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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Will you be having an epidural?

116 replies

tacosplease · 22/11/2019 17:58

My mum had an epidural when giving birth to me and has always maintained that when I have a baby, it's something I must do because the pain is unbearable otherwise.

As a result I always assumed that it was a very common thing to go for, but when I mentioned this to my midwife she seemed a bit surprised. According to the Babycentre website only around 30% of women have them.

How many posters on here will be asking for an epidural and what are the positives/negatives of having one? If you don't opt for an epidural, is gas and air literally the only pain relief you get?

OP posts:

Greenglassteacup · 22/11/2019 18:00

It’s dependent on whether there is someone available to give you the epidural, for me, there wasn’t and so I couldn’t have it, no matter how much I wanted it and begged for it.

asmv · 22/11/2019 18:03

I had one after being in active labour for almost 24 hours, i was exhausted so they gave me one and let me sleep, baby was delivered via ventouse 6 hours later! I hadnt really considered one until my mum stepped in at the delivery suite and suggested it. She was right ha ha.

Id say be open minded to it all and see how you go in labour

ShirleyPhallus · 22/11/2019 18:03

Think it’s pretty off for people to impose their very strong views on you and make you feel pressured in any way. I might have one or I might not, I’ll see how it is on the day.

Also if she had an epidural how does she know the pain would be unbearable as she didn’t actually experience it....?!

PotteringAlong · 22/11/2019 18:04

I had one for DC1 and not for DC2 and 3. It was genuinely much better in terms of both birth and recovery without one (for me).

Greenglassteacup · 22/11/2019 18:05

It’s ok going “oh I might have one” but like I said, what if it’s not available? Then it’s tough shit! That’s what I discovered

notmytea · 22/11/2019 18:06

There are lots of different types of pain relief: paracetamol, morphine, pethadine, epidural, tens, water (pool birth).

I went for an epidural in both births, both were inductions where I had a reaction to the drugs causing contractions with only 10-20 second break for hours so they were out of desparation and exhaustion. the first had side effects - it was a full spinal block, prepped for EMCS and resulted in nerve issues for a few months in my foot, which eventually disappeared. I couldnt feel anything from the waist down and couldn't move for hours. The second birth I had an epidural I could control with a button so could still move and had no side effects. If I had another baby and induction I'd ask for an epidural straight away now I know about my reaction to the drugs- I hadn't realised what had happened in the first birth so didn't realise it would happen again with the induction

Original poster

tacosplease · 22/11/2019 18:06

Also if she had an epidural how does she know the pain would be unbearable as she didn’t actually experience it....?!

I'm not sure - maybe she had it quite far along in labour?

@PotteringAlong in what way was the birth/recovery better without?

OP posts:

enchantedspleen · 22/11/2019 18:07

I will be putting it in my birth plan. I know my limits, I know I'm a huge wimp, I can't deal with pain!
Saying that though I plan on holding out as long as possible. Its nice to know the option is there should it just get too much.
It's such a personal decision, it's your body and noone else is experiencing your birth except you and your baby. Don't let anyone ever pressure you into something you don't think is right for you.

Greenglassteacup · 22/11/2019 18:09

But the option isn’t always there

Pinkblueberry · 22/11/2019 18:10

I went to a midwife led birthing centre because it was much closer to home - they don’t do epidurals but are willing to send you to a hospital in an ambulance if you decide you do want one, depending on ambulance availability - they’re obviously not going to prioritise that over someone having a heart attack. I was only in labour for about 5 hours and was fine on gas and air - the pain was pretty bad but didn’t last long (and I think to say ‘unbearable’ is a bit OTT). When I have my next I think I would do without again as I found gas and air helped - but some don’t. I would just be open minded about it. Some labours are long and drawn out some are fast. And I’m pretty sure some hurt more than others. Go with your instincts, not what others tell you.

enchantedspleen · 22/11/2019 18:12

@greenglassteacup
Shhhhhhh let me at least pretend!

Greenglassteacup · 22/11/2019 18:14

Lol ok

Original poster

tacosplease · 22/11/2019 18:15

I was only in labour for about 5 hours and was fine on gas and air - the pain was pretty bad but didn’t last long (and I think to say ‘unbearable’ is a bit OTT).

Thanks Pink. I have been feeling quite calm about it all, but stupidly clicked on a thread about birth on the AIBU board and have been terrified ever since! Some posters sound like they've had horrific experiences.

Dare I ask - what does the pain feel like? Does the gas and air really help that much?

OP posts:

ISmellBabies · 22/11/2019 18:16

You have to get to 4cm dilated before they'll give you an epidural (unless you're induced) so she would have known exactly how unbearable the pain was!
I had one with all of mine. They are amazing now. With my first it was the old one big dose and you can't move your legs for hours type, but with my more recent ones they give you a button to top up the dose yourself every 15 minutes or however often you need to and you can still move. It's really great and I'd recommend it to anyone. There's absolutely no need to be in so much pain.

Lipperfromchipper · 22/11/2019 18:17

You need to make sure it’s an option for you OP, my hospital didn’t do epidurals and that was 4 years ago!!

PotteringAlong · 22/11/2019 18:18

Births 2 and 3 were faster without - my one with an epidural ended up as a ventouse delivery. Also, with an epidural you have a catheter in and I didn’t with 2 and 3 so just felt better immediately.

bumblingalonghappily · 22/11/2019 18:18

I would honestly think very cautiously about this. I had my first baby two weeks ago and the consultant wanted to administer an epidural before breaking my waters as it would be so painful as my cervix was so posterior and closed (having already spent 3 days on the induction ward).

The anaesthetist who did it said he was very experienced, but he messed up and I ended up with something called a dural tap. The implications during the labour weren't huge- the plus was the drugs worked immediately (a normal epidural takes 20 mins to kick in apparently), but it was only allowed to be topped up by an aneasthetist so every time it wore off (which was about every 30 minutes) they had to buzz for an anesthetist and hope one was available.

The implications after were horrific though. When the midwife tried to stand me up afterwards I instantly had a horrendous headache and couldn't move my neck at all as it suddenly because excruciatingly sore and incredibly stiff. This led to me being bed bound and unable to even move my head for 4 days after the birth which led to its own complications. I had to have two procedures called blood patches (not pleasant) to try to fix it- the second one half worked and after eventually being discharged after 10 days in hospital, and after about a week of being semi bed bound at home I eventually recovered.

The pain relief when it worked during labour was immense, but know that the risks are serious and not insignificant- I will not be having an epidural for future pregnancies. I was very traumatised by everything that happened post natally and will need counselling to deal with it- yes it was relatively uncommon but is worth knowing about. Plus gas and air was amazing!!!

Namechanger23455 · 22/11/2019 18:24

I was adamant I didn’t want an epidural first time around as I heard it was more likely to lead to an assisted birth, I got to hospital at 7cms and was assured it wouldn’t be long so one wasn’t needed. 12 hours later I’d only got to 9.5cm and was exhausted, too exhausted to push so I ended up with a spinal in theatre and forceps.

2nd time again I went to hospital at 7cms following a sweep that day (3 weeks early), midwife said I was too far for one.... it still look another six hours of pain for her to arrive, I was shattered when pushing and ended up bursting the blood vessels in my eyes.
I had complications after birth and ended up in surgery with a spinal anyway....

So really I’d get an epidural. It bloody hurts, I’ve got a high pain threshold and it’s a Bitch, but for me the worst was the shear exhaustion. Both I’d be up without sleep for 24 hours due to being at work.... epidurals give you some respite at least!!

Namechanger23455 · 22/11/2019 18:27

My birth complications were that my placenta was attached to the lining of my womb so it had to be manually removed.... ended up in surgery (awake) for an hour and half have it brutally removed from me.

Thankfully unlike the previous OP I didn’t have any complications with my spinal.

Pinkblueberry · 22/11/2019 18:27

@tacosplease at one antenatal session they said gas and air doesn’t necessarily take the pain away but takes you away from the pain - I found it was exactly that, you breathe it in and feel a bit drunk for a few seconds, so you care a bit less I suppose. The thing with the labour pain is that you kind of forget to it’s hard to describe - it was definitely the worst bit and pushing made it better. I felt it in my lower back and lower abdomen mostly. Also a nice analogy from my antenatal session is that it’s a bit like climbing up and down a mountain - you’ve got the ‘oh that’s starting to hurt’ bit as you go up the first bit then ‘oh shit that’s so painful make it stop’ as you’re going up th steep part to the top and once you reach the top and go back down you’re just grateful that it’s easing off and then your done - repeat I don’t know how many times. But the thing is that steep bit to the top is the worst bit and you don’t need to worry so much about the rest and then the contraction doesn’t feel as long and daunting as you thought - I actually used this image as I was in labour and found it very helpful. But again, that’s just me. Everyone is different.

Namechanger23455 · 22/11/2019 18:32

“I was only in labour for about 5 hours and was fine on gas and air - the pain was pretty bad but didn’t last long (and I think to say ‘unbearable’ is a bit OTT).”

I think you are forgetting everyone’s labours are different and everyone has different pain threshold. Some women are in labour for 24 hours of pure agony.... so I think it’s harsh to that women are OTT who say it’s unbearable.

FraggleRocking · 22/11/2019 18:33

I got to 10cm then had an epidural. It was bliss. But I was pushing incorrectly because I couldn’t feel enough so I let it wear off to try and feel more. I now know having an epidural was definitely right for me. That pain was too much until the epidural kicked back in again.
Everyone is different though!

Original poster

tacosplease · 22/11/2019 18:35

I really like the mountain analogy, thanks Pink!

I'm only 17 weeks so it's quite early to be thinking about all this stuff. But it's good to be prepared!

OP posts:

beminetonight · 22/11/2019 18:36

I was very naive with DD1 and took the MW's advice. I had a large cocktail of drugs before she advised me to get the epidural.

With DD2 I asked for the epidural earlier. The MW queried if it was a little too soon. I was not impressed and struggling with contractions. Luckily my Consultant had advised me to get one early on and I stuck to my guns. It still took him another 1.5hrs to come to me.
If I were to have another baby I would absolutely want an epidural again. The only downsides for me were not being mobile straight after the birth, needing a cannula and I had pins & needles temporarily in my spine as I was recovering.

Pinkblueberry · 22/11/2019 18:37

I think you are forgetting everyone’s labours are different and everyone has different pain threshold.

Well no, I didn’t forget, hence why I said everyone’s labours are different and some hurt more than others ... in both my posts ...

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