XP from GPM on TN: Epidural

ream02

Who's planning one?

ream02

I had one with both of my children. With my DD I actually was managing the pain quite well and did not get the epi until I was about to transition, but was scared because it was night that the anesthesiologist would go to dinner or home for the night and I'm scared to death of the transitional phase. lol My birth was awesome.

I also had one with DS. I was in pain for days and when I was finally admitted I was in the hospital for 5 hours before the anesthesiologist finally came in to administer my epi. She had a hard time placing it because my discs are close together but I didn't care, I was so tired and DS was pushing on my rectal area and it hurt terribly, I still wanted it.. This epi did not work so well. It barely took the edge off. I still felt all the pressure and pain and was trying to pull myself up to get the pressure off my rectum.

All that said, I'll still get one the third time.

 

ETA: Typo's

AcaAwkward

I'm hoping for a VBAC with as little intervention as possible. My OB won't administer Pitocin with a VBAC, and I don't want to risk stalling labor with an epi.

Rrrrrachel

I didn't the first time and I won't this time. There's too much risk of side effects or it just not working.

apollonia10

I got one with DS, but I tried to stick it out before that and got the epi just so I could sleep a little (it was midnight). I'll get it earlier this time if possible.

KKG11467

Hell yes. 

My BF is an anesthesiologist, and has already eased many of my concerns. I will  be delivering at his hospital, although he cant ( and I would never want) be my doctor...his colleagues will. So I know I will be in great hands and well looked after.

mallyandryan

I cannot have an epidural due to a previous illness.

Andrewsgal

I had one birth with and one without. The one with was so much more peaceful and easy. I am leaning toward an epi.

apollonia10

I will say, they screwed it up the first time and only half my body was numb, so that sucked for about an hour since I could feel everything on the other side. But then they fixed it.

sexyntexy

I had one w/ DD and DS. I want to go natural this time. We shall see.

JamiesWife2010

I didn't the first time around. But, if I feel like I need one this time, I'll get it.

Enami

I had one with DS, and I think it really helped with the pain. But I was in induced labor, and I really don't remember much after getting the epi (maybe had sedatives?).

cwm11985

I won't. The thought of being confined to the bed scares me. I did without it for a 22 hour labor so ill find a way to manage again.

TrudyCampbell

I didn't get one the first time so no way for this time. 2nd labors are shorter, right!? I freaking hope so. 

HNRomance

Two of my girlfriends have had them and are still having numbness issues with sex a year later. This is two different hospitals that are both reknowned for being "places to go" for birth. The friend that just had one 2 months ago, it didn't dull the pain enough but it did make it so her legs were not functional and so she was stuck in bed AND still in pain. I plan to go natural and at a birth center with a midwife that is all part of a larger hospital. The risks and complications with an epidural are too high for me just to avoid some pain. I want to be able to listen to my body and do whatever I need to do. I don't want my baby to be too drowsy to breastfeed either. Just not worth if for me!

Nattielynn

I didn't get one the first time and don't plan on it this time. The thought of a catheter, being stuck to the bed and having something in my spine terrifies me!

ream02

TrudyCampbell said:

I didn't get one the first time so no way for this time. 2nd labors are shorter, right!? I freaking hope so. 

We can always hope for you. My first one I started labor (well well timed contractions) at 8:30pm on Saturday night and did not have my DD until 1:43am Monday morning.

With my second, I had contractions varying in time apart between 2-7 minutes starting at some time on the 15th. DS was not born until 2:21am on Wednesday the 18th. So in my case, no, the second one did not come faster. But they were also 10 years apart, so I'm sure this one will be different.

ream02

A final note from me; if my labors were not so long I might of stuck it out the second time but I was exhausted and could not rest or take the pain anymore..

joiedev

I was planning on having a natural birth with a doula, but my son came when mine and her backup were out of town for the holidays. After 18 hours in active labor, I was over it! The epidural was wonderful and it was seriously the best birth experience I could have hoped for, all in all. I'm not opposed to trying to have a natural birth this time, but I'm also not opposed to another epidural if that's what I choose to have!

lisabugg444

HNRomance said:

Two of my girlfriends have had them and are still having numbness issues with sex a year later. This is two different hospitals that are both reknowned for being "places to go" for birth. The friend that just had one 2 months ago, it didn't dull the pain enough but it did make it so her legs were not functional and so she was stuck in bed AND still in pain. I plan to go natural and at a birth center with a midwife that is all part of a larger hospital. The risks and complications with an epidural are too high for me just to avoid some pain. I want to be able to listen to my body and do whatever I need to do. I don't want my baby to be too drowsy to breastfeed either. Just not worth if for me!

Medications given via an epidural do not go directly in the blood stream, they go into a space that surrounds the nerves coming off the spinal column. Only a very small amount of medication gets absorbed into the mother's blood and not in an amount that can affect the baby.

sexyntexy

LalaMama81 said:

Nope, already had 2 without it and plan on it again. My 2nd labor was 4 hours, I'm so afraid this will be shorter!

Mine was too and I was induced. I want to go on my own but I'm scared I won't make it to the hospital.

MrsEmilyS

I had one with DD and I will definitely get one again.  My birth was such a pleasant experience and I was able to be calm and rest.

tarynkim

I had one with my son, but will be doing a home birth for this pregnancy so no epi this time ( Can you tell I'm a little nervous?

MyNameWasTaken

Didn't have it with DD, don't plan on having it with this one.

nikki912

I went natural with my son and ill do it again this time.

CalinAZ

I am undecided. I'd love to do it natural, but I'm concerned that with my vestibulodynia (feels like acid's being poured in my vagina when the inside is touched) that an epi might be the way to go. Then again, birth is so painful anyways, maybe it'll make the regular pain duller?

In any event, I've had two epidural injections to try to treat some of my chronic pain, with no complications from either, so I'm not too concerned about the procedure itself. 

sunflwra

I had one with my first since I was going to need minor surgery afterwards and would have needed it anyways. My delivery was about as peaceful as something like that can be. I was able to labor on all fours when I needed to as well, so it wasn't like I was glued to the bed on my back.

I would highly recommend first time moms know what they are hoping for but be willing to be flexible depending on what your labor brings. You really have nothing to compare this to and I think a lot of people go in dead set on a plan for something that can have a lot of twists and turns and then end up disappointed when what they end up with is still a healthy, happy baby. It doesn't always matter how you get there :-)

LBStewart

I had one for DD and had some complications.  I'm still on the fence,  but I'm a baby about pain and will probably end up getting one.

Rrrrrachel

Xp means cross post. In this context that means she posted this on more than one forum.

teachingmama11

I had one with my DS and plan to again. I don't have a very high pain tolerance, was having regular, moderate contractions for days before I had him, and had 20 hours of hard, active labor after my water was broken. I definitely wanted the epidural, and my experience with it was great. It worked well, no side effects, was able to get up and walk very shortly after birth, etc.

patunia7321

This is my first time.nI'd love to say I'm dead set on natural, but I think when push comes to shove I'll fold and beg for it. Or maybe it just won't hurt at all like in my dreams about labor.

OceanLeaves

I wouldn't be nervous about complications or anything, but I prefer med-free for a number of reasons. I went without last time and would prefer to do so again. I used hypnobabies and it worked well for me.

Tambcat

I had one last time, and it was amazing.

strawberrytree

I had a great natural birth experience last time and loved it. I am definitely going for a repeat this time around. I had a very fast and easy recovery. 

buffyjsa

I don't like the idea of anything in my spinal column.  the birth center where i'm going doesn't do epidurals, only minimal pain meds.  my husband says I might want to reconsider when the time comes, but i'm hoping to be strong enough to hold out for a natural birth.

Rrrrrachel

It's as much about preparing ahead of time as it is about being strong. If you have knowledge about what's going on and good coping skills you'll be ok. I delivered in a bc like that too, and I can remember at one point thinking an epidural would be nice, but there was NO WAY I was getting back in the car!! I also remember when it was really bad realizing I was in transition, and that this was the worst part but it was short and almost time to push. That gave me the boost I needed.

Tambcat

lilnightmusic said:

FYI the narcotics they might give you for pain are MUCH worse for you and the baby than an epi.

I had those too. Also great. lol. I had the most pleasant L&D experience and hope for a repeat performance.

rtv3

I'm hoping for a natural birth (FTM) but I'm not opposed to an epi if in the moment I decide I really need one

ksulli

I had one with DD and it was pretty good- I could still move around, feel my legs and contractions, just with less 'edge' and was able to get some rest. If this labor is not back labor and moves more quickly I would go without just so that I can shower sooner.

With DD I woke up in labor on the 1st, went to the hospital around midnight (15 hours after labor started) and my contractions were literally off the monitoring charts. I got the epi an hour or two later because I wasn't really progressing (maybe 3cm if I remember) and knew I would need rest to get through to pushing. It's a good thing I did too, b/c she wasn't born until nearly 4pm on the 2nd (33 hrs after I woke up having consistent contractions), and weighed nearly 10lbs. If I hadn't been rested, I wouldn't have been able to push through her shoulder displasia and would have had an emergency c-sec.

I take offense to people who say only women who are uneducated about childbirth get epis. Yeah, maybe if I hadn't done it I would have progressed in less than 33 hours, but that IS a maybe, and doesn't take shoulder displasia into account. Neither baby nor I were drugged or too drowsy to nurse.

IndyPRGirl

I had THREE with D'S and they all failed so I delivered med-free. With DD, I just skipped it. Yes it hurts, but I felt a million times better the second se was out than I did with ds. This time ill pass on it as well

ream02

Ooopsbaby14 said:

I was able to make it through 2 births without medication. That being said, the next one could be different. My water broke at home with my 1st and she was born less than 8 hours later. I was only in the hospital for 2 hours before delivering. My 2nd was a bit longer. She was closer to 12 hours from the start of labor to the end. I asked for pain medication the 2nd time, but it was too late. As long as I could think of a pain that would be worse than what I was experiencing I knew I could make it!

I wish mine were like this.. hope your 3rd is just as smooth!