Can you tell me about your epidurals please?

[ClangerTwanger]

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

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

I had an epidural with my third as he was back to back, it slowed the Labour right down. I had an banging headache for several days after which was a side affect

Is it painful to have it put in??

Hi OP
DC1 - asked for epi from 4cm I think! I got it when I was 5-6cm. The anaesthetist was lovely. He said he loved his job as women were always delighted to see him. It's true - I was - and when it kicked in he was my hero. Loved the guy.
Sadly the midwives decided in their wisdom to let the epidural wear off - they stopped topping it up...so I could feel when to push. I then went from 0-10 in pain and begged for a section. I ended up with an episiotomy and ventouse birth (sink plunger). Bearing in mind that was my first birth it was traumatic.
DC2 - I asked for an epidural at 6cm. They tried to talk me out of it saying the baby was only half an hour away. I became hysterical. I got an epidural around 7cm I think - fairly late and they were disapproving.
It did not work like the first time. Not sure why, whether it was the amount or what but it took the edge off slightly but not enough and only took on one side. My legs felt really heavy but I ended up with ventouse again. That was the point where I was calmer as I knew what to expect so the sink plunger came as a relief - you still feel the ring of fire burning at crowning stage but the actual device itself not really and both babies heads were fine, slight marks where the ventouse was but not cone-shaped
DC3 - I believed like an idiot that if I were just brave enough not to panic in transition phase and if I held on longer and if I went into hospital later and did hypnobirthing techniques....that I would feel a natural urge to push, be rewarded with endorphins after and would avoid interventions as clearly this was down to having had an epi (I am being sarcastic, I believed all the natural birth dogma): Worst birth of the three and the tearing involved worse than my episiotomy with the first. I went in at 7cm, had an enema, had a bouncy ball, no pain relief at all and would have happily had someone shoot me.
What would I take from all this?

1. Have the epidural
2. Put it on the birth plan and ask for it as soon as you get to the hospital (takes a while for anaesthetist to reach you, might be a queue, might be a shift change or bank holiday, you might end up getting palmed off/told you're coping otherwise, told it is too late)
3. Get them to top it up/keep it topped up/ ask them to tell you when to push rather than letting it wear off if possible, that just magnified the pain, or ask for a ventouse
4. I am done with babies but would have tried for an elective section had I had a fourth.

The injection itself both times I had it was a doddle with no after effects. The stitching the first time from the episiotomy hurt but I think they needed to numb the area more. The ventouse itself was fine.
Any questions, ask me :-)

I didnt notice mine being put in at all... its nothing compared to the contractions! The only issue is that you have to stay still so its hard to do when the contractions hit.

I was induced with drip due to meconium in the waters with #1. I was dead against epidural and giving birth on my back so I refused the epidural at first even though they offered it straight away. I lasted 3 hours without it then was told I was only 4cm so begged for it! By the time I had it put it in I was in a bad place and staying still for it to be placed was the hardest thing I've ever done! BUT. BUT.
When it was in, it was AMAZING. My husband said the relief was immediate and immense. I went from wanting to give up to chilled and happy chatting to the midwife about her kids within minutes.
With #2 I considered asking for an epidural from the start because it was so good, even though I'd always dreamed of a non-medicalised water birth!

Forgot to say, I also needed to have a catheter in too as I couldn't pee and they said if I was pushing with a full bladder it would have done some damage to my bladder. Didn't feel a thing! Later on when I could pee myself it was disgusting. Like peeing out yellow and white gunky crystals, just revolting. I have no idea how or why it happened, maybe it was part of the lochia too? I was told it was normal too. I was up after birth pretty soon too. I would definitely choose an epidural again and next time I have a baby it will be the first thing I ask for and will insist on having for the birth itself. I honestly don't know how I would have coped without it, the pain without it, to me, was indescribeable. I did love gas and air though, it gave me lucid half awake, half asleep thoughts, like when you're talking when you're half asleep!

I had a spinal block for my Emcs, not in labour and I know it’s slightlh different. It was truly horrific and I’d never be able to go through it again - took 40 minutes, 7 attempts, each one with a local as well. I’m terrified of needles so it was my worst nightmare. A few times they went in wrong and it felt like my leg was being ripped off.

I’m assured this is not common, though.

Ask if your hospital offers mobile epidurals. Mine did in 2014. It was fucking fantastic. No pain whatsoever but still enough sensation to stay mobile, bounce on a ball, go for a wee, stay upright for the pushing stage. I was stuck at about 4/5cm and had meconium in my waters so they put me on the syntocin drip, and I insisted on the epidural before I let them put the drip in!

Loved my epidural with DC2. I was consultant led and due to prior birth she agreed to an early epidural so had it as soon as waters broke. Don't recall discomfort having it put in, Just had to be at an awkward position for a couple of mins. Then bliss! No pain but felt the tightening. Lay around until I got to 10cm then 2 pushes and she was out! No fuss.

Oh it didn't hurt going in. They give you a little injection of local anaesthetic ('sharp scratch') before the full epi goes in.

Having the epi put in was easy - just a bit scary in terms of keeping still, not laughing or coughing - tiny prick no worse than giving blood, feeling of cold up the spine. immediate relief if it takes properly with the right amount administered.

I had one with my second as he was a surprise breech and I needed one to stop involuntarily pushing before I was 10cm. I LOVED it, it wasn’t a ‘full’ epidural but it took the edge off. I was topped up to a full one for the pushing stage in case I needed a section as my son was a bit distressed but my labour notes showed pushing was 30 mins.

Compared to my first labour where pushing lasted a couple of hours and I needed ventouse assistance I’d say I actually preferred my second labour.

Had a catheter, things like that really freaked me out beforehand, as did the drip in my hand but in reality it was nothing to worry about.

Good luck with your labour whatever you decide :)

It was like magic. I went from screaming the place down and my heart rate hitting 150 with each contraction to asking 'was that feeling a contraction?'

I was advised to have one by the doctor when I was moved to labour ward when my labour had stopped progressing. I was 6-7cms before I was moved, 4-5cm when I was re-examined by the dr a few hours later (who knew that could happen) so ended up with a hormone drip. I can't recall any pain when the epidural was put it - you get an electric shock feeling down one let at one point but it only lasts a split second. You do have to stay very still at one point which when I think back is slightly horrifying because I kept getting random hiccups and shakes, but I managed to stay still even through a contraction 🤷‍♀️ then I had a lovely long nap. I could still feel when I was having contractions, so I knew when to push without the midwife telling me. Had a pretty long second stage but it's impossible to say whether that was due to the epidural or not, didn't need any instruments though. Only moment that was painful once the epidural had been administered was the briefest moment during crowning (which I'm assuming is when I tore) but otherwise it was totally pain free 💃 and that was having not topped it up for 3.5 hours at that point.

ah student i forgot about the catheters! Yes, I had those. Least of my problems at the time. Did end up with cystitis 2nd time though.

I had a back to back labour and due to a lack of bed space was on a ward with not so much as gas and air until nearly 10cm.

I was rushed up and offered an epidural and I would struggle to articulate how good it was.

It didn't hurt, it was sighted right first time and I've had no issues since. All in all a brilliant experience I would do again!

I actually worried so much about having one before hand as I had heard horror stories!

Mine was fabulous. After hours of intense contractions every minute from the start (from the induction drip) I had 2 hours sleep! It was wonderful.

However mine did end in c section (baby was back to back though so that makes it much harder to push out. And also they told me to push when I wasn't fully dilated so that caused me to swell up and exhaust myself. So not really due to the epidural but worth mentioning)

Forgot to add I couldn't feel anything but could sense when a contraction was coming. Not sure how, maybe timing maybe something else. But I was able to push my baby out without any instrumental help etc which was really lucky and one of my main concerns re: an epidural

They don't directly site the epidural - you will be given a tiny injection first, similar to what you get at the dentist to numb the skin on your back. So if you've ever had a filling, that's the only type of needle that you will feel.

I've had two. They were wonderfully effective, and I had zero side effects. Epidural is the only form of labour pain relief that actually removes your pain - the others are about making you cope better with it. I don't believe in pain being any way beneficial so I loved my epidurals. I got my second while on an induction drip and hadn't even started feeling contractions properly yet, so I had an entirely pain-free delivery. My first, I tried the natural methods first, realised they were a swizz and swiftly requested my epidural.

There's a great blog by a Canadian anaesthetist called The Adequate Mother where she explains epidurala very well.

There is a known risk of post-epidural headache, which is treated by administering a further epidural. I was more than happy to take the risk of possible headache in the future, to relieve the definite pain I was experiencing in the present.

I never felt numb or tingly in my legs - so not like the dentist in that tape r. I simply didn't have any particular sensation in my lower half, the same way you kind of forget your legs when you are just sitting about. Both times, I had a lovely rest after it kicked in so I didn't even try to walk about. I was up and about as soon as I wished after the birth, after a few hours seated in bed gazing at my feeding baby and getting checked over myself.

In short, I love epidurals :). Zero side effects for the baby, effective low risk pain relief for the mother.

Best wishes.

I was induced and contraction ramped up pretty quickly, I tried gas and air and pethidine but felt pretty sick and out of it. Eventually I asked for an epidural and I think it was about the only positive experience of my birth (apart from my beautiful DS). I didn't feel it going in, it worked instantly taking away all the pain. I could still feel tightening so knew when I was having a contraction. It went from being highly stressful and painful to really relaxed and chilled. I then let it wear off so I could feel when to push. Unfortunately I ended up in theatre with forceps but was prepped for an emergency c section so was given a full spinal block. At that point I couldn't feel anything. Good job really as forceps and an episiotomy must hurt.
Before my labour I was against the idea of an epidural but I think it was wonderful. Somebody said to me, "Don't be hero, you don't get an award because you did it with nothing but 2 Paracetamol. Do what ever you need to be comfortable." I stand by this and would definitely recommend an epidural.

Mine was amazing. Was in labour for 24 hours back to back contractions from the minute my waters broke. I was induced by pessary then gel then the drip so that didn't help. I eventually caved in and had an epidural. I'm not sure what others had but mine has to be topped up every half an hour and towards the end of the half an hour I felt the contractions but it was manageable with gas and air. They numbed my back first. Didn't feel it at all as contractions was so bad. Then they put it in with a matter of minutes. Deffo have one if you want one. No one gets a medal for being in pain lol x

I was induced (with the drip) and did like 25 hours drug free, with the last 7 on an epidural. It was wonderful.

I didn’t feel the needle at all and it was done by a student who was rubbish! And I cry getting bloods done.
It was the most wonderful thing in my life! Instant relief from crushing pain. I had a lovely nap after 15 hours of Labour and then woke feeling so refreshed. I loved the birth of my daughter and had enough energy to push and to feed her through her first night alive. I still remember the raw animal pain of having contractions, whimpering like a dying animal is never fun.

Excuse my language but it was fucking incredible!
I asked for it when I was 5cm dilated, but I was nearly 10cm when I actually got it. (But I went from 5cm to 10cm in half an hour, so that's on me, not the doctors) I could still feel the sensation to push, but that pain was 5% of what it was previously. I honestly couldn't recommend it enough!!
The only downside that happened to me, was that my bladder went to sleep and it took me 2 days to get the sensation to wee again! Other than that, it was freaking awesome!

JazzyJefff 😂😂😂 that made me chuckle!

I will definitely give it a go and fingers crossed it goes well! I just think I’ve done my fair share of agony in childbirth! And if it was any other medical problem, you wouldn’t put up with being in absolutely horrendous pain and be expected to have no pain relief! Wish me luck guys.. only 12ish weeks to go 😖

good luck!! It doesn’t have to be agony! Enjoy it as much as possible.