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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Has anyone had early epidural?

27 replies

Kardelen · 26/01/2023 15:57

Did they check to see how much you were dilated before giving it?

also, did it lead to c section or instrumental delivery?

thank you

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hiredandsqueak · 26/01/2023 16:12

I had an epidural in place before I'd had a contraction because I'd had a previous c section due to breech, I have a small pelvis and obstetrician would have preferred me to have another c section but agreed to a trial of labour if I agreed to epidural so they could whip baby out if needed.
It was brilliant, I'm not good with pain anyway so to have a baby without having any pain at all and not having to recover from a c section was ideal for me. Dd was back to back but was delivered naturally without any assistance and I hadn't felt a thing.

BrewandBiscuit · 26/01/2023 16:14

I had an epidural before I had my induction (waters broken and drink) he was back to back and I needed a forceps delivery

Summer2424 · 26/01/2023 16:29

Hi @Kardelen i was induced (i'm 41 and baby was overdue). I had dialated about 4cm, then had to wait 2 days for a bed to become available. On the day a bed became available i wasn't checked how much i had dialated. My waters were broken by a nurse. I opted for an epidural and was contracting for 18 hours but bubba didn't arrive and by this time we were both getting distressed so i had an emergency c section.
Hope the above helps x

SonnySideDown · 26/01/2023 16:33

I had an epidural at 3cm as they wouldn't give me one before that. Absolute textbook delivery, not even a stitch needed.

Then for 2nd DC I had no pain relief at all and ended up with a crash c section at 9cm dilated.

You can never predict these things.

Original poster
Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:02

Omg really? This gave me so much hope, thank you so much for sharing your story.

did you feel any pain at all? We’re you completely numb? So literally no instruments were used?

they keep telling me they need to check if I’m dilated but I couldn’t tolerate last time. So they agreed to do early epidural but said it can lead to instrument/c section which I’m terrified about too. I know every birth is different but your story really gives me a positive outlook to feel calmer at least!

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Original poster
Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:02

Did they have to do episiotomy when they used forceps?

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Original poster
Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:04

Defo seems like It’s unpredictable and rarely goes as planned!

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Original poster
Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:04

For my first birth had issues with bed as well, eventually was taken to theatre where I had spinal🥹 cos was 10cm while waiting for a bed

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Dyra · 26/01/2023 17:08

Not who you were talking to, but yes they have to do an episiotomy if they use forceps. The forceps are like an extra 1cm of metal per forcep on either side of baby's head. So 12cm diameter. Should prevent serious tearing, though it (rarely) still can happen.

Original poster
Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:12

Ah interesting! Thank you for the info

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hiredandsqueak · 26/01/2023 20:22

I've had three epidurals (well four if you count the c section) I've had natural deliveries with them all, no instrument deliveries and I tore with only the first baby. Third baby though was definitely the best when I felt nothing and went home with baby six hours after she was born. The only time I've had pain whilst the epidural was in was during the c section tbh but they were quick to sort it out.

Destiny123 · 26/01/2023 20:38

Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:02

Omg really? This gave me so much hope, thank you so much for sharing your story.

did you feel any pain at all? We’re you completely numb? So literally no instruments were used?

they keep telling me they need to check if I’m dilated but I couldn’t tolerate last time. So they agreed to do early epidural but said it can lead to instrument/c section which I’m terrified about too. I know every birth is different but your story really gives me a positive outlook to feel calmer at least!

Search my previous posts I've written lots on thus before (anaesthetist)

You need to be 4cm ie active labour or destined to deliver eg an induction to get an epidural

Theres an association with epidurals and instrumental delivery but not certain if its cause or association. Ie because people who give birth pre hospital don't have epidurals also don't have theatre interventions. May be that was destined for that regardless

Destiny123 · 26/01/2023 20:38

Kardelen · 26/01/2023 17:02

Did they have to do episiotomy when they used forceps?

Yes a tiny cut when your numb is far preferable to a tear that won't be as easy to suture and heal as well

Kimberz · 27/01/2023 08:27

Hi.

I was about 2/3cm when I had my epidural.

I had total numbness as kept topping it up.
Lol.

I had a forceps and episiotomy. Healed very well and was driving by day 4 (baby1 was a csection so my recovery after baby2 was a breeze)

alittleadvicepls · 27/01/2023 08:41

I was 1cm when I had the first epidural, they then broke my waters and I went on pitocin. That epidural only numbed one side of my body so I then had a second epidural when I was 2cm. It took me 12 hours to dilate 3cm and I eventually had a section. I think my circumstances might be different though because my body was not ready for labour. I was induced at 34 weeks because baby was unwell.

WandaWonder · 27/01/2023 08:49

I was induced then had an epidural, felt zero from the waist down after the epidural, straight forward delivery and home 14 hours later

Everyone is different though

Original poster
Kardelen · 27/01/2023 11:00

Thank you everyone.
had a midwife appointment today, and they said if there is no labour ward bed I’d be turned away from having the epidural until there is a bed. So now I’m thinking if I should just opt into c section.

Not sure if this happens quite a lot

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Original poster
Kardelen · 27/01/2023 11:01

Did they check to see if you guys were dilated beforehand? Or after the epidural?

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Destiny123 · 31/01/2023 17:36

Kardelen · 27/01/2023 11:00

Thank you everyone.
had a midwife appointment today, and they said if there is no labour ward bed I’d be turned away from having the epidural until there is a bed. So now I’m thinking if I should just opt into c section.

Not sure if this happens quite a lot

Once people are in active labour and want an epidural they come round the labour ward. There's always beds, coming round is limited by midwives on duty but I've never known it stop people on the many labour wards I've worked. Epidural provision is more limited by if the anaesthetist is busy in theatre, but we aim to do within 30mins of request

Tend to be examined 1st in most cases as unless an induction, don't come round to LW until active labour (4cm)

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 31/01/2023 17:53

I was induced but the pessaries didn’t work, waters were broken and oxytocin started… my blood pressure then sky rocketed so I was given an epidural before I’d had any contractions as apparently a side effect of it is a lowering of BP, plus my midwife said it was looking like a c section needed.
anyway, I then had a natural birth about 4 hours later. No forceps/episiotomy but I did tear badly and end up in theatre because of that.

Original poster
Kardelen · 31/01/2023 18:30

Thank you for the reassurance @Destiny123 .

last time I had to wait 3 days for a labour bed in order to be induced as waters had broke but had no contractions. It was the longest wait ever, and contractions started on its own at end of 3 days. When my contractions did finally start and asked for pain relief no one really checked on me or have pain relief till I had bleeding- they couldn’t find the baby’s heart rate so wheeled me to theatre immediately where I received spinal- was too late for anything else as was 10cm. That’s why I’m worried this time round might be the same story and will be having early epidural if things go to plan! Chose a different hospital this time so fingers crossed

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Original poster
Kardelen · 31/01/2023 18:31

@TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER
sonsorry to hear. Hope everything went smoothly after and you recovered quick.
did you feel any pain at all when having the tears?

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Thelonelychicken · 31/01/2023 18:59

I had an epidural before I started the drip to be induced. I felt absolutely nothing just pressure when to push. My legs were not numb either and no catheters needed. I just topped up the epidural whenever they put up the oxy drip. I was up and walking within an hour of birth. No tears or instruments. Labour was 4 hours too. I will mention though this was my 4th baby.

Greybeardy · 31/01/2023 20:20

How quick was your labour once it got going properly? Your last post makes it sound like a precipitous labour, and if that is the case there may be no chance to get an epidural in and working (and the examination would be helpful in determining that). It sounds like the best people to advise you about all of this are the people who have access to your full history.

babyjellyfish · 31/01/2023 20:20

With my son I had an epidural at about 5cm after having had my waters broken and been on the syntocinon drip for several hours. I had a C-section about 8 hours later, having failed to dilate more than 6cm. But my baby was badly positioned and turned out to be very small.

With my daughter I had an epidural at 3cm after about 12 hours of early (spontaneous) labour. An hour and a half later I was fully dilated. I didn't have an instrumental delivery, I pushed her out in about 5 minutes with only a small tear.

Sorry, that's probably not very helpful! These things are unpredictable.

Personally I don't believe having an early epidural or not is likely to make much difference to how your labour progresses.