Can you please post your epidural stories?

There are soooo many stories about natural/no drug childbirth, but I'd really like to know about childbirth with an epidural? I know most people on here are pro-no drugs, but I'm hoping there are a few out there willing to share your epidural story.

Thanks!

Stalking this thread as I may be having an elcs at 38wks and will have a spinal ....

I have had epidurals with all three of my labours, and let me tell you I wouldn't hesitate to ask for one again.

There were no complications as a result of my epis - the only baby that needed ventouse and forceps was DS1 and that was nothing to do with the epidural, it was because the cord was wrapped around his neck and he was in distress.

The ONLY concern I have about epidurals is that there is the very small possibility of a spinal tap, but I've not experienced that myself *touch wood*.

I'm probably rare on here lol, I have noticed myself that a lot of women are wanting non-drug births, but I'll probably be begging for another epi and that's okay with me.

I had an epidural with my first.

Id been in hospital with constant contractions for 12 hours and wasnt coping or progressing past 3cm. My midwife actually said too me do you want one?!

It felt like it was done straight away, i felt NO pain when the procedure was done but mine only worked down one side at first so they came back and re sited it.

I then progressed to fully dilated in about 5 hours. When it came to push i was still dosed up and didnt feel any of the pain but could feel when to push. Pushing lasted about 30 mins with no intervention at all.

And that was that.

I had to have a catheter and stayed overnight in the ward. I got up there about 7.30pm .. Couldnt move out of bed until morning but that was ok i had everything i needed right to hand. Went home the next morning and was fine.

To me it was a nice experience, I know to some it might be seen as unnecessary but it really helped me progress in a calm and relaxed way i just wasnt coping with the pain, im a wimp essentially.


This time round im torn. I could go in and try and follow the same pattern. Or im thinking Id like to be in the water for a bit, but I just dont think I want to go through the whole thing feeling everything im not that kind of person .. so if i put myself in the position of being on the midwife led unit in the pool they might just make me go and go until the end without the epidural.

Im a bit confused really.

Thank you everyone!

I also had a WONDERFUL experience with my epidural. My water broke during the night at 38+5, but it was only a small leak so thought it was just normal vaginal discharge. Got some more in the morning so DH and I went to L&D to have it checked. I had no contraction and was only 1 cm dilated, so I was given oxytocin. I was hoping for a drug-free birth, but kept an open mind. Good thing I did! They started the drip at 1:44pm, and by 9pm, I was in serious pain with 100% back labor, and only 4 cm, so I asked for the epidural. I got it around 10ish. I didn't feel a thing when he put it in, and all this back pain and leg pain just vanished!! I could still feel my legs and move freely. I was even able to sleep a little!! By midnight, I was 10cm and ready to push!! So in my case, the epidural sped up the labor; I went from 4 to 10 in 2 hours, and without pain. I could feel the pressure increasing down there as the time went by, so I knew my little girl was getting closer and closer. I started to push at 00:10 am (and I knew when to push, I felt the contractions, but without the pain) and at 00:48 am, Zoe was in my arms Less than 1 hour later, she had fed and I was enjoying a very warm and relaxing shower, standing up. I also quickly became the master of my own bladder again! The epidural made me enjoyed the labor and the birth of my daughter so much more, I'm ready for another one It was also a blessing for my DH, because seeing me in pain and knowing there's very little he can do to help made him feel so helpless and sad. After I got the epidural, he was smiling again and helped me a lot when I was pushing. Zoe was born with no complications and scored 7 and 9 for Apgar (1 and 5 minutes). I don't know how my next labor will be like, but if the pain becomes too much, I will not hesitate to get an epidural again!! Hope my story helps

I had an epidural with my second birth (first was ecs). At first it didn'twork so the aneathatist came back and gave it a wiggle, but it was still WONDERFUL!!! I had been in labour for 25 hours by the time I got it and was exhausted, and it gave me a chance to rest. It didn't take the pain away but made it so much more comfortable and I feel this helped give me the energy to push.

I am expecting to have another this time but will wait and see how it feels as every labour is different. For me personally I hate the 'out of control' feeling drugs like pethadene give me, and found gas and air did little apart from gave me something to focus on.

Putting the needle in was a bit uncomfortable but nothing compared to the contractions I was having. I could have kissed the aneathatist once it kicked in properly!!

I do admire the people who do it naturally but know that I am far too soft!! If there's help out there I will take it in regards to pain!

Whatever you decide good luck.

I can't help on the epidural front but I had a spinal after having DS as I had to get stitched up in theatre. It was great! A couple of local anaesthetic injections to numb the area, then the spinal (which only took a few seconds). It hardly hurt and I'm a total needle baby! I had a catheter inserted and that was totally fine, not painful or uncomfortable at all and even having it taken out was just mildly odd. Once the spinal wore off I was up and walking around fine .

I had epidurals with two of my children and both experiences were great. I was induced with both and not relaxing through the contractions so wasn't dilating. Once I got the epi, I immediately relaxed and dilated to 10. I pushed both kids out very quickly and my recovery was also quick. Both babies were born very alert, breastfed well, and had perfect apgar scores. GL!

I loved my epidural (it was $900 I paid out of pocket!! best money I every spent). I had a fast labor - was 10cm before I got the epidural just bc I couldn't get to the room, undressed, and get my IV's and stuff in fast enough. 10 cm contractions were harsh, the only reason I coped was bc I wasn't suffering for hours. They gave me morphine or something first so I would stop writhing around in the bed so I could attempt to sit straight for the epidural. It took a while to get in, didn't hurt, but I would just jump every time I felt the needle. Immediately after it was in all the pain immediately went away. I was so tired I couldn't open my eyes the whole labor but I think that was just bc I was so high from the narcotics they gave me. Anyway, the dr. said I could push now or wait an hour or two for the baby to come down on her own. I chose to wait and immediately fell asleep for an hour or two. Dr. came back and told me to push - couldn't even feel the contractions to push I just felt a drop of pressure and pushed then. Did not feel a thing except when the baby was half out - I felt a lot of weird pressure. Would not say it was painful.
Out of all my friends I went to baby class with I was the only one not traumatized by the pain of birth - Because of the epidural and the fast labor I really look back on my birth as a wonderful memory.