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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

What is Epidural like?

21 replies

44Jen44 · 19/10/2023 09:08

I've had two natural births. First was 27.5 hrs and second was 3 hrs. Just incase my third takes hours like first I may consider epidural. What is the experience like? I'm really scared of having a big needle in my back. How long does it take? Does it cause complications with birth? Was it worth it?

OP posts:

CurlsLDN · 19/10/2023 09:11

It’s SO GOOD!

firstly they do a little, normal injection size needle to numb the area, so don’t worry about the big needle, you don’t see or feel it.

I went from having very painful contractions to the anaesthetist saying ‘how was that conctraction?’ And me saying ‘what contraction?’

for the rest of the birth I could feel the contractions, but no pain. It felt like a balloon blowing up making my stomach hard and then deflating, without pain. If you make a fist with your hand and then let it go you can feel the difference in muscle tension, but no pain, it was just like that. So you still know what you’re doing, but without the ouch!

CurlsLDN · 19/10/2023 09:13

And no on my case it caused no complications and led to a very calm birth

GlitteryGreen · 19/10/2023 09:16

I loved mine!

I didn't mind the needle, to be honest I was in so much pain from the contractions I was just desperate for the relief.

I still found I could move my legs etc, but I just couldn't feel any pain, which was amazing after hours of labour. You have a little button that you can press max every half an hour to top it up, so you can choose whether you want to be fully numb or not. Once I stopped pressing it faded away within a couple of hours.

Only downside for me was it was my first baby and the midwives expected me to still be able to feel when I needed to push, which I couldn't because I was pressing the button as I was scared of the pushing phase - so I think it did end up taking longer. But actually when it came to it I didn't even feel it. It's a bit harder to push when you can't feel but the midwives tell you how and when to do it so it was ok.

I'd definitely recommend and I'd have one again, I think I'd just be more mindful of stopping pressing when the midwives have said the baby is really low, so I could feel when I needed to push.

Thelazygardener · 19/10/2023 09:20

I had one for a caesarean 3 months ago. No numbing needle I had a cold spray that numbed the area. If I’m honest I found the cannula being inserted way worse! (Anaesthetist did mess that up 4 times so I was crazy nervous when he was then going to have a crack at my spine!)

it was fine though. Just deep breaths and keep everything relaxed and it was all quite quick. Good luck!

SallyWD · 19/10/2023 09:46

I demanded one with my second birth that went on forever. I was barely aware of the needle. Don't know if they numbed me before but I have no memory of it. The relief from pain was instant and absolutely wonderful. I went from being a shaking, vomiting mess to being calm and serene, sitting up in bed reading magazines. They could feel when I was having contractions and told me when to push. I enjoyed the labour very much after that.

ZombieBoob · 19/10/2023 10:07

I had one put in ahead of my induction drip for a back to back biggish baby 9lb in the end. He was my 4th my 1st epidural and it was good. I stopped topping it up near the pushing stage I could walk by the time we was born. I did get the itchy feeling but it passed pretty quick. With my next I'm probably deffo gonna get another.

RenoDakota · 19/10/2023 10:19

Had one for my first and it was wonderful. Had a calm, chilled birth.
For my second I had the midwife from hell (different hospital) who wouldn't allow it and the whole experience was miserable and painful.
The needle is ok, honestly.

cellarst · 19/10/2023 10:23

Bliss. Go for it

Willow12345 · 19/10/2023 10:27

I had one birth with an epidural and one without. I would definitely go for an epidural again. The pain relief was fantastic and enabled me to actually enjoy the birth. I could still feel the contractions and I was able to push.

mrssunshinexxx · 19/10/2023 10:28

Mine failed so I'm not a fan. I'm sure if they work properly it's great

Cakeorchocolate · 19/10/2023 10:34

The only bits you'll feel are the small needle used to give you a local anaesthetic before they use the actual epidural needle.
Then a little stinging as they give the local anaesthetic.
Then some pushing as they use the epidural needle to find the epidural space and lastly might get a shock sensation as they thread the catheter.

With a good anaesthetist, no anatomical issues and good positioning it will only take a few minutes.

I've worked in operating theatres for many years and assisted anaesthetists inserting epidurals many, many times. I was wary of having one myself. I had a brilliant anaesthetist do mine though it turns out and it was so worth it.

They don't leave any needles in your back, which is a common misconception.
Small needle for local anaesthetic in and out.
Larger needle to find the epidural space, a very thin plastic tube (catheter) is then passed through the needle and the needle is removed.
Then a see through dressing / plaster is put over the site and most of the tube to keep it secure to enable top ups.

My first labour was long and epidural was very helpful. At first I could still lift my legs off the bed a long way, with each additional top up of pain relief I could do it less and less, and I referred to them as elephant legs.

My second, very recent Labour, was too quick for an epidural. I would have had one if I could have with how painful it was.

Bunny44 · 19/10/2023 10:37

I had one recently after a 40 hr labour and gave me so much relief but then I struggled to feel the urge to push and ended up having forceps. I couldn't get on my feet which hindered the descent. However I also wasn't that impressed with my midwife so could have also been that.

I still think it was the right thing as I was do exhausted from the contractions by the time I came into hospital.

Notellinganyone · 19/10/2023 10:38

Be aware that there can be side effects- my SIL had a dural tap that wasn’t spotted by v unsympathetic nursing staff in post natal ward. Only sorted when MIL , who is an ex nurse, kicking up a fuss. Also statistically you are more likely to end up with intervention after an epidural.

Dontworkmondays · 19/10/2023 10:41

If you can do a natural birth, do it. I had to have an epidural but it causes so many known risks when your in labour. Forcep delivery and severe tears are very common with epidurals.

fearfuloffluff · 19/10/2023 10:48

Not being in pain was good. Being confined to bed, catheter, wires and tubes and machines and beeping was less so. Needle going in was fine.

If your second labour was three hours, I'd be more worried about giving birth on the way to the hospital than epidurals tbh! Fairly likely you wouldn't have time to get one. Midwives seem a little resistant to give one if they think baby is coming quite soon. I asked for one with my second, didn't have time by the point the anaesthetist came round.

In hindsight I was glad because being able to get up right away was great. First birth ended with CS.

MargotBamborough · 20/10/2023 12:15

I've had two.

The first time it was strong enough to take away all the contraction pain but I could still feel my legs and was able to stand up and move my hips. I ended up having an emergency C-section but realistically it was already heading that way before I had the epidural.

The second time I had the epidural at 3cm and asked for it to be lightly dosed so that I could still move around after I'd had a chance to rest a bit. I could still feel the contractions but they weren't really painful. I never had a chance to move around because I went from 3-10cm in about an hour without even realising it and by the time anyone came back to check me I was ready to push.

I would definitely have another one if I ever have a third baby.

MargotBamborough · 20/10/2023 12:16

Dontworkmondays · 19/10/2023 10:41

If you can do a natural birth, do it. I had to have an epidural but it causes so many known risks when your in labour. Forcep delivery and severe tears are very common with epidurals.

This isn't true.

Cowlover89 · 20/10/2023 12:23

Amazing!

Notellinganyone · 20/10/2023 17:04

@MargotBamborough - statistically it is true that intervention is more likely to be needed with an epidural. That’s just a fact. Obviously, like all procedures there are pros and cons.

MargotBamborough · 20/10/2023 17:07

Notellinganyone · 20/10/2023 17:04

@MargotBamborough - statistically it is true that intervention is more likely to be needed with an epidural. That’s just a fact. Obviously, like all procedures there are pros and cons.

It might be statistically true in countries where women having straightforward labours are discouraged from having or even denied an epidural, and so the women who do have an epidural are more likely to be having an induced or otherwise complicated labour. But in that case, an apparent correlation does not equal causation.

It isn't the case in countries where the vast majority of women have one as a matter of course because suffering pain in childbirth is seen as archaic and unnecessary.

BotterMon · 20/10/2023 17:07

Absolutely brilliant. Mine took the pain away but I could still push and walk after the birth. I wasn't hooked up to any machines bar the usual baby heartbeat monitor nor did I have a catheter. This was in Belgium however so not sure what it's like in England.

It wasn't a particularly long birth but they are done de rigueur there unless you pop baby out within an hour as nobody should suffer giving birth.

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