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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Wanted an epidural but never got one?

21 replies

mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 13:12

I have been told that epidurals are like a lottery by my midwife. I had a horrible birth with my daughter in 2008...36hrs in labour( back to back, an episiotomy where they cut me three times, ventouse, and forceps) Needless to say she was stuck! I asked for an epidural straight away and was told I could have one. I was nervous and didn't know how painful labour would be so thought if I asked early enough I would get one. I was eventually told, after being induced and the pain of her back to back was starting to become unbearable, that I wouldn't receive the epidural as there had been back to back emergency c-sections and only 1 anethetist on the floor. Well, my heart broke! I like to think I have a high tolerence of pain but when the midwife came in and told me no, I lost a lot of confidence in being able to control the pain. It was so bad I felt like I could pass out! ( Only b/c back to back can be very painful!) As I was getting ready to push for delivery after a little while, one of the midwives walked in with the anethetist to give me the epidural. The midwife had waited outside theatre to catch her to give me one (bless her!!). I felt very lucky b/c I knew I wasn't going to get one. And believe me, even with the epidural, it was still hard work....only it made it bearable!!

Now I'm due with my second any day now. I'm petrified that if I ask for it again, I won't get it! If I have a textbook delivery, I'm sure I could do it on my own. But if something like that happens again, I want to have to choice of getting one to help. Anyone have that same anxiety? Or have you gone through what I had except you didn't receive one?

Sorry such a long post but I just wanted to share with you my experience and see how many of you experienced the same thing.

Thanks for reading

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 20/01/2010 13:15

I had an accidental drug free birth with my second, and it did a lot of psychological damage to me.

I wanted an epi for my third.

I endured a 1.5 hour ambulance ride from hell to go to a CLU to get one.

Got the same song and dance: only one anaesthetist, csections, etc.

And did I want to get off the bed, get on the ball, etc?

NO FUCKING WAY.

I literally used my mind to stop myself having a baby until I got that fucking epidural.

I wound up waiting 6 hours for it.

Original poster

mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 13:16

Opps- Anaesthetist

OP posts:

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 20/01/2010 13:18

I asked for one but the guy was busy, then it didn't work - he said he would give a spinal tap but it was too late. I think them being busy isn't very common and usually you will get one if you need it, but maybe when you call before you go say you are likely to want an epidural then ask as soon as you think you will want one, even if you don't want one straight away but think you will want one in the next hour or so. Sorry tp hear about your previous birth x

Original poster

mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 13:20

I don't understand why they have the drugs to help you but hold off from giving it to you even if you BEG for one?? I know its the NHS but my god, I would pay for one if it would help me!! I genuinely needed it the first time and almost didn't get it. Now I have anxiety about being told no again.

OP posts:

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 20/01/2010 13:21

Is this a small hospital? Is there a possibility to change if so? My local hospital only has epidurals available at certain times (I think) being so small. Have you tried TENS? I like the full works in labour but suprisingly found TENS a godsend - twice.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 20/01/2010 13:21

I'm socked they would give you an epi when you are ready to push

I wanted one with DS but when they came to give it to m they found I was 9cm dilated. I managed with gas and air but it was horrible.

DD was a homebirth - just a bit of gas and air and it was a breeze.

Original poster

mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 13:25

ASLD- I did just that. Asked straight away when i got to hospital when my waters broke ( had high water break). And I'm quite persistant and kept asking through the whole labour. They prob where fed up with my asking lol. But still was denied until they obviously felt I needed one which could have almost been too late! I had to sit on the table, full on contraction, while they stuck me with it. And they had to do it twice b/c the first one didn't go in properly. I didn't care tho, I was made up to get that damn epidural!!

OP posts:

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 20/01/2010 13:28

That sounds pretty poor, maybe they were worried it would slow down labour? I said I could have one from 4cm but silly me agreed to have my waters broken "while she was up there" when she checked and told me I was 4cm. Hour later DS arrived!

expatinscotland · 20/01/2010 13:29

'I had to sit on the table, full on contraction, while they stuck me with it.'

They always do that.

Original poster

mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 13:33

Its not a big city hospital like Manchester but not too small either. I see what your saying. But if your in that situation, why do they deny it? I think they waited too long as well b/c I don't think they expected her to turn back to back either. I can't imagine what it would have felt like if I didn't receive the epi. I lost a lot of blood from the cutting and it was just horrendous.

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 20/01/2010 13:36

Yup sitting up, having contractions default position for siting epidural.

I needed a spinal block (failed episiotomy/ventouse/manual rotation, waiting for em cs as dd was stuck in deep transverse arrest). There was an emergency happening in the hospital and I waited a couple of hours. I knew there was a chance of it happening and was in a position of just waiting as dd couldn't descend and I needed surgery to get her out.

Have you thought about other forms of pain relief you could try? Because I sort of thought if the anaesthetist can't get to me, he can't get to me. Water, massage, pacing, visualisation etc and then there's other drugs.

flowerybeanbag · 20/01/2010 13:40

With DS1 I had a difficult time and midwives were urging me to have an epidural. I didn't want one but eventually got to the point of being in so much pain that I gave in and said yes. From that point it took 3 hours for someone to turn up to do it .

LoveBeingAMummy · 20/01/2010 13:45

I had spent most of my pg thinking i would be have a cs, however didn't end up being the case so decided i would have an epi. By the time i got to the hospital i was 9cm so knew there was no chance of having one.

Original poster

mommymeggie · 20/01/2010 13:46

Yes, I have been mentally preparing myself for other options of pain relief if I am denied the epi. I remember the gas and air did nothing for me except give me a sore throat. I am also ok with the fact if baby is in perfect position that I can do it without anything. But if any complications, thats when it worries me b/c of what happened in my first labour.

OP posts:

mumof2222222222222222boys · 20/01/2010 14:03

I had a similar time to the OP with DS1...5 days in labour (on and off) and was knackered. I had an epidural eventually and it was fantastic.

so I wanted one with DS2...I asked and asked and asked....and ...didn't get one.

Actually, it all turned out ok as the birth was "easy" and no complications. Didn't even tear at all. So perhaps it was the right decision (no anaethetist around in major hospital at 2am). However, I did spend the whole time panicing that it was all going to "go wrong" like DS1.

Good luck.

Comewhinewithme · 20/01/2010 14:04

I begged for one for dd5 born in May.
The first MW told me that "We could do this together and I should try and wiggle my bum to relieve the pain". .

When my CTX started at home they didn't start off like crampy pains they started as full blown ctx when I first got to hospital the mw thought I was ready to push only to find I was 2cm.

I am quite good with pain too I have had 3 children without an epi but this labour was different and scary I was out of control and very frightened and I begged for an epi from the minute I arrived and the mw just decided that because I had had previous labours without one I could do it again.

When it was shift change my next mw tried to get me one but they were all busy so I had a terrible labour with just G&A which was not what I wanted it was awful.

I still don't think about it much and do actually think this is whi I felt so bad for the first few months after her birth I feel very shaky and sick just writing about it.

jaabaar · 21/01/2010 09:47

OMG!

I am today 40 weeks. And I am paranoid about not getting an Epidural (baby big, back to back)

Read this and got into an absolute panic (((((

I know I am a coward, but I just panic now

SelinaDoula · 21/01/2010 11:24

Jaabaar
In my experience as a Doula big babies can be easier to birth than small ones. Small ones get stuck in all sorts of odd positions where sometimes the uterus can work more effectivly on a bigger baby.
Don't be scared!
An epidural can make it harder for you to push and may make it more likely for you to need more intervention in your birth.
I supported a woman recently with a high BMI and a back to back baby that was born back to back and 10lbs in a pretty quick first labour.
If you take a look at this website-
I used techniques called ';Double hip squeeze' and 'shaking the apples'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjSgavbCDHU
You can get your partner to try these with you.
More info here
vancouverdoula.blogspot.com/2008/03/persian-new-year-and-fire-bum.html
vancouverdoula.blogspot.com/2007/12/pfel-schtteln.html
And lots of other techniques here you can use
www.spinningbabies.com/
I use the inversion alot and pelvic tilts.
If you can walk round in labour and stay calm it will help, beleive in your body.
You could see iof there are any doulas near you that have space to take you on now as a client
www.doula.org.uk/utilities/userServices/search.asp
Good luck!
Selina

Original poster

mommymeggie · 21/01/2010 12:21

Thank you for the post SelinaDoula. I have been trying to find alternative methods just in case things go bad again for me and I don't receive an epidural. With my first, there was no possible way they were getting her out b/c she was stuck. She was only 7lb 5oz so maybe her being a bit smaller like you said is why there were complications.

OP posts:

jaabaar · 21/01/2010 14:37

Selinadoula,
thank you very much for you valuable information. Will have a look at it all and try!

Much appreciated!!!

carrielou2007 · 21/01/2010 21:42

I screamed and screamed for one on tues after a horrible, long, forcepts birth with dd.

I was induced, an hour after the pessary I was 4cm and so painful I don't know why I couldn't cope. Labour ward full I get there an hour later screaming and dry retching (no dinner!) no-one listening to me for epidural ds born 8lb 13 back to back 20 mins later.

I want to say it's over, no more babies for me but still too fresh in my mind to face up to it yet. The MW from induction ward told me yesterday she thought she would deliver me as she knew I was close - so why not tell me that!!!

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