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.

I have just finished reading the section on epidurals in the (excellent) book Expecting Better - I would really recommend you check it out for evidence based information about the pros and cons.
I had one with DD against all of my original intentions for a water birth/gas and air/(whatever!!) and cant complain - I would like to try and not have one with this pregnancy but to be honest not sure if I can go back now I've done it this way!

I was adamant I wouldn’t have one with DC1 but when the Labour actually happened it was back to back with no breaks between contractions for twelve hours. I have a strong pain threshold but I was writhing around in pain begging for an epidural which was a godsend. He did get stuck so needed forceps and wasn’t born for a further 12 hours but I have no idea whether that’s anything to do with the epidural or not, he was 10 lbs so not exactly small...

I’ve had three spinals in total and was fine from each of those, no lasting effects. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, just go with it if you feel you need it at the time. I never bothered with birth plans after DC1 because I realised how pointless they were.

My labour was horrid, I won't lie. But, the epidural helped a lot. I had a UTI that had only been diagnosed the morning I went into labour - I was actually in the maternity ward waiting to go home after being seen when contractions started, so they knew I'd be back pretty soon! The ABs didn't have time to work so every contraction was agony right from the start & there was no dropoff in the pain in between. Epidural was a blessed relief, despite not working 100% on each side. I has no bad side effects from it, & I actually managed a few hours sleep after they'd put it in, before the contractions started getting really serious. I don't think it slowed my labour down... what slowed it down was DD being rather large, & me being rather small!

If you think you want one, go for it! Just be aware they can restrict the position you are able to labour in, you will probably be laying on your back so won't be able to get gravity to help.

Sorry for typos. Preview isn't working for some reason.

Mine was fine. No problems getting it in, no problems having it in and no problems after it came out.

I planned to have one from the start and I absolutely would recommend it to anyone. No complications, no ill effects, just a lovely peaceful entry into the world for my children and for me.

Honestly I believe the epidural is responsible for the lovely memories I have of the whole process.

I've done it with and without, first labour I waited 38 hrs until I couldn't take anymore and it went on for another 11 hrs but it was pain free and I could rest. 2nd labour I had no time, 2hr 43 mins with only gas and air and the worst of my labour's, very painful and full on, episiotomy and ventous delivery and then I couldn't hold him straight away as I had the shakes and I was in the worst shape of all 3 labour's. 3rd Labour was the best, 4 hours so a little longer than 2nd but I had epidural from the start and it was relaxed, pain free and I was up and in the shower very quickly after. I've had 2 and never had any problems following them. I tried birthing pool with first and it was not a good fit for me but I was exhausted and it wasnt progressing I just felt hot and clostrophobic so got out and said I wanted the epidural instead of more lavender oil, water and birthing ball etc. Each to their own, I guess it depends how you labour etc. For me the pain was too intense to remember the parts of labour that I hadn't had an epidural, I just remember the worst pain, exhaustion and I wouldn't put my body through that again willingly so I'll opt for epidural asap this time too. X

I was adamant I didn’t pain relief, and would make do with gas and air. Hah! I didn’t realise how much I’d actually panic and the gas just made me want to vomit. I ended up having an epidural. I couldn’t move as baby had to be induced and was monitored so had suction cup things on his head! I thought when they said he’d need monitoring they’d do it over my bump.

It was topped up but a bit too late so struggled to push as my midwife was pretty disinterested and didn’t help much! The instrument tray was just being wheeled over as he popped out.

I did get an epidural headache after which was pretty awful and I ended up being admitted again. The fix for an epidural headache is another epidural. Which gave me another epidural headache! I managed those one just trying to lie flat and took tons of painkillers.

Next time I’ll try without again but will definitely ask for one sooner if I feel I need it especially if I can’t move anyway.

I couldn’t get one with DD1 as the anaesthetist only worked Mon-Fri. I had the drip and it was horrific.

With DD2 as soon as they mentioned the drip I was adamant that they weren’t turning it on until I got an epidural. It was great, no problem going in and gave me much needed relief. I could feel the contractions and pushing but they were pain free.

I’m not having anymore children but if I was I would 100% have an epidural and request it as soon as I went into labour. Why go through the pain when you don’t have to? (Providing it works properly obviously).

Very positive epidural experience here. With DS it was too late by the time I decided I wanted one so with DD I started asking for one as soon as I got to the hospital. It was grand going in, didn't feel it and it made for a much more pleasant labour! Didn't seem to slow things down for me but not sure if that's because it was my 2nd. I'd highly recommend one!

I only wanted gas and air but I begged for an epidural and I happened to be 8cm by then.

It was brilliant and I’d do it again in a heartbeat

Loved my epi, only had gas and air with my DD 9 years ago, 6 hour labour, like shelling peas. It hurt, sure, but was manageable and I was certain I wouldn't bother with pain relief again this time round.

DS is 12 weeks - 12 hours into constant contractions, still at 4cm, sobbing and writhing in pain on triage, my midwife said she thought he was back to back, and I might need the drip. Suggested epidural and by that point I just wanted to die, so went with it and went from four to ten Cm in 2 hours.

I was monitored for other reasons but fully mobile, able to walk, topped up whenever necc. It did hurt going in but not that much and the relief was the most fantastic feeling. Midwife did a temporary catheter, by which I mean she used a tube to empty my bladder which I could neither see nor feel (heard the tinkle though!) and then took it out again. Waited an hour after I hit 10cm to get my strength back, and let it lighten up so I could feel enough to push. Pushed on my knees for just 30 mins, no tears, amazing feeling. Recovery virtually instant after the epi came out. Would do it that way again every time.

Mine didn't work properly either. I'd intended to try and do without but after 4 nights of contractions when labour stalled again and they wanted to put me on a drip to restart it, I caved (DC1 was back to back).

They had to keep topping it up every 30 minutes and despite that I had enough breakthrough pain I needed gas and air. If you do get breakthrough pain it's awful because the one thing that really helps in labour is moving, and even with an epidural that isn't working you really can't move. I had a soul who was a retired midwife and she insisted at 9 cm that they resite it - from that point on it was amazing. Despite what they were telling me, it was definitely worth resiting as it was another 3 or 4 hours before DC1 was born. The anaesthetist came and apologised to me on the ward the next morning, I think they'd thought I was exaggerating how much breakthrough pain I was in until they saw the improvement.

There's no way I'd have coped without it in that situation, but it's not always as amazing as you might hope for - don't be afraid to speak up if it doesn't work properly!

Some women report long lasting effects from an epidural (back pain, etc). However, this is not reported from people who have non-pregnancy related epidurals. My doctor is adamant that ongoing back pain is due to the body's reaction to pregnancy/having a small child that you are constantly lifting, etc than from the epidural.

Also, pretty much everyone in America has an epidural and if the risks were that great they wouldn't recommend it.

I had one once I'd got to about 6cm with an induction and couldn't hack it any more - best decision ever. Slept 4 hours, was 10cm when I woke up, pushed baby out in less than an hour, no damage. Extremely lucky it all went smoothly, it's total luck of the draw.

Mine was a godsend! My labour lasted nearly 4 days in the end and I was totally exhausted and had been in agony prior to the epidural. The epidural meant I could get some sleep and just got woken up when it was time to push. The idea of a catheter had always put me off before but I don't even remember having it put in I was in such a state and it was actually nice to have a break from going backwards and forwards to the toilet to wee like I had been for 9 months! I didn't have any pain from the needle when they did it and have had no issues since. It wore off really quickly afterwards and I was up and about within a few hours. I'd book one in advance for my next baby if I could!

Loved, loved, loved the epidural- if it's ever sold on the streets, I'll be first in line to buy. None of the other pain relief options worked for me.

I was frightened at the thought of one. But, I had a long, induced labour and when I was offered one I took it gratefully. I had no ill effects, it was topped up for my caesarian and I've had no subsequent complications from it. I could still feel and move my legs, but the pain went.

Mine was amazing!!

Had the most relaxed and calm birth and couldn't feel a thing! Baby didn't come into the world hearing me shrieking like a banshee! He came into a calm room and I felt so good (well as good as you can feel)!

Everyone is different so it's a tricky one. Good luck with whatever your choose!

I got my epidural put in 4 hours after having my waters broken during induction. The contractions started straight after my waters were broken, no build up, just full blown contractions, I didn't know it but DS was back to back. The pain was so bad I couldn't sit still, I was screaming because the pain was so bad, gas & air just made me feel sick & dizzy. I asked for diamorphine but the midwife refused & said my only option was an epidural, I had to wait nearly 3 hours for an anaesthetist to come to do the epidural. Everyone said my face changed the minute the epidural was done, the midwife emptied my bladder every couple of hours with a temporary catheter. I had my epidural in for 19 hours before I had an EMCS, I can't remember it wearing off, I was so drugged up & in high dependency.

Amazing. Mine was a mobile epidural so I could move my legs. I was up and about within the hour after giving birth. It allowed me to have a totally relaxed and calm birth and I enjoyed the experience.

Like a few others I needed the drip and after a few hours the pain was just too much. I was very gushing to the anethnetist and at that moment in time, I thought he was the best person in the world. If I needed the drip again, I’d get the epidural in before the drip but otherwise I’d like to try and manage without. I had a mobile epidural but I needed to be flat on my back for monitoring as they were struggling to get a trace. I then had a top-up a bit too close to delivery and I couldn’t really feel to push and ended up with an instrumental. However, both my mum and sister had dificult births that needed intervention and I think there is something in our genes so I don’t think it was the epidural per se but rather a complicated birth and then bad positioning.

My epidural only worked on one side. Water would be my first port of call next time.