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

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:
Tiggerish · 12/04/2007 16:35

I had one for my first. I had a dry labour and was in agony really early on so went into hospital and demanded an epidural straight away. It worked really well and I had regular tops ups during the labour.

My one regret is that I couldn't feel anything at all when pushing and it made it so much harder. BUT in the long run it worked OK because ds got stuck and I had to have a ventouse delivery in the end, so I didn't need anything else for that and the episiotomy.

Also had to have a catheter for 12 hours afterwards which is ok but a bit of a nuisance.

rebelmum1 · 12/04/2007 17:08

MrsMar will be booking csection after reading our responses ..

baffledbybaby · 12/04/2007 17:23

Well if you want to be well prepared in advance for all evantualities be prepared for asking for an epiduaral and not getting it. I was told the anaethetist was busy with an emergency when i asked for one at 9.30am when i was 4cm dilated. I asked again at 11.30am and still no anaethetist available. I eventually got one at around 3.30pm for my emergency cs.
On my ward there were two other women who had been in labour at different times to me, they also asked for epidurals and never got them either. can't remember what reasons they were given but it did make me wonder about hospital policy. (When i did get it though it was a blessed relief)

Original poster
MrsMar · 12/04/2007 18:08

Thanks for all the responses, it's great to hear such a variety of experiences. Always good to know the good and bad things about them.

The reason I'm thinking about pain management so early is that I know I'm not good with pain management. I've had a few broken bones in my time and have got so hysterical I've hyperventilated and collapsed because of screwed up blood gases. I know everyone is scared of the pain giving birth, but it's something I want to discuss fully in advance with my midwife so I don't have a terrible experience and more importantly put my baby at risk by fainting or getting hyperoxia.

Baffled - I had heard that lots of hospitals operate an unofficial policy of putting women off saying it's too early until it's too late and they are at the pushing stage as obviously giving an epidural involves another member of staff and extra drugs etc. That's why I was wondering that if I flag up my problems in advance my midwife might recognise that I could have problems if they do that with me.

Thanks again for all your stories, really fascinating. Good luck to everyone having babies xx

OP posts:
TuttiFrutti · 12/04/2007 19:37

Utter bliss. One of the best experiences of my life, to feel the change from unbearable pain to no pain at all in about 2 seconds. I would highly recommend epidurals and if I was ever going to have a vaginal birth again I would definitely want one.

I think it depends on the skill of the individual anaesthetist as to how well it is administered. Mine was put in very quickly and painlessly, but I heard afterwards I had got the most senior anaesthetist in the hospital.

I did some research before my first birth and at the time (2 years ago), on average women in NHS hospitals had to wait 60 minutes between requesting an epidural and getting one, and it was 90 minutes in some parts of the south east. So if you think you will want one, it might be worth requesting it early on. On the other hand, you may cope so well with the pain that you won't need one, and you won't know until you are in established labour. So keep an open mind, but bear in mind that you may have a long wait if you request one.

ebenezer · 12/04/2007 19:55

Had an epidural with cs (DC2) but just gas and air for DC1 and DC3. My advice would be depends on what you want from the birth. An epidural is in a different league from other forms of pain relief. Gas and air will alter your perception of pain, not block it. The downside of an epidural is that it makes the birth a very medicalised event which isn't for everyone. Statistically it also increases the chances of further intervention - not by a huge amount i don't think, but again, if it's important for you to be actively involved in the birth, then you may want to avoid it.

October · 12/04/2007 19:57

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pulapula · 12/04/2007 20:42

I had a spinal block with DD which was because I needed to go into theatre to try one last time to get DD out with ventouse before resorting to emergency c-section. It was bliss after 40 hours of contractions every 5-10 mins, especially after I'd been put on a drip to strengthen them again. Wish I'd had it sooner. I was told when to push and not sure if i was pushing right, but didn't care as they were pulling with the ventouse. I had had an episiotomy & 2 tears and didn't feel the stitching up, which was a benefit too.

BUT i had a reaction afterwards which meant i couldn't stop shivering for a while which was a bit worrying.

I will be having one this time as i'm having a planned section so am a bit nervous about the reaction again, and being more aware of the process - i don't remember it hurting last time (not compared to contractions and the local i'd had for the episiotomy when i was hysterical with the pain!).

fannyannie · 12/04/2007 20:47

Without wanting to scare you though you may like to know my opinion of them........not great.

DS1 I had a spinal block as I had a CS worked brilliantly

DS2 I had the maximum allowed number of epidural top-ups before the anaethatist (sp) said "no more" didn't work AT ALL and could still feel everything.

SenoraPostrophe · 12/04/2007 20:50

dd, epidural plus top up. the bit before the top up was horrendous, plus after 2 hours of pushing they got out the ventouse. I am convinced this wouldn't have been necessary without the epidural.

ds1 and ds2: no epidural. quicker labour, no ventouse. painful, but then so was dd's birth.

IdrisTheDragon · 12/04/2007 20:50

I had one after giving birth.

OttersPool · 12/04/2007 20:57

5 labours
4 natural
5th epidural

if i have a 6th .......epidural

Enough said - a joy!

potoroo · 12/04/2007 21:13

I was induced and I got one about 7 or so hours later because I was exhausted and DS was around the wrong way - they wanted to give me time to rest before the big push (so to speak).

Bloody miracle stuff. I wanted to kiss the anaesthetist. DH and I got to sleep and contractions turned DS around. (If I hadn't had epi I would have needed assistance).

It did take several attempts and they ended up bringing in the consultant. Was too distracted by labour pain to notice any pain with the siting of the epidural.

Had to get topped up twice because I could still feel a lot of pain to start with. When they fixed the dosage I could just feel a sort of tightness during the contractions.

Wouldn't hesitate next time. No side affects either.

luckylady74 · 12/04/2007 21:55

eberneezer - i know what you mean by not active because even with a mobile epi you're not that mobile, but if mrsmar's issue is with pain then i would emphasise that the pain left me unable to feel a part of the birth - it was in charge of me iyswim, whereas with an epi i pushed and i felt them come out and the 2 placentas - such a joy to be part of it - and i felt much more active.
my dh friend is a consultant anaes and does say there's no point in anything but an epidural.

Quootiepie · 12/04/2007 22:02

Excellent. I was very scared, bottom of my birthpan, capital letters NO EPIDURAL but I was bed bound due to being on monitor full time, induced so the contractions were quite intense so I asked about it. I am very VERY needle phobic, but they were gentle and very very good at getting it all done. I did still feel pain in my bum and had a special manual top up twice and after that I fell asleep. It will definatly be an option for next time, and definatly nothing to be worried about. I enjoyed giving birth 100%, it really made it such a great experience for me.

Quootiepie · 12/04/2007 22:02

Excellent. I was very scared, bottom of my birthpan, capital letters NO EPIDURAL but I was bed bound due to being on monitor full time, induced so the contractions were quite intense so I asked about it. I am very VERY needle phobic, but they were gentle and very very good at getting it all done. I did still feel pain in my bum and had a special manual top up twice and after that I fell asleep. It will definatly be an option for next time, and definatly nothing to be worried about. I enjoyed giving birth 100%, it really made it such a great experience for me.

MerryMarigold · 12/04/2007 22:03

I am torn. Literally!

I had an epidural.
They didn't do mobile ones (hadn't HEARD of them!).
I had to wait one and a half hours.
I was 9cm dilated when I had it (not that they bothered to measure me beforehand and what do I know when very far into labout).
It was an INCREDIBLE HIGH when I had it. I think the pain going just made me buzz. I was so happy, I loved it. It's the nearest to heaven I have been.
It led eventually to a forceps delivery and a third degree tear (intervention often follows epidural).

Next time I would have it much earlier (maybe at 3-4cms) to get you some 'peace' before the action begins. I would never advise to have a late one, though this is when most women are crying out for it. ALWAYS ask them to measure how dilated you are immediately before you have it.

Crazydazy · 12/04/2007 22:09

Hated the epidural. Had one in my second labour, it made me horribly sick, I had hallucinations and hated the sensation as the feeling returned to my legs and also had pain in my lower back for a week after.

My first labour was absolutely brilliant and I only had gas and air but was over so quickly I didn't have time to have anything else.

cat64 · 12/04/2007 22:17

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luckylady74 · 12/04/2007 23:31

cat - [hijaak for brief moment mrs mar] did you really not have an urgr to push - cos i never did either and i thought i was the only one

MKG · 12/04/2007 23:47

If you do consider having one make sure you check out the anestesiologist before hand. A friend of mine had an epidural that was not put in correctly, after she got home from her C-section she was sent back to the emergency room, because she was leaking spinal fluid, and getting terrible headaches. There is only a 1% risk in that happening I believe, but it's best to know the qualifications of the people on staff before hand.

corblimeymadam · 12/04/2007 23:55

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Hilllary · 12/04/2007 23:57

I had an epidural with my first dd although it was too late and didn't really work, with my second I had a spinal block which I think is so much better, although you cant be topped up on this one.

I was needle phobic before having my dd's

I'd go with an epidural every time

Daisypops · 13/04/2007 11:49

I decided I wanted an epidural quite early in my pregnancy as I don't deal with pain very well! I was induced and had the epidural as soon as possible. The anaesthetist (sp?) was lovely, he spent ages explaining stuff, not that I can remember it as I was having contractions at the time! Siting the epidural was a bit painful as he kept hitting my bone (ouch!) he finally got it in and said it would take about 20 minuts to take affect. After 20 minutes I could still feel really bad pain in my right groin, the epidural had failed on my right side, so it had to be re-sited, by which time my contractions were much stronger and closer together. The anaesthetist was very patient and understanding and seemed to know when I was getting a contraction before I did and stopped what he was doing. He finally got it in and it worked. He seemed to wear off quite quickly and as I was having bubba 'suctioned' out and having the episiotomy I was in agony on my left side! Its had worn off on that side so I was continaully been topped up. All in all though it was wonderful and I'll defnately have one again.

cat64 · 13/04/2007 11:55

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