I'm only 13 weeks pregnant but it is soon enough after the birth of my little boy for me to remember labour in vivid detail and am toying with the idea of having an epidural this time around.
Please share your stories with me (both good and bad to help me make an informed decision) regarding your epidural experience. Would you do it again or what would you do differently next time?
I'm particularly interested in your mobility during labour and after labour. The thing I loved most about not having an epidural the first time is that I was up, showered, dressed and ready for visitors 45 minutes after the birth but believe this may not be the case with an epidural.
Of course this is something I will discuss with my Obstetrician closer to the birth but want a few "real-life" stories to back up my decision.
I had an epidural. I am 33 weeks now with my second pregnancy and I want to avoid the epidural again. DS was posterior and the midwife told me it would be a much "kinder labour" this way. It really was heaven being relieved from the pain.
However.
I was confined to the bed because my legs were numb and I couldn't walk, and also DS was being monitored. I had an anterior lip on my cervix so when I finally got to 10cms I was still waiting for the lip to pull back which took another couple of hours I think. When it was finally time to push, I couldn't feel how hard to push so after 2 hours of pushing DS was yanked out by forceps (I say yanked because they had to pull him all the way out, he was "stuck").
I had a second degree tear and DS has a slight scoliosis in his neck from the birth (not serious but I need to take him to an osteopath fairly regularly to make sure it's all okay). When I tried to get up to have a shower afterwards I passed out before I even sat up properly, so was given a sponge bath on the bed in the delivery room and wheelchaired down to the maternity ward.
DS had to go to the nursery because I wasn't allowed out of bed in case I passed out again so couldn't tend to him if he needed me. I had to call the midwives if I needed to go the toilet in case I passed out again. It was quite a surreal feeling being all by myself in a room, knowing I had just given birth but my baby was down the hall. It just didn't feel real. They brought him in a few hours later and it was so strange, I'd kind of forgotten exactly what he looked like because I'd only seen him for a couple of hours before we had to be separated. (This was late at night, he was born at 10.30pm so I didn't get down to maternity till after 1.00am...so no visitors afterwards and DH had to go home because I had to be put in a proper hospital bed rather than in a private room double bed because I wasn't mobile).
The recovery from the forceps and tearing was awful, I couldn't sit comfortably for a couple of weeks, going to the toilet was incredibly traumatic, and I got constipated, which made it even worse.
The pain would have to be really bad for me to think that it was worth risking going through all that again. I hated being separated from my baby more than anything else.
I had an epidural with my first and although it was good at the time and let me rest i could not feel any of the contractions when it came time to push and could not stand up to help with delivery and so had to have a vontuse(sp?) delivery which at the time i didnt care cause i wanted to get him out but after feeling what it was like to birth without it with ds2 i wish i hadnt with my first.
Remember your labour is supossed to get quicker the next time, mine was 14hrs with the first and 5 with the second so you dont have to cope for as long.
I had an epidural (I was "too relaxed" for other drugs). I wouldn't have another. I'm not up for sharing my story right now although it is in the labour and birth forum and in my pregnancy diary.
I guess labour didn't hurt me, pushing didn't hurt me, so drugs were something I had been constantly refusing all the day and I didn't need. If it is painful then it can help, ideally (and I had an ideal epidural) you don't feel the contractions but you do feel the birth canal, and the movement there tells you when to push so you aren't being dictated to (although your body has been hampered in giving birth so you have to think about pushing, it's not doing it "perfectly" without thinking as pre-drugs was). Although I was on a bed I was able to move around a little bit and the midwives held all the wires and drips and stuff so I could shuffle about and get comfortable for pushing. So I couldn't walk around but I wasn't on my back screaming IYKWIM.
I was so totally affraid and against having an epidural, but in the end i had one. It worked fairly quickly for me and i was able to sleep for about an hour which was great! the worst part about it was i was on my back to push which i didnt want, it slowed everything down and i had to have forceps and i couldnt move my legs for ages after and had to be wheeled up to my room and wasnt able to shower till the next day! So it wasnt the experience i wanted!
I really want to avoid one next time, so am looking to birth in a birthing centre!
My advice would be just wait and see how you go, your labour may be quick and not very painfull! Keep your options open! And listen to your heart!
Thank you so much for your taking the time to write out your stories, I really appreciate it. All your stories reflect what I have over and over again and what has been stopping me from making a decision one way or the other.
The mobility both during and after birth is really important to me.
I couldnt bear to be away from my newborn so soon after the birth like in Curly's case ......
I had an epidural with #2. Although it releaved me of the terrible back pain i had, i would not have one again.
First of all they put it in wrong to start with so had to take it out and put it in a different spot. Which has left me with perminant nerve damage in my right leg.
I was confined to the bed and couldn't feel or move my legs at all which i abosolutely hated.
Although they did turn it right down at the end so i could push. I felt the urge to push and i felt DS coming out. It was such a surreal feeling. I felt the pressure but not the pain. And because they turned it right down i was able to get up and move within 30 minutes of the birth.
But give me labour pain any day now, i'd never have another epidural.
It's really good to think through these things now, good on you!
I put a lot of thought into an epidural for my second labour. I didn't have one with my first, but I had a very long and traumatic experience. I was so exhausted afterwards that I didn't bond with my DS, I felt nothing for him. It took me months to recover (I lost a lot of blood) and it was a couple of weeks after his birth before I could start to feel slightly happy.
I decided that with my second labour I would like an epidural so that I wouldn't feel that exhaustion again. I wanted to be able to be well rested and to enjoy my baby. I did a lot of asking around and research before I decided to go ahead. I also practiced relaxation techniques through most of the pregnancy so the first part of my labour was actually quite easy.
When I got to 5cm I had an epidural, it went smoothly, though it worried me when the anethesist said he'd never have one ! I started shaking pretty soon after it went in because my body was numb and it thought I was cold. Once I got warmed up I was fine. I passed the time by chatting with my DH & our lovely midwife. I could still feel the contractions, but they didn't hurt and I could feel when things were progressing which I liked. The epi wore off when it was time to push and I was able to push my DS2 out within 10 minutes with no help required. I couldn't move afterwards, but it was nighttime anyway so I just went to sleep with my brand new bub in the crib next to me. I was woken by a midwife to move rooms and I could get up by then and shower.
All in all I had a great experience and wouldn't change a thing. The only downside is that I occasionally get a vague ache in the epidural site, but it doesn't really bother me.
I hope this helps and I hope you find the answer that suits you.
I had an epidural with my first son, and birthed my second son without one. Having done it both ways, I can honestly say that I wouldn't consider having an epidural again. The difference between how I felt after each birth is amazing.
The first time I was confined to bed (as I was from the moment I had the epidural). I coudn't even get up to have a shower for a few hours after the birth, and even then I needed to be helped. I had a catheter in for 24 hours, then had to show the nurse my next 3 wees, and had to wee within a certain number of hours from catheter removal. I felt like an invalid and didn't even change a nappy for 2 or 3 days. This wasn't helped by lots of pain from the stitches from the episiotomy which was needed as the epidural, as it often does, slowed labour, lowered mine and bubs bp and made my pushing ineffective. So bub went into foetal distress and forceps were needed - which almost always means episiotomy. I was really sore for weeks afterwards.
The second time I went into labour after being really ill with vomitting for 4 days. I was dehydrated. Yet after the birth (with just gas) I felt amazing. I felt well and was immediately walking around, able to get straight into the shower when I was ready. I really felt like I hadn't just given birth. I had a small tear, but no pain from it at all - didn't even need pain meds at all. I felt so amazing, especially compared to my first birth.
Nope, I would definitely not have an epidural again.
Wow, you girls all had great after-care! I couldn't move thanks to a spinal and was just given a rope ladder thing at the end of my bed and told to use that to pull myself up! No-one bothered to help me get around, I was expected to walk alone the next morning just so I could eat, let alone go to the loo! And showering? Sponge baths? I wish! It was the morning after the day after I gave birth I managed to have a quick bath, because I had a nice midwife on that night who wanted to help and held DS while I bathed (at 4am!)
If I'd have known that you get looked after with one then maybe I wouldn't be so down on them LOL - but still wouldn't have another! So that's another consideration; what is the care like? Not just the policy but what if you have a nasty midwife who doesn't like you (as I did for the days)?
Good Points For Me
The IDEA of an epidural was immensely comforting while I was pregnant and freaking out a bit about the labour.
I had been in pain since 28 weeks pregnant with an unstable pelvis. I also had a posterior baby and a very long pre-labour/labour of 2.5 days and very little sleep. I wanted a rest and an epidural was the ONLY way I was going to get one. Those two hours were the only two hours in nine months (before and after having DD) that I was totally pain-free.
I was able to shower shortly after the birth and walk to my room.
I had a forceps birth (after 2.5 hours of pushing) but only two tiny stitches.
Bad Points For Me
I had to be flat on my back for the pushing holding my legs up against my shoulders. I believe this did my unstable pelvis a huge amount of damage and resulted in me being unable to walk, stand or bend without quite considerable pain for six months after the birth. That didn't hurt at the time (because of the epidural) but I can't even get into that position now a year later!
I think it's good to weigh up all the pros and cons now but I would also look into some natural pain management techniques too. There's a fantastic book by Juju Sundin and Sarah Murdoch that gives very practical ways that you can manage your labour and those techniques worked brilliantly for me for the first 2.5 days LOL!
You don't need to make a final decision now. See how the labour goes.
I had an epidural and although I was aiming for a drug free labour, it didn't turn out that way, but I have no regrets.
I was induced (due to high BP and low fetal movement) and had hardly any time between contractions, first contraction at 9.00am, yelling for epi at 10.30am, rested for an hour, pushed for 45 mnins and pushed out DS at 1.00pm!
I could still feel the contractions, and pushed of my own accord, no directed pushing from my OB or MW. My epi was the perfect strength, I even got on my hands and knees to push but that didn't suit, so turned back over to my back and pushed him out that way.
I even walked off the delivery table and had a shower unassisted. Keeping in mind I had DS at 1.00pm, I had to have a wee by 5.00pm or I had to have a catheter.....I wee'd at 4.55pm!
Next time, I'd like to go into labour by myself and attempt a drug free labour, but my epi was fantastic for my first labour.
hi,
i had a very traumatic birth with dd no drugs no gas a 3rd degree tear- i was screaming my head off at my dp 2 help me iwas very stressed and was disapointed in my birth. i had ds 11weeks ago and going into the labour i told my midwife i was planning on an epidural-i wanted a calm birth but still wanted to feel him and my body telling me what to do, so waters broke 4am got to hosp at 6am was dealing with it very nicely got too 1pm and decided to have the epidural, i was already unable to walk around- could only stand by my bed as i was hooked 2 ctg bub was stressed and they didnt want to risk anything, so epidural was inserted and only worked on right side so they pullled it out and started again so i ended up having a semi spinal... was fantastic i was able to feel my contractions and the urge to push... down side was the swelling in my legs and feet after i got out of bed 2hrs after i spent that whole time bonding wit bubs anyway. i had to be aided in the shower my swelling was there 4 three weeks after birth... i now have a lump where my epi went in and it hurts at times... but i was able to watch & feel bubs head coming out it was a beautiful thing and evn tho i have some side effects that flare up now and then i would def have another one!
i also think its gr8 that u researching and gettin ideas. at the end of the day do whats comfortable for you and wat u need -go for wat makes u happy and calm! all the best and wishing u a very hh preg!
I had an epidural for my DD (my first bub) and don't regret it for a minute.
I was exhausted and in so much pain as DD was posterior, I'd been in labour for 20 hours and was done with it! The relief was wonderful, I could have kissed the anethetist!
In the end I had an emergency c-section as DD was distressed, so I had to recover from surgery so I can't really comment on a vaginal birth recovery after an epi.
Good luck with your decision, I'd be interested to hear what others say.
Wow, thank you to everyone who has responded. I didnt expect so many stories to come forth!!!
I think I'm shying away from the epidural at this point and might just stick with the pethidene but still welcome more stories if you have one to tell.
TD, have you considered something like hypnobirthing as an alternative to drugs? Some friends of mine have had great experience with that. I didn't use it, but found that breathing well through the contractions made a huge difference. If you read something like New Active Birth it is a huge help for learning about optimal positioning etc and all of this makes it much easier to get through the pain.
Epidural stories please?
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! I started shaking pretty soon after it went in because my body was numb and it thought I was cold. Once I got warmed up I was fine. I passed the time by chatting with my DH & our lovely midwife. I could still feel the contractions, but they didn't hurt and I could feel when things were progressing which I liked. The epi wore off when it was time to push and I was able to push my DS2 out within 10 minutes with no help required. I couldn't move afterwards, but it was nighttime anyway so I just went to sleep with my brand new bub in the crib next to me. I was woken by a midwife to move rooms and I could get up by then and shower. 
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