Epidural experiences

[AngieR87]

I'm due to give birth to baby no. 4 in two weeks. I've never had an epidural before but as its baby no.4 I am well aware of the pain that is going to come. I've got a lot of anxiety about it and am considering an epidural.

Just looking to hear some experiences of other women. Thank you! X

I had an epidural with DC1, which went as expected, no pain at all and no issues afterwards. Midwife told me when to push and I had no tears or other interventions.

Had elcs with DC2 and DC3 so obviously had epidurals again and they worked as expected too. I've only ever felt early labour pains, not full contractions and I'm pretty glad. I've never felt particularly anxious about childbirth pain, I just know I wouldn't enjoy it so I don't see why I should endure it.

I had epidurals with both mine. DD it never worked that well and I still felt pain but it was nowhere near as bad as it would have been. It didn't slow her birth down at all although it took a while to push her out. As the epidural wasn't that effective I didn't have any side effects from it. The one I had with DS was very effective and I felt no pain but it made me very nauseous and sent my blood pressure on a rollercoaster. No trouble pushing him out at all. I'd still take the side effects over the pain.

The relief when it starts working! It definitely makes the mid/late stages bearable.

With mine, they let it start wearing off a bit so that I could push more effectively at the end but I did still need forceps delivery and an episiotomy and the episiotomy meant I was in pain for longer during recovery.

I had it with all 3 births, the first more than 30 years ago.

I had absolutely no issues at all. Was able to feel the pressure to push, but no pain and delivered all 3 of my babies within 10 minutes of starting to push, the last was born on the first push.

I was completely pain free and hung out in my bed while the nurses brought me blankets out of the warmer every half hour 😆. Of course I needed a catheter, but that was removed very quickly after birth.

Highly recommend.

Sweet, sweet relief.

Personally I'd leave it until the last possible moment so you can do most of it naturally. Also get a small enough dose so you can still feel enough to push

I had to with my first, i had it before i even started labour. I was very ill and blood pressure was out of control, apparently the epidural drug can lower blood pressure. I think they thought i wouldn't cope either and my body go into shock.

It was great. I did panic though, They said i wouldn't feel anything as they put it in..i did so was thinking it had gone wrong 😂

Pregnant with second now, will have it again but i am beyond terrified. Haven't experienced a normal birth so feel like its my first. I keep getting reels pop up about all the bad bits and its scaring me 😭😭 but i personally wouldn't cope well with labour esp due to how first went.