[Little.One]

Hi girls,

I've always been open to the idea of having an epidural if I can't cope with the pain. However I've done some research and the dr provided me with an info brochure which says that epidurals can lead to a higher risk of needing an instrumental delivery due to not being able to push as effectively. My fear is vying an episiotomy and forcep delivery.

Can you tell me:
How effective was the epidural for you?
Did u require forceps/vacuum as a result?
Woud you have an epidural again?

Thanks

ETA: also can u share how long it took you to recover from the birth please?

This post has been edited by Little.One: 27/12/2012, 04:02 PM

[Broxie]

I had an epidural and vacuum extraction. I may have needed the vacuum even without the epi. I would DEFINITELY have one again!

[puffsgirl11]

My epidural worked very well, I couldn't feel a thing. The downside to that was that I could only feel pressure when I had a contraction and the whole time I was pushing I couldn't feel it.

I had to have an episiotomy and they used the vacuum as he was stuck and in distress. Had nothing to do with the epidural.

If I have another baby I will be heading straight for an epidural and bypassing the gas (made me sick) and Pethidine (had a bad reaction to it).

[allthiseffortpai...]

How effective was the epidural for you?
100% effective. I even had a little snooze before pushing.


Did u require forceps/vacuum as a result?
No.
I pushed DD out with no tearing or episiotomy, because I could 'wait' for the midwife to tell me when to start pushing again.


Woud you have an epidural again?
I'm hoping to have a calm / hynobirth this time around, but will always leave the door open, just in case

[Rolex]

I had an epidural with my first. It was very effective, I even managed to sleep off and on for a bit, and I really needed that during a very long labour. Did not require forceps or vacuum. Just needed midwife and DH holding my legs and midwife telling me when to push.

As for would I have it again... I'm open to it yes, but I didn't have one for #2 or #3, mainly because I hated having the catheter in for 24 hours afterwards. I found that really restrictive. I'm now pregnant with #4 and again, I'll be open to it, but would rather avoid it if possible.

[Moo point]

I thought the same as you OP, but I actually had an epidural BECAUSE I needed an episiotomy and forceps delivery. DS was stuck, not in distress, but turns out his head was on a bit of an angle and swollen. If I hadn't had the epidural the cut and forceps would have been far too painful.

I could still feel my legs, feet, everything, and still had to push on a contraction, but given I had already been completely dilated for a couple of hours and DS's head was already visible it didn't stall labour.

I'm not sure I'd have an epidural before complete dilation unless the next labour (if I go back for a second) is horrendous - I managed through with a TENS machine and then bath toward the end. If I was in the same situation, ie already dilated and baby stuck or in distress, I would have the epidural no questions.

As for recovery - I was up and about in the shower 3 hours after DS was born, after a 24 hour labour and 4 hour pushing phase, and went home the next day

ETA to correct length of labour.

This post has been edited by ange_75: 27/12/2012, 04:17 PM

[Sunnycat]

How effective was the epidural for you?

It was the bomb. I had been planning a drug free waterbirth but ended up being induced due to medical reasons. I couldn't even have an active labour as I couldn't get comfy. The epidural helped me relax and stop stressing out.

Did u require forceps/vacuum as a result?

Nope. That was one of my concerns about having the epi. In my case labour was progressing so slowly and then after I had the epidural, bam, it was all on and DS was born 2 hours later. I credit that to the epidural and finally being able to relax (it could just be a coincidence though)

Woud you have an epidural again?

With this baby I am planning to have a drug free, active, water birth again because I really want to give it a go. Also, if I book in with the Birth Centre and I need to get transferred to the hospital I can come back to the Birth Centre after labour (which is what happened with DS). If I don't think I'm coping I wouldn't hesitate to transfer out to hospital and have an epidural again.

Good luck OP

ETA: It didn't take long for the epidural to wear off after I gave birth. I recovered quite well after birth. I was sore though and remember venting on EB about it though! LOL

This post has been edited by Sunnycat: 27/12/2012, 04:11 PM

[Le-a]

Hello.

I had an epidural at about hr 21 of my 26 hr labour. I honestly think it saved me from having either a CC or an instrumental delivery

DS was posterior, still quite high, and I was very tired and couldn't lie down due to the terrible backache. The midwife on at the time seemed to have given up on me and was hinting that I was heading towards cc or instruments.

As soon as the ep was put in. I could relax. It was amazing. The relief was indescribable. I rested for a few hours, DH slept too.

Then there was a shift change and we got a new midwife who was amazing. The ep was turned down and I could feel the contractions again. They were slowing, so I was administered sintocinin (sp?) to speed them up again. Within the hour of the amazing midwife coming on, DS was born. I could move (within the web of tubes and lines attached to me), and was pushing on all fours at one stage. After the birth I got up from bed and had a shower. Amazing, not what I had expected after having an epidural.

Would I have one again? Not sure. I'm open to it, but I also hope that my next labour is shorter and won't have the posterior presentation, so I hopefully won't need it.

Like you now, I guess I ll see what happens!

[Ehill]

I have had 2 epidurals.

First birth ended with an episiotomy and forceps but bubs had a BIG head and was stuck and going into distress. I believe this would have happened no matter what. I am just thankful I had an episiotomy rather than tearing which I suspect would have happened. Recovery 7 weeks.

Second birth very straight forward at the pushing stage. He 'popped' out! Smaller head though. No forceps or stitches. 2-3 week recovery.

So in both births I had the same not being able to feel what was going on but second birth was easy so the not feeling anything wasnt the reason I suppose.

Anyway I loved having them and would do the same again. I had my epi with my second put in before I was even in pain yet, that is how set I was!

Also I refuse to go down the 'what if' road. My births were all good. I have no idea what the effect of the epi was especially in the 1st birth. I dont really care either. I have good memories, 2 reasonable births and 2 healthy babies.

Only you can decide how you want to do things. Everyones experiences differ.

[Tessied]

I had an epidural and pushed fine. I pushed my son out in about 20 minutes (after 37 hours of labour though!).

I was about 5/6cm when I had it as I just couldn't keep going as the contractions were 1 minute apart for 30 seconds and excruciating. I had it, and after hours of being stuck at 6cm, my body relaxed and I reached 10cm in an hour or two.

I had no vacuum or forceps and didn't find pushing hard at all. I wish I'd had it earlier!