Epidurals - anyone had a positive experience?

[Diamondback]

I'm thinking of having an epidural as I'm such a wuss when it comes to pain - I have trouble coping with period pain, so I don't fancy my chances in labour! I read an article interviewing a woman who had had a lovely, stressfree birth with an epidural and then a very traumatic second birth at a different hospital that were very anti-epidural.

Reading the MN info on it wasn't very helpful as it outlined lots of risks and possible downsides, all of which sounded horrible, but didn't make clear how likely these downsides were.

So I'd really appreciate some feedback while I try to decide what to do

hmm, well mine was a positive experience in that it didn't really work, just took the edge off the pain that i was in from the induction so was great in that respect because i could still feel what was going on. second one was for a cs and it damaged my back, cost me a fortune to put right.

i would say try to keep an open mind, but discuss your fears with the hosp and get a feel for their attitude to epidural. mine insisted i had one as my bp shot up.

it is your right to have pain relief, 100%, but don't scare yourself about labour. i'd do my natural labour over again in a heartbeat, it was a wonderful experience. (and quite medical etc etc not a hippy thing, but still wonderful).

sorry this is becoming a monologue but by natural i meant vaginal. didn't enjoy the cs much.

I had an epidural and was fantastic. Initial labour was painful and wasn't making much progress. Once epi was in, immediately became relaxed, was mobile epidural so could still move around and get up to the loo, etc., took an hour-long nap once fully dilated, and when time came to push could feel the contractions to push with them but no pain. DS came out after 20 minutes of pushing with a tiny tear. My consultant told me that if you insert the epidural at the right time (once labour is fully established, i.e. 3cm dilated) and not too early, there is no higher incidence of intervention than in pain-relief-free births (or so the clinical statistics show). DS came out quickly and healthy, was not at all affected by the medication, had skin to skin contact immediately and latched on no problem. And I was able to get up and take a bath by myself soon after birth.

Mine was great - I had a 22 hour labour and they gave me a drip and epidural to regulate everything (was all going a bit hectic) I loved it and it is my 1st port of pain relief again this time around (I will try to cope without, but it will be my first request if it all gets too much)
I also had pethadine which I am totally refusing this time - it was awful for me...made me into a sick drunken woman - horrible!!!

I had an epidural with my first- Very long back-to-back labour, and I'm having an epidural meant I could sleep for a bit to get my energy for pushing. It was great.

No epidural for the second baby, and I did feel like I was more part of the experience somehow... But if you have a long labour, I'd go for one.

Good luck!

Well try to keep an open mind. You don't know how you'll respond and if you have in your mind that you want an epidural and fixate on one and then one isn't available then you might find that hard to deal with in full blown labour. I needed a spinal block (similar to an epidural) as they won't do a cs without one and I had to wait an hour and a half (had already been pushing for hours) and that was for an emergency cs. Sadly, sometimes the resources aren't there.

Perhaps think about other things that might help you. Your normal threshold for pain is often irrelevant in labour. It's not normal pain. You might surprise yourself.

Spinal was fine btw. Wore off as they were stitching me up and was discharged 12 hours later, fully mobile and with no problems.

Yes had one with my first, it was great! I have high bp and one of the side effects of epidurals is that they lower bp, so they were keen for me to have one. Felt very much 'with it' throughout and was rested and when the time came, was able to push baby out in 15 mins. Lovely.

Second time round, it wasn't possible because of several emergency c/s going on at the same time, and my labour going a lot faster than anticipated. I coped with just gas and air, but it was not an experience I would ever wish to repeat. The intense pain and speed of my contractions made me unaware of what was going on, absolutely out of it really, and this, together with other complications I was having (bp was completely out of control during the labour, a terribly young doctor trying and failing to administer medication and then asking the midwives what to do, repeatedly) made the whole experience rather horrific.

However, we are all very different, every labour is different and epidurals obviously have upsides and downsides so you need to decide for yourself, when you're in labour, what's going to be right for you. When you and the midwives know the facts of your actual labour, you can decide if it's appropriate. You know, it's all very well people disapproving of epidurals if they've had straightforward, quick labours. For people who protracted, long and/or complicated labours, they are often a godsend. Don't decide against it beforehand and then feel like you're caving in if you then change your mind. Despite what a lot of people think it's not a competition. Best of luck!!!

I had one and would definitely have it again.

My consultant was lovely. He basically said some women feel pressured to have a 'natural' birth and wait as long as they can and go through all that pain then ask for an epidural right at the end when actually there is no need to put your self through that if you know you want an epidural. Hope that comes across the way I intend it. I don't think there's anything wrong with a natural birth I just mean consultant was very supportive and lovely and definitely not for or against any type of birth or pain relief.

Ds was back to back and I was in alot of pain so had been in hospital for a few days in early labour for pain relief (pethedine mainly). Once my waters went and I was moved to labour ward (8pm)asked for an epidural as I knew that's what I wanted. I had a lovely sleep, the best I'd had in days. I was able to have a good few hours rest. My epidural was only working on one side and I had a few top ups. I could feel my contractions and feel ds but I wasn't in any pain. Ds was born at 3am. We stayed in labour ward until 8am where I'd been able to get showered and changed before being moved to post natal ward.

I was offered an epidural after I had strong urges to push but was only 6cm dilated.

Had epidural. Because of DS's position/heartbeat I had to lie on my left side so right side wasn't as fully anaesthetised but still completely bearable pain (like a stitch or mild cramp).

Fell asleep.

Was woken up about 3 hours later by midwife telling me it was time to start pushing now.

Four pushes later out popped DS.

I had one when I was induced with DS against everything I wanted before and it did allow me to rest but I'm hoping not to do it again.

I was induced with gel (as I was overdue) which worked straight away and my labour pregressed quite well, waters went naturally and eventually felt like I wanted to push. I was examined and told to push, pushed for 1 1/2 and then there was a change of midwife, she examined me and said I was actually only 5cm dilated so to stop. My contractions slowed from that point and I was recommended to have a syntocinon drip and an epidural, I refused the epidural several times but was highly recommmened (I felt quite bullied) as I was tired and the contractions would be stronger and very close together so eventually I agreed.

I couldn't feel a thing and had to have a catheter which I hated. I had a midwife with her hand on my bump telling me I was having a contraction and to push so was very detatched but I did push him out with little damage and no assistance which was positive. I couldn't feel my legs for a long time afterwards and was given a bed bath, which I could have done without!

He was born at 11.20am and I got out of bed for a wee at about 6pm and I was very wobbly!

Has any one encountered fast swelling legs with epidural? I had mobile epidurals with both my labours which were long and ended in EC. Sure the swelling didn't help and was caused by the epidural...?

I loved mine and will insist on one this time around also. My labour was induced, and I went from 0cm dilated to 5cm in an hour...the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced. I had been in hospital for a day and a half before that, with various induction methods not working. The baby's head was positioned so that her face was against my spine, which I think is my the pain was so bad. After the epi, the nurses positioned me in bed on my side which allowed the baby to turn. I couldn't have stayed in that position for 30 seconds without the epi. Anyway, I slept for 2 hours, then woke up and said I wanted to push. Baby was born 10 minutes later. Now I would like to skip the induction this time around, but I'm sure I'll have another epidural.

i gave birth with just gas and air with ds1 but was given an epidural after to deliver the plancenta. the worst thing was not being able to pick ds up when he was crying straight away as i couldn't reach his cot. had to call for a midwife to come and hand me ds and then again to put him back in cot. it was a long day.

I had one, totally positive birth experience.
It worked a treat, although had to be topped up many times.

Will definitely ask for one again this time.(the day before I go into labour I hope

I had an epidural with dd2, and although it took the intense pain away (induced with drip, because of meconium in the waters. Unfortunately it also lowered my bp so much that I kept passing out and feeling very sick. It was really frightening every time I came round, to realise I was in labour. But it all happened very quickly after that, although I did tear.

It is a very difficult thing to try and decide before you are in labour, I think. With dd1 I only used gas and air, but the drip made everything a lot more intense, and before I knew it I was gripping the MWs hand and begging for an epidural, despite having decided I didn't want one!

I think it is a good idea to keep your options open - but be aware of the downsides. The thing is everyone's births are so different, and everyones experiences of the pain relief is so different too.

Sorry, if I havn't helped at all! I hope that everything goes well for you.

I've never had an epidural (40+8) but I have put in several hundred (anaesthetist) so can help with the likelyhood of the downsides if you like.

A good leaflet can be found here It covers all the different types of pain relief but does epidurals in quite a lot of factual detail and page 14 has a good summary of the quantification of risk.

FWIW I would consider an epidural, knowing exactly about the risks, but wouldn't jump in to one. I don't think you can know how you will feel til it's happening and everyone is so different. Equally, friends have had epi's from the start and been delighted.

Whatever you choose will be right for you. Good luck!

I have had 3 epidurals with all 3 of my births. First one didn't work (it happens ) and I ended up with an em c-s under general aneasthetic.

Second time, I had got to a point where I was begging for another section (refused synto as I had had a bad expreience with it the first time since my epi didn't work). Lovely registrar talked me into the epi ('we'll need for a section anyway') and DD2 was born with forceps a couple of hours later - was delighted to get my VBAC! I was kept in for 24 hours, as epis make my BP go to the floor, but was fine after that. Also, the mw reckoned the anaesthetist gave me a whopping great dose for the epi, as he was determined that I wouldn't have to go through the same thing as with DD1.

Third time, was induced with synto (no pessaries as VBAC) so had an epi straight away. Lay on my side, went to sleep, woke about 4 hours later saying that I could feel some pressure and i thought I was ready to push (had one small strip on my right hand side where the epi wasn't working well, so could still feel what was going on). DD3 born just over an hour later, fantastic birth

Epidurals have been my saviour - I would not have managed my VBACs without them. However, wait and see how you get on. A friend of mine was also very anxious about the pain in labour - she had a beautiful baby boy last year as a water birth with just gas and air

I had an excellent experience with my (admittedly only one so far) epidural.

I was induced with prostin, ARM and syntocin - the works.

Back to back labour so relatively hard going (especially when combined with drip). I managed to stay upright for four hours then was offered some G&A - which landed me straight on the floor - my legs went completely. Within an hour of being on the bed I had lost all control. And was getting to the point where I so frightened of the next contraction I just couldn't relax in between.

So when the midwives left my DH and I alone to discuss my "pain management options" (they were pushing for pethidine), thankfully DH (who is a doctor) marched straight outside and shouted asked politely for someone to page the anaesthetist.

He arrived in ten minutes, placed the epi and within five contractions I was pain free - except for a window of pain on my right side, so had a pretty giant top up. It was excellent. I ate a massive lunch, slept for a few hours, pushed for an hour, and out she came. With no tears.

My point is (sorry, rambling), when the time came to push, I was calm, focused and got the job done. It was amazing - the obstetrician and I were cracking jokes throughout. And there was no fear, which I think was my greatest issue.

I fully intend to have one for every single other baby that comes along.

I was in labour for 20 hours, gas and air had not been working - made me feel sick - so had got by on breathing, but then it got too painful and I was only 5cms dilated...so I had an epidural and it certainly worked for me. I didn't even feel the needle going in and it worked so quickly too. I ended up having an emergency c-sec because another 4 hours on I was only 6cms dilated and DS was in distress and I didn't feel a thing when they cut me open.

i had no pain relief with my first labour (apart from two cocodramol) and was keen to do the same again. but after having been left alone unchecked after a dose of prostin for 8 hours in the induction suite where i went steadily crazy i really felt the pain second time around after they broke my waters. i found an epidural really calmed me down and there were no particular side effects. i was trying to avoid one at all costs but it wasn't really that bad at all for me. i would have one again if i thought i needed it but would try to manage without.

Was fine- stopped my bp spiralling up, dd heartrate stabilised and I wasn't sick anymore. Managed to deliver naturally and was as well had it as needed assisted third stage so would have ended up with one anyway.

Am definitely having one with no 2 .

Had four. One for a vaginal birth, and three for C-sections.

All fabulous and i would recommend them wholeheartedly!!

Long, slow labour with back-to-back presentation. Had epidural after 36 hours. Brilliant.

I had the "mobile epidural" that someone above mentioned, so you can feel contractions and you can walk and wee. Not all hospitals do these, I have no idea why not. They seem to remove many of the downsides of the total blocks.

I needed a lot of syntocinin (sp??) because exhausted and contractions were failing, which without epidural would have been unbearable.

I could regulate the amount of drug myself (actually, I think I had to ask the midwife when wanted it topped up, but felt in control), so I let it wear off to push.

In the end bullying drs insisted on prepping me for cs so I had full block and had to do the last pushes without being able to feel what I was doing. V difficult, and I would be v strongly motivated to avoid the non-mobile kind of epidural.

This time (17 weeks pg) working on getting foetus into good position for birth and planning a home birth, because felt that in better surroundings and with proper support the whole thing would have gone much more smoothly and wouldn't have needed the various interventions.

Ooooooooh loved loved loved my epidural!! Like someone else on this thread, gas and air made me vomit and breathing through the pain not enough after 12 hours of strong contractions.

I got some sleep, managed to eat and have a cup of tea and generally get back into the land of the living to push my daughter out. Even better, having a catheter meant I didn't even have to get up to go to the loo............