Epidural- how does it feel?

[Kardelen]

Hi guys!
for anyone who has had epidural how did it feel when they were putting needle? Also how many cm were you dilated when they did?

how was the recovery? How many hours after birthing were you able to mobilise?

i heard horror stories of epidural- in fact when I had my first baby, the lady opposite me couldn’t walk even after a few days, but eventually the sensation came a little and they gave her crutches to be discharged with.

This is one of my worst nightmares but I can’t go through that pain again!

I had one at about 5cm, can’t remember what it felt like do I guess not painful. I couldn’t feel contractions but could feel the baby move down and the sensation of being touched for examinations. My labour took a while but I think less than an hour of pushing g stage. I remember not liking it at the point the baby came out. I’m not sure how much was the intense sensation amid the stretching (and I tore) and how much was pain. I think it did hurt though. It had pretty much worn off by the time I was wheeled to the ward after- maybe 3 hours after the birth? I could walk to the loo.

My epidural was fantastic. Don't remember how dilated I was but my labour was very fast so I'm glad I asked for it when I did and don't remember it hurting

Mine didn’t work. They repositioned it and tried a few times and then it only numbed one side.
No pain relief at all just a numb right leg!

Be prepared to ask for one very early on, or prepare for a plan B because I’ve since learned that epidurals don’t work for everyone, and some anesthetists are not as skilled as others at giving them (especially in later stages of labour).

I've had an epidural and spinal. Neither hurt going in and both felt wonderful!

Nothing feels as good as when the pain stops, and you're just smiling beatifically at the monitor telling you you're having another contraction 😊 I couldn't even feel any pressure, but IIRC they let it wear off as it became time to push, so that I could feel to do so. I'm sure they held me back from pushing for an hour or so with DC2, so that it could wear off a bit...something about less likely to tear? (I tore anyway).

Pretty sure I was 2 or 3cm dilated when I was given an epidural as I was going to be put on the hormone drip to progress labour. I was given a injection before hand to numb the area which stung a bit. But I didn't feel the epidural needle go in at all. I started to gain feeling back in my legs after about 2 hours after I had given birth and felt strong enough to stand up after another 2 hours. Recovery was fine, no problems. I would get one again in a second!

Once I got past the embarrassment of the anaesthetist being the dad of one of the parents at our babycraft classes, absolutely fine. I was worried about trying to keep still during contractions, but it all went smoothly. It was bizarre having legs moved and not feeling a thing below the waist, and pushing was hard as I didn't know what to push. It was 25 years ago so I can't remember how dilated I was.

Oh to add I pushed my baby out in a hour. I could feel pressure so knew when to push but couldn't feel pain. I had a very small tear, think I needed one stitch. All healed fine

My epidural was amazing. I don’t remember feeling it going in at all although I had already had pethidine at that point. But reading others’ posts I do now vaguely remember a cold spray. I was a bit out of it as I’d been in labour for a long time at that point (transferred to hospital from a home birth at 8cm dilated as I was exhausted and flagging).

I couldn’t feel a thing at all, don’t think I noticed having contractions even. Only thing I felt was a vague sensation of stretching when baby was crowning. It wore off well, I probably stayed in bed for about 2 hours afterwards but it felt like about 3 minutes as I was just holding my baby in awe and staring at him. Part of that time was being stitched up (I had a 2nd degree tear, it healed well) and waiting for my sleepy little baby to decide to try breastfeeding. I felt a bit sick once I got to the ward thought so they gave me anti nausea meds.

The only slightly bothersome thing I remember was it took me ages to pee after they took the catheter out (they made me catch the first pee I did afterwards in a cardboard bowl and weigh it?!) and after that I was constantly desperate to pee but couldn’t fully empty my bladder. I think that lasted a few hours. It was annoying but by the time I was discharged (about 14 hours after the birth) all was back to normal.

Hi @Kardelen i had an epidural in October, i dialated quite a bit but after 18 hours it was just not enough so i had an emergency c section.
The actual needle being insterted in my back for the epidural was fine tbh. I also heard horror stories but it was from people who had babies years ago.
My epidural started to wear off completely the next day, i did still have a catheter on for a day or two.
I would definitely have an epidural again 😊

Had c section so not sure if it's the same. I only felt it because they put it in the wrong place 3 times, he said "I've guessed the last 3 if I don't get it this time we will put you under" and then I didn't feel the needle going in (might have been numb from previous attempts and more focussed on the shooting pains down my legs and up to my neck) I also got the shakes and teeth chattering. Might be unrelated but after that I couldn't feel when I needed to wee, I had to set timers for about a month to remind me to go. I still now have problems with not realising when I'm going but I'm very aware of when I need to go

Don't recall pain going in. Wore off after few hours. Had shower standing up and hour or two after birth. Baby was back to back so it was a massive relief

I had one with a torturous back to back labour. It had started to wear off as my labour was hard and long. Due to complications, it was decided I should have a c section. Unfortunately the anethesist got called to someone else and so I ended up with an episiotomy. I remember feeling a cold sensation and for several hours I couldn’t feel anything. I did feel the forceps delivery but was relieved it was over.
I couldn’t walk properly the next day although I was told I had to get up and fetch my own breakfast and drinks. By the time I made it back to my bed most of it was all over the tray! Probably looked like Julie Walters in the waitress sketch.
I did suffer with a bit of back pain afterwards but nothing permanent.

I had an epidural with my first. Really didn't want one but after a very long day of contractions and hardly any dilation they wanted to put me on the drip so I had the epidural.

Was in too much pain to notice the needle going in and then once it was working it was amazing! Managed to have a sleep and everything!

Didn't experience any chest numbness (for pp who asked)

iifc I was walking round a few hours after and didn't have any complications from it.

Had a vaginal birth without any instruments or anything. Didn't really feel much just felt a sort of "popping" sensation when the baby's shoulders came out.

If I had another very long labour like that again I wouldn't hesitate to have the epidural.

My epidural was a helluva lot less painful than the contractions I was having which were awful as I'd been induced. I didn't find it painful to have the needle put in because I couldn't see it going in, I'd say it was no more painful than having blood taken. They give you local anaesthetic first before it goes in.
Afterwards I had a catheter for a few hours as I couldn't pass urine but I was up and walking again the next day.
Sometimes it takes a little bit longer for the leg numbness to wear off probably hence the crutches, you can't balance properly if your legs are numb but I only had enough to kill the pain so I was up and about sooner.
All in all a very positive experience.

I’ve had 2 epidurals. I don’t recall feeling the needle going in. TBH I was past caring about the needle - I just wanted the pain to go away. Neither were planned epidurals.

The first time I ended up with a full spinal block because they needed to use forceps and prepare me in case they had to do a c section.

2nd time was a fairly chilled birth and tbh I probably could have managed without. Baby was born within 5 mins of being numbed - I didn’t actively push I just let the contractions do the all the work. Leaving epidural till the last minute worked in my favour because it meant I didn’t feel the stitches going in.

The numbness wore off within a couple of hours for 2nd one and a bit longer for the 1st.

Perfect description!

Mine was brilliant, I was in quite a lot of pain from contractions but after the epidural went in I was able to sleep (apart from regular checks by the midwife) while the contractions went on. They woke me up when I needed to start pushing. I could feel sensation (pressure) but no pain. I was able to top up the dose myself if I felt it wearing off. Recovered sensation in my legs pretty much instantly it seemed to me (but I didn’t stand up for a while so can’t be too sure).

Highly recommend!

It was amazing, dd is about to turn 13 and I still remember the sense of cool relief flooding through me. I can see why people do drugs.

I had it quite late on in labour (dd was not in a hurry but needed to come out so they wanted to up the other meds they were giving me but they made the contractions very painful) so I ended up with a midwife telling me when I was having a contraction and afterwards my hand bumped into my leg and I couldn’t work out what it was as there was no sensation!

I had two further babies but they were both water births with a bit of gas and air, which I also highly recommend if possible.

It was amazing. Didn't feel it going in - the worst part is trying to sit still long enough between contractions!! Honestly was the best, no after affects either. You don't even have to get up to pee 😬
Because of the catheter though, you do have to go to the toilet within several hours after birth so they don't put another catheter back in - that was tricky for me as I was quite dehydrated and I ended up having a c section in the end so walking to the toilet after was not that easy 😅 but I managed it

Honestly don't even remember any pain of it going in, I was desperate. I remember having a contraction whilst it was going in but they stopped so I could get through it. Worked in about 20 mins was such a relief. I gave birth at 1pm and was walking to the toilet at 10pm infact I asked them to take the catheter out as it was getting in the way. At the time you literally don't care. Intact no recollection of catheter going in either come to think of it!

Oh and I was 6cm when it went in, had been in labour for 8hrs at that point

@Kardelen it was the best thing ever! I had one when about 4cm dilated (I think) after 18 hours of painful slow labour.. I honestly didn't feel pain having it, I think the pain of labour outweighed it! I ended up having an EMCS in the end though, so had a spinal blocker for that also, even after that I was on my feet the next day.

Good luck ❤️

Bloody brilliant is how it feels 🤣

I went from being in agony and not being able to cope to watching something on the iPad and eating snacks whilst my body merrily dilated. Had both of mine early-ish on. I think around 5cm first time and 3/4cm second time. I didn't notice any pain when they put it in whatsoever.

I had massively long labours so the fact that I couldn't get up immediately and get myself a cup of tea was fine. Baby was born, lots of cuddles and feeding and sleep and gradually legs regained their movement but honestly I didn't really notice that part.

No your chest doesn't go numb and neither does your torso. You will also find that the doctor won't want to completely remove any feeling whatsoever as it's better to have a bit of feeling for pushing. So for example I could feel a sensation of stretching but without the pain. Ditto I could feel tightening in my womb but no pain. I had no tearing either.

It s a personal decision but I had wanted a completely natural birth and now I would definitely have an epidural again. The recovery for me both times was easy and I don't feel it affected my birthing. Writhing around in agony on a birthing ball didn't make my birth better than lying down on a bed with no pain.

I didn't feel the needle go in but I hated the numb feeling. I couldn't move my legs or torso and it kept raising too high and only worked on one side of my body so I had to lie on my side strapped to a monitor for hours which was uncomfortable. As time went on I felt strong contractions but only on one side of my body which I guess is better than both but I didn't have the pain free experience that a lot of people do. I ended up with forceps anyway and that was completely pain free.