whos had an epidural before?

how did you feel when you got your sensations back? Did you have a sore back? Did it take you some time to recover when you came back from hospital?How long after does the epidural wear off?

sorry double post!

I had an epidural with DS2, I can't remember how long it took to wear off, but it wasn't long. My back was fine afterwards, there was a bit of a sting where it went in for a while and it felt a bit achy on and off for a few months, but it was really minor. There was no recovery time from having it for me. Once it wore off I was up and about and feeling like a million bucks :)

I didn't have a sore back at all. I think I felt okay afterwards, was a bit wobbly, but that was possibly due to the fact that I'd just been pushing for four hours. It felt like it took forever to wear off, I HATED it. Maybe a couple of hours? I can't really remember the exact time.

You won't find me recommending them ;)

Mine took a full 12 hours to fully wear off - during which time I was stuck lying on the bed in the labour room, unable to move and unable to have a shower or go to the toilet (I had a catheter in, which is a common thing with epis). I had to be sponged bathed by a male nurse who I had not met previously, which made me feel more than a little uncomfortable (even though he was very professional and nice). Not a pleasant experience for me, and one that I do not want to repeat. Once it wore off I felt like I had jelly legs for a while but that was it. Thankfully I had no back pain or anything like that.

um.. i felt fine once i got my feeling back, didnt really think much of it really. My back was a little soore but nothing to complain about. The epidural had no effect on my recovery time. i came home day 4 and i didnt even notice i had one done.
as for the wearing off... um i had it put in about.. 7:00pm, mia was born 8:08, was still numb until i went to sleep. They brought her in about 3am i think for a feed and i was back to normal then.

I had an epi at 11.00am, my OB let me rest for an hour and then I pushed DS out at 1.00pm and had skin to skin, BF etc, and then hopped off the table at about 3.00pm and had a shower unassisted. I could walk fine although the MW did insist on me being in a wheelchair to go back to my room. Mine was great, I could still feel the contractions and pushed for 45 mins. I had no back soreness afterwards and no catheter.

I had one with DD. I had it "turned off" before time to push so it had almost completely worn off by the time I started pushing so I could feel DD being born (highly recomend having it worn off before pushing). So by the time the stitches were done I was able to get up (a bit wobbly) & have a shower, go back to my room & admire my new baby girl. I had her at night time (10:11pm to be exact) so I wasn't doing any walking afterwards. By the time I got up for her next feed I was back to normal, no pain or wobbles etc & was able to walk down to the nursery to feed her just fine :)
I also didnt need a catheter (sp?), maybe they only do that if you have the epidural in for a long time? I'm sure someone will have some info on that for you.
To this day I've never had any pain etc in the area of my back where the epidural was inserted & no side effects from the epidural.

I WOULD have an epidural again. I asked for it with DS but didnt have time LOL

Can I also just add, I didnt think I could do it without the epidural which is why I asked for it the second time (DS's birth). The midwife kept telling me, "I think you can do it without the epidural, you're doing great" etc & I DID do it without the epidural. I think if you have a good support network around you then you will be able to get through without the pain relief drugs IF THATS WHAT YOU WANT. I just wanted to say that so you know.... we have more strength & a higher pain threshold than we think!

Wishing you all the best

I had one with DS1 and I wouldn't have one again. Don't get me wrong, there was no pain, but it was still awful. It led to me needing forceps and therefore an episotomy. It meant I had to have a catheter in for 24 hours which gives you a risk of UTI and is awful, and it made me feel awful afterwards. Now that I have birthed without one and know how much better the birth goes and how much better you feel afterwards, I'd never consider one again.

I suggest reading up about birth - New Active Birth is my favourite book on this topic - and prepare for a drug free birth. This is likely to get you the best outcome. GL.

I had one and had no problems at all. Not exactly sure how long it took to wear off, but it wasn't long enough for me to get uncomfortable with it.
I might have one again, but I'll see how I go this time around without one, purely because I want to get home asap and I have a feeling they make you stay in hospital a little longer if you'e had an epi.

I am with MantaRay. I will never want to have an epidural again. I absolutely screamed through mine, but the anethesist was a bit of a you know what so that probably didn't help. Unfortunately though, I still get pain in my back from it, and I have a scar :( um, as for when I felt normal.. I had it at about 11pm.. topped up again later on and I had dd at 8 in the morning. Then at about 5-6 pm I felt fully normal. But not sure whether that was because i'd had morphene in my drip plus endone tablets every few hours.

I had 3 hehe

The first I had an epi and a spinal block after 40 hours of labour, and it took a few hours to wear off. Because i had a spinal I couldn't move myself at all.
Chase it went in right at the end (I was 8cm dilated and refusing to push without it haha) and once it was turned off the feeling pretty much came back within the hour, and within 2 hours I was packing my bag to go home.
Ashton I had it and it was about 2 hours before I could stand, but I could move around on the bed fine with it and immediately after.

I had no pain with any and no back problems at all. The person putting it in gave me a local which was like a sting, I didn't feel the epi going in and the relief was wonderful.

I felt the need to push and didn't need any assistance delivering.

Tore quite bad with the first, but they put that down to the labour and him being my first. The second I had 3 stitches. The third I tore badly again but he was 11pounds with a 39cm head! lol

I had a cath with all 3 but no UTI or anything :)

I would have another one in a heart beat. I am a sook for pain, and it was so nice to birth without pain that I personally can't see why I could go through pain when I can go without.

I had an epidural too as i went in for an emergency cesearean and wanted DH to be there. I would say it was a very scary experience to feel your body going numb, bit by bit. I remember saying " i just want to feel my bum " (how bizarre i know!!) when i couldnt feel it any more. I felt trapped and had to concentrate on the fact that i could move my arms so moved them around freely and told poor DS who wanted to hold my hand that i would rather move them around!! Umm took ages to wear off, not sure how long. Had the catheter in as well, not sure how long either coz my DD was in special care so didnt get to see her for a while...i unfortunetly got a UTI and they wouldnt believe me when i told them so i was sent for unnessary scans, only to find out..low and behold..its a UTI!! so i was given antibiotics intraveineously (spelling!! sorry) and that wasnt plesant when attempting to breast feed. So not to sure what i will be doing 2nd time round yet..luckily dont have to worry about that just yet.