Epidurals - are they worth it?

[BumbleAw]

For those of you who had epidurals, were they worth it?

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like?
How did you know to push - could you still feel your body?
Do you feel it helped or hindered labour?
Any long term effects?
Would/wouldnt you recommend?

I had an epidural with my first labour. Not in my plan but had a lengthy induction and couldn't take much more pain.
It certainly worked and couldn't feel a lot of pain and it numbed my legs so couldn't even move them. It wasn't great because I couldn't move around. When I hit that final stage the epidural kind of lost its effectiveness and I could feel pain , I also felt myself tear. I gave birth on my back which isn't the best position to give birth in.
I had stitches after and couldn't feel a thing because of the epidural.
Didn't hurt going in either. I just hated how I couldn't move around or even position myself to be comfortable.
Also had to have a catheter in as I couldn't get to the toilet.
There's pros and cons to them. After the birth I was up and about after a few hours once the epidural had been taken out.

For me YES!
First child I tried to be a hero, just had dismorphine (which zonked me for about 20 minutes then back to square one) and gas and air. 27 hours of labour which ended in forceps.

Second child, I had gas and air for about 2 hours and thought why am I suffering like this! Epidural went in, painless procedure, worked within a few minutes, could move and feel my legs but no pain. My DD ended up being delivered about 20 minutes after I had it put in and all effects had gone within 30 minutes and I was up and walking again. Thank god they didn't examine me because I was probably 8 or 9cm dilated when I had it put in 🙈

If I had another child I would 100% have an epidural

I had no problems with mine and I experienced no pain at all. Midwife monitored me and told me when to push. No instruments involved or other interventions. No tears or stitches. Discharged the next day and out walking around as normal. No long term effects. Would definitely recommend it.

Yes! After nearly three days with just gas and air, an epidural was just beautiful.
Couldn't move my legs but I was so tired I didn't want to move anyway.
I ended up getting sepsis and having an emergency section but that wasn't anything to do with the epidural.

I had one woth my first. I was a little numb for years after! Apparently its pretty common

I didn't have anything with my second. It was fine honestly. O wouldn't have sn epidural again

I asked for one for my rapid labour at 10cm, the midwife and anaesthetist were so kind and did do it for me. They have to tell you all the risks and benefits before doing it. They told me it might not work. I didn't care😂 so they did it.
I then swiftly pushed the baby out. On reflection, it didn't work at all but psychologically it really helped. I had a small tear and could feel everything so midwife had to use lots of numbing injection.

Benefit of it not working was I got to go home a few hours later which was truly amazing. I think you have to stay in until you're walking and weeing normally which is probably realistically overnight.

I would probably still opt for one next time 😀

I had one which wasn't my plan but it was needed after 3 long days.
I could still feel contractions and it wore off quite quickly, so I don't think it completely worked.
I didn't want diamorphine or anything that would make me feel spaced out.
I think they have their place when needed & would do it again if I had to.

Context: I had one after lots of on/off labour - hadn't slept in more than 48hrs. Didn't find gas and air effective and it made me feel really sick. Didn't want to use morphine products.

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like? Pressure. No pain at all, it worked perfectly and very quickly as pain relief.
How did you know to push - could you still feel your body? I could still feel and move my legs, could feel the pressure of contractions but not the pain.
Do you feel it helped or hindered labour? Helped for me. I was too exhausted.
Any long term effects? None. I did have a small episiotomy and one pull on ventouse but this was more because baby's heart rate kept dropping rather than epidural / my activity. Her active labour part was short so it wasn't that epidural slowed down labour.
Would/wouldnt you recommend? Yes, I'd have one again if needed.

I had twins and had epidural only because i was having twins and knew it would go straight forward which didnt 1 baby didnt want to come naturally so had to have another lot of epidural because the first worn off but it helped me not be in pain or discomfort was able to sleep for abit. When it came to birthing first baby i couldnt feel the contractions only when my belly tightened up and thata when i needed to push from what the midwives were reading on the monitor . She came out perfectly other baby was c section didnt feel a thing apart from feeling wobble in belly when getting baby out. After affects lower back pains can last a year or so or rest of ur life as the injections goes in ur lower back x
It is worth it if u can stand pain xx

Absolutely!

First birth epidural, second not.

Were they worth it?
For that birth, yes. I was exhausted and it allowed me to sleep.

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like?
I felt no pain below my breasts, but could feel sensation. I was curious what it would feel like without an epidural so I did have one second time (I didn't rule it out but it was a simpler birth)

How did you know to push - could you still feel your body?
I didn't have an overwhelming desire to push with the epidural, but after being coached I could feel when was the right time to Push. Without the epidural I was feeling urgent, and midwives were encouraging me to go slow.
Do you feel it helped or hindered labour?
Hard to know how close I was to birth when I got the epidural so I couldn't say.
Any long term effects?
None
Would/wouldnt you recommend?
Depends, I wouldn't be scared of having one but it wouldn't be/wasn't my first choice of pain relief. You have less control as can't always move into a compatible position and it's associated with a more medicalised birth. The day after birth with epidural I 100% recommend it.

I had one because the pain was getting miserable for me and making me panic. It worked a treat. I could still move around a bit though so they must have got the sweet spot.
I will be honest and say that I ended up with a c section after failing to progress and I suspect I might have been able to go naturally without an epidural. The epidural made it difficult to know when to push or even how to push- it was my first kid and i wasn’t sure what pushing was supposed to feel like. I was also falling asleep between contractions at that stage.
After the section I found out I had a biggish baby and she was sunny side up so the epidural saved me from experiencing back to back labor. I was happy enough and would have an epidural again. No lingering effects for me

I was in labour for 5 days at home with contractions on and off. I was admitted to hospital to have my waters broken, I couldn't take much more of the pain so I had the epidural. It was the best decision I made and I could actually get some sleep. My labour ended in c section because her head was in the wrong position and I wasn't dilating, as I'd already had the epidural all they had to do was top it up so it was all very quick in the end.
Overall I loved the epidural and I'd do it again!

My first labour was very long. Coped with the pain for a good few hours but when I finally got the epidural the relief from the pain was amazing. I had a little button so I could boost it as needed. Total pain relief. Couldn't move my legs much at all but I was so exhausted I didn't care. Had no sensation to push but was able to push fine when midwife's told me. My labour slowed down after getting epidural but there were other complications involved in that too. In the end I needed forceps and episiotomy & had a tear so it was better to already have the epidural in place.

I'm about to have my second and if I think I'm in for another longish labour will definitely be asking for an epidural again!

First Labour / back to back, agonising pain, epidural went in and it was just amazing, I couldn’t feel a thing. Though I’ve been told since it was probably a spinal block. I couldnt feel contractions or anything. Birth did end up with forceps but that was because baby got stuck turning so I don’t think was a result of the epidural. I was prepped for a c section in case, so I think I’d have ended up with an epidural anyway, so I’m glad it went in earlier and I got the relief I did.

second birth the contractions weren’t soooo bad but I went for it anyway. I could still feel pressure and knew when to push. Natural delivery with no intervention . I was up and walking hours later.

I don’t regret either of mine.

I had one with my first, absolutely hated it. Felt like I lost all control over my body even though it didn't work properly and I could still feel pain (only realised that wasn't normal when the midwife started to cut an episiotomy) You need a catheter with an epidural. I was obviously so naive I didn't realise that, and nobody told me. I also had what I think was pain from nerve damage at the epidural site for months afterwards.
Didn't have an epidural on my second and felt like a superhero after giving birth.

However, my labours were different. First was longer, I wasn't as well informed of my choices or of what to expect, I didn't have as much trust in my body and I was scared. Which is normal for a first time birth.
I will say though, I accepted the epidural because I was exhausted, not because of the pain. The pain is bad but not unbearable, and there are many other ways of dealing with it.

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like?
As the medication kicked in, the contraction pain lessened and lessened until it was completely gone. Massive relief after 11 hours of the drip.

How did you know to push - could you still feel your body?
I could feel my legs. I even think I could have walked if I had been allowed. However, it hadn't been in very long. I never got as far as pushing.

Do you feel it helped or hindered labour?
Labour was already hindered as baby was in a bad position. We just didn't know it yet. The epidural was asked for because I could no longer cope on just gas+air, and I was only 5cm. I got no further, and a few hours later I had a C-section. The epidural was a correlation, not the cause, and I do not regret getting it. It was the right decision for the circumstances.

Any long term effects?
I had lingering back pain for about a year. Might equally be because I'm getting old though.

Would/wouldn't you recommend?
Personally I would always work my way up pain relief options, with the epidural as the final option. If I had a third, I would do the same again. Start on the gas+air, consider opioids, then epidural if labour doesn't seem like it will end soon/too much to bear. I guess I would recommend on the whole though.

I had one when I was induced.

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like?
It instantly solved the pain issue for me, I was in excruciating pain and couldn't focus on anything, after gas and air and something else (morphine?). I had the adjustable one, so I could press a button to top it up every so often, or ease off if I wanted to feel more. As we approached the time to push I eased off so I could feel more, but the pain was too much - I couldn't push I could barely breathe. I topped it back up again and took all feeling away.

How did you know to push - could you still feel your body?
No. I couldn't feel anything. Midwife said push like you're doing a big poo and I said I have completely forgotten how to have a poo. I could not feel a single thing. I was pushing for hours and nothing was happening. In the end I needed forceps, they said he got stuck. Consultant yanked him out of me like an olympic tug of war. It was the most insane thing I've ever experienced.

Do you feel it helped or hindered labour?
Probably a bit of both, I was out of my mind with pain so at least I could focus on trying to give birth, but I couldn't feel anything and didn't get very far with pushing so who knows.

Any long term effects?
Nope.

Would/wouldnt you recommend?
I would recommend if you have a low pain threshold, or if you're having an induction. Other things to note: They had to put a catheter in because you can't move around enough to pee. They also put an IV in, because sometimes they have to top you up with extra fluids or something. I have shit veins due to chemo so this was torturous, I had 4 cannulas in after 8 attempts. I also can't remember if it's mandatory but I was on the monitor for most of labour, so by the time you've got the drip in (for induction), the monitor on, and your IVs and catheters, there are so many wires around that you can't really move at all. I'm really hoping to not need one next time as I will be refusing an induction until absolutely medically necessary. With my first I just wanted him out asap.

Had an epidural with my first. He was back to back and after 24 hours of agonising contractions it was bliss. I could feel the contractions but they weren’t painful. Epidurals tend to be somewhat ‘patient controlled’ as you have a small amount of continuous infusion and then a button to give yourself ‘top up’ boluses every 20 mins. I didn’t ever press my top up button as I actually liked being able to feel the pressure and move my legs. I was able to get into all fours and stand against the bed without collapsing. I did eventually have a c section but not through lack of trying/changes of position/being fairly active. He was just wedged.

Second was a VBAC. I wouldn’t have wanted an epidural for that as I opted not to have continuous monitoring so it was fairly essential I would be able to feel if I was having an abruption. Labour was only about 6 hours start to finish so
was a lot more bearable anyway!

I didnt want one with DD but once she was born I had to have a spinal block for placenta removal and I thought "I wish I had one of these hours ago"
With DS I was very very determined I was having one from as soon as I knew I was PG. The MW tried to suggest I didnt when I was in labour but I insisted and it was lovely. I felt very in control and was able to relax and save my strength for the last couple of pushes.
I walked to the shower around 4 hours later and went home a couple of hours after that with no ill effects

I had one with my first - in the circumstances I'd do it again (mutiple days of labour and was totally exhausted). But I only pushed when they told me to and had a painful tear - I pushed with all my might! Epidural also took multiple attempts but didn't hurt, just took time).

Second baby was a more normal labour (12 hours and progressing all the way through). The urge to push made pushing way better and instinctive.

I'm not having another but if I did I'd just play it by ear! Glad I had one with my first, glad I didn't with my second!

My first labour was a long labour. After approx 20 hours of contractions I just couldn't take the pain any longer and the epidural was an absolute godsend. It took the pain away completely, no side effects, didn't seem to affect progression of labour or my ability to push when the time came.

Second and third labours were much shorter so I didn't need an epidural - just gas and air.

I was adamant beforehand I didn't want one as I didn't want a catheter in after! However eventually I needed an epidural when I was taken for emergency section and it was the greatest thing. Would highly recommend!

I didn't have an epidural with my first, it didnt even cross my mind to have one. I had done hypnobirthing, managed well with gas and air, and it was a fairly quick labour (12 hrs from waters going to baby arriving).

I ended up having one with my second, and it was a great choice for me. I don't know if I was genuinely in more pain than my first, or was just struggling psychologically with the fact progress was a bit slower (everything had been so comparable, my waters went at exactly the same gestation within an hour!)

Both babies slightly pre term so needed monitors on constantly, which I managed with ok in my first labour but absolutely drove me mad in my second.

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like?
I could feel strong contractions that stopped me talking etc and I used breathing techniques or Gas and air to manage. However the pain subsided in between contractions, whereas pre epidural it was still intense.

How did you know to push - could you still feel your body?
Yes, although I was more guided by the midwife to wait until I was fully dilated. Pre epidural I felt the urge to push when I was only 4/5cm, and by comparison in my previous labour I felt I was pushing for hours. On reflection i was probably pushing before I was ready the first time. I felt the epidural took the urgency away and actually allowed my body time to be ready to push.
I could also feel and move my legs, although I'm not convinced I could have walked around.

Do you feel it helped or hindered labour?
A huge help. All the things that the hypnobirthing course taught me to fear I.e progress slowing, not feeling my body etc. were not the case at all.

Any long term effects?
None, the catheter staying in for 12 hrs was inconvenient but we had to stay in hospital for a few days due to baby being pre term so not a big issue.
I had a small tear with my second which was much better than the episiotomy with my first. Who knows if directly related, but as I said before, I think the epidural gave my body more time to be ready.

Would/wouldnt you recommend?
Definitely would recommend.

I really didn't want one but my baby was back to back and there was no break between contractions, I couldn't even think straight. I got it at about 9cm. You can get it at any point once you can sit still, I was borderline for that.

How much pain could you feel/what did childbirth feel like?
The relief was insane. I could still feel pressure but it was manageable, there was no pain. I could still feel the baby crowning and when he came out and when the placenta came out but again, there was no pain.

How did you know to push - could you still feel your body?
Yes I could still feel my body. I could feel and move my legs and bum. Like someone else said, I think I could have stood if I had been allowed. My midwife encouraged pushing through the contractions (she could see them on the monitor). I was able to do good strong pushes and he was out in 7 of them across 2 contractions.

Do you feel it helped or hindered labour?
Really helped. I had done loads of hypnobirthing but couldn't focus on anything between exhaustion and being overwhelmed by my back to back labour. I felt like I came back into my body and mind when the epidural kicked in, and was able to look at my hypobirthing board and talk to my husband and midwife. The actual birth was calm, relaxed and everything I wanted as a result. I did have a second degree tear, but that is quite common for a first baby. I also had a minor PPH but again, not related to the epidural.

Any long term effects?
None.

Would/wouldnt you recommend?
Would absolutely recommend, just don't get it too early as it can slow things down a bit.