Recovery after epidural(vaginal delivery)

**lulu21** · 20-08-2012 22:09

I had an epidural with my DS. I still had feeling in my legs and birthed him on all fours. Up and mobile after an hour or so and no after effects. Good luck

**Hannahly** · 20-08-2012 22:10

I'm not sure how long I was in delivery room after giving birth - 1 hour ? But they made me walk to the other wing for my room after. I felt woozy but otherwise fine. That was my second baby, with my first I had stitches and the hospital I was in didn't want me to move from my bed at all. I was wheeled everywhere in it.

**soccer mum** · 20-08-2012 22:13

I asked for a low dose epi (mainly wanted relief from the sciatica that had plagued me for weeks and weeks so I could get a couple of hours sleep) and it dulled the severe pain but I was able to feel to push and move my body as required. After the birth I had skin to skin contact and fed DD, for maybe an hour and was able to get straight up and walk into the shower with no issues. I'll also mention my labour was quick, no need for instruments, DD had an apgar of 10 and breastfeeding and bonding were perfectly fine - some people will say epidurals effect all those things. They don't necessarily.
A friend had one which only worked on one side however

**TaylasWorld** · 20-08-2012 22:17

I could feel my legs and walk around with my epi and felt pressure while pushing.

I had a catheter in for 10 hours, but only as it was hospital policy to keep it in for that long.

**tap** · 23-02-2013 13:17

I had one that I wanted to be sufficiently worn off for pushing (I had wanted to avoid all pain relief, but due to induction, this was nigh on impossible and assisted me to get some much needed sleep).

I was standing up for the birth of my son.

I think (?) they took out the catheter just before I pushed him out. I had some tenderness where the catheter had been for a couple of days afterwards (this bothered me more than the stitches). I did need to be seated for showering and I was a bit shaky after he was born, but who knows whether this was induction drugs or epidural. Couldn't say what time frame the jelly legs wore off in.

**4underfour** · 23-02-2013 13:31

I was up and walking around normally within an hour or so. No back pain, felt completely normal.

**RobinSparkles** · 23-02-2013 13:43

I had a botched epidural that affected my legs only and also a dural tap resulting in a dural headache, was bed ridden with a catheter for 3 days until I had a blood patch on day 4, then I could get up!

**Kriselby** · 23-02-2013 14:08

Originally Posted by Cue

My epi was great, it was turned down for the delivery so I could feel the contractions to push. After DD was born I had skin to skin contact for about half an hour or so and then got up and had a shower. I felt fine, no side effects. I felt like I could have gotten up straight away but I wanted to cuddle DD

You'll be fine - good luck!!

This was me too

**FemmeFatale** · 23-02-2013 14:36

Originally Posted by Hagrid

I had a botched epidural that affected my legs only and also a dural tap resulting in a dural headache, was bed ridden with a catheter for 3 days until I had a blood patch on day 4, then I could get up!

This was my experience too! Except it took them over 1.5 weeks to give me a blood patch. They said drinking a lot of caffeine would help, but as a new mum you don't want to be kept awake by caffeine you want to get as much sleep as possible.

**RobinSparkles** · 23-02-2013 15:27

Originally Posted by FemmeFatale

This was my experience too! Except it took them over 1.5 weeks to give me a blood patch. They said drinking a lot of caffeine would help, but as a new mum you don't want to be kept awake by caffeine you want to get as much sleep as possible.

1.5 weeks you poor thing

yeah they said caffeine might help and I thought the same as you! Definitely turned off an epidural for next time.