Your experience of an epidural wanted please

[dinny]

Hello,

I am pg with my third baby and have had the first two without any pain relief but I just don't feel capable of doing it again this time. I've never really considered an epidural but am wondering if it is the answer. Could you answer the following?

1. did it make childbirth less frightening?
2. did you have assisted delivery?
3. did you have stitches?

and any other opinions would be great - thanks v much.

oh, and your exp of pethidine too would be helpful.

is epidural same for vaginal birth and c-section? I had an epidural for dd birth and it wasn't so good. Absolutely no pain, but I was totally spaced out, and also it made my face really itchy, so I was clawing at my face manically, and was so drowsy I basically slept for a good 12 hours. DD slept for nearly 48 hours (and didn't feed) so it wasn't a great experience. No way was I conscious enough to be able to physically push a baby out. Absolutely no way.

btw, I was very frightened of the birth (my 4th) so much sympathy

Message withdrawn

oh God - maybe I should just push for a section...am so scared.

thanks for your posts - all I can surmise is that the cascade of intervention makes it worse in the end (esp with regard to tearing)

Trixie, my ds was 9.3lb too!

btw, does the MIDWIFE decide how much/top up the epidural then, not the anaethetist?

I had a relatively fast labour (11 hours from first twinge to delivery and only 4 hours from waters breaking to delivery) baby was in distress and posterior so a ventouse was used. But the decision to use the ventouse was PRIOR to the epidural, there wasn't time before that to give me an epidural, although I'd asked for it. Once they decided a ventouse was needed they gave me an epidural and it was FAB!
I didn't feel it go in and it gave instant relief. I could feel contractions but it didn't hurt. I think it was a very low dose as it was right before he was born and I think it was literally only so they could use the ventouse.
I would ABSOLUTELY have another one if I felt I needed pain relief. (there's no gas and air available here in Spain)

Hello, I had an epidural with DD1, was a great relief and managed some sleep but had a VERY long drawn out labour! Ended with Episiotomy, Ventouse Delivery, and stitches. Oh and low BP with vomitting (my body didnt like the epi lol)

I must also mention the hilarious moment later on the ward where the midwife encouraged me to stand and I ended up in a heap on the floor lol. Nevermind Jelly legs, it was like they had vanished....lol! Very odd! Had there been a camcorder that would have been a true You've Been Framed Moment. It certainly cheered up a few paost natal ladies in my bay!

That said, it was my first birth and they are notoriously longer so the fact it is not your first should work in your favour as your body already knows what to do! Good luck with whatever you decide!

I had a epidural which really scared me as a friend in germany had one and has caused lasting damage but i felt nothing could,nt even feel the contractions!ened up using ventouse and em cs.Hated laying there not feeling anything i had 5 solid days in bed no moving which was awful and drove me mad!!

Made my chilbirth much less frightening and I found the pethidine did nothing much apart from make me feel scared as if in my own world and I hated that. I succumbed after over 24 hours in labour and no sleep for 36 hours with only 3 cm dilated. If at the point when I asked for one I had progressed further I may not have had one and tried to go on a bit longer, but may have regretted that decision!

I had a ventousse in the end as after 30 mins of pushing baby got in slight distress.

I had a small episiotomy and a few stitches which caused me no bother at all.

I remembered everything about my birth and managed to get a bit of sleep which meant that when I had dd, I felt really good.

I'd been in labour 14 hours and that was OK except my SPD suddenly got much worse and I couldn't sit, stand, or lie down without screaming. The contractions were fine with gas+air.

I couldn't have pethidine as I'd taken it before and vomited loads for a couple days. So even though I'd previously been scared of an epidural (injection in the spine etc), it suddenly seemed like a good idea.

It worked perfectly, just needed topping up every 2 hours all night so didn't get much sleep. Tried pushing 15 hours later once fully dilated, but not much happened, meconium was coming out and ended up popping A out with a ventouse.

I did have some diarrhoea and vomiting afterwards, but otherwise recovered from birth remarkably quickly. I was in a very calm haze from the time labour started until about a month later, so fear wasn't an issue!

Dinny
have you thought about water as pain relief? As effective as epidural, and you can be in a better position if the baby seems to be getting stuck.

Water is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO wonderful when you're in labour!

thanks all

Bluecow, I had birthing pool both labours but got in, hated it and got out again....

I had an epi with DS and now expecting again, but have decided on homebirth. Not that the experience was bad, established labour was 12 hours and managed to get 4-5 hours sleep. Had absolutely no pain after having epi but had absolutely no control over the birth and midwife had to tell me when to push and had none of the natural feelings of childbirth, which I really want to experience.

1. did it make childbirth less frightening? yes with ds 1 it took away all the fear as I had lost the plot for a couple of hrs. I was induced so it was long and painful from the start. Was topped up throughout so I couldn't feel when to push but I was anestatised (so sorry sp!) for the stitches.
2. did you have assisted delivery? Yes with both ds' ventouse with ds 1 and forceps with ds 2
3. did you have stitches? yes with ds 1 and good god yes with ds 2 (3rd degree tear)

Remember they don't always work, ds 1 was fab no pain nothing. Ds 2 only worked down one side so still on G & A

I had epidural about 6 hours into labour. I had pethidine too, which didn't make me feel spaced out or sick - I just slept. I did feel a bit drunk on it but in a nice way .

The epidural was great, got rid of all the pain within 3 contractions. I ended up with a emcs too as dd went into distress but as I had been induced due to high bp I was quite aware that I may end up with intervention of some sort or another. I don't think she was ready to come out at all, I was induced at 39+5 and I was still 0cm dilated 11 hours after being induced...anyway the cs was fine and dd is here and healthy so all is good. I would def have an epidural again if going through labour, though I think I would prb be offered (and take) an elec cs if/when I have the next dc.

I had an epidural with both dcs. The first was after 6 hours of pitocin-induced contractions. I was literally hallucinating from teh pain and it was such a relief. I wound up with an emergency section and when they increased the anesthesia I got shivers and threw up which is evidently a posible side effect. With the second baby I had a planned section and absolutely no side effects from epidural at all. I was glad that I didn't lose total sensation either time. I had been afraid that I would feel out of control with no feeling at all in my legs but that wasn't the case at all.

I had epidural with DD1, long slow labour and epidural had to be switched off and bp went to 70/40. Had forceps and 3rd degree tear. DD1 7lb 3 1/2oz and had forcep marks on her head
DD2 no epidural, in pain as 9lb 2 1/2oz but no stiches and DD was fine (slighly in shock as had to slow end of labour down as I was so scared of tearing so she did need some help to breath afterwards but a much better experience then the first.
I thought they were meant to get easier!

maybe dont rule it out but see how long you can go, you may be further than you think and not have time for one!

I had epidural for my second labour and it was brilliant. I was far better able to move about and push (previously had been in too much pain and too out of it to move about or push in time), could feel contractions but no pain. I had to be topped up repeatedly because DS turned OP at the last minute and was making me want to push before I was ready.

Labour exactly the same length as first labour (both induced). No stitches, no assisted delivery. No hesitation about doing it again.

Would never take pethidine. Had diamorphine for first labour, it was disgusting: made me vomit and hallucinate and was fuckall no use for the pain.

I had a fabulous 2nd delivery with a guaranteed epidural, the labour took 5hrs from start to finish.

I did initially top the epi up myself but the solution wasn't strong enough so the anaesthetist came in to gave me the stronger stuff. It enabled me to a very controlled delivery.

Tbh I was amazed when the mw said you can start pushing now, I hadn't noticed a thing! I mean how can you not notice a baby pushing it's way out?!

At the very end I didn't have to push, baby came out of her own accord. I had a very slight tear but nothing compared to my previous experience.

Much to my surprise although I felt immobile during labour, once I had finished skin-to-skin with dd and had stitches for the minor tear, I was able to walk to the bath and left the hospital before lunch the next day.

I was v glad I had an epidural. I have one DS and another DC on the way. I was induced at 37 weeks and DS definitely wasn't ready to pop yet and was also back to back so v painful. In answer to your questions:

1. As I was induced, I had already decided to go for an epidural, so I didn't get to a frightening stage. However i did feel I couldn't think straight at all and when the epi kicked in I suddenly could think. It was like coming up of the seabed.

I think it helped me push rather than hinder me because I could understand instructions properly etc. I did do one push into my chest not my bottom b/c I couldn't feel it but when the midwife told me, I realised what she meant and the next push was fine.

1. Yes I had assisted delivery but this was b/c induction meant all my contractions were coming v close together and DS was getting distressed. I had high forceps (and a v swift labour - 6 hours from waters breaking to birth)

1. Yes - but as again I'm pretty sure this was b/c of induction rather than epidural.

I had a great anaesthetist and a great midwife both of whom really explained what was happening the whole time and I can honestly say my experience of an epidural was a positive one.

1. not really but I was so tired that I was beyond caring I did feel it delayed an already long labour

2&3 No

but I would probably do my best to avoid it should there be a second time

I had epi with DS1 after huge placental abruption (only water before that) and quick ventouse delivery - lots of stiches, also had proper "can't feel a thing epidural, catheter and couldn't walk etc.
With DS2 had epidural after reaching about 7cm with just a tens machine. Could still walk and feel contractions and delivered with no stiches. Would definately have one again with the next one. x

1. did it make childbirth less frightening?

Probably, yes. I had been in labour for 28 hours and I was really tired. (The whole labour lasted 33 hours)

1. did you have assisted delivery?

No

1. did you have stitches?

Yes, my son was born with hand by his ear. I gave birth knealing and I was able to move as it was a mobile epidural. Luckily I did not need a cather and I had no problems walking afterwards.

I had no top ups during the second stage so I felt the labour completely.

However I know people who have had terrible headaches with an epidural tap. You must be 100% still when the anesthetist inserts the needle into your back. This is easier said than done when you are tired and in extreme pain.

I think you should see what your labour is like before having the epidural. You might not need it.