How mobile can you be with an epidural?

[RobynNora]

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how mobile you are able to be with an epidural? Were you able to sit up/move into different positions or did you have to be lying on your back the whole time?

I'm feeling pretty conflicted about the epi and looking for some more data points! Have read about 'mobile epidurals' online but my midwife looked at me a little blankly when I brought this up, so maybe it's an American thing.

I know from hypnobirthing that the best birthing position is 'upright, forward and open'. But I also know from my 36 week scan that my baby has a huge head that's almost off the charts in size (and I'm a very small person), so I don't want to be in too much pain either! Ideally, I'd like to have an 'upright, forward and open' epi, but I don't know that this is a possibility!

Thanks for reading :)

My doula told me that it can be possible to get yourself into a supported kneeling/upright position for the epidural, you won't be able to move much when it's in but you will be in a better position than lying on your back. I think it would depend on having a supportive midwife. When I gave birth to my first baby the midwife was very insistent on me lying on my back (and I didn't have an epidural but they wanted continuous monitoring).

With a very large head I would be concerned about tearing and would be considering how to manage/minimise the risk of that.

First baby I couldn't move, second baby I had enough movement to shift positions a little but could not have got on my knees.

With my epidural it didn't feel very strong and I would have been fully confident in standing if they had let me, but because I was also on the hormone drip I had to be monitored constantly so I was on my back, although I was allowed to sit up a bit, I was up and walking half hour after giving birth 🤷‍♀️

I very much loved my epidural as I didn't want to feel anything. But I was completely paralysed for a few hours until it wore off then had to have a catheter as I went into retention of urine.
But was still happy.
I think they can do lower dose ones these days so you can move a bit.
I could still move and sit myself up even a paraplegic has arms.

Bloody loved my epidural. Was totally immobile although could push/pull myself up into a sitting or lying positions with my arms. It is like a dead weight below your chest though and quite strange at first. Much better than the pain though imo :)

I could move my legs, roll onto my side, and sit up, didn't try getting onto my knees but that may not be allowed anyway cos the midwifes would be worried about you falling?

One hospital near me does mobile epidurals (mobile enough to get to and from the toilet) but the hospital I was at didn't the view being the epidural isn't working properly if you are able to walk.

It comes down to hospital policy whether mobile epidurals are on offer.

I was very lucky - I had the "perfect" epidural in the sense that I could feel the pressure of contractions but no pain, and I was very mobile. I could kneel upright on the bed (supporting myself with my arms on the headrest) and try lots of different positions. I was able to walk to the loo with an arm from DH straight after getting stitched up, just felt a little wobbly. I do think they stopped dosing up the epidural after DS arrived though as I was getting more and more feeling back during the stitches.

I could have moved around easily if it wasn't for them puncturing my spine when inserting it. I'd never have one again.

Incredibly helpful to hear about everyone's experiences. Thanks so much for replying! Crazy too how much epi variation there is between hospital trusts and what they consider to be successful.

@RobynNora I could move around when I was given the first dose, could move around but was out of pain and could still feel contractions, I could have probably changed positions if I had have wanted. But baby got into difficulties, so I was given a higher dose and could not feel a thing, could barely move for hours and was given a catheter overnight.

I could move my legs, change positions, get onto my knees, and shuffle from my bed to the theatre table for my eventual Cesarean. I probably could have stood and moved into a chair, but wouldn’t have been confident walking any distance.

Different trusts do epidurals differently though. Many places do a small continuous infusion but have a patient controlled bolus button that you can use to administer extra medicine every 20 minutes. I never pressed my button because I didn’t mind being uncomfortable, and just needed the edge taken off (had a back to back baby) so my block wasn’t as heavy as it could have been.

Thanks everyone. That's so helpful.