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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Tell me your epidural experiences please...

66 replies

MrsMar · 12/04/2007 13:30

I'm a long way off this sort of thing (I'm only 17 weeks), but I do like to be informed! I'm thinking about the birth and I'd love to hear anyone's experiences of epidurals. No one I know has had one, and I'd like to be as informed as possible. At what stage are you usually given one? How effective was it? Are mobile epidurals any good? I'd love to hear how your's went... thanks xx

OP posts:

skidaddle · 12/04/2007 13:36

Hi MrsMar, never had one (so why am I replying to this post but have two friends who recently did and both raved about them - said the pain just disappeared into thin air and they really enjoyed their labours from then on (weren't mobile ones though)

Almost made me want to try one this time round but we will see

Puppie · 12/04/2007 13:40

Again I haven't had one myself but a friend recently has. She said it was wonderful and numbed everything from the waist down. You can have a total epidural I think where MW has to tell you when to push as you cant feel or partial epidural where you still feel pain and can push.

dejags · 12/04/2007 13:42

Not sure you want my story but here goes.

I requested an epidural 7hrs into active labour (I was 5cms dilated). I found having the epidural sited exceptionally traumatic. I was in incredible pain and had the anaesthetist from hell. It wasn't particularly painful but I remember thinking - God what if I cannot walk again (the anaesthetist told me that if I didn't sit still I could end up not being able to walk ). I lay back and enjoyed precisely 3 minutes of pain relief , it didn't work, the horrible anaesthetist did try and do it again on the other side of my spine but that didn't work either.

Result = no pain relief and the trauma of having to have two epidurals for nowt.

The thing they don't tell you about epidurals is that they don't always work.

Notquitegrownup · 12/04/2007 13:45

Hi MrsMar

I had one first time. I had kept my options open and reached a point where I really really needed one. I was gloriously assertive (not like me at all ) and got one late on (I was 9cms dilated by then.)

I was so glad that I had it as, like your friends, I then enjoyed the final four hours of pushing, and coped with the ventouse delivery OK.

With ds2 I thought that I might go through the same process again, but everything was much quicker and simpler and I coped with gas and air. I was glad to have experienced both types of birth. The epidural was definitely right for me first time around. It wasn't a mobile one, but didn't deaden everything. I did find, however, that my recovery time without the epidural was much quicker second time. I went shopping the next day - to the horror of my midwife - and generally felt a lot more energetic. Another close friend also found that she felt "sluggish" and a bit sick for a few days after an epidural.

HTH.

ILoveDolly · 12/04/2007 13:46

i was really against and am completely squeamish about needles, but was offered one well into labour for reasons of necessity and it was wonderful. i was just so glad/grateful to be offered some relief all my previous scruples seemed so silly. I think that it is entirely possible to have an absolutely fine labour on just gas and air but don't discount epidural as you may want one after all - it is called labour for a reason!

PurpleLostPrincess · 12/04/2007 13:49

I'm not sure if you'll want to hear my horror story either but I guess its best to get all points of view...

With DS (I was aged 17) I had been in labour for 24 hours and was still only 3cms dilated so they decided to give me an epidural and also put me on a drip to speed up the process. Having the needle put in was awful and the anaesthetist told me I would have migraines for the rest of my life if I didn't hold still. (holding still while having contractions isn't that easy by the way!). Anyway, it did provide me with pain relief but I didn't really have a clue what was going on with my body and couldn't move for the remainder of the experience. I had DS about 12 hours later by ventouse...

Now, that on its own isn't so awful but I've suffered really badly with migraines ever since and I do get back problems. Also, I've still got a scar from it, even though I did stay really still.

When I had DD 4 and a half years later, I didn't have an epidural and the whole experience was so different - I knew what was going on with my body and could feel everything. I have put on my notes with this one that I don't want an epidural unless I really, really, really have to - I never want to go through that again!

ILoveDolly · 12/04/2007 13:51

i am sorry you had that experience dejags, i hope most anaesthetists would be more sympathetic to the fact that a labouring woman is already distressed enough without being reprimanded and told scare stories.
a correctly administered epidural should certainly work - and for most people they probably are still working hours and hours after the birth.

DrNortherner · 12/04/2007 13:52

I loved my epidural and would definatley ahve another one. I was induced so my contractions came hard and fast. Once the epi was in I was totally pain free. No problems afterwards, although I did have an assiten delivery - ventouse and forceps and needed an epiosotomy but ds was posterior which caused difficulties.

Good luck!

Cakehead · 12/04/2007 13:53

I had a mobile epidural at 8cms and it was great. The anaesthetist was very considerate; I told him as my contractions came on and he stopped what he was doing to wait until they passed. The relief was amazing. I could still feel the pressure of the baby and had complete control on pushing/stopping. Was also able to walk around and tried to deliver the baby standing, but then decided I was better on the bed. Made the last three hours of my labour much better than I'd anticpated - was really able to enjoy meeting my DD when she arrived. Then able to have a shower, too! Bliss!

ILoveDolly · 12/04/2007 13:53

i do reckon though that they give you a backache - i still get a slight ache where i had my 'no complications' epidural, sometimes, and its over a year on

LucyJones · 12/04/2007 13:54

First labour I had to have two - the first only worked down one side. Dh watched the first one being administered and he said in hindsight he knew it wouldn't work He said when the anathesists administered it blood poured out and she looked really worried!!!
2nd labour didn't have one - recovery was much quicker, could leave the hospital the same day (the 2 I had took ages to wear off, presumably because I had two?!!)

corblimeymadam · 12/04/2007 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Hopeitwontbebig · 12/04/2007 15:47

Hellooooo MrsMar.... right my epidural story..... with DS1 he was a posterior baby (back to back) and therefore my contractions early on were VERY bad and quite ineffective, I wasn't dilating very much, I was getting quite ditressed with the pain, so was offered an epidural. You sit on the side of the bed and bend forward as much as you can, bump allowing, you're told to keep as still as you can, but you can tell the anaesthetist when you're having a contraction. Your DH might not want to watch the needle being placed in spinal gap, I watched one once and fainted, very embarrassing, anyway, once it's set up the pain relief is fantastic. I still had some pain in my bum (don't laugh) but that was because he was posterior. Now, some time later the pain started to return and they put some more drugs in a cannular strapped to my shoulder, but the pain kept on coming back more and more. The midwife kept telling me to give it more time to work, but the pain kept on getting worse. Eventually they inspected the epidural site and the blooming canular (SP) had come out!!!!!!!!!!!!! They called the anaesthetist again, but unfortunately he had been called away because someone had had a brain anurism, the injustice! It turned out to be a good thing I didn't have it re-sited because my DS turned out to be a 10lb 10oz whopper and I would have had to have had a forceps delivery etc.

Sorry for long one...

auntyspan · 12/04/2007 16:03

I was induced and my waters broke after about 5 hours. I was only 1cm dilated but was in lots of pain so requested an epidural. I had a fantastic anesthetist (who according to DH I proposed to afterwards although I have no memory of it!) - he had to have a couple of goes as I had very bad water retention but he was very patient (we kept having to stop for my contractions too) and in the end it was fine. I had what they called a 'window', ie a bit near my groin where it didn't take, but he topped it up every couple of hours and it was bliss. I ended up having a section and all they did was put a spinal in, which was very straightforward.

The most bizarre thing was when I was back in the ward, DH was affectionately rubbing my feet and I couldn't feel it!!

Cocobear · 12/04/2007 16:04

I had one about 9cm for a posterior baby - wow, it's like magic. The anaesthetist was wonderful and honestly I felt nothing of the needle going in (in fairness I was already having extreme back pain - she could've pounded my spine with a hammer and I wouldn't have noticed!). I went from a screaming mess to blissful expectancy in about 10 minutes.

I wouldn't hesitate to have one again if I needed it. I couldn't recommend it more highly! Amazing.

luckylady74 · 12/04/2007 16:09

i didn't with ds1 having been to nct classes and felt the general feeling was 'bad thing' amongst the mums to be. i was fine with ds1 at first - 8 cm dilated on arrival at hospital, but the 10 cm stage where i tried to push but he didn't come out for 2 hours - his head was turned the wrong way i think - nothing is clear i found the pain so shocking - i was screaming for an epidural butit was too late. i think iwas in shock after he came out for a long time!
labour with twins fine but they didn't realise i was so advanced in labour so i somehow managed this time to be 10cm dilated without an epidural but shouted so loudly that i was not going to give birth again without it [swear words left out] that the lovely anaes gave me a mixture of spinal block [so it worked immediatley - to stop me swearing i think!]and epidural - then on it was pure bliss - i could feel it all just no pain - pushed them out and really appreciated being able to notice giving birth - i didn't even care that there was 14 people in the room and that my waters hit the consultant in the face!

melminx · 12/04/2007 16:13

hi sorry but i had spinal block with 3rd c section and 4th and final section in june last year was epidural it hurt like hell and has left me with permanent nerve damage so i tend to suffer enormous amounts of pain in leg. it only affects 1 in 1000000 so im special!! lol just be very aware of the risks but majority of people love theirs. good luck with baby

kks · 12/04/2007 16:14

I had one, i was induced and had been in strong labour for 5 hours. I was in agony and the midwife said i was only 3cm so i thought i can't take much more of this and said i wanted one. The man came straight in and i had to sit really still while he did it and i was in so much pain having contractions i didn't feel the needle at all.

The pain went and it was great except i could still feel the pain in one spot. I was in labour for another 6 hours until i was able to start pushing. The epidural had faded by this time and pushing the baby out was the most painful experience of my life. I couldn't feel my legs which was really strange, the epidural was great for getting to 10cm but the birth was still very, very painful.

littlelapin · 12/04/2007 16:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NadineBaggott · 12/04/2007 16:17

I've had 2 both were marvellous

1st no pain whatsoever
2nd a little but bearable pain

deffo recommended

FioFio · 12/04/2007 16:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

talcy · 12/04/2007 16:20

I didn't have a very good experience, i won't go into all the details as i really sound negative but wouldn't have one again.
Make sure you are aware of potential risks first.
Don't want to put you off as it's great for most

BigHotMama · 12/04/2007 16:23

Mine worked and was fantastic stuff! Felt like a cold waterfall running down my back and the pain was suddenly gone, but I did have an emergency CS so needed to have one anyway (although was screaming for one because of the pain.)
Good luck!

Marne · 12/04/2007 16:26

I had one with dd2, had to have 2 dosess as the first did'nt work, still had slight pain (in one bum cheek ), i found it was great once it was working, alot better than when i had dd1 (had no pain relief at all), i was'nt given mine till i was in the last stages of labour, the midwife had to lie to get me one.

The down side was i was in alot of pain when it wore off due to having alot of stitches and bruising, this was a bit of a shock after feeling nothing for over an hour. i had dd2 half an hour after having it and felt nothing.

I think because i knew how to push(after having dd1 with nothing) it made it easier, i only had to push twice with dd2.

If i have another baby i will be having it again for sure

rebelmum1 · 12/04/2007 16:28

Mine was awful. I went through labour naturally but then at the end had to have surgery and they gave me an epidural. It made me cold and shiver uncontrollably and I couldn't move for hours I was so uncomfortable. It was ghastly.

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