Epidural that did not work?

It has obviously been awhile since I gave birth to my DD but ever since that day one thing has bothered/baffled me.......and that is that my epidural never worked.

I was induced due to Gestational Diabetes at 38.4 weeks, I was given a bishops score of 0 on arrival at the hospital and then given the gel and then overnight had contractions on & off but nothing constant although very painful, by the morning things had progressed a little, I went from being not dilated at all to approx 1.5cms (I think) anyway they broke my waters at 9.30am and said it would be approx 12 hours at least. In my family my maternal Grandmother, Mother & Sister all had very quick labours, 6 hours at most and 2 at least, I explained this to the staff and they said "yes but you have been induced and things will be a lot different for you!"

Anyway within 1/2 hour of having my waters broken, the contractions were one on top of the other and all of a sudden the staff were in a bit of a panic to get me to the birthing suite. By 11.30ish I was asking for an epidural and the contractions were intense and just coming one after the other not even 20 seconds between. After the epidural was in I had one small numb spot on my back but that was it!!!! I kept saying I wanted to push but was told NO NOT YET!!! My DH & Mum kept saying maybe you should do an internal to check, anyway the MW's got the anesthetist back to fix the epi and I just kept saying I need to push, finally before the anesthetist did anything they checked me out at approx 12.30pm and I was then told you can push with the next contraction and 40 mins later I was holding my DD, so all in all just under a 4 hour labour, so much for the 12 hours!!!! I swear I felt everything apart from a small circular numb feeling area in my back.

Well anyway after that novel my question is has anyone else had an epidural not work? For me I feel that next time I would surpass the whole epidural thing as I feel that it never worked and also having to try and sit still (while leaning on one arm as they had destroyed my right arm while attempting 5 times at putting an IV line in and I had no feeling and it was 3 times its normal size - but thats a whole other story! ) was a total mission with no outcome as such!

Also my SIL & MIL like to point out everytime I see them (once a week) that I had an epidural and therefore put my DD in a spaced out state for 2 weeks due to the choice I made!!!! and I have no idea what giving birth feels like?????

So sorry for the NOVEL but I had to get that off my chest, thanks for reading!

Edited to add:
I am guessing that if they had had more time they would have sorted the epidural out?

Edited by HeidisMum

Umm I'm pretty sure epidurals don't transfer though to the baby. All they really are is a local anesthetic injected into the epidural space thus blocking pain signals reaching the brain.

According to the information the anesthetist gave me yesterday unfortunately its a common side effect for them to not always work properly. Not really what I wanted to be reading when I'm having one in less than a week. lol.

Elle I could walk fine after the birth I was up using the bathroom less than 1/2 an hour later and not long after that I had a shower.

Fallen - Sorry you are so right, not what you want to be reading! I agree I was sure I was told they do not affect the baby but my MIL & SIL no more than anyone about everything IYKWIM!

My epidural worked well but even with it topped up, I could still walk (just) to the loo so that's not the best measure.

My sister had nightmares with hers - it only numbed one side and no matter what they tried, they couldn't get it to numb bilaterally. They ended up giving her a somewhat borderline drug through the epidural as there were no other options - that finally worked.

Big to your MIL and SIL. Not helpful at all. I think the being spaced out for 2 weeks was probably related to the fact she was a BABY and that's what they do.

Ha thanks Flissty yes big to the MIL & SIL I have given up trying to explain to them as far as they are concerned I am totally in the wrong!!!

Grr at your MIL and SIL too!!

My epi didn't work first time and my midwife had to top it up and it worked after that. Maybe yours would've worked after a top up but obviously you didn't have time for that!

One worked and one didn't and neiher of them were "spaced out" lol.

What an intense labour you had, and I would just poke your tongue out at your IL"S

Mine worked to get rid of the pain but I could still feel all hideous pressure in my butt (baby turned posterior) and felt like I needed to poo all the time. they topped it up but I was in agony, I could feel the catheter and refused to let them leave it in and the scalp monitor was awful too. I could move my legs the whole time too, but no one would let me stand up.

I don't think I would have another one, but my sister had a great experience with her epi.

Edited by JoJames

on a side note you married into a family of idiots

Oh and both mine worked although number two took longer

My epi didn't work 100% either. I could feel my contractions around my left hip, but compared to the 30 odd hours of labour at home with no pain relief, it was bliss My MW let the epi wear off quite abit though before it was time to push, so I could "feel" when to push. I had the worst pain in my tailbone area when I was pushing and I swear DS was stuck. He ended up being a forceps delivery, but ob said he didn't have to do much as I was pushing effectively. Rhys was definately not 'drugged' up at all and I had syntocin as well.

Anyhow, your MIL & SIL are talking through holes in their heads. I think they're just jealous cows who are peeved you make your DH so happy and have produced a gorgeous little angel of a daughter!
I know it's hard with them going on at you, but I think they must be miserable with themselves and are trying to make you feel the same.
Hugs to you and Heidi