Walking epidural

[onthefly]

What's the deal with walking epidurals?
Are they really possible? I've heard talk of them but know of noone who's had one. And midwives have told me it's not really possible.
So how does it work?

[BellyBelly]

Its just low dose epidural. Some will do it, but most wont because the anaethetist has to keep coming in to top it up.

[onthefly]

So how does it work exactly? Is it effective - I thought the point of an aneasthetic in the spine was to remove all sensation.

[allycat06]

From my understanding it's just a lower dose, enough to block pain receptors but doesn't reach the nerves? I've read a lot about them but never actually heard of anyone having one.

[Traveller]

I have no personal experience with them, but have been assured by a few midwives that have seen them in action that they are possible and very helpful. Despite the name, most women will not walk with them, but would be able to go onto a birth ball, or on all fours, and retain the pushing sensation to a greater degree than with a full block. However as Kelly says they are more work for the anaesthetist, and therefore not very common.

[allycat06]

I've heard of ones where the patient can regulate the dose...probably don't exist here though.

[~me~]

I've heard of ones where the patient can regulate the dose...probably don't exist here though.

Yep they do..still like a normal epidural, only difference is you hold the trigger for release of the pain relief and it will only release every 15mins no matter how many times you push the button inbetween
I had it for my last two births..much better than the first full block epidural, I had sensation to push and they also turned it off when I was dialated enough. Recovery felt quicker too.
Talk to your OB on which anaethesist they use and get in touch with them beforehand.

[allycat06]

Interesting! So could you move around Heather? We're planning a homebirth next time around but I'm just curious

[damprye]

I had a walking epidural

The doctor asked me how the epi was and I told him that I still had some sensation but that it had taken the edge of dramatically. I went from screaming to simple "ows" during contractions and it also stopped my body from bearing down. He asked if I would like a higher dose but I said no because i still wanted to feel my son. It did wear off rather quickly each time but my midwife topped it up for me each time I asked her to.
I did infact get up and walk, it was a long labour and there was no way I wanted a catheter so i had to get up to use the toilet lol.

[~me~]

Interesting! So could you move around Heather? We're planning a homebirth next time around but I'm just curious

I don't think so..I didn't try Lol! I could certainly feel the contractions alot more and remember thinking this epidural is not working!
You are still hooked up like a normal epidurual so I am pretty sure you would have to be super careful if you could. I would imagine it would also depend on how much you had to start with as in what the anaesthetist gave you first dose?

[onthefly]

Interesting, thanks all.
It's strange that midwives would say you can't do it. Maybe the anaesthetists at their hospitals just didn't want to...?

Is it very precise? Can they guarantee you'll still have sensation & be able to move, or is it a bit of luck? I ask purely out of curiosity.

[damprye]

Mine was out of luck. The anaesthetists just didn't put enough in but we were happy with where it was at.

[Cherished]

The hospital I am birthing at are happy to give a lower dose so that you still have sensation and you can still walk if desired. They spoke to us about it at the antenatal class and said it's pretty common. They actually don't like you to be completely lacking sensation because you still need to know when to breath your baby down hence the lower dose. I'm pretty sure you can still have a shower too.

[*Ali*]

I had one when I had my DD at King Eddies. It was great, I was up and moving around, walking laps of the ward trying to bring down baby. The only down side was I stubbed my toe on the IV pole and didnt realise so was dripping blood all over the floor.

[Mother Goose]

Heather, I'm interested in you saying that. I have had lengthy discussions with an anesthetist at work who tells me about remifentanyl PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) which is used in NSW. It sounds wonderful to me but I've not found anyone here in Vic who does it. What you're describing doesn't sound too disimilar to what Darryn told me - so I'd love to know where you birthed and who your Ob was!

MG

[~me~]

MG: I had my babies in Frances Perry. My OB is Susan His**** who used David Vote as the anaesthetist for DD. He was pretty good.

[Mother Goose]

Thanks Heather - I might talk to Darryn about him!

[Twin Sister]

I had one by accident. They gave me the epidural and were surprised that I was still moving around after. I was numb enough that my contactions no longer hurt (could still feel the tightness of them) but had enough feeling to be able to walk....though they put a catheter in anyways. I even got up into a squat position for part of my pushing. After delivery I had really bad tearing and they had turned the epidural off to help me push so they had to top me off. This time they put more in I guess cuz I was so numb I could no longer move my legs at all. It was a really horrid feeling and I much prefered the lower dose.