Will you be having an epidural?

[tacosplease]

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?

I had one 24 hours into a two day posterior labour with induction and it was brilliant for the labour I had. I think it helped me avoid further intervention as I relaxed enough that my baby eventually turned and I got some rest before eventually pushing him out with little issue. No I couldn't feel contractions and when to push but the midwives told me when and how to and it was fine.

That said your mother is doing you no favours trying to dictate how you should feel about your labour. You may well have an 8 hour labour from first twinge to baby out in which you don't feel you need one.

Length of labour and exhaustion was a much bigger factor in the decision to have an epidural than 'pain threshold' among the women I know. Neither side of the natural vs medicalised birth argument are actually particularly honest about this but it is worth bearing in mind.

The anaesthetist came to my room while I was in labour and asked if I wanted one. I didn't even need to ask/beg/whinge about it I was literally offered one and within half an hour I was completely pain free it was bliss! I managed to get some sleep and just got woken up by the midwife to tell me it was time to push! I'd book one in advance for next time if I could

I had one after 15 hours of pain contractions....but I ended up with a forceps delivery as a direct result of it. Painfree? Definitely. Recovery? Not so pretty for me and baby. Wish I hadn't had epidural.

Labour isn't that bad ok it hurts it's really painful but it doesn't last that long and there is drugs available to help.
You know it is agony but once that baby is out the pain stops immediately.
With both of mine I was induced and delivered really fast I've never had pain relief and I liked the fact within ten minutes of having the baby I could get into a shower and hose myself down it felt nice.
What's put me of ever having an epidural is every single person I've met who's had one has said years down the line they suffer back aches and other symptoms. I'm due another soon and if I felt I couldn't cope with the pain I'd be open to trying something but I just couldn't imagine having an epidural because it can lead to you not even knowing you need to push and then having forceps or something and tearing.
Only you know what interests you on the day I always planned water births with mine but it never happened, hopefully it will this time but you just never know until it happens X

the pain is unbearable otherwise

It's not that bad.

I've got 5 children and I'm pregnant with my 6th. I've never had an epidural, or gas and air, an any pain relief, except water from a bath or birthing pool. It's really not that bad. If you go into it thinking it'll be awful, it probably will be. If you go into it thinking you'll be able to deal with it, you've got more chance of being able to deal with it.

It depends Mjlp. Everyone’s labour is different. Some just just are awful. Some are manageable. We’re all different.

I didn't have an epidural but hadn't ruled it out. I was induced, it was pretty intense and my hypnobirthing went out the window. Gas and air was good for me and I was amazed at how much the pool helped with the pain. I liked that I was up and about quite soon after and able to go home the same day.

I'm 17 weeks now and this time I'm hoping to have a home birth so epidural won't be an option for me then but I'm told I can have any of the other drugs if I want them.

I had one first time when I was induced and on syntocin drip. I had severe pre eclampsia and was very ill so overall was probably right at the time although my bp crashed a few times (in between the high bp more usual for ore eclampsia) which was attributed to the epidural and caused concern with doctors running in to see me. It was a 10 hour labour.

Second time I didn’t have the drip although I’d had prostin pessaries to start me off. I was otherwise well and being my second labour it was quicker. Therefore ithe pain was something I could put up with by breathing using my hypnobirthing cd. Pushing and being able to feel it was scary. But as I’d been on all fours during the whole birth (during my first epidural birth I was on my back) it didn’t take long for baby to come out and I had no stitches despite baby being 2lb bigger.

So if you can avoid it and be mobile it’s better, but syntocin is a bitch if you have to have it!

I had one when my labour was augmented with syntocin. I'd been in latent labour for over three days at that point and had had about two hours' sleep in that time. Contractions every 5-15 mins. I went to hospital because I was not coping. At all. So rest as much as possible while you can is key. As is food.

The epidural helped me cope and rest a little. But it only worked on my left side. It was very strange and I felt everything and it had no effect on my right side. Not sure if that was just bad luck or my anatomy...

I had a cannula. No catheter. Though they did catheterise me temporarily a couple of times because I couldn't wee! Ended up with a horrendous uti from that!

Gas and air didn't do anything for me.

Pethidine was LOVELY. They gave me that before the epidural and I got about an hour of sleep during contractions every 4 mins. Bliss. I asked for more when the epidural didn't work on the one side and they said it wasn't possible (can't remember why and it was only 8 months ago!).

But honestly the best anaesthetic was after the birth. The diclofenec was fab (I had some moderate injuries that this helped with for a day or so). But more than that, I can remember being in pain but can't really remember what the pain itself was like, if that makes sense. The hormones (and lack of sleep before and after) have made me forget an awful lot of what went on.

I had one at the end because I needed forceps, probably a good thing as I ended up with a third degree tear plus episiotomy and didn’t feel a thing for the hour they spent stitching me up! The downside was that I had really bad itching for a couple of days afterwards that drove me mad.

Before that I did fine for 12 hours with gas and air and the birthing pool. The pain is bad but you get through it, don’t worry!

@Alderaan Check if you can have your csection with a spinal if you prefer it instead of an epidural. It could be a possibility.

@physicskate you need to turn from one side to the other with the epidural to spread the effect to both sides of the body. This may be why yours only took effect on one side.

Every woman and every birth is different so you can't really predict what pain relief you will need.

When I had DC1 I was induced via hormone drip and I can safely say that labour was unbearable. For 29 long, long hours. I had an epidural but it didn't work (also something to consider as there's a 1 in 8 chance of it not working).

DC2 I went into natural labour which was nowhere near as bad and was fine with just gas and air. Though that only lasted 6 hours before emergency section due to infection.

I was begging for an epidural with DD but labour progressed too quickly and there wasn't time. I only had gas and air. With DS I decided I wasn't going to have one because as sore as it was I didn't think it was unbearable. As labour progressed I ended up asking for one but there was no one available but I wasn't too bothered. I'm pregnant with baby number 3 and plan on not having an epidural this time either.

I didn't want an epidural, heard bad things and I do have a high pain threshold but my mum always said she'd recommend I had one.
I was in so much pain for 48 hours and honestly having the epidural was the best thing I did. It didn't take
All the pain away but made in manageable so I could at least rest before I could actually push.
No side effects for me. Worst bit was getting the spinal in the back, not having enough anaesthetic but really really recommend it if you're labour is anything like mine.
Had two Peth injections in the 48 hours prior and they did sweet FA. The tens machine also did nothing. But everyone is different. My friend swore by the tens machine but I could not find an ounce of relief from it!!

6 hours of extremely intense contractions.

I had the dopamine injection first. That combined with gas and air made it so much more bearable. The contractions were still intense but it was so peaceful in between.

It was a brilliant experience. Painful yes but you get through it. The only bit where I thought 'I cant cope anymore' was when I was 10cm. In fact, midwives listen out for this particular phrase as it often means baby is imminent.

You never know how well you will cope. Just be prepared to flexible and go with the flow.

I loved it so much, I'm doing it again OP. That baby at the end, that gorgeous bundle, makes it totally worth it.

You'll have it discussed with you what pain relief options are available. And remember that whatever route you go down, whatever pain relief you take, you have done a fucking amazing thing.

25 hour labour. Waters broke the afternoon before and no contractions. Was told I’d be induced next day at 12.00 if labour hadn’t started by then. Waters properly broke at 2am. Rushed to hospital as couldn’t feel baby moving. Contractions started about 4.30am ish. 12 hours of back contractions only and only dilated 1cm even though contractions every six minutes on the dot getting stronger and stronger. Eventually had a drip. Needed an epidural which was amazing. Took four attempts to put in though but I was past caring at that point. I could doze between contractions. Funny it didn’t work on my right bum cheek and thigh though but that was fine, haha! Hours longer until I felt I could push. I felt the urge to push but I know some women don’t feel that when they have an epidural. But hours of pushing got nowhere and I needed a ventouse delivery and an episiotomy. Thankfully I felt neither. One stitch was all that was needed. At the time it wasn’t scary but thinking about it now, it probably was quite traumatic having all that intervention. It was bloody painful. Different pains for different women. I am insisting on an epidural this time around too. Oh, and gas and air which was amazing. It spaces you out like lucid dreams and helped over some of the contractions. My partner had to prise it out my hand when it came to pushing as I wasn’t allowed anymore! I’m 33+1 weeks with my second. I’ve had no long term effects from an epidural nor did I stay in hospital longer. I needed a drip because of lost fluids only.
I remember thinking that I hope I don’t look like a wimp for having an epidural and then thinking what a stupid bloody thing to even consider. Your body, your understanding of how you cope, your pain relief. No prizes for using or not using pain relief. Good luck!!!

I was induced with DD1 so had it. Horrific. Everything about it was traumatising.
I went into natural labour with DD2, I had a long bath, a shot of pethadine and I used the gas and air. I also gave birth on my knees leaning over the back of the bed, you birth far better this way than lying down.
The reason I didn’t have an epidural with my second was psychological. I wasn’t offered one. If I had been offered one I would have thought that the midwife felt I couldn’t labour without one and I’d have taken it. So I will have it written all over my notes with this baby in luminous marker that I do not want to be offered one!

@beminetonight we tried that. Then we lost the trace. So they put one of the internal monitors on her head. Tried it again. Didn't help. They even repositioned the catheter within my spinal column. They were about to redo the whole thing when other things happened and there wasn't time. Had to push (sustained hr decels).

I had it in my birth plan that I didn't want an epidural unless absolutely necessary. Didnt want a needle in my back for a start. I was induced with dd and still didn't have or need one. Didnt have one with ds either

I also gave birth on my knees leaning over the back of the bed, you birth far better this way than lying down.

@TheFoz I have heard this! Probably a silly question, but is it possible to give birth in that position in hospital?

I had one and was glad I did. I was induced and was contracting pretty fiercely but trying to be all brave and martyr-like (really don't recommend that). My kind midwife prompted me by suggesting we get it sorted now while they day team were still on. If we missed them, I could have been waiting hours for the on-call anaesthetist to be free. The epidural didn't actually work very well, I could still feel everything on my left hand side, but it was so much better than previously. Also, the relief when they turned the drip off to do the epidural was immense. I ended up needing an emergency section anyway (not because of the epidural, may I add), so ended up having a general anaesthetic as the epidural wasn't fully functioning. Didn't hinder my recovery - I was quite ill with pre-eclampsia (the reason for pre-term induction), so that held me back more.
I'm pregnant now and will definitely consider an epidural this time.

@tacosplease yes! I squatted by the side of the bed.

You can give birth in whichever position you please in hospital but with many epidurals you will be paralysed so will have to stay on your back on the bed (you won’t be able to move- yes it’s weird, if the pain is bad enough you’ll be grateful of it!)

No one is claiming it’s the best way to give birth. It’s pain relief, that’s a different thing. It does affect the way you birth your baby

@tacosplease fellow hypnobirthing advocate here, can't recommend it enough, along with a tens machine I hired from boots.

Had my first baby in July, 24 hrs of labour at home - snoozed through most of it, took paracetamol towards the end. Got to hospital, was 9cm, onto gas and air, baby born 30 mins afterwards. Once i went through the 'transition' stage, there was no real pain, just 'power' surges that I didn't control. Most people call this the pushing part but I didn't need to push, it just happened.

Only one small stitch needed, didn't know anything about it. And I'm 40 this isn't the body of a spring chicken!

The breathing techniques kept me calm the whole time, midwives couldn't believe how far I was gone given how calm I was when I arrived.

I really wanted to avoid an epidural though for speed of recovery and reduce risk of further complications.

Gave birth at 3:41am and was home on the sofa with a cuppa (and a baby!) by 10:30am.

17w is a great time to start reading up, practicing and getting your playlist together.