Mobile Epidurals - Myth or Magic - please help!

(4 Posts)
sarjd Tue 22-Jan-13 21:09:25

has anyone actually had an epidural that lets them move around during labour and still push effectively?
i'm on pregnancy no 3 and wondering whether a real mobile epidural (i.e. i'm not keen on being stuck on back on bed and not feeling anything so increasing chance of intervention) is possible. i had a water birth with nos 1 and 2 (although with 1, i was taken out of pool and dd ended up being dragged out with a ventouse). so, i've had 2 natural births with no pain relief. i know what its like. please can anyone tell me whether the idea of killing off most of the pain of the 0-10 phase but still being able to feel enough to push is a myth. at the same time, i don't want to introduce unnecessary risks. i'm just so tempted by the idea that it could be a little less violent and maybe even enjoyable. i know i can do it without but may not be able to use the pool this time due to gestational diabetes.
any experiences would be brilliant. i haven't decided on hospital yet btw, it could be either portland, st thomas or chelsea and westminster. aha, another question - do experiences differ on availability of anaesthetist and skill of jab itself between NHS or private?

galwaygirl Tue 22-Jan-13 21:25:35

I had a mobile epidural (and the full epidural didn't work when I had to go to theatre) and it starts wearing off every 30 mins or so and you have to be topped up so they could definitely let it wear off for pushing if that's what you wanted?
Mine was in Edinburgh so can't help with london hospitals

sarjd Tue 22-Jan-13 21:28:57

thanks gg. when you say wear off for pushing, do you mean going from painless to full on push contractions in one hit or is it a gradual process?

QTPie Wed 23-Jan-13 00:56:44


I have had one, but not for labour (for pain relief after an ELCS for the first 24 hours post-op): I could - and was encouraged to - get up and around.

I would say that the biggest problem with these are availability: firstly does your hospital actually offer that type of epidural (many don't) and secondly availability of anaesthetists on the actual day....

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