Epidural stories please?

I had a fairly good experience as far as the epidural goes - no pain while it was going in, it gave me relief after about 10 mins and when I got a "window" of pain the booster helped alot, no side affects etc... however, I do believe in my case that all the events before and after the epi are important too. I'm a classic case of cascade of intervention. Induced before my body was ready, synto drip causing hard and fast contractions, posterior baby, midwife not really offering any support through back pain, in the end I asked for an epidural. Ended up on my back, catheter in, and in the end - failure to progress and a C/S. Definately not the outcome I was after- drug free calm active birth.

This time around I have read New Active Birth, have a doula, and have fully educated myself about pain relief options so if I had my time over things would be very different. I will not be having an epidural this time around- in my case I really think it was the deciding factor for me ending up having a c/s. If I had been able to stay upright and active I have no doubt that I would have been able to birth my baby. Just my story hun but I agree with MR - check out other pain relief options, and there is a book called Easing Labour Pain that is fantastic. Good luck.

OP - I used pethidene in my first birth and LOVED it. I had no negative experiences with it at all (except that it can only be given every 4 hours). It must have been bloody good because apparantly I told DH that I was going to divorce him and marry the pethidene. I had no nausea or headaches afterward which I believe some people can have.

Mantaray - One of the mums in my mothers group hyponobirthed and she said she felt very little to no pain whatsoever. I thought it was a bit far fetched and a bit airy-fairy but it might be worth a read - thank you, I had forgotten about that.

Tanstar - Thanks for your book recommendation. I will go and look that up in the library on Saturday as I'm going there anyway.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...als-real-risks

Here's a good article.

Although I've said that I want to avoid the epidural again...I think it's important to add that at the time I certainly didn't regret the epidural, I did what I had to do to cope. It was everything that happened afterwards that I don't want to happen again.

I think that it all bothers me more now than it did at the time.

I am trying to look at a drug free labour as quite literally "short term pain for long term gain"! And crossing my fingers that the labour really will be a lot shorter 2nd time around. Really trying to educate myself on how to breathe through contractions etc. I don't have the time or money to do a proper Calmbirthing course unfortunately. I am very nervous though!

As for pethidine...well, my experience of that was very negative. I felt spaced out, out of control, slightly nauseous and I found it didn't do anything for pain relief at all.

Sorry!!!

I was induced due to signs of pre-eclampsia and had an epi very soon after the contractions started as they were so intense and i had no break in between them to rest. Having said that by the time the epi was in i was already 10cm and ready to push - all after being in labour for just over an hour!!
I had no side effects from the epi and i could feel the contractions and when to push, i also got on my hands and knees to push, but ended up on my back as i was getting nowhere on all fours.
I was able to get up and have a shower about an hour after the birth.
I have no regrets about having the epi, it was great, however I do wonder if I could have managed the pain better had I not been induced, had such a quick labour (2 hours 5 minutes!) and been able to get used to the pain.
If I have another I will try my hardest not to be induced and see how we go from there, but if I find I can't manage I wouldn't hesitate to have another.

Wow Curly, isnt it amazing how different things work for different people. To be honest, as soon as my contractions started everything I had learnt about breathing etc went out the window and I used everything I had just to survive childbirth. I'll have a read of your article - thank you ! I pretty much had a drug free labour as I only went for the pethidene in the last 4 hours (in labour for 23 hours). I think it was out of pure exhaustion that I went for the pethidene in the end but glad I did. I am also hoping that second time around is a LOT faster!

Thank you so much Adkins ..... wow, one hour, I wish!!!

Sorry if there is anyone out there reading this who is yet to give birth for the first time, I'm not trying to scare you but the moral of this story is to remember your breathing and dont get lost in your contractions like I did. That was my undoing. Instead of embracing each contraction and concentrating I dreaded each one and screamed like a banchee through each. I'm determined not to do that again so I'm trying to read everything I can this time.

I'll just chip in on the pethadine topic (yep I also wanted a lovely drug free birth and ended up having the works! Pethadine, epi and emergency c-section). I didn't want the peth because I'd heard bad stories about it, but I was so desperate for something when I got to hospital I had it and found it great. It was 4am and I was so exhausted, the midwife turned off the lights and left us alone for a few hours to rest, it took the edge of the pain and I did get some rest for a couple of hours, plus no side affects that I knew of.

Just something re pain and pethidine - I was in no pain and told I was "too relaxed" for pethidine when the midwives and DH decided I was having drugs now. So maybe that's something to consider, trying to relax, and seeing if that's the natural pain relief you need.

(Yes, I know, I am a freak who can be relaxed in labour, but it's worth a try!)

My experience is somewhat different as I had a c/s due to placenta praevia, so didn't have a lot of choice on the epidural/spinal thing.

It is one of my main drivers for a vbac next time around. The spinal caused me more misery than the c/s itself.

I HATED the catheter. I ended up with several UTIs in the months following and I've never had one before the catheter.

I had to have 3 needles - the first didn't go properly, the second worked but didn't block all sensation and the third was put in higher and worked perfectly. And for the record, I didn't have a dodgy anaesthetist, he was mortified about my later issues and my ob said this was the first time in a decade of working with him he'd had a patient with any of my problems. (So it's probably my dodgy back!).

I wasn't able to have my DD overnight (my c/s was at 8pm after lengthy delays and she went to the nursery once my DP went home) and although she was brought to me as soon as she was awake it wasn't the same.

I got the dreaded spinal fluid leak that was referred to as a risk in antenatal classes but was massively under-described! It didn't occur until 2 days later. It was the most intense and horrible pain. I couldn't lift my head above the horizontal without feeling like it was going to explode, the painkillers they gave me made me throw up (try sitting up to throw up and then having an exploding head) and I couldn't bf my DD properly so had the only attachment trouble we ever experienced because of this. I couldn't even hold her properly until it was fixed.

I had to have an epidural again for the anaesthetist to do the blood patch and fix the spinal fluid leak. It worked (within minutes) but it meant having to go through the whole needle in the back thing again! And I had to lie flat for an hour before in the delivery suite before I could go back to my DD in maternity (altho I did get to watch TV on my own and they had Foxtel at least!).

I am a walking example of why NOT to have an epidural!!! Bring on my drug-free VBAC (but not just yet)!

I HIGHLY recommend reading this thread: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...f-methods.html.

I read it and printed parts of it out to read over and over again when pg with DS2. The relaxation methods really work. I used deep abdominal breathing and I got my DH to rub my lower back throughout each contraction and I coped really well. I was having 3 minute apart contractions and was able to smile through them! When I was at that stage with DS1 I was out of my mind with pain and literally out of my mind on gas. Once you understand how your body works during labour and learn ways to work with your body, you will have a very empowering experience.

Personally I don't regret having an epidural one bit. I know I have a low pain threshold, I was tired and 10 days overdue so when my waters broke and after 6 hours I was still only 1cm, they wanted me on the drip to speed things up. My relatives that have used pethadine have had out-of-body experiences and the idea of gas freaked me out, so epidural was definitely the way to go for me.

I was fortunate, the local was only a small pinch and although the anaethesiologist fed the epidural in crookedly the first time, she removed it and put it back in place fine the second time. It worked fantastically and was a godsend for me. I could still feel the contractions and tightening so I didn't need them to tell me when they were coming...in fact in the end the midwife was asking me to tell her when I felt the next contraction coming along.

It's all about deciding what YOU want for a birth hon. It was the right way for me to go, but as others have pointed out, there are tons of other pain relief options that might work for you too.

I was induced 5 days over and asked for an Epi half an hour after being induced. Not because it hurt but because I didn't think there was any need to feel pain. I wanted to be alert and pain free for DS birth. I was given a local first and felt nothing. All over and done with in 5 min. Took about 15 min to work. My legs went a bit numb and I had a few problems getting off the loo once or twice but DH helped me. I was able to walk around, sit, lean, have a shower pretty much everything. I was also able to top myself up as I felt pain returning.

I ended up with an emergency c section 14 hours later due to other complications. I will have an Epi for the next one too.

This is a very interesting thread :) Its great to hear everyone's differnet stories & how the pain relief worked for everyone differently.

I had an epi & don't regret it. However, next time I want to try for a drug-free birth. This decision hasn't got anything to do with the epi at all.

Though you did mention mobility during/after birth. I couldn't move off the bed for hours. My left leg was fine about 30 minutes after birth but my right leg was completely numb for about 2 or so hours.

Someone mentioned pain in the epi site, I also get this every day. Its not painful as such but its noticeable.

I forgot to mention that for an hour after the epi was inserted I could still feel the contractions just without the pain however I couldn't feel anything after that. My MW had to tell me when to push!

Dayl I had an epi with Tori, and it was the best thing for me, I was exhausted and hysterical from lack of sleep. I had what they termed a walking epi and was still up and mobile for the entire time, it allowed me to rest which I was desperate for. I do think it slowed things down though, an I had to deliver laying flat on my back with my legs in stirrups which wasnt something I wanted. However I dont regret having it for a minute.

With Liam, I didnt have one basically because not long after I arrived at the hospital I was ready to deliver, and the anaesth. was in theatre. I am glad thought that I experienced delivering a baby without one- my labour second time round was much quicker (something to keep in mind). I felt much more in control, I didnt have to have a catheter (which I hated first time) and I delivered on all 4's.

If I was to have another baby I wouldnt rule out having another epi, but I dont think I would go in having already decided to have one either.

I had an epidural, but not because I felt that I needed pain relief. (It's a long story, I won't bother you with it here :lol:, lets just say I had a pretty badly malpositioned baby in there) I had a 10 hour first stage, with a posterior baby, and pushed for over two hours before having the epi. I didn't occur to me in that time to ask for anything more than gas, I was coping pretty well with the discomfort. I am grateful for the epi, because there is no doubt that without it I would have ended up with a c/s.

BUT, I will do everything I can to avoid having one again. I hated how it felt after I had it, I hated that I couldn't get up until it wore off (and one leg took awhile). I didn't have any physical sickness, I just really disliked how it made me feel. I sooooo don't see myself ever asking for one with future births, I hated it that much. I hate peth too, so I'll just stick to the whistle LOL.

I had a epidural and it only worked on my belly but not in between my legs so i was still in agony. I knew sometimes they might not always work but i still wanted it. I think if it hurt this much with one, imagine what it would be without one so i dont regret it and il probably do it next time round. i found it didnt really hurt going in they give you a local first then the epidural. i could still feel my contractions but not the pain in my belly so i was still in control

Hi

1st epi for cs made me spew, shake and feel very hazy. Just for labour pain relief your dose isn't high enough (usually) to experience these side effects. As long as you can still feel your legs and get up to pee most mums seem to be happy with them. You do need IV access and some find that epi and IV slow or even stop contractions.
I had my epi in from Fri night to Mon morn, I used it 3 times post op and begged them to take it out all day Sat, they forgot about me Sat night shift, by Sun I had a fever, antibiotics made me spew, rashy and hives (even in my stretch marks) I was miserable and wasn't helped out of bed and hadn't showered (I felt gross!) Mon morn the pain of having it removed and the relief combined made me spew again! This is a pretty extreme example based on a cs though so don't freak out :D

2nd epi had laboured nearly 24hrs and gave into the epi as a compromise as was getting pressured to have cs. Was not in pain, just a bit tired and really annoyed that I gave in. Contractions slowed and weakened (But also could be cause I was confined to bed and monitoring, starving and dehydrated!!!) Still ended up with cs OB bascially arrived to harrass within mins of epi going in. Still had same reaction to drug BUT this time had removed within 24hrs and much less back pain (YIPEE!:dance:)

Planning vba2c for #3 and definately avoiding hospital and epis!

I found the epidural necessary but I also had horrible midwives who didn't care that I was afraid of the pain, had I had better care I don't think I wouldn't needed it. But that's a different story!

The epidural took all of the pain away and gave me a chance to sleep (I had a 30 hour labour) which was great, but my mobility was impaired, it was really difficult for me to stand up so exP and a midwife had to help me to the toilet. I was also stuck lying down while giving birth, 'Pushing up hill' so to speak! When the epi wore off, I was given a narcotic instead of more of the epidural fluid so that only helped very marginally, and of course after the narcotic they couldn't give me any more of the epidural fluid. I ended up being in more pain at the end because I was accustomed to the pain, I didn't have the endorphins built up through the whole labour. It made me so tired too, I passed out as soon as DD was born. Had I not had the epi, I might've been able to stay awake and bond with her.

My feelings are, from my own experience, if it's necessary for you then do it but if you can manage without it, that's even better.

I am so scared of pain and spent far to much time concentrating on the pain that may come from having the epidural but there was no pain...i felt a bit frustrated, a little bit like i was in a closed room with no way out because you feel it working. Slowing your feet go numb and it travels up your body. I remember saying i want to move my bottom but i was told no i couldnt...so i concentrated on the fact that i could move my head and did this. I cant remember when it wore off... i think while i slept as i had it at about 11:30 pm. No pain in the area where i had it. I did shake uncontrollably for about 2 hours afterwards and a warm blanket helped ease this.
I dont regret having the epidural as i was able to have DH with me in the room during the cesarean. I wasnt able to control my body but my mind was in control. Goodluck with ur decision