Epidural? what's the down sides? I like the thought of less pain!

[JoeMommuh]

I had first birth with just gas&air and a shot of pethadine. Normal delivery, about 18 hours from losing the mucas plug to delivery - and 7 hours of proper labour i guess.

2nd birth - C-sec for reasons outside my control,decided long before labour started etc, no reason i couldn't delivery naturally 3rd time round time if baby is happy.

3rd birth - .... so whats the downside of an epidural? I know it sounds flippant but i'm picturing reading a magazine whilst i get up to 10cm instead of shouting and screaming and it's a nice fantasy!! I also have the choice of another c-sec which is also tempting... i don't enjoy pain :) have a meeting with consultant soon to discuss birth options and they might try and put my off an epidural for cost reasons, but i'm wondering what the people of mumsnet have to say about it if they've experienced it?

I'm 39+6 (due date tomorrow, eek!) and the reason I'm personally not keen on an epidural is that there's evidence it can negatively affect breastfeeding attempts due to the anaesthesia passing through the placenta. It can potentially affect the bonding hormone oxytocin too apparently.

That being said, if it's a case of being in agony and distressing the baby, of course an epidural might very well be preferable. I've never given birth before so probably not the best person to listen to! But I am reluctant to have one because of those reasons.

I have no direct experience - pregnant with my first and moved away from the UK a month before I got pregnant. But I noticed watching far too many episodes of "One Born Every Minute" that the midwives ALWAYS dissuade women who ask for an epidural. A woman will ask for one and the MW will say "You don't need it love, come on, buck up." I have to believe it's due to cost and effort, but does anyone who's been through this have an idea what else it could be?

In private hospitals and privately-funded health care systems, epidural use is much higher than in the NHS.

Newbain - the NHS doesn't refuse epidural a due to the cost, they are more likely to dissuade if women can get through it for reasons to do with things like any medical proceedure has risk, it's better to avoid risk if possible or if there aren't available anaesthetists to do the epidural or its too close to birth.
Private healthcare is more likely to do additional procedures as they are profitable and 'customers' want them rather than the NHS which is more focused on medical need and risk. In the UK we still try to not make birth a 'medical' procedure where possible, hence the push for natural birth over c- sections.

If they cock it up you can end up paralyzed

as for other reasons, I remember a woman here on MN, who said that her MW refused her the epidural because she was religious and believed women should suffer for the sins of Eve

I had to have it done 3 times because the first two didn't hit the right area. Actually having the injections into my spine was pretty flipping scary, and it hurt like hell. I also threw up when the anaesthetist hit bone and I could feel the scrape vibrate through me. Instead of it giving me back some control over what had turned into a clusterfuck birthing process, it made me feel like I no longer had any control.

From puking endlessly with pain to serene, gorgeous relief... I would have married the anaesthetist and told him so!

I had an epidural and for me it was a massive relief after 10 hours of endless contractions - maybe I was lucky but neither me nor baby suffered any ill effects (I did need ventouse to assist delivery but I don't know if that was a result of the epidural). Recovered fine. I will definitely ask for one this time if i feel I need it (due on Friday!) but have been warned more than once that I may not have time as second baby!

My midwife sent me for an epidural with my first because she didn't think I was coping, I didn't even really want one! Anyway, the anaesthetist tried 9 or 10 times to put it in and couldn't get it to work so I didn't even get an epidural in the end. I had a bleeding scabby back for a good couple of months after dd was born. I had a homebirth with dd2 to avoid being near anyone who might want to send me for another epidural! It was by far the worst part of my labour. If I ever have to have a section I think I'd want it done under general.

Oh, I should say I found out afterwards that the anaesthetist is only meant to try a maximum of 3 (i think) times to get the epidural in (and I'm sure most women would have told the bloody anaesthetist to fuck off long before I did) so I don't think my experience is at all common.

I had an epidural for both my labours, both were syntocin drip inductions after prolonged rupture of membranes. otherwise no other intervention needed , contractions were felt as tightening sensation rather than painful and was able to push fine. Very positive experience of epidural both times

I had a vbac with my second and had an epidural. it was a long labour (52 hours in total!) but, long story short, by the time I had it, they were literally putting in the needle and I could feel myself bearing down! it was a mobile epidural so i could still move my legs etc, but it just took away the pain in my back and just provided me with an hour of rest before I began to push. Wanted one with my 3rd labour but by the time they agreed I was in labour and admitted me into the labour ward I was told it was too late for anything other then gas and air (annoying as I had only been sent home 90minutes earlier)! I still feel robbed of one now 3.5years later.....
I think most hospitals do mobile epidurals so you still feel the contractions but its more twinges as opposed to agony. plus it wears off quicker. I know some said one disadvantage is you have to be monitored continuously but you will have that anyway with a VBAC.

I've had epidurals in both labours. The first time it didn't fully work so I could still feel the contractions on one side (although not as painful). Unfortunately I thought this was normal and it was an extremely busy night so they didn't ask me too many questions and I didn't complain. As I learnt from my second labour this could have easily been a question of how I was lying on the bed preventing the flow of teh anaesthetoc from getting to one side, so it might have been easily solved had I spoken out.

Also, the epidural was delivered via syringe in one dose, so it run out twice. I wasnt aware aither that it could run out, so I didn't say anything but they noticed and gave me a top up. The2nd time it run out I was fully dilated so I didn't get another one for the pushing stage.

2nd time round it worked fully and it was amazing. They did check on me and explained that ifI started to feel something on one side .i needed to move slightly to facilitate the flow to both sides of the body. also 2nd time round it wasnt a syringe but a machine delivering the anaesthetic so it was a constant flow that doesn't , with the added bonus that the dosage can be adjusted quite quickly so when I got to pushing stage I told the MW she could take it off as I didnt like pushing without feeling anything, but she just lowered the dose so I had the urge to push but it wasn't really painful.

I asked for an epidural after the first 24 hours of labour. Midwives tried to dissuade me but doctors agreed (was going into syntocin drip as meconium in waters and had only dilated 2cm in 24 hours.)

Hospital gave me a mobile epidural and it was the best thing EVER. No pain, was aware of contractions and urge to push, could wander about, go for a wee, bounce on a ball, and was upright for pushing. Even had a little nap.

DD was a bit groggy for a few days so getting her started feeding was an issue but she caught on by day 5 and was a champion breastfeeder and bottle refuser from then on.

Totally agree with VeryPunny, the minute i got the epi i all of a sudden started to love labour! Best medical invention ever. Well, not the very best, but it's up there!!

No downsides for me- I didnt tear, i walked 3 hours later, no headaches or any of those nasties which can occur. Having baby no2 in Feb and will definitely get the epi again.

I waited until after 5cm to get it- as i heard that medical interventions are more common if you get it too soon, ie before you are in active labour at 3cm.

I had my baby eight weeks ago I was in agony I was screaming the hospital down I had to have a epidural after that I felt nothing was like being sag at home watching the tv I was eating macdonalds watching films waiting for it to pass the downside is that u have to have a caviter sorry about spelling whichos put into ur bladder as u can't go to the loo urself for a day or so afterwards and u have to carry a bag about then when it's taken out if u csnt urinate enough u have to have another put in and there horrible but rather have that then have the pain of labour!! Also when it goes in its hard to stay still as u have contractions and it s dangerous and the needle stings but I was held down and was fine! If anything if I had another I'd have ot early before I get stromg contractions so I can take it I would recommend one but as you know many risks but ur painted a hundred percento

My epidural didn't really work, only deadened top part of tummy so was disappointed. I now get back pain at the sight if entry too. In hindsight I wouldn't have had it.

There are a lot of bad stories about failed epidurals.

First time I had been labouring for 12 hours and it started to slow down so advised to have the drip that strengthens your contractions so I opted for an epidural. 12 hours, and a nap, later I pushed out DD without any pain whatsoever.

Second time I opted for an epidural and it didn't work. I was lying down feeling all the pain and had the urge to sit up but wasn't allowed as I had an epidural. I could feel my legs fine and move them but midwife wouldn't allow it. I was screaming for them to get the epidural out or get the anesthetist to come and fix it. I had to use gas and air the whole time. I think it was about 4-5 hours from epidural to birth but it's been blurred by time and pain.

In conclusion I would try not to have one next time (if there was a next time which there won't be.)

I ended up being induced because I was way overdue and not progressing. After 7 hours hooked up to a drip they persuaded me to have an epidural in preparation for a likely (and inevitable) EMCS.

It's the most scared I've ever been and even thinking about them putting a needle in my spine makes me extremely anxious and tearful now. Unfortunately I've had persistent back problems from it. I'm pregnant with my second now and will do everything in my power to avoid an epi and an EMCS this time around.

I had an epidural. I was immobilised during labour but I had been finding the contractions so painful (constant not waves of pain) so I wasn't very mobile before having it anyway!
After it was like glorious relief. I still felt the contractions as tightenings in my stomach but I didn't hurt. In fact, I had a nap whilst dilating
The drip was switched off 30minutes prior to the pushing stage so I was able to feel and push effectively.

I didn't want one but I was on a drip for induction and couldn't cope with the pain. I was hallucinating and when I wasn't vomiting I was passing out, not a good look!

The midwife told me that anyone who goes on a syntocinon (sp?) drip and manages without an epidural is a hero!

Downsides were having a catheter, needing to stay in for at least 24 hours (but I had PROM so it wasn't just the epidural/catheter that kept me in) and my hospital didn't do mobile epidurals. Also we had real problems with getting breastfeeding established but I had numerous other drugs and artificial hormones in my system during labour so it could have been any one of those causing our problems or none of them at all!

Plus side, no more pain, and the anaesthetist was really fit!

I couldn't have done without mine. It made labour a far more positive experience and took the pain away totally. Didn't affect my ability to push, I didn't tear and I had no issues at all. I'd have one again 1000 times over, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Two lots of epidurals here and both births induced for medical reasons (but I had already elected to have an epidural anyway). Also stitching required after both births.

Given that I have never had a 'natural' birth I haven't really anything to compare it with. But I can tell you the negatives:

1. Being sick 2)Having hardly any movement (birth one). Legs felt like slabs of ice. 3)Pain in the bum area (birth two, and it was actually very painful! But manageable - more of an 'ouch' pain rather than screaming)

My first epidural was obvs quite strong whereas the second was a lighter dose - I could feel the contractions much more strongly. Also, I could feel the stitching post-birth - more an uncomfortable feeling than painful though.

All things considered I consider myself very lucky to have given birth in a country where epidurals are common. I am a wuss when it comes to pain!!

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/03/anti-natal-zoe-williams

This makes for an amusing read.