Your experiences of an epidural

[Gobletoffire]

Hi. I’m 34 weeks pregnant now and starting to get rather anxious about labour... up until now I didn’t feel particularly scared as I know the pain is inevitable and I wanted a water birth if a pool was available. Now I’m getting scared and thinking I should ask for an epidural instead as soon as I can have one. I know you can’t plan how labour will go but I wondered what were your experiences of an epidural? Anyone regret having one? Did it slow your labour down?
Thanks.

You'll get a lot of mixed posts, some will be blaming an epidural for things that are nothing to do with an epidural. Go to the obstetric anaesthetic association website as that'll tell you the risks with actual evidence not just anecdote.

I've got 5 children. Had an epidural with my first 17 years ago and I regret it deeply. Noticed the pain in my back straight after having her and it's never gone away 17 years later. I'm in pain continuously that's why I didn't have it again with the others. I'd go through labour 10 time over without pain relief if it meant I could be pain free in my back 😩 others have loved it though and never suffered afterwards. I'm one of the unlucky ones 🙈

My birth stopped and started reversing, the pain was so horrific I started to hallucinate so the epidural was an absolute fucking godsend. Very weird not feeling my legs, but I was so grateful for the pain being gone the rest didn't matter. Didn't feel the needle going in, and feeling xame back to me after I woke up from the general anaesthetic. Subsequent epidural were fine too.

If I am honest I really regret having one.

It didn't fully work, so only left side was blocked (but actually was grateful for that because it meant I knew when to push)

But meant I had to be stuck in bed in an uncomfortable position with a Drip and monitors on me too.

You need a catheter put in when you have an epidural (never occurred to me prior!) and that left me with urinary tract issues post labour for weeks.

I needed assisted delivery as I was unable to push out baby quick enough (again chances of needing assisted delivery jumps up with epidurals). This required quite a bit of recovery time too from the stitches.

I also ended up getting Sciatica which still plagues me now 18 months on - my MW said that it is common from epidurals for this to happen

Have you been to an ante-natal course where they talk about the pros and cons of it all?

There are other pain relieve methods you can certainly use during labour before you decide to go for an epidural.

Zero complaints here, I had a great experience with my epidural and would absolutely have one again.

I didn’t feel the needle going in (which was my biggest worry about having it done!) and it only took around 15 minutes to kick in. It’s an odd feeling not being able to move from the waist down but it allowed me to get an hours sleep whilst in labour and I’ve had no long term side effects. It might be worth speaking to your midwife about any risks of the procedure and then weighing up your options. There are other methods of pain relief out there and you may find you don’t need the epidural after all

But whatever you decide.. Good luck!

I was induced on the drip and the epidural was the best thing ever (for the half hour it lasted before it failed )- but it was a happy half hour

Thanks everyone for your comments! @TwittleBee yes I’ve booked on for an antenatal course which covers pain relief but unfortunately it’s not until 5th March and my due date is 20th! So just wanted to learn about others’ experiences x

I loved mine. DD was induced, and it allowed me to cope when previously I just wasn't. Yes, it meant that I couldn't move, but all the induction monitoring and drug lines meant I couldn't anyway.

Also, don't necessarily let the thought of a catheter put you off - the idea horrified me, but actually, it was great. I found when I was in labour the contractions put pressure on my bladder and I continuously felt like i needed the loo, but getting to the toilet was very difficult with all the monitoring for the induction attached to me. Once the catheter was in, I could totally forget abut it.

I would 100% have another.

I was induced and literally couldn't have got through without, it was the best thing I did, I went from sheer agony to fast asleep in 30 mins.
I don't think it's something you can decide now, my plan was to have as much pain relief as I needed and I did. There's no wrong or right just see how you get on and ask for what you need as soon as you want it.

Mine was great! I'd been in labour for about 21 hours by then and the relief from pain was lovely. I gave birth 6 hours later.

I got an epidural and it made it a whole lot easier! At the hospital I gave birth at the anaesthetist did a talk about epidurals every few months for expectant mothers - maybe this is also the case at your hospital? It might help with any concerns you have.

I was aiming for a water birth and did eight hours in the pool with just gas and air. I loved the pool but unfortunately my son ended up the wrong way round (direct OP) so I had to have forceps.

I had the epidural just before they took me to theatre. It was great and I didn’t feel anything when they delivered the baby and stitched me up afterwards. It was weird not being able to move my legs but that only lasted for a few hours. I did have a catheter for 24 hours but I was glad because it meant I could get some sleep without having to get up to pee.

The only bad thing I had was itchy skin for two days afterwards.

The epidural was great for taking the pain of the assisted delivery away but if I was having another child I would try for a waterbirth again as I loved having the water for pain relief but still being able to move around.

I would say keep an open mind and try the other options first but if you feel you need it then go for it.

I had one with my drip induction.
Was excellent and luckily for me no after effects.

I was 10cm while they were trying to put it in. I was 4cm half an hour before but they refused to believe I was ready to push. I was pulled around like a rag doll by the anaesthetist who was very angry with me for misbehaving because I couldnt sit still. He bruised my hips and arms black and blue. I was screaming for my partner to make them stop and he was then thrown out and held outside by security when he tried to make them stop. I cried into the shoulder of a HCA who was holding me still and I knew then she was too scared to speak up for me too, she was shaking and telling me I was going to be okay and she left the room in tears. After it was done they all left me to it, just minutes later I was pushing whilst the midwives chatted amongst themselves eye rolling at me. I told them there was a baby coming out and ignored. Cue them rushing around looking for gloves in panic as she was born within a couple minutes after that. They were very quiet after and didn't acknowledge what had happened, delivered her did the checks and left. I was 19 and was treated that way purely because of my age and the investigation into it after that concluded my theory was correct upon interviews with those involved. I would still have another one during this labour 8 years later but I've since learned they are they for me and to listen to me and I have changed into a different person who would have been a million times more assertive if it happened that way now. I would have allowed my partner to stand up for me instead of being scared to make a scene. Failing that I would have chosen my mother to be there as that epidural would not have happened if she was. I have friends and family who have only good things to say about them and I definitely see why they think that. I'm not against them even now and wish I could have had a similar experience and hope maybe that will happen for me this time if I choose one.

If u have a epidural you will have a cavity bag as loose feeling down there. Plus harder to get turned on.

Bloody brilliant, I had to stay still because of monitors (due to meconium) and couldn't deal with the contractions without moving about. Gas and air made me feel sick as I couldn't eat with the pain. Once epidural was in I inhaled several flapjacks and relaxed. It might have taken a little longer perhaps but all in all I had a great experience. It was weird though - before I had it, I thought it 'paralysed' your bottom half but I could still move my toes, just couldn't feel myself doing it and I could feel an itch in my knees and could the marks where I was itching it but could feel myself scratching it! Weird!

I had an epidural with my first - she was back to back and the pain was horrendous, when I had my second I was worried about the pain being as bad again but she wasn’t back to back and I got to hospital with only 20 minutes to spare and just had gas and air! With my third I didn’t even have time for the gas and air to take effect! it’s weird the pain isn’t actually that bad until the last two pushes when you feel you can’t go on anymore and then all of a sudden it’s over!!!

I couldn’t have done the first one without an epidural as the pain in my legs was so bad but defo didn’t need one for the next two. Just make sure you start on the gas and air before things get too painful!!

It was great but wore off as the head crowned so definitely felt that! I didn't get mine until 9cm tho I wish I'd have had it at 5!

I had them, couldn't have done it without them. I had planned with DS to have nothing but gas (lol) but simply could not cope.

I did have mine further into labour though (8/9cms) as the nurse didn't believe I was so far gone and kept me on the ward . Admittedly the first time they tried it only numbed half of my body, they topped up and it worked properly. You do have to have a catheter at some point, but I'm also glad I couldn't feel the midwife's finger up my bum when checking for tears. Had no real issues either time.

If u have a epidural you will have a cavity bag as loose feeling down there. Plus harder to get turned on. Huh? What??

I've had 3 babies, epidurals with all of them. Sailed through each Labour pain free thanks because of it. Never felt any pain having it done and never suffered any back problems because of it. I was able to give birth with no interventions or problems pushing.

Due again in July but I don't want an epidural this time. I slept through the last labour and missed it all and this is my last pregnancy so I don't want to miss a thing (I may live to regret that and opt for the epidural after all 😂)

I was really struggling and had to be on my back covered in monitors anyway. When I asked they said I was too far along but a couple of hours later they offered one when DS was already on his way out. I think they realised that I was coping so badly already that it was either an epidural or cs. It was perfect, the pain stopped but I could still feel to push. Absolutely no problems afterwards and I fully intend on asking for one asap this time.

I've had two epidurals for two different but both difficult labours.

First was a spinal block, my baby was back to back. It did totally remove the pain, but I wouldn't recommend. I couldn't even feel contractions or any pressure. I got upset as I didn't know when to push and had a useless midwife who wouldn't tell me "you'll know" no I flipping don't, I couldn't feel if you parked a bus up there!

Second was a mobile epidural. I'd been in labour for 54 hours when this was offered (due to scarring from a previous op, scar tissue over cervix meant I couldn't dialate). I have to say this was the most amazing experience. I could feel everything but not painfully, just pressure. I could wiggle my toes, and feel the baby coming out.

It was actually funny as I told the MW one of the wires on the babies head was falling off as I could feel it coming out... but it wasn't, the baby was coming out without me pushing!

With regards to back problems, I discussed this at length with my gp and mw who both told me the link isn't between epidurals and back problems, it's with the size of babies and the pressure on backs during pregnancy. My babies weren't massive, but my bumps were and it has changed my back ever since.

Amazing!

Ok it did stop working down one side and I needed a top up and it stopped working again but well I ended up with a section for various reasons not related to my epidural.

My baby was back to back and I was induced on a drip, the pain was so much worse than I had imagined. Once I had the epidural I cld breath, relax and even talk. Prior to this I was glued to gas and air, unable to speak or move so for me it was a savour. I don't remember feeling it going in, I was in too much pain to notice.

I LOVED my epidural. Was bloody amazing. I'm done with making babies but if I weren't I'd definitely want an epidural again.

Science is bloody marvellous!

It wasn't the most fun getting it put in, but then I slept for around four hours, only waking up for checks and things. It was a godsend, the pain of a back-to-back labour made me panic so much that I couldn't have coped otherwise.