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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Talk to me about Epidurals...

79 replies

Normando91 · 17/05/2021 12:56

This has probably been asked and exhausted several times. But I’m a FTM and up until today I’ve been pretty relaxed about giving birth in a matter of weeks (35+1)

Today, someone asked me if I would be getting an epidural. I’ve always had the mindset that I would just take things as they come, if the pain becomes too much, I’ll have one. But then I started reading about them and fixating on the negative side effects- mainly women who have had back pain ever since...

So, what was your experience of an epidural?
Or if you didn’t get one, what did you do/have to manage the pain?

OP posts:

Luckyelephant1 · 17/05/2021 14:48

@Dollywilde @Chelyanne ah yes kinda forgot about being completely numb. Mobile epidural sounds great though, I'll be asking my midwife if that's an option. Def going to be playing things by ear, so an epidural isn't at the top of my list and I will be trying the hypnobirthing/gas and air stuff first but it's good to hear such positive stories on this thread!

OopsUp · 17/05/2021 14:54

I have to have an epidural so had a few now. They don't fully work on me for some reason only half of me goes numb. But no side effects or anything.

Original poster

Normando91 · 17/05/2021 14:56

@KM38... I’m sorry, your pelvis did what???? 😳😳😳😳

OP posts:

Greybeardy · 17/05/2021 14:58

If you look at the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association site called labourpains.com you’ll find loads of patient info leaflets including ones about epidurals.

trunumber · 17/05/2021 15:00

Had one because my induction was done incorrectly. It didn't work but in hindsight I wonder if it's because I'm obese but don't look it and maybe they should have given me a stronger dose or something? So I had gas and air instead which was actually great but I didn't get to the pushing stage as I didn't dilate at all so EMCS at the end.

Absolutely no side effects from it though or from the spinal .

KM38 · 17/05/2021 15:46

[quote Normando91]@KM38... I’m sorry, your pelvis did what???? 😳😳😳😳[/quote]
@Normando91 yup 😅 Basically the weight of the baby and how he was sitting caused my pelvis to misalign - or that’s how it was explained to me anyway 🙈 DH had to lift me from couch to toilet for 3 days at 39 weeks pregnant because I physically couldn’t walk and they wouldn’t admit me early due to covid 🙄😳 But the pain was down to minimal level within about 12 hours of DS being born 😅 so that’s a bonus 🤣 I could walk again as soon as he was out 🙈

Without a doubt the most pain I’ve experienced in my life 🙈🤣

Waitingforbabypage · 17/05/2021 16:01

I could have kissed the anaesthetist. Had an epidural with my first two. Absolute bliss.

Had a small amount of back pain shortly after birth with both, but nothing awful, I can feel a slight tender spot that makes me feel a bit cringy when I run my fingers down my spine but how often does that really happen? 😂

I'd say definitely go in with an open mind, birth "plans" are all well and good but they should be more along the lines of a "rough guide" my only actual "plan" is get baby out safe. X

BrownEyedGirl80 · 17/05/2021 16:03

I loved it but it wore off when the head was crowning..ouch!

kiksta · 17/05/2021 16:05

Definitely recommend.

I was like you, thought I'd take it a it comes. But I couldn't bear the pain and told DH I want an epidural.

Ended up going for an emergency csection and having the epidural before made things much quicker / easier.

I've had no side effects with it such as back pain. Would definitely have it again

Mousetown · 17/05/2021 16:08

I was adamant I was not going to have one. It became very clear I would need one very quickly (complications that resulted in an emergency c section, needed to take blood samples from the babies head while she was still in me etc).
I can’t begin to describe the relief when it kicked in. I’ve never experienced any bad side effects or back pain.

Leodot · 17/05/2021 17:01

Hi @Normando91 I had an epidural and it was wonderful. My waters had broken but I didn’t go into labour so after 24 hours I had to have the induction drip. They put the epidural in at the same time. I had been awake for about 30 hours at this point, so I Slept from when they put it in, until they woke me and told me I was 10cm and it was time to push. Had my beautiful little girl 2 hours later. Got up and had a shower 6 hours later. Didn’t feel any pain ever. Was a dream birth and I’d happily do it again.

Good luck OP ❤️😊

Survivingmy3yearold · 17/05/2021 17:01

I've done 1 labour with and 1 without an epidural. My first the antenatal education was bloody awful, all they did was show you how to swaddle a plastic doll I had an epidural early on after being advised to and everything slowed right down. I ended up having a c-section after 26 hours. There are a few reasons I feel things didn't progress well and I feel being stuck led on my back unable to move was one of them, I also feel it started a cascade of other interventions. However it was absolute bliss to not feel the contractions, I think I'd have been demented to have to feel that pain for 26 hours! My second was so so different. I was adamant about labouring at home as long as possible where I was happy and comfortable. I went in after about half an hour of strong contractions at home and was already 5cms and she was born 2 hours later with just gas and air. It bloody hurt but it was fab and we were home the next day as opposed to a week with my section. However had things taken longer I think I probably would have gone down the epidural route again.
There are definitely pros and cons. Some hospitals offer mobile epidurals where you can still feel enough to move around, might be worth seeing if this is an option where you are. Definitely an open mind is the right attitude

trytoignoreit · 17/05/2021 17:04

I had one baby without and the second one with. I absolutely recommend it. I don't have any long term affects, had a few issues straight after, but resolved and still only stayed one night. I personally couldn't sleep during labour, but it was lovely.

Original poster

Normando91 · 17/05/2021 20:04

@KM38 Oh my, that sounds absolutely excruciating!! I’m so glad the pain pretty much disappeared right after you had your baby.

I’ve been extremely lucky so far and haven’t had any real symptoms or pains other than heartburn which I’ve finally got a prescription for... those tablets are the best thing I’ve ever known!

OP posts:

Dyra · 17/05/2021 20:23

I didn't have an epidural. I was induced with the drip due to pre-eclampsia, and wanted to stick to my plan of escalating pain relief. I didn't want an epidural because I work in obstetric theatres and really didn't want to see my colleagues. I felt I already had enough unavoidable risk factors already without an epidural.

During labour itself, I came very close to asking for one. I have a high pain tolerance, but the drip is brutal. I opted for opiates (diamorphine) instead. I figured if that didn't work, then I would have an epidural for sure. For the next 5 hours, I was as high as kite when I wasn't sound asleep between contractions. Fortunately it was wearing off when it was time to push, so I can remember the birth itself. The previous 5 hours are only a few blips of memory. No regrets though. 10/10 would do medical grade heroin during childbirth again.

Tee20x · 17/05/2021 20:26

Best thing I ever did lol. Gas & Air didn't touch the sides of it for me (not trying to scare you!) - requested an epidural & couldn't feel a thing after.

I know some people are concerned about not being able to push - but I found it ok - just have to trust your body.

I even remember looking at my contractions on the monitor & saying "imagine if I could feel that!!"

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 17/05/2021 20:31

Had one, loved it, had a wonderful calm and peaceful easy delivery once it was in. It wore off very quickly afterwards and no after effects.

Like everything there are risks and benefits. You can listen to anecdotes, but also look into the stats around side effects and consider in what circumstances you’d consider those risks worth taking (for me, induced labour, hormone drip, stuck on a bed anyway because of that. My decision might have played differently in a labour that came on naturally, wasn’t back to back and had contractions that weren’t pretty much constant from the moment the drip was turned on.)

Terriblecreature · 17/05/2021 20:33

Have 2 DC and haven't had one but I was opened minded about pain relief. With DS1 I asked for an epidural when I arrived at the labour ward. They gave me pethadine I think it was to keep me ticking over until I got it but I actually didn't need it. That stuff knocked me out lol I was sleeping in between contraction. Fast forward to DS2 (10 weeks ago) I just got pethadine again. He was born in 1 hour 28 minutes though and I was falling asleep even when he was born lol

georgarina · 17/05/2021 20:37

I would have loved an epidural and it was on my birth plan.

Unfortunately there were no staff available to give me one so I had to go without pain relief.

So I've never had an epidural but I would say I'd definitely want one...in no other instance for example heart surgery would you say "I want to do this the natural way"...lol...that's just how I feel about it.

My mum had me with no pain relief and my siblings with epidurals and she was very pro epidural.

TeddyBeans · 17/05/2021 20:40

I had an epidural that was topped up twice with fentanyl because I could still feel the pain and was huffing away on gas and air that was three years ago now and for the first year and a half I would get random twinges at the epidural site but no other side effects.

Open minded is definitely the way to go

KM38 · 17/05/2021 20:54

[quote Normando91]@KM38 Oh my, that sounds absolutely excruciating!! I’m so glad the pain pretty much disappeared right after you had your baby.

I’ve been extremely lucky so far and haven’t had any real symptoms or pains other than heartburn which I’ve finally got a prescription for... those tablets are the best thing I’ve ever known![/quote]
Fingers crossed it stays that way for you 🤞🏼🤞🏼 I’m hoping mine was a one off just because he was a wee chub 🤣🤣

Have you looked at any hypnobirthing courses at all? I wasn’t sure what to make of it at the start and if I’m honest, a lot of it didn’t appeal to me but I found it really good for explaining about the pain relief options and understanding what was happening in your body etc. I think it also gave me more confidence when it came to advocating for myself at certain points during my labour!

StevieNix · 17/05/2021 21:00

Had an epidural and I loved it completely took the pain away, but I could still feel what I was doing to push, it was absolute bliss after the hours and hours of labour pain. I would 100% get it again- and ask for it sooner than I did.

Bluntness100 · 17/05/2021 21:07

I had an emergency c section and ended up having epidural

I mean this politely but are you sure it wasn’t a spinal you were given? Epidural is usually used for pain relief in Labour, a spinal anaesthetic is given for c sections. They are very different.

LillianGish · 17/05/2021 21:17

I had one for both DCs. Snoozed through labour, let it wear off a bit so I could feel to push, two short labours and uncomplicated deliveries and was up and about shortly afterwards. Personally I wouldn't do it any other way.

LauEli · 17/05/2021 21:21

Heaven. Would definitely recommend. Slept for 6 hours after mine. Woke up to push. 21 weeks pregnant again now and would definitely have one again this time

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