Losing sleep over epidural

[Mumwithqs]

I've been awake since 4am worrying about giving birth and pain relief.

I had an antenatal class yesterday and they've unintentionally terrified me. Originally I was going to go with the flow and take whatever I need at the time, but the MW made having an epidural sound absolutely horrific.

She was strongly encouraging getting it early as there might be nobody available when you want it.
She said it increases the need for assisted birth.
She said it affects baby.
She said you need to stay completely still whilst it's administered, even though you'd be in a lot of pain.

I was already anxious about pain and tearing and now this has made it 10x worse. I'm not sure what type of advice I'm looking for but I'm really upset about it.

I have had 3, 2 a block. Just remember it's a short time. Do what you feel the need to have. Breathing works well, but just inform your birth partner and be prepared to change your mind.

They're fine, I was really worried about mine but honestly hardly felt it. You'll be fine x

I had epidural and it was fine, no pain at all. Try not to stress about it.xx

epidural drugs do not affect the baby. Very occasionally if an epidural makes the mother’s BP drop that can affect the baby but it is usually easily fixed.

there is an association between epidurals and instrumental deliveries, but it is an association and not necessarily a causative relationship.

historically epidurals gave a denser block and that may have had an effect on pushing. These days lower concentration mixes are often used so that’s usually less of a problem.

you do need to stay still even if a contraction happens while the epidural needle is in. If you’ve found some benefit from gas & air you can carry on using that if it helps. If you can’t keep still it’s important to say so before you move so the needle can be removed.

there are national standards for the time in which we should attend to provide an epidural - it’s not unheard of for the delay to be that no one’s actually told the anaesthetist someone wants one (particularly during daylight hours there’s likely to be more than one anaesthetist somewhere on site who can do them. Occasionally if things are going tits up in multiple places and the entire anaesthetic team is busy it isn’t possible though).

MW’s sometimes don’t have the best grasp of the physiology/pharmacology of epidurals (which is fine, after all they’re not the ones putting them in). As part of the consent process though the anaesthetist should be able to explain the process and answer questions s. If you’re looking for some more objective info the labourpains website is run by the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association and has some really good info sheets about all the pain relief modalities for labour. HTH.

@Greybeardy has said it all. Obstetric anaesthetist here and we hear everything under the sun being blamed on an epidural!

https://www.labourpains.org/ is a brilliant website written by experts which goes into the detail of the different forms of pain relief and the risks and benefits. Cannot recommend it enough!

Yes, to add to the above two posts, a lot of people will state as fact that epidurals cause more tears, instrumental deliveries and c-sections but studies are inconclusive because both epidurals and those outcomes are also associated with first time birth and other confounding factors.

For example, this study on perineal tears found: "Epidural analgesia was not associated with SPL once confounding factors were included"
.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0266613818303632

There is definitely ideology around it, when I said to my midwife it was my preference she said "I might try to put you off that." Only the individual can weigh up what the different advantages and disadvantages mean to them, especially around their personal experience of pain, saying "you will have to stay still" without giving context of how most women are able to stay still enough with all the help available is not just giving impartial information.

Hey ive had 2 epidural’s, one for my first, was induced and pain was unbearable, ended up with forcep delivery, most end in assisted delivery because you cant move and are stuck on your back so baby moves to back to back position making it harder to push them out, second i had due to elective c-sec with twins, both times it was uncomfortable but not overly painful, you sit on the edge on the bed with a pillow on your lap and lean over on the pillow it helps stop you arch your back when the needle goes in, im against having an epidural this time but only because i don’t want an overnight stay, i know i can manage without one as i did with my second baby and i don’t like not being able to move, but otherwise not a bad experience so i wouldn’t worry about it xx

I had an epidural with my first born. I also felt really apprehensive about whether I should have one in the run up to giving birth. But at the time it was absolutely necessary for me at that point and it allowed me to actually get some respite and rest.

I did have an assisted birth (forceps) in the end but this was due to other factors, not the epidural itself. I was still able to work with the surgeons in theatre and push when they told me to despite having a big top up of meds that made me completely numb from the waist down (just in case they needed to switch birth to a c section). I was glad I had an epidural in at that point as it meant all they had to do was a top up of meds instead of trying to find someone to put one in quickly before they took me down to theatre.

My baby was fine and had no effects from the epidural. I wouldn't hesitate to ask for one again during labour. I'm 30 weeks today with baby #2 and fully prepared to ask for one again if I feel like I need it.

I'm sorry the midwife made it sound like something bad and like it's something you shouldn't opt for. I'd definitely ask to speak to someone different at your trust about it to try and give you a more balanced opinion of epidurals x

Oh and yes you do need to keep still when they do it, but the person doing mine said to tell them when I feel a contraction coming and they would stop until it passed. It hurt a bit going in but it was very momentary and the relief it brought shortly after was completely worth it x

I had a spinal block for my c section. It wasn’t that bad really. Just like a blood test the sharp punch and then it’s over.

Having been through a first labour with a multitude of interventions, when I went in with dc2, the only insistence was no pethidine. I even said if it came to the point where that was all that was left, they should take me straight kto theatre for a csec.

The epidural, when it came (dc1) was at their insistence. And at that point I was fine going along with it.

I put in my notes (and spoke about my notes often) with dc1 - I will crept a sliding scale of intervention, but all stages need discussing fully with me and dh before we do them, so we know what it coming.

My birth plan with dc2 was no pethidine regardless of anything. At all

Please try not to focus on one or two things that are either going to happen or aren't, and at the point t they happen you probably will just want to go with whatever is suggested.

Mine was great! Eliminated the pain, didn't end up with me needing any interventions, no problems with baby latching. Good luck with the birth OP.

As someone who’s birthed twice without one I’d say get one. There are risks with not having one as well.

I've had three, all c/sections (think 2 and 2 might have been a spinal block).

I'd had a horrible cough right up until DC2 was born and I was terrified I wouldn't be able to stay still! Someone said to me that my "cough would go away with little feet" and it did!!! Weird.

I remember being terrified after my first midwife antenatal class as well, did your midwife helpfully pass round the forceps and then tell everyone how awful they were? Plus an extra large needle?

If you're anxious about pain and tearing, if you can get under consultant led care - a chat with a doctor, or even with your GP might do a lot to reassure you.

I've had two epidurals and they have been genuine bliss.

I don't remember any pain. In fact I don't even remember the feeling of it going in. I stayed still but the doctors are so skilled at doing it that it's only for a matter of seconds so it's not a big deal. The genuine sweet relief afterwards is something that can't be overstated. Both my labours were very long and I went from writhing around in pain to having a much needed nap with my first (I had been up for days in labour) and watching Netflix whilst my body merrily dilated in the background.

This actually isn't true anymore.

When I had my second my doctor said they wanted to give me enough for relief but not enough so that I couldn't feel anything at all. The modern way of doing things is to allow you to feel some sensation for pushing. I could still feel sensations and I felt the sensation of stretching but no pain.

Also you've got a midwife between your legs who is there to assist and direct. You're not just pushing like mad the entire time- you only push during a contraction.

Epidural is great. Staying still for a couple of minutes is honestly no problem. My baby was and is perfectly fine. Your midwife is just tasked to parrot what NHS bosses tell her to, to reduce costs. It's irresponsible of her to scare and manipulate you. You'll be fine.

Yeah and there was no pain, and baby latched fine...

I had epidurals with all 3 of my kids. I didn’t push with any of them for more than 5 minutes, and with my 3rd, she was out on the first countdown, probably first real push.

I recommend it to anyone who’ll listen! Yes, I did have to be still for insertion, but as others have said, they worked with me during contractions and I took some good deep breaths as I knew the better I was able to cooperate, the quicker it’d be in.

Admitted for induction 10am
Epidural administered
Lay in bed either watching tv or reading
Keillands forceps at 2am …16 hrs later
breast feeding at 5am
Best decision I’ve ever made!
Had more pain having my ears pierced
You’ll do great whatever you decide…good luck & enjoy every second with your little one, they grow up sooooo quickly. Xx

@Mumwithqs i had dd with gas and air. Horrendous.

Had twins with epidural - awesome.

Stop stressing seriously. Epidural didn’t hurt a bit!!

I’ve had epidurals with both kids! Both were inductions. They were amazing!! No problems with pushing either. My first took 20 minutes, my second was out in 7. I fully intend having one as early as possible with this baby too. Ultimately though keep an open mind and have what you need at the time xx

I’ve had three.. I wasn’t aware that anything passed over to baby!

yes you have to keep still for a few minutes but the relief for me when the pain stopped and I could concentrate on pushing was brilliant

I had one for my first birth and not for my second, just gas and air. If I ever have to give birth again I would have an epidural 😂

If you are having trouble staying still during the injection they give you a cushion and a big burly man to hold on to. Of course there is a small risk. But they know what they are doing.