Epidural
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I really didn't want an epidural at all as I'm terrified of needles, that was literally all that was stopping me but after a 20 hour labour I had to give in! 😂 Mine was great, too good in fact and numbed one leg completely but couldn't feel any contractions and I actually managed to sleep before pushing! I didn't feel the pressure of contractions to know when to push, but that doesn't happen to everyone. At push I didn't feel anything until the ring of fire but had got a good way through without feeling anything and I reckon it felt LOADS duller than without. If you're considering it obviously weigh up your own pros and cons but I found it really really helped me get through my labour and the pain of it all.
You feel no pain just pressure is the only way to describe it, (in my experience) it just makes you go all warm all of a sudden then the pain just goes the relief is insane 🤣🙏
I had a 'walking epidural' which I think is a bit different, but my experience is that it took all the pain away but I could still sense what was happening. Like I could feel I was pushing but it didn't hurt.
I wanted to only rely on gas and air and the birthing pool but I threw up not long after using the gas and wasn’t able to have the pool as the was meconium present. After 7 hours of being only 4cm dilated and no progression with my labour I opted for the epidural as the pain was unbearable. My left leg went numb then followed my right after an hour and couldn’t feel the contractions. I managed to fall asleep for 2hours as I had been in early labour for 4 days prior and hadn’t slept a wink. After 20+ hours in labour I was then told to push. I still couldn’t feel anything as the midwives and given me a top up when it had started to wear off. I pushed and 10 minutes later my baby girl was born. Overall it wasn’t what I had planned but did have a positive experience with the epidural.
I had one 5 years ago and was dead from boobs down. Absolutely nothing. Spoke to midwife today about pain relief options and discussed this and she said nowadays epidurals take most of the edge off contractions but can still feel pressure so you know when to push. Seems they have changed in 5 years!
I really didn’t want an epidural but after having a 0-100 experience with back to back contractions after a hormone drip induction I had to change my mind. I was worried about pushing without the sensation but chatted it through with my midwife as we were getting near that stage and she really helped me. She described what to do, put some pressure (that I could feel) where I needed to push down into with her fingers and helped me identify the contractions so really guided me. It wasn’t painful but could feel pressure and some of the stretching which did feel odd and uncomfortable- like I knew when the baby’s head was nearly out as I could feel the change. I think it was less controlled than it would have been without the epidural which may have contributed to the tear I had but will never know that for sure. One plus was I didn’t use much gas and air so I felt really present for the birth and not woozy at all!
You can still feel tugging but not pain and it made after birth really comfy for me. Long lasting back pain since though so I’d never ever get it again
I had an epidural after 14hours and it took allllll the pain away. I didn't give birth vaginally but I did feel the "pressure" and the only way I can describe it is as if there's a bowling ball trying to come out of the rear🫣but doesn't hurt whatsoever. (That's my experience tho, everyone will probably be different)
My experience with an epidural was not the best I had several attempts the first 1 they thought was in only numbed 1 side so felt everything on the other side, after a couple more attempts the final 1 was successful. But right before I was told to push the sensation came back! I relied a lot on gas and air which was really good for me! Also had IV paracetamol when the epidural started to wear off again and that was great! Once the epidural block was even on both sides and I started to push I couldn't feel anything! Overall I do think the epidural was worth it for pain relief it took the edge off. I had the hormone drip so contractions were more intense had I not had that I might've tried without the epidural! One thing I didn't realise with an epidural as well is they aren't an exact science because they can't guarantee the level of block you will get as each person is different... I didn't know this I just assumed it would work for me and I'd be completely numb. Good luck, I hope you have a safe delivery!