Epidural that did not work?

I had  a patch across my middle by my belly button that I could feel every contractin through but the rest was numb, turns out there was something not completely clicked into place on the drip thing and once that got sorted the pain went almost straight away. (then they told me to start pushing at the next contraction which by then I couldn't feel!)

My epi was half - useful.
It was better than nothing, but I could def. still feel the contractions, even after the 'self administering' dose.

My epi only numbed a tiny bit around my belly button, even after the mw topped it up. I felt every second of my giant child ripping her way out. My mw still never believed me that the epi didn't work. I don't know what she thought I was moaning about during contractions...
I was also induced and had the drip put in minutes before (or was it after...?) the epi. Then I was getting contractions running together, dropped blood pressure, freezing cold shivering. Which mw and anasthesiologist (sp?) said was due to the drip drugs being cold. But I secretly though was transition and I was giggling in my head thinking how clever I am for tricking them all (yes, I had gas). DD was born 2 or 3 hours later. (5 hours before mw had predicted).
Yuck. ILs. How stupid to tell you your baby was 'spaced out'. Like all newborns come out dancing and clapping??

lilfatty wrote: on a side note you married into a family of idiots

PMSL (and I've had four babies so I mean that literally )

I had an epi with Maya, it worked beautifully, altho I did have to get it topped up more often than expected. I have similar issues at the dentist tho, I think I'm just a giant sook.

With the gremlins, I had a failed epi, as in completely failed. It was sited prior to labour as it was an induced labour and they wanted to control things, and when he did the ice cube test it was all good. But then the contractions started and it became pretty obvious that it hadn't worked.

I did get the option to have it resited but I felt like I was coping OK, and so I said no and ended up delivering them both without any pain relief. The anesthatist told me afterwards that I wouldn't be able to have another epidural later on as he'd used the only suitable space in my back (due to scarring from the first one and a back injury).

The funny thing is after having Maya, I never wanted to give birth without one, but after having it fail with the gremlins I realised that birthing without one is actually pretty cool. Not that I regret having one with Maya - after 30+ hours of labour I was exhausted!

My friends epidural caused her blood clot .
Which caused her death .




Edited by caitlynsmygirl

Hi - epidural here worked fine - got it because I needed the pain relief and I didn't want too much pethidine - wanted something that wouldn't circulate around my bloodstream and affect the baby - so epi it was.  Turned out I needed a CS anyway. 

Thumbs down to your SIL and MIL - they should be supporting you better than to say things like that.  They are actually showing a lack of knowledge there - tell them to check their facts.

My epi worked down one side, I still felt pressure on the other side, then I had a top up and it went all numb and didn't feel anymore pain hehe.

Mine didnt work at all. First time with McKayla they had to do a spinal. Well 6 attempts at two different places they finally did a general for the c-section.

This time around I went in twice to the hospital before my planned date for the c-section. Second time was just hours before I was suppose to come in but was 8 cm. They had to do the epidural anyway before taking me to theatre but I said if it works I will try for natural as his head was presenting really well and his heartrate was perfect.

Ha ha ha. Twice she had to do it as the first time she put it in the wrong spot. Second time it went in and she told me with each contraction you will feel it working more and more. I literally told them when will it start working. I didnt feel anything. It happened really fast and my waters broke and I told them my back is hurting way way too much I want my general and c-section. (which I couldnt have as I had bronchitis and would have putten me and Andrew in great danger).

Part of me knew it will be too late. Anyway while pushing I remember looking to the side and seeing another midwife coming in to try another epidural pump. When she opened the one up that I had they realised the stupid freaking battery is in the wrong way. So they just disconnected everything. So after all that I never had anything.