm my contractions were severe, ( at this point they were able to check if I’m dilated). They gave spinal but it brought its own complications- vacuum/forcep delivery, retained placenta, and episiotomy. Took me 3 weeks to recover.

this time round I wanted a c section to avoid all this. But I know c section is a major surgery, and effects of it will be longer than 3 weeks.

the doctor suggested having epidural when my contractions start, so that they can check if I’m dilated. And to give birth with epidural.

can you feel anything with epidural?

You can refuse all vaginal exams if you wish, they can tell other ways. With my 1st I had an epidural at around 8cm and could still feel to push etc. With my 2nd I only had 1 ve at my request because I wanted to know how far along I was after my first was 3 days only being 3cms.

Also my 1st was like yours in the it ended in episiotomy ans ventouse, the 2nd was just gas and air and water, completely manageable and totally different to my first. I was up about with ease less than 2 hours after birth compared to the 2 weeks of holding my bits everything I stood up with the first. If you want to try without the epidural you can and just have it in your birth plan to have it as soon as you ask if you decide you want one. And put that you decline all vaginal exams unless you request one or you have an epidural placed. Every birth is so so different you might find that this time you don't need any of it but it's good to have it as a back up. And for the catheter I had an in and out one done with baby 1 so I didn't have to wait for removal afterwards so you can ask for that too.

First birth was awful - I won’t detail as no point.

second, walking (panting/waddling) up the corridor into labour room the midwife asked me what I was most worried about. I said ‘only being 5cm and I hate the internals’ - so she didn’t do any.

she put a mat over a birthing ball and I sat on it with my arms and hands leaning on the side of the bed with my head down. I bounced a bit and had a few sips of drink, chatted when I could, mostly concentrated on myself and breathing.

I remember her saying to DH ‘things are changing’ and when I was totally ready and at my own asking, they helped me on the bed and DS was born within a few minutes and I think two pushes.

first time - 72 hours
second time - 2 hours

no pressure and no checking. Was so much better than the first time!

Last time they literally abandoned me as I couldn’t tolerate the examination so that’s why I’m worried history will repeat itself. I know every pregnancy is different but it still scares me 😭
When you had the epidural at 8 cm did all the pain go?

I had an epidural, it didn’t work for me - although I’m sure it’s not common. Just my luck ☹️ Perhaps you could ask for it to be sited when you start contracting and proceed to CS if you don’t feel it’s giving you enough pain relief?

Aw that’s good they respected your wishes. With mine they were so adamant.
when you went to hospital did you have contractions every 3 mins or so? Wow! Everyone does say second one is easier, so hopefully I’ll have the same luck this time round. So two hours of you being in hospital or contractions starting?

where we live they normally do the examination and refuse to admit to hospital if less than two cm. So I think that’s why they’re so hot at it.

Oh no! Sorry to hear it didn’t work. What did they do when they realised it didn’t?

I had an epidural and it was amazing, in horrendous pain (I wanted to die) for 24hrs then got to 4cm (finally!) asked for epidural, as soon as it was in I felt great, had a sleep, gradually got wider down there, then 10.5hrs later pushed for around 1.5hrs on and off when the surges came (u can feel it but not painful) and the final pop of him coming out was a sharp, manageable pain. Defo was the best thing! Good luck!

I had one with my first. Was amazing!!!

Absolutely nothing unfortunately, they said I was close to full dilation so it was too late for anything else (that I now know to be a big fat lie). I was in so much pain I couldn’t bring myself to push because it felt like if I did then my bits would explode 🤯 so I ended up with an incredible spinal and forceps. Who knows what would’ve happened had I been given proper pain relief and had a go at pushing myself 🤷🏼‍♀️

I loved my epidural for my twin birth. I had it nice and early at 3cm following pessary induction. It was only partially successful so she tweaked it until it was right. You feel pressure when you need to push but I couldn’t feel examinations. My midwife was lovely and very experienced. Weirdly despite lack of feeling I felt much more in control and that people listened to me as opposed to the back to back contractions / vomit fest of previous birth

It didn't go entirely as I had a "walking" epidural but when I pressed the boost it did. I had horrendous hip pain with every contraction though and that was the only pain I could feel not the contraction pain. (It felt similar to spd rather than my pelvis splitting open after the epidural though so it was extremely tolerable then thank god). Do you have to birth at the same hospital or are you able to transfer your care to another? If the thought of the history repeating itself is too much and there's another hospital close enough that could be an option for you too. I don't think they can deny you that either it's just whether you are close enough to manage the travel while in labour