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

Good luck @ClangerTwanger I'm
Sure you'll be absolutely fine and pain free!! 😉

Good Luck OP

My first was gas and air and then with the second I had an epidural. I didn't feel like I needed it first time. The 2nd time, they broke my waters early to get it all going and my baby was big. The pain compared to the first time was awful and so I begged for the epidural.... it was just what I needed!!! I couldn't feel the pain anymore but could feel all the pressure from his massive head! It was Avery strange feeling that I didn't notice the first time because of the contractions.

I was induced on the hormone drip and advised to have an epidural. Putting it in was fine, you just have to sit very still. However mine didn't work so I was in agony all down one side but also numbed enough so I couldn't move freely. The aenesthetist repositioned it to try to fix it which felt so horrendously weird and unpleasant and remembering it still makes me shudder.

The spinal block I had to have before the EMCS was pure heaven though after about 12 hours of mind bending pain!

I simply can't fathom an epidural being bliss as so many women say, because my only experience is of one not working. I've been assured though that I was just very unlucky with the dud epidural and if I had one again there is no reason why it shouldn't work as normal.

Good luck op. Opt for the drugs if you want them - they usually work - so I'm told.

Mine was fabulous! I slept from 4cm - 9cm 😂 They reduced it just before breaking my waters so I could feel to push. Pushed for 45 mins, a graze and a small 2nd degree tear, but that was only because I didn’t stop pushing when the midwife told me to!

Absolutely having another if I have another baby! Best thing ever.

You’re all so lovely don’t set me off crying haha! Damn you hormones

Mine was amazing, couldn't feel contractions at all. I don't remember it being painful to put in, but I was a bit nervous so used gas and air while they put it in (and also for a while after until it really kicked in). I then spent quite a while going on about modern medicine and how amazing the anaesthesia was (that would be the gas and air talking!). It went from unbearable pain to not being able to feel a thing.

I did end up with forceps and I could feel that. It hurt, but not for long. Also it was my first and I think you're much less likely to need an assisted delivery of you've already had a baby.

Best of luck!

I had my epidural as soon as the guy was available. It was a self administer one (so I pressed the button for a top up) but it didn't quite reach my left side. It meant I could still feel contractions, but they weren't awful . I was able to get some shut eye and relax before pushing.
I could still push, but I needed forceps and an episiotomy, which I couldn't feel.

The only downside is that I was bed bound until it wore off, so I couldn't see to the baby without help or change his nappy for a few hours .

Dc1 I was induced and asked about one before. I kept asking over and over. By the time the lovely dr (22hr later) was free I couldn't have it as would be sitting on baby's head

Second time around I thought "I did with nothing before, I can do it again". Hahahha. No. Was absolutely fine (honestly, laughing, joking, singing) then bam as soon as I hit 4cm I was on my knees in agony. Epidural!! My midwife reassured me that having an epidural only added an hour to your discharge time. To wear off.

Dr was free straight away. They waited for contraction to pass before attempting placement. It would have been fine if my spine was normal. Retreated for next contraction & tried again in the back up position (higher up the spine). Worked a charm.

I could feel the drugs taking affect. It took a while for my legs to go completely numb. I was given a button to push but I couldn't press more than once every 30mins.

Midwives kept saying "wow, that's a big contraction" and I had no sense at all. I felt the occasional tightening feeling but these were for mammoth contractions only. I could have fallen asleep if I wanted.

Once I got to 10cm my hospital policy was to wait an hour before pushing. And to stop tipping up the drip. It meant I was more aware of contractions but they felt very similar to the earliest contractions. Once I started pushing, it was sooooo much easier to get it right first time. I could focus properly on what I needed to do. And get bloody big pushes to get the 9lb baby out.

I'm never having more babies but if I had to I'd be having an epidural again. In a heartbeat.

You don't get a prize for a drug free birth. You don't feel like you cheated by using an epidural (you still have to work hard to push) and it doesn't change how you feel about your baby. What the epidural gave me was clarity and focus.

I hope that helps.

Really helps a lot. All of your experiences are very informative and helpful in making decisions! X

Loved it didn't feel a thing!!
BUT
I progressed quickly until I'd had it then labour slowed and I needed forceps and episiotomy in the end. Might have been unconnected but statistics suggest you are more likely to need interventions

I had mine in the second I reached 4cm! I had a nice quick labour for my first (3 hrs) so it didn't slow down the process like they say it can do. It was one where you press the button to top up too so that you can still walk around afterwards etc. I would have one again in a heartbeat (dc2 was 20 min labour so no time for anything and my god it was 20 mins of pure hell!) but the only downside to it for me was that it only numbed my tummy. So I felt no contractions but could feel every part of pushing him out and the pressure etc

I was desperate for mine, and it took all the pain away. Damn miracle it was!

I had an epidural with DC2, it was great!

It did take about 3 attempts to get in but they had numbed the area so I don’t remember this being painful.

It brought instant relief and once topped up properly I was totally comfortable. Texted my friends and had a snooze.

It was a mobile epidural so when it was time to push I was able to get up and attempt to empty my bladder. I couldn’t feel properly to wee so they did a quick in-out catheter. I could feel when the contractions were happening by then so knew when to push. Coordinating the pushing without full sensation was weird but I used Juju Sundin’s ‘coffee plunger’ visualisation and this helped me push DS out without any interventions.

I was fully ‘with it’ when DS arrived (about 4 hours after the epidural going in) and it was a lovely emotional moment. By contrast at my first labour I was so off my head on gas and air and pain, and in such a state of shock, that I was almost totally numb emotionally.

The only downsides for me were that firstly, it took a long time to get discharged. I was left with the massive cannula in for hours and had to prove I could urinate etc. Secondly, I had a pressure sore from not knowing I was sitting on a ridge in the bedsheets.

I’m pregnant with DC3 now and still hankering after a birth pool experience, so I’m considering starting in the midwife led unit. However, it is attached to the delivery suite so should be no probs to move and get another epidural sorted. Also will depend on how early labour progresses. If I’m already knackered from lack of sleep then I will definitely go straight for the epidural so I can rest before pushing.

Good luck!

Mine was fantastic. Had one for my second birth, nothing but gas and air for my first. Now I feel slightly annoyed that I didn’t have one first time round as well. I really feel that people would be encourage to use pain relief for any other major painful life event and it’s only birth where we’re expected to grin and bear it. I gave birth in Belgium where most labouring women have epidurals so they’re very quick and skilled at dosing - I could push fine, and it wore off just as my son was born. I could feel my legs, no catheter or anything - the only difference was the absence of pain. To the extent that I could HAVE A NAP during labour - amazing. I’m pretty evangelical about the whole thing now.

I had an epidural with both mine.

With my first child, the first time they sited it it pretty much didn't work at all. I could still feel everything down my right side and probably about 50% feeling on left side. Anaesthetist came back and topped it up (wasn't a self top up) but no difference. Then had to re site it and then come back a fourth time to top it up. It still wasn't 100% effective as I could still feel contractions with some pain, and hopped out of the bed once it was all over to get into the wheelchair myself to go up to ward. Apparently I shouldn't have been able to do that! And I had huge bruises on my spine for a few weeks after.

Second time around was so much better! I got it at 3cm and instantly all the pain was gone. I could tell when I was having contractions if I looked at the monitor but otherwise no idea. The midwife did tell me that it might slow things down getting it so early, but that was about 9/10pm I got it at (at 3cm), she checked me again about 11pm and I was at 10cm and had felt nothing that whole time. She had me wait until about 12am to start pushing and then baby was born at 12.20am. Towards the end I could feel the pressure to push and was physically able to push just fine but without the pain. I was still able to breastfeed fine, change her if bag was beside bed etc. I had a catheter in until the next morning then once it was removed and I could walk to the bathroom myself and tell them that I had passed urine there then I was discharged about 11am, so less than 11 hours after I had her.

I would definitely recommend an epidural, fair play to women who can manage it without one, but personally I don't want to suffer any more pain than necessary. You're still giving birth, you're still awake for it so it's not as if you're any less present or involved than if you do it 100% naturally or with just gas and air or whatever. Do whatever works best for you, and baby of course!