tell me about it

[bumMum]

After watching something on sbs the other day and reading a few theads on here it seems a lot of people enjoyed their epidural experience! I am curious now about it even though I have always dismissed it as an option. So if you had an epidural did you enjoy it, did it work the whole time,did you end up needing a section you otherwise wouldn't have needed, did you have any trouble after the birth and did you tear badly? I am really afraid of tearing as I did last time with no drugs and have heard epidurals can make tearing more likely? I used a bit of gas last time and it was okay but you still feel everything and I am not excited about experiencing that pain again!

[TurnedBatty]

I loved it! Had an episotomy, no tear. It allowed me to gather more strength to push, as I had nothing left by the end. I wish I had of waited. I had it put in and then had an internal, I was 9.5cms. :o I lied and said I didnt need to push when I did, I just wanted the drugs! I had no issues, and bub had no problems. Though next time, I would like to go natural.

[BigRedV]

I haven't had one, but my friend did.

She was 6cm and had the epidural put in. After hours of waiting, she had not progressed from 6cm after the epidural.

She felt guitly. I told her not to worry, as IMO, the contractions are a million times worse than pushing :laughing: but I have been lucky and never pushed for more than 15 minutes each time :D

[bumMum]

So what happened to your friend if she did not progress? I think both labour and pushing are awful!

[Just*Ace]

I had one at 5cm the first one didn't work I still had feeling on the left side which is were my contractions were, had it redone and it worked but after a few hours I was getting pain on the left side again but it was time to push. Had an episiotomy and didn't feel a thing. I loved it I don't know why I ever said I didn't want one coz it was great! I just hated the wait afterwards till I had feeling again!

[bumMum]

Is it true you need a catheter? Thanks for the replies so far

[Just*Ace]

Yeah you can't feel the urge to pee so they put a catheter in for me first

[CazHazKidz]

I really wanted to have a natural drug free labour, but after a very long night and being severely dehydrated and exhausted I caved and had the epidural - and I really believe it saved me from having a very nasty birth experience.

I got to rest, I had a drip to get my fluids back up. I had stopped progressing prior to the epi, but after it I progressed very quickly. As soon as I felt with it again I asked them to turn it off, and an hour later I was pushing and Hayden was born.

I still would have preferred to have NOT had to have the epidural, but I have a feeling things would not have gone so smoothly if I hadn't. I will still try to avoid having one next time, but I don't regret it.

Yes you need a catheter

Oh and the wait afterwards didn't bother me at all. I'd already had it off for an hour so it didn't take that long, and my bub was with me cuddling and breastfeeding and resting the whole time. It was nice to just lie there and relax!

[TheCatsMeow]

I didn't want an epidural but I don't regret having it as DD was posterior. I labored for 14 hours without it, but had to ask for one because DD was not progressing - I was 4cm dilated and in extreme pain, and 4 hours later I was still 4cm. I was vomiting and dehydrated and just so tired, and the epi gave me much needed respite and relief.
It did work the whole time but towards the end it started to wear off. It worked perfectly that I could actually feel the very strong urge to push.

I didn't tear but I was given an episiotomy (which healed pretty quickly). My problem was that I had retained placenta (nothing to do with having an epidural) so I barely got to hold my baby or get up after.

Next time though, I will try and avoid an epidural at all costs. I actually have a permanent back ache in the place they put the epidural. It is a side affect that happens in a few people. It doesn't cause too much trouble but on some days the pain is horrible. My labor was 28 hours all up and it's very likely the epidural was a huge factor for that too.

[BigRedV]

So what happened to your friend if she did not progress? I think both labour and pushing are awful!

her cervix didn't dilate anymore and it stayed at 6cm so she ended up with a c-section.