Just after some experiences with epidurals from those who have had them in multiple births.

I'd due with #2 in 3.5 weeks and with DD1 I tried the gas (made me vomit violently and pretty much instantly) and then had an epidural later on however... the epidural didn't give me the calm effect I thought it would, I still had considerable pain down my left leg and then when they topped it up they got me to roll on my side to try to get the drug to go down that leg which then resulted in the area straight across the front of my belly having pain. So i didn't get the "lets have a nap" experience that an epi is sometimes described as. On the bright side I could feel contractions to be able to push and that part was over in 6 pushes plus i felt nothing with the after birth or subsequent stitching.

My question is should i expect the same kind of outcome if I go with an epidural for #2 or have others had this experience with one epidural and a different experience with an epidural in another birth?? I guess I'm wondering if i even bother with having this as an option in my mind. My mum, DH etc have said just to try it again if i want to as it might have just taken enough of the edge off that i could deal with it but I guess I'm just unsure..

I asked my midwife at my last appointment and she said that it may not necessarily be the same outcome but that I could try pethadine instead. I steered away from pethadine with DD as I'd seen a friend give birth after having it and she was "out of it!" and baby seemed a bit floppy when born however she said it has different effects for everyone..