Tell me about....your epidurals!

[Lemondrop99]

Please share your epidural stories with me.

Did you plan on having an epidural or did you decide during labour when the pain became too much?

Did the midwife try to talk you out of it at all? Did you feel you had to fight for it?

What stage in labour did you have it?

Did the midwives make you wait until it had worn off to start pushing? Did it partly wear off or completely? Was the sudden pain a complete shock? How did you cope?

Did you tear? Did you end up with forceps/ventose/episiotomy? EMCS? How was your recovery?

If you needed stitches, was the epidural still in place and were you able to use it to control pain while being stitched?

Did you feel restricted at all by being hooked up to monitors and drips etc?

What position did you give birth in? Back? Side? Did you manage to get on all fours on the bed? Or anyone have a mobile epidural?

Did yours not work (partially or totally)?

Did you have any delay getting one due to anaesthetist availability? Did you perhaps not get one due to this or because your labour was too far along?

Did you get any after effects? A headache? Back pain?

Any regrets? Would you do anything differently? Or would you have one again?

I'm really swaying towards an epidural but trying to weigh up the positives and negatives. Would be grateful for any stories

Haha loads of questions there OP, I'm due beginning of October so I'm no help but I have all the same questions so will be placemarking!

To be honest you won't know until your in labour, the decision maybe out of your control or you may be fine without one. I had one because i was medium to high risk and the pain got too much and my bp when too high. When i told the midwife i wanted one she asked me again several times which delayed it so i think i was quite far gone maybe 8cm dilated. Then baby got stressed so had a ventouse delivery, no tears. Epidural worse off a few hours. Overall very happy with my decision bit it was a balance of medical need and pain reduction. The only side effect was lower back pain the following day due to me pushing wrong as i couldn't feel where to push, ifgwim. Again had multiple drops and monitors or me and baby, they were annoying initially but i forgot about them as it progressed.

The only thing I will say is your back wont be the same again. In my experience anyway

First labour: Did not want an epidural at all after knowing several people who suffered temporary paralysis. I even put it in my notes in red capitals and not to listen to me if I changed my mind in labour. During labour I told the MW to put the notes in the fucking bin (I don't swear). Poor MW. I had the epidural and whilst it slowed the labour down I was much happier and had full and instant pain relief. I did find it hard to know when to push though and found myself guessing. No stitches and all very straightforward.

Second labour: Went in open minded and asked for an epidural at about 6cm which I had swiftly after asking. I didn't work at all. There's irony for you. The whole experience was so upsetting having reassured myself that if I wanted I could have one. On the flip side the labour was short unlike my first. So small mercies really.

The main thing that got me through was knowing that labour was a finite amount of time.

I had one as my labour was induced and I was on a fetal heart rate monitor so I couldn't really move during labour other than to lie on my back. Labour also progressed incredibly quickly (couple of hours) so the contractions were immediate and relentless. In those circumstances, epidural was the best decision I made. I managed to have a really lovely relaxed labour (in the end). For days after I kept wondering why people would choose to labour without one. It was fine and I was moving around pretty quickly afterwards. I did tear badly but I don't attribute that to epi.

Now, 2 years later I don't regret the epi at all but I do regret not being able to have a more normal labour where I could just follow my body and move around.

You won't know until you are in labour. Just keep your mind open. Good luck!

Really didn't want an epidural. I had been in slow labour for two weeks though and by the time my waters broke I was exhausted and DS was in distress. Had the epidural as an alternative to emergency caesarian, and was so glad I did. It worked. Didn't have to wait but I think that was because I was given an ultimatum by the doctor.

It was weird going from all the pain to numbness, and DS got stuck so was a ventouse delivery. I am squeamish and it felt strange when the liquid circulated round, cold and tingly. I still have a scar on my back and if I wear a heat patch for my sciatica it brings the scar up as a big spot.

Epidural pain relief is the best thing ever!

First labour it triggered a massive headache and I was in agony for 48 hours after birth. Got a chronic migraine problem ever since!

Labour 2, didn't want epidural but couldn't take the pain so had it, no problems at all. Infact (whisper..) it seems to have done some chemical correction due to which my migraines are milder and infrequent.

I'd say go for it, but have it early and enjoy your Labour.

No way as bad as I thought.

Had trouble sitting up straight for the injection during contractions at first, sweating with fear but it honestly wasn't bad at all.

And then instant relief...

When it was time to push I could feel the contractions but really faintly - so without the epidural I know I would not have been able to cope.

They put something in the back of my hand, I'm not sure whether it was something to do with the epidural or not but it was really restricting - I remember not being able to put my hair up and being annoyed.

No problems afterwards. I'd do it again

I had an epidural with DC2. I was always adamant that I would never have one, it made me feel queasy. But my relentless HG and ketosis effected the progress of my labour and I got 'stuck' at 8cm. The midwife actually intervened and said I needed a break. I was given IV fluids and an epidural. I didn't feel it go in, relief came pretty quickly and I was able to push without feeling anything and no intervention needed. I remained numb whilst my placenta came out too, including some membranes getting stuck and a doctor having to get them out, and couple of stitches. It wore off gently and I felt fine afterwards. I'm not having any more but if I did an epidural would be in my birth plan!

3 labors no epidural for all 3.
In my experience you can't just arrive and ask for one. They will try and put you off till it's really needed.
Clearly I didnt need one.
Birthplans go out the window nothing goes to plan. Honestly

I was due to be induced and was warned repeatedly by the midwives to consider an epidural as induced labours tend to be more intense - the number of midwives who said that to me scared me about what I was in for, so I said upfront I wanted an epidural.

I could still sense the contractions and tell the midwives when they were coming, but it wasn't painful. At one point one of the senior midwives had me crouching on the delivery bed - so I didn't lose the use of my legs, although she was supporting me on one side and DH on the other side. Personally, I didn't feel comfortable like that - I'm not great a crouching without a 9 month bump and lots of tubes in the way, so felt very unstable even though I was being supported.

DD got stuck and had to have ventouse in the end. I had an episiotomy - didn't feel it.

I had a drip with the drugs to induce me into the back of one hand; a drip with anti-biotics into the back of another hand (waters tore a couple of days before and this is a pre-cautionary measure); and a strap to monitor the baby. I didn't like being all hooked up - but the bits that bothered me weren't to do with the epidural, I don't think.

If I had another baby, I'd definitely consider having another epidural.

I had one with my first. I was induced and had read somewhere that if you go past a certain point in labour, you can't have an epidural. I'd focused on this and was adamant I wanted one. So I did. It only worked on one side though. And I can't actually remember a lot of the birth. I don't know if this had anything to do with the epidural or not. I was quite sick after too, though this could have been down to shock.
I didn't have one with my second birth (there actually wasn't time this time) and he was back to back so it was quite painful. I don't think I'd be desperate to have one again, now I know I managed ok without. But, never say never.

It was ace. I had it once they'd broken my waters. I dozed, did puzzles, jawed with the midwife. It was a lovely day. Ds was venteused but he was 10,5lb so I wasn't surprised.

I was induced and ended up with a really fast labour. I asked for an epidural when it got too much to cope with. I went from 3cm to 9cm in an hour and a half so unsurprisingly it was particularly painful. Consultant very quickly agreed to epidural due to a couple of issues with baby.

The first epidural didn't work at all but second attempt did. I could still feel contractions and used gas and air for a while too.

I ended up in theatre with forceps delivery and could feel things going on but no pain. I also had an episiotomy and tear (baby's head was chin up so wasn't progressing) and couldn't feel these being stitched up afterwards.

The epidural wore off quite quickly and I was on my feet about 12hrs later. The catheter wasn't an issue and I didn't even notice it's removal.

I would say my labour pre epidural was horrendous but the epidural meant I could cope but still felt fully aware of everything. I haven't had any side effects I can attribute to the epidural - back seems fine. All my discomfort is from the episiotomy/tear.

I don't have any regrets and honestly feel it was the best thing for me.

Good luck!

Didn't want one before hand but Ds was back to back, pressing on my sciatic nerve and every contraction had my legs going under me. As labour progressed, I didn't feel safe standing up and so felt I had to lay down. Laying down was more painful so asked for an epidural.

The midwife was fine (she had an idea how painful it was) but I had to convince the anesthetist. He had problems siting it and so I was fully dilated before I got a working one (Ds was in a funky and un-deliverable position) so they gave it anyway to give me a break whilst we waited to see if he got into a workable position and also in case he didn't, it solved the issue of pain relief for a section.

Ds eventually got into a possibly deliverable position and I pushed. Still with the epidural however I had a patch in my right thigh which meant I could feel every contraction, managed to change position etc absolutely fine but he was still stuck and I ended up with a emcs after forceps failed to dislodge him.

I was planning to have a lovely peaceful water birth but ended up with 3 days and nights of agonising contractions with all the pain in my back due to dd being back to back.

I got checked and sent home a couple of times in that time as I wasn't dilated enough and a midwife also gave me a sweep. I reached the point where I couldn't cope with the pain any more and my dh drove me to hospital with me on all fours on the back seat and on examination I was 5cm. The midwife offered me an epidural straight away when I said I couldn't handle the pain any more had a contraction in front of her and within 20 mins the anesthetist was there to give it to me.

I was worried about staying still for it as I couldn't stay still when a contraction came on but they timed it well to do it in between contractions. It didn't hurt that I can remember.

They broke my waters manually hours later and also put me on a drip to speed everything up. It took all the pain away and I was still mobile for a few hours after and ok to crouch on the bed to push. Couldn't feel anything happening when I did push and after an hour of pushing dd was stuck past the cervix and they rushed me into theatre for forceps and episiotomy. Dd is here happy and healthy. I was a bit upset by the whole thing but I think that was mainly the pain I had before I was given the epidural and the worry about dd when they said we needed to get her out now and signing the consent form for forceps with all the risks etc being explained.

They took the catheter out a few hours after the birth as I insisted and was able to mobilise fine. In the same circumstances I'd get the epidural again although it was a bit annoying being stuck in bed for the rest of labour it was so much better than the contractions. I'm tempted by an elective c section if I do have any more children though.

Hope that helps - happy to answer any questions op.

Thank you to everyone who has responded. A real mixed bag! Really helpful replied so far. Grateful for any more.

I know I've asked a million questions, but that's because last nights NCT session left me so confused about the risks and benefits!!

Can I ask, those who ended up with interventions (forceps/ventouse/EMCS), do you know whether or believe these were a result of your epidural? Does anyone think they wouldn't have had the intervention if it wasn't for the epidural? Or did you have an epidural due to pain of a long/complex birth and think you would have ended up with that intervention anyway?

I had an epidural with DS1. I had been struggling through the whole induction and a doctor was pretty adamant that I had one.
I had a 3rd degree tear but this is probably my fault as I refused an episiotomy and maybe wouldn't have torn as badly as I did had I accepted it.
I've had no long lasting affects but did have very bad backache (along with an abundance of other issues and after birth) for the first 12 weeks. I did have an MRI referral but I cancelled the appointment as by the time the letter came the pain had subsided.
It did provide me with the rest I needed. And I think you can have an epidural in your birth plan, they will probably try say you can do without it and get you to a certain point without it but it is YOUR body at the end of the day.

I wasn't planning on having an epidural, but I was transferred to the labour wars from the midwife-led unit due to failure to progress and the obstetrician advised me to have an epidural because I was exhausted. I also ended up with an oxytocin drip so definitely grateful for the epidural!

Definitely wasn't advised to let it wear off before the pushing phase. I ripped it up again at the start of my passive hour and then chose not to top it up again. My pushing phase was almost 2.5 hours but still painfree until the crowning 😑 had quite a wait until my stitches were done so had gas and air, but the epidural hadn't totally worn off so it wasn't too bad (and let's just say I had a very sensitive area stitched up...).

Gave birth on my back, there wasn't any suggestion of getting into any other position (I guess you're limitless if you can't bear weight on your legs). Oh and I could feel when to push which some people can't.

Being stuck in the bed didn't bother me. I was so exhausted by that point I wouldn't have been moving around anyway, plus I'd already had monitors on for a couple of hours before the epidural and was on various drips for other issues so the epidural didn't make a difference in that respect.

Did you plan on having an epidural or did you decide during labour when the pain became too much?
When pain got too much

Did the midwife try to talk you out of it at all? Did you feel you had to fight for it?
I did have to ask but they said it was too late. Got it in the end though.

What stage in labour did you have it?
Very late

Did the midwives make you wait until it had worn off to start pushing? Did it partly wear off or completely? Was the sudden pain a complete shock? How did you cope?
Didn't wear off but was unable to get baby out without help (ventouse)

Did you tear? Did you end up with forceps/ventose/episiotomy? EMCS? How was your recovery?
Had a tear and ventouse

If you needed stitches, was the epidural still in place and were you able to use it to control pain while being stitched?
Didn't feel stitches

Did you feel restricted at all by being hooked up to monitors and drips etc?
No

What position did you give birth in? Back? Side? Did you manage to get on all fours on the bed? Or anyone have a mobile epidural?
Back

Did yours not work (partially or totally)?
No

Did you have any delay getting one due to anaesthetist availability? Did you perhaps not get one due to this or because your labour was too far along?
As my answer above I was quite far on but got it in the end. Possible that anaesthetist wasn't available at first but they didn't say that.

Did you get any after effects? A headache? Back pain?
No

Any regrets? Would you do anything differently? Or would you have one again?
It wasn't brilliant but the pain was so bad I wouldn't have changed it! My 2nd DC I didn't need one and did it all standing up with gas and air!

Sorry, paragraphs didn't work!

I missed a few questions.

Yes it worked, it was amazing. No side effects at all and by the time I was getting up from the bed my legs were fine. Only thing I'd do differently is have it sooner 😂 Recovery was fine.

It was still in place when I had my stitches, but I can't imagine they'd want you to top it up again at that point.

Did you plan on having an epidural or did you decide during labour when the pain became too much?

• Decided during labor with dd1, planned with dd2

Did the midwife try to talk you out of it at all? Did you feel you had to fight for it?

• no both mine were fab but total luck of the draw. The anaesthetist for DD1 was a dick though, told me sternly how much it would cost the NHS as he was siting it.

What stage in labour did you have it?
-4cm dilated for DD1, 5cm for dd2

Did the midwives make you wait until it had worn off to start pushing? Did it partly wear off or completely? Was the sudden pain a complete shock? How did you cope?
No. For DD1 I had it, fell asleep for a couple of hours, woke to chaos as baby's heart rate had dropped, signed all the papers for crash section and then tried pushing just before they wheeled me up and dd flew out in a couple of pushes.

For dd2 I was in latent labour for about 72 hours so I was in and out of hospital at about 2cm. Finally got to 5cm and the anaesthetist came, as he was siting it my waters broke and I had mad urge to push. Actually had argument with lovely midwife who said baby is coming because I WAS NOT READY YET! Delivered dd2 had injection in leg delivered placenta and THEN it started to work. Pain was actually very manageable amd knowing now what I know I would have stuck with my TENs machine and cranked it up a bit more.

Did you tear? Did you end up with forceps/ventose/episiotomy? EMCS? How was your recovery?
Tear with dd1, graze with dd2

If you needed stitches, was the epidural still in place and were you able to use it to control pain while being stitched?
It wore off for stitches after dd1 so I had gas and air. I found that the worst part tbh.

Did you feel restricted at all by being hooked up to monitors and drips etc? No

What position did you give birth in? Back? Side? Did you manage to get on all fours on the bed? Or anyone have a mobile epidural?
Back although I had been mobile up until then
Did yours not work (partially or totally)?

Did you have any delay getting one due to anaesthetist availability? Did you perhaps not get one due to this or because your labour was too far along?
No I was OK but again probably luck of the draw. Both epidural were about 1am.

Did you get any after effects? A headache? Back pain? No.

Any regrets? Would you do anything differently? Or would you have one again?
I would have one again although I am also confident I could manage without. If I could do anything different I would have pushed the trainee nurse who stitched me up for a top up of the epidural, and would have been more forceful in finding out her experience. It was incredibly painful and she made a right pigs ear of it, but the attitude really seemed to be 'well you've done the hard bit now so this should be easy'.

If I had any advice for you it would be to keep an open mind, keep mobile as long as you can, and don't fear anything. I was terrified of the pain but as I said it was far more manageable than I had anticipated. Good luck

Was strongly advised to have one before they put the syntocin drip on (meconium in waters) and I readily accepted! Staying still for it was the trickiest bit and it took a couple of attempts but it was fine.

I had a mobile epidural. I could still feel pain but not that strongly. I could move around but i was very tired and it was too much of a faff with all the monitors etc to move much.

I ended up with a EMCS but that was for unrelated reasons (big baby, back to back labour until he turned and got stuck and then my contractions stopped).

Would definitely recommend it unless your labour is quick.

I was another who was adamant I wasn't having an epidural, especially after learning something gets stuck coming out of your back and you are hooked up to things. No way.

In reality, I had an induced labour and once they broke my waters and gave me the syntocin I was in so much pain the pethadine and gas and air did nothing, I'd been having contractions on / off for 2 weeks and needed some rest so opted for the epidural.

Went in fine, anesthetist did it between contractions with me resting on DH. Pain went straight away and meant we could get some rest. I had a button to press to top it up if I needed. Over the next 4 hours I pressed the button once as I felt pain and pressure.

Ultimately ended up in theatre as baby had shoulder dystocia but I don't think it's related at all to the epidural. As above, I do wish I'd had the chance to be more mobile during my labour but I had no access to a pool and the syntocin made the contractions horrendous.

I'm pregnant again and due in January and i'm more scared of being induced than having an epidural. The epidural took away the pain, it was bliss. The induction caused it!

Ultimately see how your labour goes. Don't write a strict birth plan, they never really work in my experience and just add to the guilt and upset afterwards if you don't get your "zen water birth". I'm going with the mindset next time of i'll take it as it comes. I'm desperately hoping to labour naturally, which i think will mean the contractions are less intense to start with, so i'm hoping my body can cope better with it this time, but if I find the pain too much i'll be calling that anesthetist without hesitation!