Calling all new mums who had an epidural...

[Sparky0207]

Hello ladies,

Have noticed from reading the birth announcements that quite a few people opted for an epi recently, just wanted to ask a few questions really!

My pain threashold is very low and im worried about labour! I really want an epi (should things get bad) but have heard mixed reports on it but everything ive heard on here seems to be in favour of it! So here are my questions..

1 - Does it hurt when its going in?

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?

3 - How effective did you think it was?

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?

5 - Would you recommend?

Sorry, a bit personal but I really want to know!

xx

 

[AquaDementia]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? not at all. they freeze the area of insertion first

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?i was a pussy and asked for it 2 hrs in, 2 cm dilated

3 - How effective did you think it was?110%

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?a few hrs

5 - Would you recommend?absolutely. to anyone. don't be afraid of it

Sorry, a bit personal but I really want to know!

 

[oOKayOo]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? Nope, they freeze it so you cant really feel it
2 - How late in labour will they give it to you? Not sure with my first i had it when i was 4cm and with my second i had a c-section.

3 - How effective did you think it was? When i went into natural labour with my first it was very effective, couldnt feel anything tis good shit lol

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again? Had c-sections both times so cant really comment on this
5 - Would you recommend? Deff!!

 

[Deise]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? You feel a little burning from the local beforehand, but its quick

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?4 cm dilated. About 1 hour into moderated contractions.

3 - How effective did you think it was?200%. I needed a periodic "boost" though

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?About an hour and 20 minutes.

5 - Would you recommend?I could have not done it without it!

 

[missjess]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? Didn't feel a thing, I was having a contraction at the same time and the contraction was hurting like hell!

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you? I was 3cm dilated

3 - How effective did you think it was? VERY effective ! I did not feel any contractions at all

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again? 1-2 hours

5 - Would you recommend? Absolutely!!!!! It makes birth much more enjoyable and you don't feel exhausted from the pain.

 

[KarenLV]

Sparky,I'm glad you asked this question. I was considering the pros and cons and now I know ...... I WANT AN EPIDURAL!

 

[Sparky0207]

Sparky,I'm glad you asked this question. I was considering the pros and cons and now I know ...... I WANT AN EPIDURAL!

I was just thinking the same! Pros outweigh the cons for me, an epi it is!!

 

[seattlemama]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? Not at all! I think the IV hurt more.

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you? I was 6cm fully effaced and head was 0 station. I had a sorta quick labor so I had only been in labor about 3.5 hours when I got it.

3 - How effective did you think it was? AMAZING!! I couldnt feel a thing. I could wiggle my toes and during pushing all I felt was pressure, no pain at all.

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again? I could move 1 leg after about an hour or so, but my other leg took longer. He was presenting posterior so I had to lay on my side the whole time in labor to get him to flip so the meds took more on one side.

5 - Would you recommend? YES!! People who can do it naturally are amazing! The epidural was so great, I was able to talk to people and laugh and smile. Before I got it I couldnt talk to anyone, I was all sweaty and grumpy, and it hurt really really incredibly bad. I would HIGHLY recommend it.

 

[cparks1]

Drugs are Goooood...........

I'm opting for the epidural too, why suffer through pain when you don't need to.

 

[ColtonsMom]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? no, you get numbing shots (like three), those stung a tad, but nothing to fret over. The shot you just feel some pressure.. but not pain
2 - How late in labour will they give it to you? I got mine around 4cm I think. I was induced though, given cervidil-which takes forever! So I was in labor for like 15 hours before I got it (overnight though)
3 - How effective did you think it was? completely; mine wore off in a few spots, but you just let them know and they will give you some more meds through it
4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again? this one is hard for me to answer. I ended up with a c-section, and I passed out during that and didn't wake for 2 hours, so I wouldn't really know if I would have been able to move.. but right after I woke I could move around and stuff, I was just stiff/sore from the section
5 - Would you recommend? most definitally

 

[luckyme225]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in?

I didn't even notice when they put it in because I was having a contraction.

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?

I had mine a 2cm

3 - How effective did you think it was?

100% effective - had to have it topped off a bit during pushing

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?

I could move my right leg right away but the left leg took longer

5 - Would you recommend?

absolutely , it made pushing easy and the labor & delivery enjoyable.

 

[foxyroxie]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in?...........no but i hated the feeling of it felt like popping makes me feel sick to think about it

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?.....4cm dialated

3 - How effective did you think it was?....was great i still had to have gas and air throughout but i was on a drip ment to make your contractions more painful dont know how much of that is true cause he was my first

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?....straight away as soon as they stitched me up i got up and had a bath etc etc

5 - Would you recommend?...yes when i have another child if i have to be indiced again ill deffo ask for it

 

[Mango]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in?
Nope did not feel a thing because the numbed the area

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?
I was at 6-7cm, and had my lil girl approx 3 hours after the epi.

3 - How effective did you think it was?
It was the BEST thing since sliced bread. I had a mobile epi so I could still eel my legs and feel to push.

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?
I got up off the bed and walked to my room right after the epi though the nurses advised me not to.

5 - Would you recommend?
Definitely, if it is something you are interested in. However, do more research to make sure it is right for you. I will surely ask for one again with my next lil one.

 

[Ratty]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in?
Nope did not feel a thing because the numbed the area

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?
I gave in to it after being in pain for 8 hours, saved myself 7 hours of pain and wish I had it earlier.

3 - How effective did you think it was?
100%

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?
I could move my one leg during the whole thing, other one I could feel but didn't have control over. They stopped the epidural just before I gave birth so I could actually feel my LO being taken out which was an amazing feeling but not at all painful.

5 - Would you recommend?
Absolutely. There is no point suffering if you don't have to.

 

[coz]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? not at all, didnt feel a thing but i dont think i would of noticed with how badly my contractions were coming

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you? i had it after being in labour about 7 hours i was only 3 cms though but was having bad contractions at this point

3 - How effective did you think it was? brilliant, pain went straight away such a relief

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again? its hard for me to say cos i ended up having a c section i was put out so i was in and out of it for about 3 hours after and didnt really know what was going on

5 - Would you recommend? yes definetly

 

[VanWest]

I wish I had a postive thing to say about the epidural, I was the 1% who had problems with it afterwards, I had the worst headache's known to man, the epi headache, I couldnt stand straight, be under bright lights for two weeks. It was so bad I almost went to the ER, but decided to ride it out for one more night and it started to get better by day 14.
I felt it go in, kinda feels like your getting an iv, I had funny feelings in my butt while they were doing it! lol
I think I had a different type of epidural because of the c-section, and I didnt feel a thing! I did get very itchy from it though.

I think I could move my legs after about 4 hours

 

[pepperflake]

To the ladies who ended up with c-sections after the epi- why did you have a c-section? Was it planned? Was the baby in distress? Just curious

 

[coz]

To the ladies who ended up with c-sections after the epi- why did you have a c-section? Was it planned? Was the baby in distress? Just curious

i was in labour for 7 hours and on gas and air b4 epi and didnt expect to have a c section at all but after they put the epidural in my babys heart rate dropped by half so had to be rushed off for section i think it could of been something to do with the epidural they said but i think my baby really wanted to come out but i just wasnt dilated enough only got to 3 cms but was having contractions with hardly a break when i had the epi, i did have to be induced as well and had to be montoterd after induced most the day as his heart rate kept dipping throughout the day xxx

 

[Margerle]

Hello ladies,

Have noticed from reading the birth announcements that quite a few people opted for an epi recently, just wanted to ask a few questions really!

My pain threashold is very low and im worried about labour! I really want an epi (should things get bad) but have heard mixed reports on it but everything ive heard on here seems to be in favour of it! So here are my questions..

1 - Does it hurt when its going in?

No. You just feel them messing around your lower back, and some pressure.

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you?

My situation was very rare. I had an extremely long labor (27 hours) and stalled at 9cm 90% effaced. I got it about 1 hour before I was holding LO. But do not expect any healthcare provider to do this. The only time they do it that late (usually) is when c-section is imminent. Though that wasn't necessarily the case for me, my doc used that as the excuse for me to get it.

3 - How effective did you think it was?

Epidurals are 100% effective. It is the standard pain relief for 'awake' c-sections and you know how many tens of thousands of those are performed every year.

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again?

Several hours. This is the part I hate about them... and I mean HATE.

Plus peeing is a chore... etc. etc.

Had epidural about 2am, had Sharlotte at 3:30am, and at 8:30am I could finally get out of bed to use the restroom.

5 - Would you recommend?

I would only recommend if you knew what your docs c-section rate was. If he/she performed a lot of sections I would hesitate... sometimes they use 'complications with the epidural' to facilitate a section. (here in america anyway).

Epidurals can stall labor, then pit needs to be administered, and then baby stresses etc. etc. etc.

Sorry, a bit personal but I really want to know!

xx

Just do your homework and you'll be fine Epidurals are not evil!

 

[Elli21]

1 - Does it hurt when its going in? I didnt feel it, but that was coz my hubby fainted when he saw the needle, i was more concerned about him!

2 - How late in labour will they give it to you? I had it after 12 hours of labour...and i was in labour for 28 hours all together.

3 - How effective did you think it was? it was 90%..i had a certain part that i could still feel pain on! But i think i may have slightly moved when my hubs fainted.

4 - How long after you gave birth could you start moving again? about 2 hours.

5 - Would you recommend? personally, from my experience, id say go for as long as you can without it, as it made my labour last longer. (thats what the midwife said) But also, i know that at the time it was the best thing for me..so i guess id say go with what you feel is right.

I did have my son without one and it was more enjoyable and it was much quicker.