‘Walking Epidural’

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I have recently learnt there is a sort of ‘milder’ form of epidural where you still have the injection in to your spine, but there is a lower dose flowing through so you retain more feeling. Supposedly you can still feel contractions and a little pain, but you do retain the ability to move a little.

I searched walking epidural on this forum and got 100 unrelated posts.

Is this common and has anyone ever had one?

I never heard of it, but surely its just administering a lower dose of medication, rather than it being a different type of epidural?

Yes I couldn't walk but I could adjust my position, feel contractions and walk not long after.

Yeah basically you're aiming to be able to feel when to push and still be able to move around. But obviously people respond differently to the dose so there's a good chance you won't be able to do this.

I’ve always had that. Is it an older book you’ve been reading? X

The course leader on my NCT course talked about it. Did it work ok for you? Do you remember at what point you had it inserted?

Yes I had one, Was amazing. Could feel my legs, walk around, bounce on the ball, no problem. Gave birth standing up actually. But no pain. Felt pressure when the baby was in transition, but I do mean actual pressure, not the 'oh we will just rename the contractions' pressure. Best thing ever.

I was offered one as I struggled with lying on my back but they couldn't actually do it at all when I got to the hospital.

I'd read about it, but it will depend if it's available at your hospital, it wasn't an option at my hospital. I wanted to be able to move around so wanted to avoid a epidural if possible.

It's mostly the standard now I thought so just called an epidural?
21 years ago it was standard in my small local hospital but I wasn't able to have it as it contained pethidine which I wasn't allowed due to medical conditions so I had to be on a bed feeling nothing and hated it. Definitely go for the movement option!

I had an epidural, wasn't aware of it being called anything else, but I was able to feel and move my legs although most of the pain was taken away I fell asleep but woke with a huge feeling of panic and pressure and I moved around to reach the buzzer and found I was pushing and I felt everything to push and could walk and go to the toilet straight after

I had this OP last year as its standard at my hospital. It’s called a mobile epidural there though so maybe worth searching that! As I found some posts on it when I was pregnant😊