how much does epidural help when pushing?

[Anonymous]

I had an epidural for both deliveries. I could still feel contractions with both but there was no pain at all when pushing, when the baby came out or while I was getting a couple stitches afterwards. Zero pain. The epidural with my second was better that my first though in that I was a bit less numb so I could move my legs and feel what was going on better whereas my first I was just numb and dead weight (think like your lip at the dentist after a cavity filling).

With my second though, I had a retained placenta and still felt nothing while my dr put his arm up me trying to get it detached. I was very relieved in the moment that I had the epidural.