Epidural stories please?

Hi

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.

Thanks in advance!

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.

hi and congrats on your pregnancy!

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!

Good luck!

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 :o! 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.

Hey Dayl, congrats on your pregnancy!

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.

HTH.

SG
xo

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!

sorry forgot to add ds was born 3.25 pm so it didnt slow my labour or anything like that!

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.

THANK YOU!!!

Hey Dayl,

Congrats on the pregnancy!

I haven't given birth yet so can't comment... but I do think it'll be interesting to see what people have to say about the pethidene!

I've heard bad things about that too!

Its all a little bit scary, isn't it? Here's hoping we all make the right decisions... :D

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.

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

hey
I was told by my midwife that I had no choice but to have an epidural (I was very swollen and it was meant to reduce me blood pressure) because of my swelling the anesthetist tried three times before getting it right.... I was in so much pain I would say that its not worth it.
I now have alot of problems with my back because of my epidural but its up to you.