Women who've had an epidural....whats it like?

Question

been told that baby no.4 may have to be a c section
can you just tell me your experience please?

Answer 1

epidurals are fantastic as you feel no pain at all. You don' have much feeling at all, and if itis really working well, you might not be able to move from the waist down - although that happens alot less these days. The important thing to remember is that it does wear off! So don't panic.
The worst that can happen is,in rare cases, (REALLY rare, so I don't want to worry you!) is that it can work on half your body, so he other half still feels pain. That is seriously weird, but even then it can be rectified. It is rare that it does not work, my goodness, so far I expect these 2 answers have worried you witless, don't panic, you'll be fine!

Answer 2

I was TERRIFIED at the thought of having an epidural, but it was a lot nicer than i thought it would be. I originally refused to have one but once my waters were broken and i was confined to a bed for constant monitoring (meconium in waters) i was BEGGING for one - i just couldn't relax on the bed and my contractions were about a minute apart at 5cm! The anaesthetist was paged and was there within a few minutes, i was sat on the bed hunched over a pillow and was allowed to continue using the gas and air. All i felt was him pushing my spine with his finger, a tiny prick of the needle, and then nothing else - as he was inserting the tube i was having constant contractions (even though i was only 5cm dilated) so he couldn't stop and start. I kept going with the gas and air and didn't feel a thing! It was superb! It was a bit odd lying there and not feeling anything and once i had my baby the effects wore off really quickly. I was able to walk around with help soon after and i didn't have any side effects from it at all. Although i want to try and avoid an epidural this time round, i am still open to the idea of having one if i feel i need it!

Answer 3

Sheer heaven!!! (smile)

I can't honestly tell you what it specifically feels like because I was in a lot of pain from the contractions...but here is what happened...

They ask you to sit on the edge of your hospital bed with your legs hanging over the edge....you round out your back and they ask you NOT to move...at ALL! VERY VERY hard when the contractions are strong and are one minute apart (I waited until the last minute to obtain an epidural). A labor and delivery nurse lets you cling onto her as the epidural is put into your back. The whole process does not take very long once it is started...I believe I had to hold still for about 3-4 minutes. It also depends on your anesthesiologist....how quick he or she is.

If there was pain from the needle, I didn't feel it. The contractions were painful enough so that overtook anything else going on with my body.

If you choose to get an epidural prior to your water breaking or prior to when the pain is intense, you may be able to feel and focus on the pain of the needle in your back.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 4

I had an epidural and to be honest I never felt the needle at all. The effect of the epidural was such a relief as I had been in labour for 16 hours. Of course I had to keep having it topped up. With an epidural usually you are numb down below so not able to move about as much . A catheter is also fitted.

For me it worked brilliant and within 2 hours of my daughters birth i was moving about quite normally.

Obviously having a cesarean is different but I personally found the epidural worked really well. No complaints.

Answer 5

I have given birth both with an epidural and without one so I can tell you there is a big difference and it is definitetly worth it. After having experienced both I don't understand why anyone would want to give birth without an epidural. With the epidural, labor was so much easier and quicker, and I was fully aware of everything that was going on. To tell you the truth I don't even remember if the needle hurt because the relief was so great. I definitely recommend it.

Answer 6

I've had 2 epidurals and found it really good with both for pain relief. However (warning coming up) after the first one I had the most terrible back pain that I could only relieve by arching like a crab, it subsided after about 4 days but it was to be honest 4 days of agony. however on my second child I had it again and had no problems what so ever, yes it did leave me having no feeling at all in my lower body but I made a joke out of this as the nurses had to move my legs around for me, although a bit daunting I tried to make light of it and sure enough with in a few hours I was back on my feet.
It's not for everyone but I wouldn't have gone without it to bne honest.
By the way good luck with baby and take care

Answer 7

to be perfectly honest i dont remember too much about it, i remember being in a lot of pain as my baby was lying back to back which causes the labour to be extremely painful, at that stage it was recommended i get an epidural which i was glad to be getting by this point. i dont really like needles but i didn't care, anything to take away the pain. what they do is they put in like a drip into your spine and leave it there in case it needs topped up later, then the get the the doc to administer the anaesthetic(epidural). What i will say is if you are scared of needles make sure you dont look because this needle is huge it is the biggest one i have seen. in my case i had to have it done twice because the doc put the needle in the wrong place 1st time. i dont remember how sore it was because i was in so much pain anyway. hope i have helped you out a little, good luck hope everything goes ok

Answer 8

with my c section it was scary at first because they told me that I had to be very still while the do the epidural or it could be paralizing. So please be still during this, but dont let it scare you because they help to make sure you are safe and they are professionals but as far as the epidural man you are really messed up they told me that I was trying to move and look over the curtin they put in front of you saying that I wanted to see well my mom said honey no you dont. After the c section though you incision is not hard to heal alot better that your other part is atleast you can pee afterwards without all the pain. And the incision heals fast. GL

Answer 9

Heaven, when they work.

My first one created a "dead spot," doctors words, I found this out when I went to give birth the next time and the epidural didn't work. They had to take it out and place it again. I have a hard time getting into labor and by the time they do get me kick started the pitocin is turned up as high as they can get it and they still have to break my water. I am a weird case.

The epidural worked for further deliveries, but I did have to have a couple doses of meds ran direct line because the meds only worked on half of my body.

Best advice, make sure that both of your legs are somewhat numb and high on your belly is numb and you won't feel a thing.

Answer 10

Its scary at first, i didnt have a c-section, just a normal delivery. They stuck this tape on my back and made like a window, than after i had a contraction they stuck a (very big) needle in my back (epidural), i was concentrating on my breathing (and the pain of the contractions) that i didnt even really feel the needle at all. They told me it will start working in 10mins, it did...and no pain at all after that, i was so thankful. When its my time to have another one, i will be asking for that epidural again ! Good luck...it will be fine.