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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Questions about Epidurals

20 replies

CartoBarto · 03/01/2023 13:50

What was your experience with epidurals? Any tips or tricks to make them more bearable? I very much dislike needles so learning more about this helps with my nerves! Thanks!

OP posts:

Mumof1andacat · 03/01/2023 13:57

Excellent. Had gas and air the needle. It felt painless. Yes you can't move but I made the right decision for me.

BuffaloCauliflower · 03/01/2023 13:59

Do you definitely want an epidural? Totally your choice of course but it sounds like you’re assuming they’re essential and they’re not without their own risk. Sorry if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick

LeavesOnTrees · 03/01/2023 14:03

My contractions were so painful that I didn't care what they did to stop the pain.

I never saw the needle and I felt it a bit but it wasn't painful.

You are confined to the bed afterwards though so I tried to hang on as long as possible without.

Overall I'd recommend. Keep an open mind and decide on the day.

MistyQuigley · 03/01/2023 14:09

I was adamant I didn't want an epidural and put it off for so long but it was the best! I know it's not for everyone but I loved it, I'd been in labour for so long and the contractions were so painful I didn't even think about the needle, I can't remember feeling it go in at all. It was the first thing I asked for when I went in to have DC2.

pancakesunday · 03/01/2023 14:10

I had one and I honestly never felt the needle. The pain of the contractions was worse and that was the focus at the time. Worth having in my opinion - didn't take the pain away completely but made it bareable

daschundthroughthesnow · 03/01/2023 14:11

OP you've created an awful lot of threads all about similar things over the last few days. Why don't you write down a list of these questions and have a chat with your midwives/obstetric team to go over all your questions and concerns? You asked for a GA section the other day, then cannulas, catheters and now epidurals. Best get reliable info from your medical team rather than random people online. There aren't really any tips or tricks relating to an epidural since all you need to do is focus on sitting still - the anaesthetist does the work and will consent you, go through the risks and explain the process beforehand. Good luck.

OceanbreezeSun · 03/01/2023 14:16

In my case - the epidural provided me with almost instant relief after long, painful contractions during an induction. (3 days altogether) BUT I believe it also slowed down my labour further & caused my dcs heart rate to drop, which resulted in me needing to be rushed to theatre for forceps ( if that didn’t work, I would if needed an ECS)

Epidurals can come with an increased risk of needing further medical intervention, like forceps.

I also reacted badly to the after effects of the epidural and was shaking for about 2 hours.

Other women I know have had them and they have been absolutely fine.

As others have said, keep an open mind and do your research. There is definitely a place for them and they can be a great relief, but sometimes, they are not and can cause more problems.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 03/01/2023 14:16

If you decide that's what you want, the staff look after you so well.

You have to sit hunched over a cushion and keep very very still for the anaesthetist to get the needle right but it's actually ok. A midwife and your birthing partner will be with you to help you through it too.

Do bear in mind though that wanting one and getting one are 2 different things which I hadn't considered. I asked for one with DS1 and the anaesthetist came to do it but he got called away to an emergency (fair enough, the lady in the emergency needed him more than me!!), so I didn't actually get it and baby had arrived by the time he was able to get back to me. He was lovely though, came back to see me and I said to him jokingly "what time do you call this" while holding my son. He laughed and replied "see, you didn't need me anyway".

trevthecat · 03/01/2023 14:22

I had 3, none worked! So I didn't have the best experience.

fugly1 · 03/01/2023 14:25

I went for it, the pain was too intense without. Apart from not being able to pee after and needing a catheter for 24 hrs after birth all was good

cptartapp · 03/01/2023 14:32

They hit a nerve struggling to get mine in and I nearly shot off the bed.
Tbh the rest is a bit of a blur. Not convinced it helped. I had a back to back labour and was practically at the pushing stage by the time they got it in.

Hoppinggreen · 03/01/2023 14:34

Mine was lovely and I didn’t even notice the needle by then to be honest - you can’t see it anyway.
I pushed twice and DS arrived, I was in the shower a couple of hours later and then home and well a few hours after that

User11122 · 03/01/2023 15:01

Whilst I was pregnant I always thought that as other women have managed without the epidural, maybe I could. Oh how wrong was I! I was only 2cm dilated and couldn't cope with the pain! The midwife asked me when I want the epidural and I said now! I did have to wait a bit for a room and gas and air was rubbish and made me dizzy, but once I had the epidural I was the happiest! The pain from the needle is sooo little.

The epidural does make your legs jelly like and you can barely feel anything, but I was able to still somewhow prop myself up when I needed to. And again you can't feel anything when pushing baby out (if you keep topping up the epidrual) but again somehow did that too. Well worth not having to suffer any pain.

justcallmeJane · 03/01/2023 15:12

Both my epidurals were fine.

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 03/01/2023 17:08

Had one in my first birth. It was fine in that it wasn’t painful and it worked for it’s intended purpose, but it contributed to my needing forceps and I threw up immediately after the birth as it didn’t agree with me.

My subsequent two epidural-free births were different (one traumatic, one absolutely wonderful).

If I had another baby, I wouldn’t opt for an epidural (unless medically necessary, e.g. for a c-section).

Summer2424 · 03/01/2023 17:18

Hi @CartoBarto i had an epidural in October, tbh it was ok, my husband held my hand and two lovely nurses talked to me to keep me distracted but i didn't need any support tbh, it was the easy part of my labour x

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 03/01/2023 17:20

Correction - I didn’t have forceps in my first labour, I had a ventouse delivery. Total brain block moment!

prisscalledwanda · 03/01/2023 17:46

I would advise seeing what is actually used in an epidural beforehand - I was so scared but saw the tube and needle in my antenatal class and it was so much less scary than I expected. Nor was the sitting very still to get it in the trauma I expected. Also it is in your back so you genuinely don't see or feel what it is. You need to make the right decision for the birth you want but don't let the 'needle' fear make it for you. Good luck

GyozaGuiting · 03/01/2023 17:47

I’ve had several epidurals as they don’t particularly work for me, so they need to keep doing them, I think I’ve had 5 or so.
All absolutely fine and in the last labour I was screaming for it 😂

BluIsTheColour · 03/01/2023 18:46

Some folk swear by then others think there is no need. Only u will know. I was quite keen on one before hand. I was enduced and put straight on the drip. So I knew very quickly I wanted one!

Before being in labour, I was a bit concerned about the pain of needle. However in all honestly I was in so much pain already and I don't even remember feeling it. What I do remember is when it started working and suddenly I could breath calmly and talk again. I had no need to be glued to the gas and air. It's magical what it does, the pain literally goes away!

It eventually wore off down one side. He came back and tried to reposition. I should have got him to take it out and start again as it didn't really fix it and it was quite sore when he was trying to move it about. I'd get one again though!

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