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Original poster

Can you tell me about your epidurals please?

66 replies

ClangerTwanger · 07/04/2018 20:49

Hi all. I’m 27 weeks with number 3. Last 2 dc I gave birth with just gas and air. First birth was fine but 2nd was horrendous, absolute agony and went on and on and on, post partum haemorrhage too Confused

So I’m thinking of going for an epidural this time around to ease things off. I don’t want to be in crazy pain, I’m shitting myself about it all tbh! Can you all tell me what an epidural is like? Did it really help? At what stage in labor do you ask for it? Can you still push effectively with it and if I needed an instrument assisted delivery, what’s that like?!

Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks!! X

OP posts:
ellesbellesxxx · 07/04/2018 20:52

It was amazing! It really took the edge off the contractions.
I had a forceps/ventouse delivery for my twins and that was fine.. I was pretty exhausted and dosed up by then but it was fine.
Good luck :)

Rodders92 · 07/04/2018 20:55

I had an epidural both times after syntocin drip inductions. It was bliss, the contractions were felt as tightening but pain free, I did have quite long second stages but no forceps or ventouse needed.

windchimesabotage · 07/04/2018 20:55

My epidural was amazing. Was asking for it from the start and they gave it as soon as the guy was free to put it in. I was induced however which may be why they gave it so soon. I had it in for a whole24hrs!
It was much better than the pethedine and gas and air. I could feel very little pain but I could still move my legs and turn etc... dont think i couldve stood up however.
I pushed the baby out naturally but with an episotomy. I could feel to push but couldnt feel any pain... just a sort of heavy pushing sensation?
I was able to walk again about 4 hours after the birth (altho I did have some probs with my left knee keeping buckling so was a little unsteady) Gave birth at 6am and went home that evening at about 9pm.

LuckyTwiglet · 07/04/2018 20:56

Loved it!

fabulousfrumpyfeet · 07/04/2018 20:56

I had an epidural, positives were that it took away the pain but I could still feel contractions so I felt more able to really engage in the process than when I was screaming like a banshee.
Negative points, I felt I was offered it without having had any other suggestions or support from the midwife, I suspect it slowed contractions down contributing to emergency c section, and they tried to do the c section with the epidural as the only pain relief and it started to wear off while they were sewing me up, DONT LET THEM DO THIS. I would try to avoid it in future but not rule it out.

Mamabear1475 · 07/04/2018 20:57

Sorry to say, mine was useless. It clearly didn't work because as people say you feel hardly anything. I felt everything. But maybe I'm just unlucky

cansu · 07/04/2018 20:57

It definitely takes away pain almost instantly but I decided to try without for my second as I disliked some aspects.

  1. I ended up needing a ventouse delivery with epidural as I couldn't feel to push.
  2. I had no feeling in my legs all night afterwards so I couldn't go to the loo or look after my baby. I was stuck on ward with baby screaming next to me. I couldn't reach him. I tried to get out of bed to see to him and go to loo and ended up lying on floor. Maybe they gave me too much but it was an utter nightmare afterwards.

With my second labour I had pethidine and gas and air and felt much more in control and recovered more quickly afterwards.

AmazingGrace16 · 07/04/2018 20:57

Mine only worked down one side of my body. For some people it doesn't work at all. They hadn't warned me of this so I panicked. It did nothing for the pain either and feeling paralysed on only one side made it feel worse for me. Ended up with instrumental delivery and spinal block. For me it wasn't worth it and I wouldn't have it again.

twinone · 07/04/2018 20:58

I was induced with both mine and had an epidural with both.
It was a long old do and I was lightly contracting for 48hrs before my waters were broken.
Having the epidural allowed me to sleep from 6cm - 10cm and I absolutely needed to.
Dd1 was born without intervention and the epidural was reduced so I could feel enough to know when to push.
Dd2 was distressed and a ventouse delivery, I was told when to push. There was an urgency to get her out, I just did as I was told! The epidural was still dripping in when being stitched up...thankkfully.

AmazingGrace16 · 07/04/2018 20:59

I think as a standard if you have an epidural you are also fitted with a catheter.

BusySittingDown · 07/04/2018 21:01

Mine was amazing too!

I had a long latent phase with an OP baby so by the time I was in “established labour” I was in agony and there was no gap between the contractions. I requested an epidural as soon as I could Grin.

It took the pain away completely and I was able to have a little sleep (I had been in early labour for days so hadn’t slept for days - the first night due to excitement and then the next couple due to the pain).

It feels like yesterday but it’s nearly 11 years ago now! 😭😭Where did my baby go?

With my 2nd I didn’t need one and had a much easier time and recovery was much quicker but I’m a big advocate of an epidural if you feel like you need one and asking early on. My sister asked too late for her first and wasn’t allowed one, then with her 2nd she received one but she was nearly in transition so it didn’t work.

student26 · 07/04/2018 21:02

I was induced and then given an epidural. Midwife said I made the right choice, so I think you just know when you have had enough and need more help. It was great but it took four attempts to get it in. It's hideous having it done when you're having a contraction though so they have to time in between contractions. It numbed me completely below and the contractions I could feel in the top of my right thigh and right buttock. No pain in my bits, phew! I could feel when to push but I ended up needing an episiotomy and a ventouse delivery. I didn't feel the ventouse or anything. I could still move my legs but they were put in stirrups for the birth. Good luck!

Watto1 · 07/04/2018 21:02

I was one of the unlucky few who ended up with a thumping headache that lasted for days. Eventually had to go back to theatre for a blood patch. Trying to get to grips with breastfeeding and a new baby with the worst headache of my life was not fun and really took the shine off what should have been a special time.

BusySittingDown · 07/04/2018 21:03

Yes, I had a catheter and I’m the kind of person that would really care but I really didn’t, if that makes sense Grin.

Blondemother · 07/04/2018 21:04

I was induced and got an epidural at about 6cms as I just couldn’t cope.
It was glorious! Had gas and air while it was being done and didn’t feel a thing. It worked quickly and I didn’t feel any pain with contractions.
I then had a nice long snooze and was 10cms 4 hours later.

I could feel enough pressure with contractions to push effectively and baby was out in less than an hour - no instruments or episiotomy.
I was up having a shower right after the birth, it wore off really quickly.

I was very anti-epidural before going in, and I realise very lucky it all went smoothly, but I would absolutely do it again!

Laineymc7 · 07/04/2018 21:07

Mine was fab, I did feel the needle go in and I wont lie that was painful but all of a few seconds. Once done it was amazing wished I’d have had it earlier. You can control it yourself once and. You have a button that you can press for the pain relief.

BusySittingDown · 07/04/2018 21:07

Btw, I did start to have a PPH after birth too but they quickly put me on a drip and it was fine. I think I lost about 900mls (I think over 500 is classed as PPH according to midwife friend). Although I was put on iron tablets after.

becki3 · 07/04/2018 21:12

Mine was great! I was in active labour for about 12 hours, asked for the epidural at 3cm and they tried to give me the other drug that makes you be sick... I've forgotten what it's called. I insistanted on the epidural and was so glad.

It was my first baby and I only had it for about 6 hours, as I was asleep for pretty much 75% of the time after it kicked in and I think that that really helped move me along faster. Contractions went from excruciating to completely painless. I couldn't believe it.

I had to have an emergency c-section though, so I can't offer any advice past that, I'm afraid.

Good luck, you will be fine!

imnottoofussed · 07/04/2018 21:15

I had one and a catheter. The epidural didn't work so I could feel everything. after the birth the pain I had when peeing was agony. Midwife said they must have scratched me with the catheter.

TwilightSparklePants · 07/04/2018 21:15

Loved my epidural, and my epidural man!!

I had 3 dcs with gas and air but with dc4 I was induced and said from the beginning I wanted an epidural. It was amazing!! I felt nothing, no pain or tightening. Managed a half hour nap too. It wore off just before I had to push and the midwives decided not to top it up. I felt everything then, and pushed dc4 out no problems. No tears, episiotomy or ventouse/forceps.

RandomWordsStuckTogether · 07/04/2018 21:16

Er, it was fabulous.

Had a catheter in for a few hours but was up and about once it wore off. Could lift and feed DD and everything.

Highly recommend.

TwilightSparklePants · 07/04/2018 21:17

Ohh and I didn't have a catheter. I was up 30 minutes after birth as I was desperate for a wee and a bath.

becki3 · 07/04/2018 21:18

@Student26 Same here, four attempts, I was almost in tears!

Original poster
ClangerTwanger · 07/04/2018 21:18

Thank you to all of you for such a balanced view of epidurals! I think I might just go for one, I’m terrified of all the pain again and some
Of your births sound like bliss to me! 😂 I guess what will be will be, if it doesn’t work at least I tried. So long as baby comes out ok I will be happy but I’d prefer to be in the least amount of pain possible!! Xx

OP posts:
KatharinaRosalie · 07/04/2018 21:18

Amazing. I went from sweating and panting to totally serene and comfortable, reading my book and chatting with midwife. I had a walking epidural, so was also fully mobile and felt when I needed to push - but it was just pressure, not pain. Best invention ever.

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