What's it like to give birth on epidural?

3rdbabytime · 2025-04-20T21:17:17+00:00

My 1st birth was an EMCS as my baby was back to back. I went into hospital 8 cm dilated, tried the water bath at the birth centre and hours later contractions were slowing down. Was given an epidural and tried to give birth vaginally but struggled to push whilst my baby's heartbeat was showing trouble, so had to head down for EMCS in labour ward. 2nd birth was a vbac. There weren't any beds available and I was in triage for about an hour, in which I went from 4 cm to fully dilated. So by the time I got a bed I was ready to push and was told it was too late for epidural as baby would be here by then, which was true as my baby was here in the next 15 minutes. The pain was horrendous as only had gas and air. Both of my labours were spontaneous labour. Expecting baby 3 and I really hope to have an epidural in time for a 2nd vbac. If you had an epidural how was it for you? Were you able to push ok? Would love to hear of different experiences of what it's really like to give birth whilst on epidural? Thank you :)

Hoppinggreen · 20/04/2025 22:27

Mine was epic
I was induced and was very clear I wanted one, there was resistance but I insisted.
I was a bit nervous about it but when it came to it I just wanted them to crack on and I felt so much better so quickly.
They had to turn it down as my BP dropped quickly and I almost passed out but they adjusted it and I was fine. I chilled out, napped, chatted with DH, pushed twice when told to (which did hurt a bit) and DS arrived
I had a shower a couple of hours later and left a couple of hours after that
No ill effects at all

Happymomoftwo · 20/04/2025 22:27

I had an epidural for my DS. It was bliss. An hour before he was born they ‘turned off’ the epidural at 9cm dilated so that I had more control to push. It was a little bit painful but I still felt a lot of pain relief from the epidural. I was able to walk quite soon afterwards. Unfortunately I had to have an episiotomy so I’m not sure if the epidural had worn off enough for successful pushing. I couldn’t feel them doing it so I was still numb down there.

lucya66 · 20/04/2025 22:38

I loved my epidural. Spontaneous labour. Wanted an unmediated birth originally, but when I got to 4, I requested it. No I wasn’t scared of the needle. Didn’t hurt going in, compared to the contractions.
I had to get an adjustment to the epidural as it wasn’t numbing correctly. I could still feel quite a lot of pain, but the labour was easier and at 10cm, I stopped pressing the little button. I squatted and pushed baby out. Still felt it and the ring of fire. Amazing transcendent experience. The epidural turned it from traumatically painful to euphoric.

good luck

BlaBlaBla87436780087 · 20/04/2025 23:17

Ooohh an absolute dream!!

Definitelynotme2022 · 30/04/2025 12:02

Amazing!! I've had 4 natural births and was very resistant on the first 3 as I wanted them to be as natural as possible (although 2 in hospital and 3rd in a birthing centre). I wanted my 4th at home, but he was so late, so big and I have hideous spd and had been on crutches for months. So I wanted him out!!

Ended up being induced and then he turned and went back to back..... so my mw persuaded me to have the epidural, and omg I wish I'd just let them do it with dc1! It was amazing, and it wore off enough for me to push him out without crazy pain. And he turned out to be 10lb with a huge head, so glad I had the epidural.

TheIceBear · 01/05/2025 11:37

I had an epidural and I did require an episiotomy and ventouse delivery. Maybe I wouldn’t have needed ventouse if I didn’t have an epidural but I guess we will never know . I found the recovery from the episiotomy fine, it was a bit sore but I’m sure everyone is sore after a vaginal delivery anyway. I couldn’t cope with the pain the epidural was heaven after 2 days of contractions. I’m pregnant again and might try without this time but I’ll see how I get on.

overthinker001 · 01/05/2025 11:54

Absolutely amazing the whole experience so so chilled and calm

mintgreensoftlilac · 01/05/2025 11:57

I had an epidural and so glad I did! I was induced and contractions weren’t coming regularly enough by the end for me to push her out independently so had forceps but honestly it was fine. (When the dr came with the forceps she was a bit like oh the baby is pretty much out already). Labour itself with an epidural is amazing. Fell asleep and woke up ready to push!

InsertUsernameHereeee · 01/05/2025 12:42

I had an epidural with my first. The needle didn’t hurt at all. Was able to push though couldn’t feel it. Unfortunately he had a big head and got stuck so ended up needing forceps and stitches but couldn’t feel a thing.

rickyrickygrimes · 01/05/2025 13:00

With DS2, my waters broke then I was in slow labour for 48 hours. They did everything to give me time to go naturally but DS just wouldn’t descend. On day 3 they started an induction and wow that was painful. I was crying for pain relief by that point, and completely exhausted. They eventually agreed to an epidural, even though I was apparently at 8 cm by that point, only because they expected me to need a caesarean (DH told me this afterwards). But the epidural was wonderful: it allowed me to relax, rest for a while and gather my strength for a final (literal) push. DS2 was finally born naturally in the end.

It wasn’t at all what I expected. I could still feel the contractions, they just weren’t painful any more. It was still hard work, but doable.

Pawse · 01/05/2025 13:28

My third was an epidural.

First 2 used only had gas and air. I hadn't planned on using anything else for this third.

In the hospital they checked how dilated I was then randomly asked if I wanted an epidural.

I was a bit confused why they asked but said yea. God knows why!

It was bliss! Can't believe I didn't use it for other 2! And my other 2 weren't that bad.

Epidural in (no pain) baby born, no pain but I could still "feel" when to push.

Out he popped and I was up and showering less than an hour later. And home straight afterwards.

Best thing ever!

Just as a caveat it was 20 years ago!

MammaTo · 01/05/2025 13:34

Epidural due to having the hormone drip hit me like a bus. It was lovely, I could still feel contractions and I did need gas and air to top up the pain relief nearer the end. I had a little nap once it had settled in.
I could still push and felt the baby coming out but without the crazy pains. Like having a tooth pulled out where you don’t feel pain but can feel pressure.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 01/05/2025 13:34

I had a VBAC with an epidural. I had it around the time my early labour turned into proper active labour, so just when it started to hurt quite a lot. As soon as the epidural kicked in I lay down on my side and had a nap for about an hour, and then when I woke up I was about 9cm dilated. I could still feel my contractions but it was like mild period pain. After a while I started to feel a lot of pressure in my pelvis, then a midwife told me it was almost time to push, and just as she was leaving the room I said don't leave, I need to push right now. DD was born about five minutes later. I had a small tear which needed some stitches, and I had some local anaesthetic for that because I never topped the epidural up.

10/10 would recommend.

ladymalfoy45 · 01/05/2025 13:38

Bliss. But then needed an EMC because DD turned and refused to come out.
Nothing to do with the epidural,she just decided to stay put.
11 years later she can still be bloody minded.

Stickortwigs · 01/05/2025 13:40

Pretty similar to the emcs to be honest. Things were going on in the middle section of my body that I couldn’t feel and then a baby appeared.

Cardiecard · 01/05/2025 13:43

Fucking lovely tbh 🤣

StarTwirl · 01/05/2025 15:40

Amazing. I had an epidural for both DC

Original poster

3rdbabytime · 01/05/2025 19:00

Thank you all so much for sharing! I'm really hoping they are able to give me an epidural on time this time. I was able to handle both labours pretty well on gas and air but really struggled when it was time to push, the pain was unbearable as I dilated too quickly. I'm so worried I'm going to be stuck in triage again and then time runs out for the epidural like with baby 2 but I've told DH they need to tell them I dilate fast and need epidural if I'm too high on the gas and air! Reading all of your experiences are so encouraging so thank you, especially knowing that you can still feel enough to push.

OP posts:

Greybeardy · 02/05/2025 10:56

If you got to fully in an hour last time I wouldn't get too excited about having an epidural this time. It takes about 20 mins to site an epidural and about 20 mins for it to start working and for multips with form for quick deliveries quite often we're just exposing you to all the risk of an epidural without any of the benefit and it's really not a pleasant experience to be progressing that quickly with a needle in your back. It's also normal to need a short period with CTG monitoring before the epidural just to be certain the baby's not struggling (which might affect how sensible an epidural is too). I'd advise seeing how it goes on the day - every labour is different so if this time progresses more slowly then speak to the anaesthetists, but if it's going at the same speed as last time you're much less likely to get any benefit, but just as likely to get the side effects (but again, you can speak to the anaesthetists & MWs and see what they suggest). (DOI: obs anaesthetist)

Parker231 · 02/05/2025 10:59

Amazing - best thing ever. No pain or discomfort. I had a good long sleep and watched Wimbledon.

Original poster

3rdbabytime · 02/05/2025 17:14

Greybeardy · 02/05/2025 10:56

If you got to fully in an hour last time I wouldn't get too excited about having an epidural this time. It takes about 20 mins to site an epidural and about 20 mins for it to start working and for multips with form for quick deliveries quite often we're just exposing you to all the risk of an epidural without any of the benefit and it's really not a pleasant experience to be progressing that quickly with a needle in your back. It's also normal to need a short period with CTG monitoring before the epidural just to be certain the baby's not struggling (which might affect how sensible an epidural is too). I'd advise seeing how it goes on the day - every labour is different so if this time progresses more slowly then speak to the anaesthetists, but if it's going at the same speed as last time you're much less likely to get any benefit, but just as likely to get the side effects (but again, you can speak to the anaesthetists & MWs and see what they suggest). (DOI: obs anaesthetist)

This is really useful information. Thank you for sharing your expertise as it definitely helps me to reframe the experience of not being able to get an epidural in a realistic perspective rather than just being mad that I was stuck in triage.

OP posts:

Parker231 · 02/05/2025 18:44

I had in my medical notes that I wanted an early epidural. I didn’t see the point of being in any pain or discomfort.

minemine1989 · 19/05/2025 22:21

My first thought after I pushed my baby out was “man I could do this again”! I didn’t feel anything when pushing. Had no clue how hard I was pushing etc… I had uncontrollable shaking & sickness just before pushing and after which took me away from my baby. But I was told they had given me too much of something in mh drip.

basically I’d take the epidural again in a heart beat