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Mine was pretty ideal, I think. It was strong enough that I didn't have a lot of pain, but at the same time I could feel the pressure and my legs didn't feel wobbly/jello-like at all.

My epidural was sweet relief. Super long story shirt, after they finally figured out I needed a 5 inch needle rather than the standard, they got it on and going within 5 minutes. It wore off at pushing time, but that's a whole different saga. I'd get an epidural again.

I asked for one and was told I couldn't get one and I was bummed.

Overall, negative. It wore off after a couple hours and then they tried twice more with no avail. I ended up with a patchwork of holes down my spine and still got to go through pitocin labor with no help for 15 hours.

Next time, Im just going to do it all med free. Eff that mess.

@regberadaisy: Oh wow! That would be my fear - wanting one (and being able to have one) and then missing the window of opportunity!! Glad to hear you were able to get yours and it was a positive experience! IMMEDIATELY after Xander was born, I turned to my husband and said "I am NOT doing this again. I want an epidural next time!"

I got mine around 8 cm too. My labor went from contractions one on top of the other (which they had been for awhile with very slow progress) to completely stopped. I felt pain relief, which was awesome because it was taking quite awhile to move through transition. Once my labor stopped though they put me on oxygen because baby's heart rate got too steady. After an hour or so I got contractions going again by pinching my nipples every so often but the doctor was super antsy to get things moving and said I hadn't progressed farther so then I did get on a bit of pitocin. I got slightly itchy from the epidural so I was relaxed and happier in a way but itchy and more worried because it seemed like things were more complicated after the epidural. I also really didn't like how much IV fluid I got, I was getting quite swollen especially my legs and butt and that was not pleasant. After labor though it took about maybe an hour and a half to two hours for the epidural to wear off. I held baby for the first hour, then hubby went to see her get her bath, which I didn't get to see since I couldn't walk yet, but they gave me food, so the after part wasn't too bad.

in one word, heaven.

that may have been because I got it at 10 cm though, and +3 station. I was trying not to bear down. so it wasn't like it had time to wear off..I started pushing about 30 minutes later, and she was born within 20 minutes of that (I think). It started to wear off right before I had to transfer to a gurney to go to postpartum, and I was able to get up and go to the bathroom by the time I got to my room.

@sorrycharlie: Phew! Sounds like you got yours just in time!!! Glad to hear it all worked out for you! I'm hoping next time I can get an epidural, though at least now I know I CAN do it without, even though I don't want to, haha.

positive both times! no issues.... just sweet sweet relief!

Pretty great! I got the epi at 5 cm, and although it took 2 tries to get it in/to work, when they did get it right I had zero pain but could still move my legs somewhat. It didn't slow down labor at all (I think it helped it move faster actually) and I had no side effects. I will definitely get one next time!

Pretty much perfect. Couldn't feel it going in, took away all pain but I could still move my legs and feel the pressure of the contractions.
No side effects and I was able to walk around very quickly

It's hard to figure out what you will experience based on stories.

I prepared for the worst after reading so many epidural experiences... I thought I was going to have one too... might as well mentally prepare.

BUT I actually had a pretty good experience... I did try to hold off as much as I could but I was 6cm and didn't progress for 3 hours, so they broke my water and man were the contractions so painful after that! I couldn't hold out any longer... someone came in 3 contractions later so about 15 minutes but it felt like she took 2 hours.

She put it in saying it will feel like a bee sting for a moment and then it should be over. DH was with me holding my hands when the put it in, it worked right away.

I think what was interesting about mine was that I couldn't feel anything anymore... when it was time for me to push they did not lessen the dose to make me feel the contractions, they just told me when to push and I pushed... I had no idea if I was doing it right but I guess I was because 30 minutes later ... out comes LO.

They took me off of it and about 5 hours later they moved us to the recovery room... they asked if I could walk... I said I could... but I was having trouble so they just decided to move my whole bed with me in it to the recovery room. I was able to walk and feel things a few hours later. I experience no side effects. Hopefully this will be the same for my next kids!

Mine was very positive. I did not want an epidural originally, but after 3 days of labor I finally made it to a 7 (with the help of pitocin eventually)... then my doctor told me that she wasn't going to check on me for another 2 full hours!! So I asked for the epidural. Of course, in the end I was already pushing the baby out only 30 minutes after getting my epidural, so I probably could have done just fine without it.

My epidural was at just the perfect level for me. They gave me enough that the pain mostly subsided (although not entirely). I could still feel very strong pressure with every contraction, which was really handy b/c I could tell when to push, and I could feel everything associated with pushing. (I did feel the ring of fire through the epidural, so I can't imagine how horrible it must feel without!) My legs didn't turn to jello or anything, and I was really annoyed when they wouldn't let me walk around for hours afterwards b/c I'm quite sure I was fine to walk.

Mine was the best money I ever spent. I felt nothing and after delivery, it wore off like it was suppose too. I don't think it took anything from my delivery experience

At first it was awesome and then it wore off. I had to get redosed twice. The last time got me to 10 cm but then it wore off and I pushed for 2.5 hrs with nothing and on no sleep. So, it was a rough 2.5 hours.

Once I got it, after an hour and a half of waiting, it was amazing! Then I needed a csection and shook so bad from it because I believe I got a much stronger dose, or another anesthesia, for the surgery. That part I wasn't a fan of

Good and bad, I guess. I got it at 9 3/4 cm purely out of exhaustion from 12 hours of back labor. I tried pushing with my midwife "helping" to complete me, but the searing hip pain was tortuous. I truly thought I would pass out. Getting the epidural itself was a breeze and it took effect immediately. I was able to move my legs a bit.

It wore off juuuust as I was ready to push, so the 2.5 hours pushing with back/hip labor while lying down was hellacious.

Awesome. The nurse called it a textbook epidural. I even managed to doze off from 6-10cm & could walk to attempt to go to the bathroom.

Amazing! The anesthesiologist said I was the ideal patient for an epi and it went in no dramas, and worked brilliantly. They didn't turn it down for pushing but brought a mirror in instead, which was immensely helpful. LO was born with less than an hour of pushing, about five contractions worth (not that I could feel them). I had no after effects either and hope my next epi experience is as good!

Mine had to be placed prior to my induction because my platelets were dropping but they kept the dose very low until I needed it. It needed a minor adjustment because I could feel one side but after that it was perfect! I apparently pushed very effectively even with it so the dose must have been just right.