Epidural- your experience please

[Wishfulmakeupping]

I'm due first baby soon, as im allergic and can have fatal reactions to various anethetics but could safely have an epidural my consultant thinks it better I have one in case of needing a CS or other intervention.
Anyways from learning about epidurals at antenatal class and hearing from people I know I'm worried about it.
Did you have an epidural- how was the birth - did it slow it down/need forceps etc

I had one with my first DC and it was wonderful!

She was back to back and there was no gap in between contractions, which had been going on for days. I had had enough and the epidural was such a relief.

I didn't need any intervention except for an episiotomy and I did have a bit of a PPH but I imagine that I would have had those anyway. I am small and seem to produce big babies for some reason and I think that the episiotomy and PPH were down to DD's size and my body.

Had one with both labours. Didn't have a catheter either time for some reason. First one only worked on one side which wasn't great but better than nothing. Second time I couldn't feel a bloody thing and it was amazing.

I was induced and could not have done without an epidural. I ended up having a c section after getting to 9 cm. the section was nit due to re epidural but failure to progress due to the shape of my pelvis.

I had one after being induced on the drip. Had been dead against having one as - same as others on here - wanted an active water/hypno birth and wanted to feel my legs, hated idea of catheter etc. meconium in the waters put paid to all that and the pain was infinitely worse than I imagined so I asked for one after 4 hours of induction at 2cm. Took an hour or so to get it (by which time we think I was almost fully dilated, but mw didn't check again thank god) and I went from being unable to speak and generally miserable to lying down, chatting away to mw and sending DH off to get himself dinner. Amazing. Could still feel/ move my legs and the catheter, whilst annoying, was ok - and preferable to shuffling down the corridor to the loo with my drip whilst having contractions! Was examined shortly after having it and found to be fully dilated so started pushing about an hour and a half after it went in. Needed help to know when to push but think that was more to do with my position on bed than anything. Dd out in 15 mins, nonintervention and could still feel it - bloody hurt! - but bearable. So do not be afraid... Epidurals are a gift from the gods in my opinion!

I had one with ds1, after spending the night with contraction after contraction but not much more dilation I was exhausted to the point of hallucination, epidural was such a relief!
I did then have a forceps delivery but it was ok, and really nobody can say whether or not that might have happened even without the epidural.
Ds2 was 9lb 13 oz, back to back, and induced - delivered him with some gas and air..... It's really true that every birth is as different as the baby you have!