Good/Bad Epidural Experience

DPandMB

Ok. Since the Birth Story thread, several of us are wondering about the epidural experiences. I figured lets do a poll to see if it was good or bad. So how was your epidural experience?

lap018

Is there an option for it was like angels descended down from heaven and laid a warm fuzzy blanket on me from the waist down? Because there should be!

wyomama0427

Lol @lap018 I am so jealous

DPandMB

lap018 said:

Is there an option for it was like angels descended down from heaven and laid a warm fuzzy blanket on me from the waist down? Because there should be!

This made me laugh out loud and was exactly how mine went.

beccam1230

lap018 said:

Is there an option for it was like angels descended down from heaven and laid a warm fuzzy blanket on me from the waist down? Because there should be!

Hahaha best description yet!

kelseyrayay

Mine was horrible. also I had terrible back spasms after I got my epidural. But my dr said that that only happens to 1 out of every 10,000 people. Guess who is always lucky 1? Meee!!!!!! Plus I think my anistesiologist sucked. I've had several people have issues when he did their epidurals. 

Becky012016

It was the best thing in whole world! It HURTS when it gets placed but that was the only pain I felt during the whole process.

Sprite2012

I loved it.  Not before the csection itself, it was the easiest part of the whole thing. 

MySallyGirl

I have had 3.  My epidural with the first baby only took on half my body though, so they had to come in and redo it partway through my labor.  All 3 were magical though.  I wouldn't do it any other way given the choice!

beccam1230

@kelseyrayay that's crazy.. wow. Also I feel like there should be no such thing as an anesthesiologist that sucks! That's actually really scary, I'm sorry you had that issue. Mine walked in and made a comment about how tired he was (which made me SUPER happy) but he ended up doing a great job, so I was thankful for that. Come to find out later, he's my doctor's husband haha!

wyomama0427

Mine was horrible, he hit a bunch of nerves and it felt like lightning all down my left side. He then tried to place it four more times and kept hitting my spine, and when he finally got it placed, it ended up not working, and I was having stupid intense pain in my left hip like my leg was being ripped off. It was awful. I wish I had the wonderful experience some of you got! 

ColoradoHiker

@MySallyGirl If my pregnancy riddled, addlepated mind is correct, your DS #2 has a bday tomorrow?  If so, happy birthday to your LO! 

Inanigloo

My experience with my son's birth was that it worked. Less scary and painful than I thought the needle would be. It took forever for the anesthesiologist to come so I wish I had asked for one a bit sooner. But when it came time to push, well I couldn't feel anything to time it with contractions.which dragged out the process. Also it took forever to wear off. Which meant assistance to.use the bathroom and care for my son.

It wasn't a bad experience but I didn't love it. 

MyNamesTaken

Loved it! No issues getting it in. I could still feel what my body was doing and knew when I was having contractions so I knew when to push. I've heard people knock them because they felt disconnected from what was happening but that was not my experience at all. My experience was awesome.

cmar1006

kelseyrayay said:

Mine was horrible. also I had terrible back spasms after I got my epidural. But my dr said that that only happens to 1 out of every 10,000 people. Guess who is always lucky 1? Meee!!!!!! Plus I think my anistesiologist sucked. I've had several people have issues when he did their epidurals. 

Me too!!! Wow. It was truly the worst. I haven't done my birth story yet because I don't want to scare anyone. But this happened to me as well. 

I tried to put off getting epidural so when I finally got it it was great. But then I started having these back spasms that were worse pain than the contractions I was having. I literally could not breathe. My parents arrived at the hospital while I was in labor around the time I started experiencing this and my dad got so scared seeing me In that much pain that he cried and left the room and wouldn't come back in.

Also, my epidural essentially wore off by the time I delivered no matter how many times I pushed that damn button so I felt every single contraction, push, tear and stitch. 

I hope my next experience will be better because that shit was a nightmare. 

Jamiern01

I had 2 super fantastic epidurals and one that didn't seem to work. I will be having an epidural with this baby as well.

DPandMB

I must say I am feeling a bit better right now based on the results of the votes. 

Ae_Lovely321

Can someone describe the pain of the getting the epidural?  Does it feel like getting a shot or blood drawn or worse? Is it like a painful pinch that goes away or does it linger?

lap018

The only "painful" part of it was the lidocaine shot they give you to numb you before the spinal goes in. It feels like a bee sting in the back (a welcome distraction from the pain of having a contraction), then the spinal catheter goes in and it just feels sort of strange not painful, you can just feel them putting it in but it doesn't hurt @Ae_Lovely321

JNR6510

I don't plan to get an epidural. Of the 7 ladies I work with who have delivered at the same hospital I wil be going to, 5 had shitty epidural experiences. Things like hitting nerves, wrong placement so only their legs went numb, saddle block... I feel like it's safe to assume the anasthesiologist (spelling?) at that L&D ward sucks.

msashley2010-2

My epidural was absolutely amazing!!! After 13 hours of very painful labor, the epidural was great. I was in so much pain that I didn't feel the epidural go in. I just felt pressure. The hard part was trying to stay still while contracting and them inserting the needle. But my nurse gave me a pillow and hugged me while they were doing it. After that it was great. I napped for an hour and then it was time to push and I felt absolutely nothing! 

The only rough part was the not being able to walk for awhile afterward and needing help to use to the bathroom. 

I'd like to try to go without the epidural this time just so that I can feel my legs and walk around after I deliver but I'm not above it if it comes to that. 

msashley2010-2

Edited for a double post lol 

kelseyrayay

It really makes a difference when you have someone who really knows what they are doing. I had a different person do my spinal block. Now that is heavenly! So if a spinal is what a epidural feels like then yes it's worth it lol 

jessieR358

lap018 said:

The only "painful" part of it was the lidocaine shot they give you to numb you before the spinal goes in. It feels like a bee sting in the back (a welcome distraction from the pain of having a contraction), then the spinal catheter goes in and it just feels sort of strange not painful, you can just feel them putting it in but it doesn't hurt @Ae_Lovely321

Exactly 

lap018

kelseyrayay said:

It really makes a difference when you have someone who really knows what they are doing. I had a different person do my spinal block. Now that is heavenly! So if a spinal is what a epidural feels like then yes it's worth it lol 

I'm actually pretty certain it's a nurse anesthetist that does epidurals and not the anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist probably took over to do your spinal block/surgery anesthesia. I could be wrong but I think that's how they operate 

SummerGirl21

My first was like the "angel experience" described above.  I had just one tiny spot in my abdoment that didn't numb for some reason, but it helped because I could still feel contractions when I needed to without wanting to die.  :-)

My second was fine during delivery, except I had back labor and it didn't do anything for that at all.   However, post-labor, my uterus was not contracting (or contracting enough), and I had to be put back on Pitocen for another 12 hours to get my uterus to stop bleeding.  It wasn't terribly serious, and I can't say for sure that it was a side effect of the epidural, but it can be.  (I also delayed nursing, which I'm sure didn't help.  I don't know why, except I was exhausted and out of it and for some weird reason asked to not hold my baby right away.  It was strange.  I still can't explain it.)

As far as getting the epidural, the lidocane shot is about 10 seconds of burning in your back.  It's not my favorite thing.  Then there can be a "zap" down one or both legs when they place the epidural.  It's extremely brief, although again, not my favorite. 

All that said, will I be getting an epidural this time around?  Hell. Yes.

mrs_tacos

Some of these make me cringe, but as a FTM, I'm very thankful you guys are willing to share, good or bad, so we newbs can feel at least a little prepared! 

wyomama0427

lap018 said:

kelseyrayay said:

It really makes a difference when you have someone who really knows what they are doing. I had a different person do my spinal block. Now that is heavenly! So if a spinal is what a epidural feels like then yes it's worth it lol 

I'm actually pretty certain it's a nurse anesthetist that does epidurals and not the anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist probably took over to do your spinal block/surgery anesthesia. I could be wrong but I think that's how they operate 

The anesthesiologist did my epidural. Then again this was at a small hospital in Douglas Wyoming so I don't think I had many options to begin with lol

Ae_Lovely321

I want to second what @mrs_tacos said. Thanks for the details. I know our bodies will probably handle it all differently, but I'm such a planner and not knowing what to expect makes me worry more.  I definitely hate shots, but I think I can deal with a stinging pain for a bit if the overall effect will be reduced pain later. 

GracefulStar

I had two and both times the experience was great. I didn't have a birth plan, kinda wanted to see where labor/contractions/etc. would take me but in the end I opted for the epidural. For the first I was in so much pain from induced contractions that I didn't feel the epidural go in, I just felt the amazing non pain once it worked. I would see my abdomen tense in contraction and be so glad I felt nothing. For the second I felt it go in but it was a really small pinch compared to again induced contractions but then it was ok. My least favorite part was the shakes, just got cold and my body shook for a few minutes and couldn't stop. But then it was smooth sailing. I was able to feel baby and still push. I just pushed "wrong" the first time so it took very long.

DaphneMoon1

For me, the pain of the epidural was nothing compared to the pain of the contractions. Mine just didn't work. I talked to the anesthesiologist the day after my second delivery and he said some people have scar tissue, or some unknown blockage that prevents it from spreading to the areas it's suppose to get to. He recommended a spinal for me next time. I've heard it's really hard to push with a spinal, so I'm not sure I want that either.

beccam1230

@Ae_Lovely321 I know everyone's experience with epidurals are different, but nothing about getting mine was painful. Even the lidocaine shot was nothing! He gave me a topical first, then lidocaine.. then epidural. I felt a tiny bit of pressure, but that was it.

iheartichi

I HATE shots and needles, but at that point it was nothing because you can't see it and, contractions. Mine was amazing. Right after he was like, ok you're having a a contraction, and I was so happy! I could actually relax and enjoy what was going on around me and pay attention. I actually had an allergic reaction to the latex or something on the bandage they used, but that was the only downfall, and it was just an itchy rash. I did have to be helped to the bathroom, but that was fine with me. It's probably one of the last times everybody will be doing everything for you! 

wyomama0427

Honestly I don't even remember what the poke felt like at all, I was hunched over and contracting and was trying to focus on anything but what was happening. I don't remember what I felt, poke wise. Couldn't have been to bad if I don't remember right? Lol

Carebella

I had to transfer from our birth center to the hospital because I wasn't progressing and was at risk of being too tired to push. Getting the epidural was nowhere near as bad as expected, but staying still through contractions was hard. It worked for me and I was able to walk okay not long after giving birth from what I recall. It was hard to tell when to push but managed okay and it was never super painful. After the epidural, I felt like I got punched in the back for awhile afterwards. And while I never had mid-back pain in the past, it's been much more common for me ever since. So while I'm mostly grateful I could get one, and that it worked, I REALLY wish I could of avoided it. 

jena333-2

iheartichi said:

I HATE shots and needles, but at that point it was nothing because you can't see it and, contractions. Mine was amazing. Right after he was like, ok you're having a a contraction, and I was so happy! I could actually relax and enjoy what was going on around me and pay attention. I actually had an allergic reaction to the latex or something on the bandage they used, but that was the only downfall, and it was just an itchy rash. I did have to be helped to the bathroom, but that was fine with me. It's probably one of the last times everybody will be doing everything for you! 

This is something I'm nervous about - and something my doctor said to mention to the anesthesiologist. I don't know if s/hee'll be able to do anything differently. It's not the latex for me, but with the pregnancy I developed a full blown allergy to the adhesives in bandaids/tape (we're talking full blisters that ITCH LIKE SATAN for a full week and take over a month to fade).

BecauseLove

My SIL I think enjoyed her epidural during labor but has had a TON of lingering back pain from it that hasn't been able to be fixed. She was a die hard epidural person and now swears that she wouldn't get one again and is highly recommending I don't either. 

wyomama0427

Honestly I would never tell someone not to get an epidural because I had a bad experience. It's like telling someone not to eat cake because I'm on a diet. If you want to get an epidural, get it! You're an educated informed adult and able to weigh the pros and cons to make your own decision

wyomama0427

Also I'm not really on a diet, I'll eat all the cake

lilpoots

I picked other, because I had a spinal, but it was amazing. If I need the services of an anesthesiologist again, I will request the same one. He was selected by my OB since my surgery was scheduled.

wyomama0427

lilpoots said:

I picked other, because I had a spinal, but it was amazing. If I need the services of an anesthesiologist again, I will request the same one. He was selected by my OB since my surgery was scheduled.

I'm getting a spinal for my RCS, but for some reason I am terrified that it's not going to work and I'll be able to feel the c-section.... can you tell me about your spinal?