Anyone recommend an epidural?

[audley]

Hi, I'm expecting my third baby. Had first with a pethidine pump, off my face but pretty chilled out. Thought I could have babies as a profession afterwards. Was only 18 at the time though and labour was easy, hardly had to push! Second was 2 years ago, aged 32. 2lbs bigger and only had entinox, which was taken away from me. Another "text book" labour with no stitches etc. but I found the whole event quite traumatic. I was not prepared for the level of pain or the effort required to get him out. Was in a state of shock for at least 3 days afterwards. This time I think I'd like an epidural, but I'm worried about needing an instrumental delivery as a result.
Please mn-ers, what was your experience of having an epidural?
Thanks :0)

my experience was that i ended up on my back, contractions stopped completely, so needed drip to kick start them, couldn't feel a thing and as such then couldn't push properly, this led to ds being born by ventouse and me having a 2nd degree tear which required me to be whisked off to theatre a few minutes after he was born. I didn't see him again until 45 mins later :-(

all of this affected his breastfeeding, he refused to latch on, probably due to the drugs, the pain in his head from the ventouse and being separated from me to start with

so i vowed never, ever, ever to have another one. and I didn't! i have since had 2 home births with no pain relief at all.

for me the environment i was in, the preparation i did beforehand and having a good birthing partner and midwives were far more important in how i handled the pain

me the environment i was in, the preparation i did beforehand and having a good birthing partner and midwives were far more important in how i handled the pain

This is really important. I am living proof that you can beg for an epidural for almost 7 hours. Also there is not guarantee it will work, even if the mws have enough staff to allow you to have one.

I had a wonderful epidural, DH and I sat together and did the crossword. Like you, I was aware that I would have to make up for it later and the payback was that I had to really, really push. But it is possible and I had 8lb baby with no instruments and no stitches. Chances are that baby 3 will be easier than first 2 and you may not even have time for a choice. Good luck!

when you need it and you get it and it works- it's absolutely amazing. One of the best inventions ever. And I say that as someone who was dead against it, finds the whole needle in back thing horrifying.I loved it!

I had my daughter on Thursday (first baby) and had a mobile epidural. I was 4-5cm by the time I got to hosipital and cx were 2 mins apart lasting 1 1/2 mins and I was struggling to breathe they were so intense - y whole body was spasming and I was starting to involuntarily push (this was whilst the epidural was being inserted so think I was 6-7cm). Anyway there was no way I could have coped with that intensity and been in my right mnd to push - I was almost delirious! (Perhaps the raspberry leaf tea worked well as they were unbelievably strong and close together at just 5cm)

Anyway epidural was bliss. Worked well and I could top it up myself - it was a mobile one so I could move around on the bed and change positions etc. However, I did not top it up much. Only 3 times which was apparently very few according to midwife! So I let it wear off quite a lot to feel to push and was in a fair amount of pain again by that stage.

She had turned slightly OP at one point to midwife trid manipulating her head round and I got up on my knees and leant over back of the bed and she turned back beautifully.

I got epidural at 8am and she was born at 13:25, having waited an hour and a half at fully dilated to ensure correct positoning/descent of head. I pushed her out in 50 minutes despite her having her hand by her head. Luckily damage was minimal - smal internal tear where her hand was - phew!

Anyway it was amazing for me and meant I was with it to push as opposed to off my head in pain! And no need for any instruments etc.

sorry this is so long but it really worked for me!

I had an epidural, couldn't cope with the contractions and pain in my bladder they were causing - my contractions would peak in the middle, then peak again at the end with a sensation like someone stamping on my bladder and then I would have to pee.

I was very, very grateful for the epidural to get some relief from that.

BUT

I ended up with failed ventouse then forceps. The m/w also refused to top up the epidural after two goes so I ended up feeling the entire pushing and forceps stage, including the episiotomy. This was a total shock to me after my NCT teacher preaching about how terrible it was that women who had epidurals can't feel themselves giving birth (I would have given anything not to feel it!)

I second all the position stuff others have said though, I'm fairly sure DD was in a bad position from the outset as from what I've been told it's not usual to feel every contraction in your bladder like that.

This time round, I'm all about optimal foetal positioning in the run up to the birth.

Oh, and putting no assisted delivery in my birth plan. I'd rather have a c-section under a spinal than a forceps delivery that I can feel any day.

With both my girls, I pushed so hard that I tore, 1st one not too bad but the second had to have an operation.
This is the only time I had an epidural as they told me that to stitch me up properly I would have to either have an epidural or a full anaesthetic.
Wasn't too bad, but I found myself shivering for a couple of hours (but not cold) and it was a horrible feeling waiting for it to wear off.
My legs did not feel like they belonged to me and I actually jumped when I touched them as it felt so 'alien'.
So if you don't mind the lie in bed and having a catheter then go for it.

I have 3 DC's. Had epidural and forceps with DC1 and was determined not to again.

DC2 was induced and basically ended up having an epidural before being taken for CS, however by the time this was done I had dilated enough for forceps delivery no.2.

With DC3 I spent the last 4 weeks of the pregnancy scrubbing my kitchen floor every night only stopping to swig raspberry leaf tea! I was determined to have my lovely home birth with no more than gas and air...and that's what I got!!

If I had a DC4 (which is unlikely as also have 2 DSS's and no room in the house for more people!!!), I would try my best to avoid an epidural. I feel I 'bounced back' much more quickly with DC3, despite having 2 toddlers to care for as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide x

Have 2 children. Had epidural with both. very relaxed and happy births after the needle went in Would never want to give birth any other way. With my 2nd I was home 3 hours later, it took so little time for it to wear off too.

I had an epidural, it was great, took away the worst of the pain and numbed one leg completly but I could still feel dd crowning and could still tell when to push. I did have an episiotomy but that was mainly down to dd having her hand on her head! I had to stay lying still on the bed anyway as they'd induced me because my waters started leaking early and although I was having contractions I was dilating very slowly. I didn't have to have a catheter. I'd wanted gas and air but it made me vomit, and pethidine helped a bit - if I do it again though I'd rather avoid opne, but I wouldn't mind if I needed one again. Do take arnica though as apparently they can cause bruising - I had arnica and was fine, helps you recover more quickly regardless of epdiurals anyway.

I had a mobile epidural and am evangelical. It took away all the pain and put me back in control of my own body and mind.
Gave me a very very positive birth experience.
No catheter, could get up and waddle round if I wanted, no top up needed. Went to delivery room about 45 mins after epidural done, and dd born about half an hour after that.
Was odd that I couldn't feel I was pushing (anaesthetist kept saying I wasn't and kept poshing on my tum ) but all in all, I'd never give birth again without one!

I had gas and air, then pethadine, and finally an epidural when DS was born. I was so grateful. Sadly it ended in an instrumental delivery as DS was born by vontouse, but everything was fine in the end.
I would definately have an epidural next time.

I've had 3 epidurals and would strongly recommend one. First time it didn't work, so I know how giving birth with no pain relief feels.

with DC2 and DC3 epidurals worked beautifully, I felt in control of my body, I was relaxed and not the crazy person from the pain I was with DC1. Recovery was quick, I didn't need any stitches and with DC3 I was home 6 hours after giving birth.

If I were to have DC4 (unlikely) I would definitely have another epidural.

Thanks everyone for your frank stories. A rather mixed review. I am still tempted to ask for an epidural earlier. I did ask last time but I was told it was too late for one or pethidine, butI felt like the midwife was being deliberately obstuctive, grrr. Also, my mum is a midwife and thinks home births are the best thing in the world and for some reason I am really feeling like I don't want to be a hero and put up with pain that isn't necessary. Thanks again

It's funny you should say this thread is a mixed bag. It reads as very strongly pro-epidural to me.

yes, looking again I suppose you're right 2, but the idea of forceps and stitches scare me and I hadn't even thought about needing a catheter. Perhaps the negatives just register more loudly in my head iykwim.

Had an epidural with first, lovely. But I did tear and had lots of stitches and my back was buggered. Took a long time to sit up properly and I walked like Charlie Chaplin for about 4 weeks.

With second - Only had gas and air (not my choice - she came very very very quickly). The pain was terrifying. However, I didn't tear - and my back was fine. Walking normally and getting on with things within the week.

Hmmm? What did I do with third - Epidural!!

Although I know the payoff is after the birth, I just couldn't face the pain again - I absolutely pooped myself with fear. Once I decided to go for epidural I felt more relaxed.
I
tore really badly again - and afterwards I wished I'd be able to go natural - but I couldn't face the 'push' pain.

You increase the risk of an instrumental, the health of the mother and the health of the baby with an epidural. The risk is dependent on a lot of factors of course, and not having an epidural doesn't guarantee anything.

One of the 'nice' reasons not to have an epidural is the floods of hormones that flow into your brain just after you have given birth and stay with you for quite some time afterwards, reducing your chances of PND and help you to cope in those early days. It's amazing, but you really do have to have had next to no chemical pain relief to ensure you get them.

I had my baby boy on Monday. I have had had a fear of needles all of my life, and had over the course of my pregnancy learned and worried about the "cascade of intervention". So I was insistent at the outset that I wouldn't have an epidural.

I ended up being induced with syntocinon because of meconium in the amniotic fluid, but after 12 hours I was only 3cm dilated and in huge and unexpected amounts of pain. During the last hour I used gas and air, and found that it made me feel completely out of it and I felt as though I had lost control of the contractions - my mind was too fuddled to let me prepare for them. I ended up demanding an epidural "now now now" and was lucky enough that the anaesthetist was able to administer one after around 30 mins.

I regained control and felt better - physically and mentally - almost straight away. My husband was also hugely relieved by the transformation - that I was back and able to make decisions with him again. Physically I could still feel contractions but as pressure rather than pain (although there was still some pain lower down but it was manageable). I could still move my legs, although it wasn't technically a mobile epidural. My movement was limited anyway because of the syntocinon drip and because I was hooked up to the foetal heart and contraction monitors so this wasn't such an issue.

Over the next 5 hours I progressed to 8cm dilated and I don't think this would have happened had I not had the epidural - I was in such a panic when in pain that I feel that I would have gone backwards without the epidural.

As I came to push, the epidural was wearing off on one side and so I asked for a manual top up. This took away the pain and did, admittedly, make it more difficult to know when to push, but the doctors and midwives were able to tell me when my contractions were coming. Again, the fact that I was together and in control at this point was crucial for me and made it possible for me to listen to the medical team and follow their instructions. The pushing phase lasted around 40 minutes so I don't think that the epidural impeded progress at all.

Having started out insistent that epidurals were A Bad Thing, I feel very strongly now that they have their place if the circumstances call for them. It was purely a positive experience for me and whilst I would try to labour without one if I have another baby, I will be much less scared and much more open minded about them.

I had a fantastic epidural! Seriously, it was amazing. I had been having contractions for 2 days and it was like somebody had turned the pain off. I couldn't feel any pain whilst pushing either.

I did have an extensive episiotomy but I think that due to DD's size rather than the epidural (she was 8lbs 7.5 and 57 cm and I am only small).

My sister tried to have an epidural with her DS2 after i had talked about how great it was. However, hers didn't work and she had to carry in with the pain.

Epidural success story here.

First birth I had gas & air and pethidine. Didn't really touch the pain, but sent me all woozy and trippy. Ended up in theatre having forceps, episiotomy, stitches. Didn't bond very well with DD initally, felt very tearful for weeks, and failed at breastfeeding.

Second birth, had an epidural, and consequently a much calmer, enjoyable delivery. Pushing stage was amazing - watched the baby coming out with a mirror! Bonded immediately,had the whole "rush of love" emotions I had heard about. No tearing or stitches. Breastfeeding successfully 8 weeks on.

I'd recommend it.

The positive stories are making me feel quite excited! I felt pretty out of control and over emotional with gas and air and on a different planet with pethidine. It would be nice to be fully present mentally. I feel a bit let down by the hype of going natural, becasue although I did get the amazing bonding experience with DS I was also too shocked by the whole event and utterly tired to appreciate the "the floods of hormones that flow into your brain just after you have given birth and stay with you for quite some time afterwards, reducing your chances of PND and help you to cope in those early days" like you said 2. The toss up for me is between mental distress (natural) versus physical (epidural and subsequent proceedures). I think I needed to be more assertive last time so I will make sure I ask for stronger pain relief earlier this time. Ideally I'll have a fab fast and less painful experience, but I'm preparing for a different story!

I have had three epidurals. All great. And don't worry, you CAN get the flood of hormones. I still remember the permanent haze of happiness after DC3. Was sitting on birthing ball throughout contractions, mellow, happy, controlled pushing and no stitches. Had shower immediately, no catheter or anything.

Am expecting DC4 and planning another epidural.

If I didn't have one I know I would be knackered, panicky and unable to listen to instructions.

Go for it! I'd definitely have one if have another child. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I was induced and had an epidural within about 30 mins of being given the drip and another 30 mins later was reading Grazia and chatting to the midwife about local restaurants and dozed on and off until I was fully dilated, things I definitely wasn't doing before I had the epidural. Yes, I ended up having forceps but I think I would have done anyway as DD had a massive head and got well and truly stuck. I think I recovered faster than I otherwise would have done as it made the process so much easier and more relaxed.
One thing which I'd previously been warned about was that I wouldn't know when to push but I just got them to move the monitor so that I could see it and therefore see when I was experiencing a contraction.

I had epidural after 8 hours labour post induction and still only half cm dilated. Totally great for 2 hours - sleep, chat to DH. Then stopped working, next came forceps with no pain relief . Excruciating. Never again - rather take the labour pain.