How painful / traumatic is vaginal birth with epidural?

[User7567]

Giving birth vaginally without epidural is out of question for me due to too many negative experiences among my friends and family, and I know that I’d panic (even with all the hypnobirthing I’ve been doing). I’m booked for an elective c section due to my fears, but I start thinking about what I should do if I go into labour before that date.
If I arrive at the hospital in early labour and ask for an epidural instead of the section, and if this epidural works well for me, could I just roll with it? I’m aware that this might lead to further interventions, but presumably if the epidural takes the pain away, would forceps, episiotomy etc still be painful and traumatic? And if it doesn’t progress as it should or if there are any signs of complications, could they just top up my epidural and take me for a c section as I had planned it anyway?

I think it's really toxic to frame epidurals as something some women need, as if they're only for women who aren't strong enough to get through labour with only a bit of gas and air. They're actually for any woman who wants effective pain relief during labour, whether she's capable of managing without it or not.

In the country where I gave birth, they don't use gas and air because it's considered completely pointless. Why would you use gas and air when real pain relief is available?

The doctor who delivered my baby told me he thinks "the way they make women give birth in the UK is barbaric" and can't understand why they don't routinely use the safest and most effective pain relief that exists.

I was perfectly mobile during labour. The idea that having an epidural means you have to stay flat on your back is nonsense.

What are you most afraid of OP, is it pain?
I think the "loads of pain relief options available" felt like it melted away a bit when the time came. There are rules around where and when you can have certain things. But I think if you go in from the start saying you want an epidural and you have that in your notes and your midwife knows, you'd have the best chance of getting it.
Im not sure if these stories are helpful but I was petrified of birth and I did it on gas and air and never even thought of asking for an epidural when I was in labour, and though it hurt, the whole time I felt like I was in a sort of cloud protecting me from feeling scared or looking ahead. The actual pushing baby out part was entirely pain free. It's so different for everyone, do whatever is right for you whether that be elective caesarian or epidural.

Do they adjust the epidural in the Uk?
So you can feel some sensations instead of fully numb.

I've not read many replies so I'm sorry if I repeat anything already said!

I had in my birth notes from the start that I wanted epidural. I got one and while I did feel slight pain in my back (DD was back to back) it wasn't agony at all just a slight discomfort. With the epidural I had I could still walk/feel my legs. They also said I could have it topped up every 45 mins if needed (think I only topped up 3 times and was in labour about 10 hours- they topped it up when I was ready to push).
If you have it put in your notes you want one then there should be no trouble getting one. My midwife did the whole 'we have other options ect but I was adamant I wanted epidural so just had gas and air until they came to do it. x

@Inspireme2 Yes the one I had I could still move/walk and about 20 mins after birth I got in the bath unaided. I think they do say the more top ups you have the less you'll start to feel your legs but I was fine with original and then 3 top ups.

I had epidurals for both of my births. I had no desire to be in pain when I didn't need to be. Both births were great, super relaxed, pushed them both out no problem in less than 10mins with the midwives guidance, no tears, no exhaustion, just really lovely calm births.

On my second I had a midwife try to talk me out of an epidural, saying that I didn't seen like I 'needed' it, maybe I didn't but I wanted it and like I said I had fantastic births as a result. The prize at the end is the same whether you choose to be in pain or choose the painless method, it seemed like a no brainer for me.

@TheOnlyCherryOnMyTree I completely agree with this! My thought was you wouldn't expect someone to have a tooth pulled at the dentist with no numbing so why should I give birth and be in agony when I don't have to be. Made the whole labour and birth really relaxed.

I've had two unmedicated births, one vaginal birth with an epidural and a c-section. The vaginal birth with the epidural was by far the easiest birth. I slept the entire way through labour without feeling a thing for 7 hours, woke up, was 8cm, half an hour later I asked the midwife to check me as I felt the urge to push (no pain) and was 10cm and pushed her out.

It was pretty traumatic after but the actual birth was a breeze. C-section was fine too. The first few days are rough pain-wise but I healed well with no infections or lasting complications.

I think your friends are being cruel.

No idea as I had no pain, couldn't feel a thing either so wish they could bottle it

Your friends sound awful.
I am a real wuss but managed to 3 babies with no pain relief apart from a tens. Once I found out a contraction only lasts a minute (for 99% of people) I just worked on getting my way through each minute. And in fact by 30 seconds it is that is peak so it's going away.
I counted in blocks of 10 seconds.
I knew by the third block that things would get easier.
It meant that I could be really active during labour, walking, bouncing and squatting.
I know not everyone is the same but I was so scared of the pain but then in labour I knew my body just wanted to do what my body wanted to do and it felt ok as I knew the pain was for a purpose and that it wouldn't be there forever.

I had an epidural and didn’t feel a thing. However, I was also so numb I couldn’t really push. DD emerged by ventouse. I was definitely on the edge of an emergency C-section.
Pain is definitely not one of my memories of labour, and I was in active labour for 36 hours, Pitocin induced, and eight of those hours without the epidural. I even remember thinking about half an hour after my DD had been born that I could do it all again.

OP if you've not already found the labourpains.org website you might find it useful - it's a site run by the obstetric anaesthetist association and has a lot of objective information re. pain relief options in labour (and anaesthesia for c-sections).

Re. your question about epidural top-ups for theatre: yes, if you've had an epidural in in labour and it's worked well then often they can be topped up for a trip to theatre. About 1:8 epidurals don't work as well as we'd hope in labour though and if someone has a disappointing epidural in and needs to go to theatre, or needed to go quickly before the epidural's had chance to work well, then it may be that taking it out and doing a spinal gives better and more predictable anaesthesia (spinal is what would normally be done for an elective section/an emergency if someone doesn't already have an epidural in). HTH

I had an epidural because I was exhausted with a slow progress labour 24 hours at that point and the midwife was really mean to me and I started getting overwhelmed. I fell asleep after the epidural, woke up feeling heavy down there, two pushes out she came no stitches. Good luck xx

I had a fully elective c/s and it was amazing. I was genuinely terrified of the pain of childbirth (silly I know) and it was amazing! So peaceful and quick and painless. In Australia they leave the epidural needle in till day 3 so you can top yourself up with pain relief when you need it. Once they come out I just had Panadol. It felt like I’d been to the gym and done too many sit ups. Just sore muscles that’s all. I deliberately went private to avoid the militant midwives who seem hell bent on controlling and manipulating women into their very heavily idealised version of birth. Ask your Dr what they suggest - Drs train for a hell of lot longer than midwives and are happy to make your experience as comfortable and safe as they can.

Honestly compared to the pain of labour the epidural needle is nothing. I don't even remember feeling it. I remember the cannula hurting though!
Remember the epidural takes about 30 mins to work so if labour is progressing quickly (like it was in my case) it's best to get it as soon as possible. I didn't get mine until I was about 8 or 9 cm dilated so I felt most of it but the epidural once it kicked in brought much needed relief and I managed to push baby out ok.

I watched a baby be born once i decided then and there i was not having kids.
Ive never felt so faint in my life.
Ive herd all sorts of stories about birth but the worse was that your lady part never really goes back the same.
Giving birth is an amazing thing to do but i dont think i could.
My oldest sister went to hospital in and out after 6 hours hours gas and air only drove home and put a load of laundry on.
My other sister was in hospital 3 days asking for every drug.
Then they do it again a few years later.
I admire you all the pain must be off the scale.
I once asked my mum how she did it 5 times.

I had epidural with my first . I couldn't feelathing but I struggled to push and forceps were used (seconds away from emergency c section)

It put me off having it. I found my next birth much easier because I knew what to expect (in terms of pain) it was also quicker. I just had gas and air to take edge off.

My sister had a bad experience first labour and opted for C-section. It was a fantastic positive experience for her.

Epidurals are wonderful. Such a nice relaxed birth.
Not done as standard in the UK due to cost to the NHS.

Many epidurals simply don't work / aren't sighted properly I had one in first labour only worked down one side no matter what they did it was hell as still in agony but stuck to bed
Second labour worked perfectly

First birth was traumatic and painful (the aftermath moreso than the birth itself), second was only a little bit painful in the middle and not traumatic at all. I had epidurals for both of them.

I think with an epidural you're more likely to get a less painful experience but it's not a given.

Felt no pain once I’d had the epidural at 5cm. Went to sleep and midwife woke me up at 10cm. The actual birth was shit tho - I struggled to push because I couldn’t feel anything, had an episiotomy which really didn’t heal well and my pelvic floor was shot for months and months.

Each to their own but I think an elective c-section is x1000 better than epidural
and let’s wait and see, then ending up with an emergency or at least unplanned c-section op. Especially in the UK where I think, imho, they let you struggle on far too long before intervening and everything then becomes urgent.

Just my personal opinion.

I hope everything goes well for you op! 💐

Both my vaginal births were ok

Gas and air only 👌