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April 2018 Moms
lindsye
member
Epidural survey
lindsye
member
For STM+: I know we already have a good birth stories/experiences thread, but I thought it might be helpful to have one that focuses just on epidurals for anyone who may be on the fence about getting one.
Did you have an epidural previously?
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
Did you have an epidural previously?
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
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Re: Epidural survey
Yes.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
If necessary.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I don't know if it helped, but it didn't hurt either. DD's cord was wrapped around her neck which slowed things down, I think.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
They can wear off, they can not work in some places. The worst and a big reason I want to avoid one this next time, is the spinal headache.
Yes, I've had three.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Absolutely.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
For me each time, my labor definitely progressed more quickly after getting my epidural. With my third baby, I went from about a 6 to complete within an hour after getting it.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
For me honestly there were none. I had no trouble pushing even with very effective epidurals, and though I thought I would be afraid of the needle it was really no big deal when the time came to get one because I was so ready for the pain relief each time.
Yes, twice.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Without a doubt. In the driveway on the way to the hospital, if possible
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I ended up having c-sections with both so I'm really not sure.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
The epidural with my second labor failed, which was the worst. I was all set for sweet, sweet relief...and then nothing but more pain. It was SO discouraging.
If yes, would you choose to have one again? Yes, for sure.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down? I am not sure really. My labor had stalled after my water broke and I was given pitocin. I got the epi after that.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience? i still felt all the pushing, which sucked. But I didn't feel the contractions, which was nice.
If yes, would you choose to have one again? Yep, and I wouldn't fight it near as much. I will give unmedicated birth a go again, but I won't equate an epidural with "quitting" or "failing" this time. I was a moron.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down? It absolutely saved my labor from a stalled state. I was so wrung out and tired after 2 days that my stress levels were shutting down my labor.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience? I had an amazing and positive experience with an epi. No drawbacks, no after-effects, no negatives. I know I was lucky, but it left me feeling like the biggest dummy on the planet for having fought it.
yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
no
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
while it paralyzed me it didn’t relieve any pain. Not sure if it slowed anything down but laboring on my back with the epidural was worse than the contractions without it.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
if it doesn’t work there’s no turning back. You’re stuck in your back in bed. Be prepared with other coping mechanism. I was not. I was banking on the epidural working and it didn’t. Also doc never checked that I was numb and stitched me up without anesthetic. That was the worst. My second delivery was much better. I never felt a single stitch because she checked that the lidocaine was effective before she continued!
yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
yes, definitely
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
It was either the epi or the pitocin- but I was only dilated to a 3-4 when I asked for the epi and an hour later I was a 10. Six hours of pit prior to epi.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
Pushing was obviously harder because I couldn't 100% feel what I was doing. It took three hours to push DS out. It didn't seem like three hours to me but looking back I hope I can push more effectively next time (even though I'm committed to getting another epidural).
Also for any other tall moms out there (I'm 5'10), FYI they had to bump my epi up after about 30 mins because it didn't fully take effect. The doctor thought it was because my legs are so much longer than most (all my height is in my legs, too).
It did not speed up or slow down my labor. Dd2 was born 4.5 hrs after my water broke.
I had a little anxiety over what MH lovingly refers to as my "floppy feet". They kept falling to the side and i couldn't fix them. I was way overly fixated on the whole thing.
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Tips"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d99dc" alt=" Pregnancy Ticker" border="0" /></a>
yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
yes
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
it helped my labor. I was wishy washy going into labor on whether I wanted one or not. I liked the idea of trying it unmediated, but I was open to an epidural if I was feeling too much pain. I was doing okay without, but after my water broke the contractions started really picking up and I didn't have enough unmedicated pain tolerance techniques in my arsenal. I think if you are truly going to do it unmedicated you need a plan, and I didn't really have one, and I wasn't that committed to the unmedicated route. Once I decided I wanted an epidural I feel like my "I've got this" mentality was gone and I was such a baby. After I got the epidural it was amazing!!! All pain was gone and I was moved from 7 to 9.5 cm dialated in less than an hour. I remember telling my nurse when she checked me that I probably hadn't dilated anymore and I was convinced my labor had just stopped because I couldn't feel anything, and she said I was almost a 10!
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I couldn't feel my contractions at all so the doctor had to tell me when to push...but it wasn't a huge draw back! I pushed for about 45 minutes.
YES!!!
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
YES!!!!!!!!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I went from a 4 that took 8 hours to get to, to gaining 1 every hour. It definitely helped my body relax enough to progress faster then it was suffering with all the pain.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I had none, it was glorious!!
Okay, only draw back was not being able to get up and walk around after, but really it was no big deal compared to the pain I was in without it.
No
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
N/A
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
N/A
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
Not my personal experience, but I have family members who reacted poorly to the epi. Spinal head aches that left one unable to tolerate any light/sound/touch for 2 days post. Epi not taking. Epi stalling labor. Idk if it's a genetic thing that my close (blood related) relatives all seem to react so poorly to epis, but due to their experiences was why I chose to go with out with my first and plan to the same with this one. No shaming if that's what you choose and it works, awesome! Just doesn't seem to be as beneficial for my family.
Baby #1: Aug. 2016
Baby #2: April 1st, 2018
If yes, would you choose to have one again? No
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down? It helped mine, but nly because i fell asleep
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience? I had a third degree tear from not controlling my pushing. I also had severe shakes and couldnt get warm. Not to mention the catheter and unanle to get up and shower until the epidural wore off.
EBF, BLW, BW, CD, Waterbirth, Calm Birth, Homebirth, FC, GI Awareness, Informed Choice
DD 5y
DS 3y Generation Intact
Step DD 5y
Step DD 3y
Yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Oh yes!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
No clue, but My sense is it didn’t slow me down.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I would say just listen to yourself. There are things called walking epidurals that ensure you can feel the sense to push w/o pain and you can move your legs. My last one was like this and it was awesome.
Yes.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Defffffinitely!!!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
No I don't really know. My water had broken like...at least 14-16 hours before I got it, (was on oxytocin) and another 14-16 before he was born. It was taking so long, they had to override it twice because it wore off.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
No drawbacks at all for me.
yes!
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Heck yes. Without hesitation. I’ll hold out as long as I can but then it will be sweet relief.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I don’t believe it did. I wasn’t progressing before and I didn’t after.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I could not stop shaking/shivering but I wasn’t necessarily cold. It was annoying but I would take that over the pain.
Yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
No. 1000% no.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
It didn’t seem to slow down my Labor. If anything, it probably helped me progress because my body was relaxed.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I have two major drawbacks that will stop me from getting one again.
-For the next year after having baby, my legs felt heavy. I called them “molasses legs” because walking, running, exercising, anything- my legs felt heavy like I was dragging them through molasses. Not doing that again.
-During my actual labor, the epidural went fine. When it was getting close to time to push, it started to wear off just enough that I could feel when I was having a contraction, but I couldn’t feel the pain of it. When the anesthesiologist came in to check on me, I told him that. He went over to my epidural and pressed the button to administer more (without asking me)! So then it was time to push and I couldn’t feel anything. You’re supposed to push with contractions in order for them to be effective, but I had no idea when I was having them. Pushing lasted for 2.5 hrs because I couldn’t push with contractions so my pushes weren’t doing much of anything. It was beyond frustrating for me. Never again!
(But I do have to say, the pain relief part was nice).
Mama to Rowan Sebastian and baby boy coming in April!
Yes- reluctantly. I had to have pitocin because I had meconium and it made my contractions so much worse. I fought the epidural for a while but I finally gave in after about 8 hours. I will fight pitocin for as long as possible next time. I was still in labor over 22 hours with the pitocin.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
I really hope not. The only time I cried was during the insertion of the epidural. It absolutely terrified me and I was really uncomfortable after. I hated not being able to feel my legs or move and I actually still felt contractions pretty strong. They had to adjust it and it still didn’t completely work. I was able to rest more though once the pain was at least duller.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I was in labor over 22 hours and honestly think the pitocin and epidural slowed things down. Good thing is that because I could still feel a lot with the epidural, I only pushed for 10 minutes before my son was born.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
Being confined to a bed and the way it made my legs feel. I couldn’t move them but I could feel how heavy they were. It was really weird. I really didn’t like it at all.
Despite all this— I’ll play it by ear. I definitely learned that plans really go out the window when it involves a baby.
If yes, would you choose to have one again? yes
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down? The nurse insisted that it slowed it down but I had a horrible nurse. I got mine at 7cm and was ready to push in an hour or two.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
Like @Puddlewonderful, I'm also tall and they had to give me more. Mine didn't take away all the pain - it just reduced the feeling of the contractions. I really thought that it would take away all the feeling but it did not. The nurse kept saying that "this is the type of epidural we like because you can still feel to push" but I did not want to hear that at the time. But pushing was great so at least that area was completely numb. I also didn't get a catheter? Probably because I got it so late
Yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
YES!!!!!!!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I don't feel it slowed labor down. I got the epi at 7 in the morning and my DD was born at 230 that afternoon.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I don't feel this was a drawback but I guess I relaxed too well because my heart rate dropped pretty bad after getting it and they had to give me oxygen for a few hours and then again while I was pushing. SO it was annoying having that mask on but the pain relief was so worth it. Also I felt it wore off enough that when it came time to push I could feel myself pushing but I couldn't feel the contractions so no pain was nice.
Yes, with both.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
YES!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
First pregnancy I got my epidural too early and it did slow labor. They had to give me pitocin to get things back where they needed to be. Second pregnancy I was already at a 10 and ready to push when I got my epidural. I think the only reason they let me get one is that labor happened FAST (2hrs to 10cm) and I had group beta strep so they needed me to have 4 hours of IV antibiotics. In reality I only got about an hours worth of antibiotics, but got about 45 minutes to rest before having to push. I really don't know if I would've had the energy to push had i not gotten the epidural. Labor was way painful and intense....too intense for me to use any breathing techniques I had used first labor.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
It was slow for me both times to get feeling back. If you don't get it back quick enough they'll catheterize you since you can't walk to the bathroom. Otherwise, I'm definitely pro epidural and plan to get one with #3.
One of the reasons I didn't want one was because of all the horror stories I heard about it wearing off. But when I got mine, they cheerfully handed me he button, told me that it was timed to prevent me from overdosing, and left me to my own devices. The only drawback was that I figured out the timing, so when they told me that I had a half hour until we were going to push, I gamed the button and ended up with no feeling in my lower body whatsoever. Since they let my kid progress down without pushing while I was numbed, my actual pushing was only 45 mins. I couldn't feel contractions, but they had me hooked up to a monitor, so they just told me when to push. Kind of a no big deal delivery considering the drama of the previous two days.
Yup, I've had two, one for each delivery.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Hell to the yes.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
Like @Julzy and @Jwhokie For DS, I think my epidural contributed to slowing my labor. I had a myriad of things that contributed, but I do believe that getting the epidural as early as I did was a serious contributor. As a result, I resisted the epi as long as I could during labor with DD. I feel like this is a good practice for me because it give my body the opportunity to get the birth engine truly up and running, and provides relief when I've reached the point that exhaustion, fear, and pain are actually slowing my labor.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I honestly don't believe I experienced any drawbacks from the epidural. Even with my labor with DS (that ended in a C/S)--there are plenty of other things that frustrated me about the labor, the epidural was one of the last things.
Administering the epidural was a peace of cake for me each time because contractions are a great distraction and I've never seen the needle they use to administer. DH on the other hand has and nearly passed out during DS's labor
I do think I was given a smaller dosage during DD's labor which helped immensely. During DS's labor, once I got the epi I was like a beached whale in bed. No moving, barely registering contractions, it was not that pleasant. With DD, I could 'feel' contractions, but no pain, and I was up moving around into multiple labor positions to facilitate labor. It was amazing. Towards the end, I don't know if the epi stopped or if my contractions just got crazy intense, but even the push-button increase (@ngolimento and @lindsye I had one too) did nothing to alleviate everything that I was feeling. I kept telling the nurses that something was wrong and I felt too much. They/we pushed it the max times we could and it didn't affect pushing at all. I still felt all kinds of stuff. I'm sure not as much as epi free, but way more than I thought! I wouldn't change it at all. It felt like the perfect amount of relief, and just enough pain to guide my body.
Also, the epi wore off super fast for me after DD's birth. I was a bit wobbly, but they encouraged me to get up and walk pretty much the minute I was sewn up. I was standing for DD's bath... which is impressive to me.
DS: EDD, December 19th, 2014. Born, December 19th, 2014!
DD: EDD, July 18th, 2016. Born, July 19th, 2016!
Baby #3: EDD, April 16th, 2016
Yes, after 24 hours of labor that wasn't progressing
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
I never say never, but I'm really, really going to try not to
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
Hard to say since things were already moving so slowly. I think being forced to stay on my back the whole time definitely slowed my labor from the beginning, though.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I HATED being basically paralyzed from the chest down. I got dang near claustrophobic from it. I begged the anesthesiologist to turn it down so I wasn't so completely numb but he refused because he "didn't want to have to come back in and turn it up when the pain got bad". The doctor finally made him right before I delivered because I told him I wouldn't be able to push if I couldn't feel *anything*. Also the spot in my lower back where I got the epidural hurt for more than a year after delivery.
Yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Absolutely, yes!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I don't really know, but my labor with DS was pretty quick, 9 hours total from my water breaking at home to DS being born. I barely had enough time to finish my first round of antibiotics for GBS+, so the timing was pretty perfect.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I had no drawbacks, it was an amazing experience and I'm glad I had the epidural. I feel fortunate to have had a great experience with my epi.
@ngolimento I had a button I could push to deliver more epidural. I only pushed the button once during delivery. It was great to self administer, but I'd definitely get checked before pushing the button. I gave myself more epidural before getting checked, and when they checked, it was time to push DS out.
yes, with both previous births
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
absolutely
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
It slowed it down. But honestly I was so exhausted that I'm glad it did a bit because I needed to rest before the big push happened.
But once I felt like I got some energy back the nurse put a peanut ball between my legs and I went from a 5 to a 10 in an hour
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
Because I have scoliosis it's always a challenge to get it in correctly so I end up sitting there contracting while trying to be still. Also, I usually have some pain in the epidural site for a few months after birth.
Yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Without a doubt. As soon as possible!
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I'm fairly confident it sped it up. I had pitocin at 6AM and it took until noon to dilate to a 3. I had the epidural as soon as I hit a 3 and then took a nap. I woke up at 1:00 when the doctor came to check me and said, "I see a head! We're about to get ready to push!" I was like "What?! Now?? Are you sure?"
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
It was really an overall great experience. The hardest part however was trying to stay still through contractions as they were putting the needle in. This is odd but I vividly remember how cold the anesthesiologist's hands were though...and they felt wonderful! Kind of a bit of a distraction from the pain.
With DD? I could MOVE!! I could do everything but stand on my epi. I actually got to use the labor bed and try all kinds of positions to include on my hands and knees!!! IMO, this is a game changer for labor. Sure, I felt my contractions but I didn't feel the pain of them (in the beginning)... but I was in labor soo... I felt like I should feel something.
I labored from 11 am Day 1 until 9 am Day 2 when I got my epidural (only 4 cm). I progressed 1 cm from 9 am (day 2) until about 2:30. Those hours were glorious and filled with short naps and labor positions on the bed. At 2:30 I told the nurse that something was wrong with my epidural, my contractions were now hurting. She pushed the button, no change to my pain level. At 3 they checked me and I had flown from 5 cm to 10 cm (my cervix had scar tissue on it delaying progression). I remember the nurses head popping back up from checking me telling me it was time to push. I was shocked and terrified, "but my epidural ISN'T WORKING RIGHT" lol "I changed my mind, I want a C/S now." She laughed and laughed at me.
DS: EDD, December 19th, 2014. Born, December 19th, 2014!
DD: EDD, July 18th, 2016. Born, July 19th, 2016!
Baby #3: EDD, April 16th, 2016
Yes, with each birth.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
If I feel as though I need one I definitely will get one.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
With my first it slowed labor; with my second it definitely helped my body relax and I progressed quickly once I had it.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I was tremendously lucky and had no issues either time.
DS-9/2012
DD-7/2015
Yes
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Absolutely
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I got my epidural just after having my water broken (induced). I was maybe 2cm. My labor continued progressing without problem.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
I did have a little panic attack just after it was placed. I was afraid I was too numb. The anesthesiologist came back and used an ice pack to check where I was/wasn’t numb and said all was fine.
yes, once. My second delivery was a c-section
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
Heck.yes. I am such a little b*tch when it comes to pain, and I know it. If I have a paper cut, I b*tch for, like, a week.
So I knew my own limits and listened to my body.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
It actually sped things up.
I was induced due to high blood pressure, so I got there at 12 o’clock. I got the Pitocin at 1 PM, nothing was happening until about 6 PM when I got my first contraction. After a few, as I said, I knew my own limit, and I asked for the epidural. That happened at 7 PM, and I was only at about 3 cm dilated at 9 PM.
They sent my family home at that point because they thought that I would entertain them rather than sleep, which they were completely correct about. (My obstetrician said that I wouldn’t deliver until at least 7 AM which is why they agreed to leave) .and I fell asleep around 11. When the nurse came to check me at 1 AM, I was at 7cm.
So I called everybody back and had my baby at 3:39 AM.
I honestly do not think it inhibited with my pushing at all. I started pushing around 3:20 am, and had the baby less than a half an hour later.
Honestly, when they say that just push like you’re trying to push out a big poop, they really honestly mean it.
I probably should have written my anesthesiologist a card, because during the entire time of my labor and my pushing from the time he gave me the epidural, I felt absolutely nothing. And when I mean absolutely nothing, I honestly mean that.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
The only drawback I can think of about getting epidural, **and I say this totally as a joke**, was that after my mom left, I wasn’t able to steal her pretzels from across the room because they couldn’t move my feet. I was freaking starving. And I’m not joking when I said I tried to lift my legs out of the bed to grab my mom’s pretzels.
Riley was 1,000% Perfect in every way, and I was able to push her out even with the epidural. I honestly feel like it made my birth experience better getting an epidural because I was able to focus on her and not the pain.
Did you have an epidural previously?
Yes, the only reason i had thought i might not want one is because then you can't move, and being stuck in one place was more scary to me than the pain. but i was induced and hooked up to all the monitors and they didn't want me up and moving around anyway because it messed up the monitors. so i was like, fuck it, might as well get an epidural.
If yes, would you choose to have one again?
not sure.
Do you have any sense of whether it served to help your labor along or slow it down?
I felt it might have sped it up. though my labor was weird and short so who knows. all i know is after one hour of contractions i could feel ( 1 minute apart) that i was dilated 6 cm. got an epidural. fell asleep for an hour and then they woke me up because i was fully dilated and ready to push. one hour later i had a baby.
What would you say the major drawbacks of getting one are (if any) based on your experience?
the only drawbacks i see are:
-i could not feel my contractions once i got the epidural. and i don't think the drs could really tell that well from the monitors either. this meant i don't think i was really working with my body to push as the timing was a bit off.
-the whole not moving around thing. my legs were totally numb so no walking, no kneeling, no squatting, no nothing. its possible i might have been able to get stronger pushes in different positions.
regardless the whole no pain thing is pretty amazing. I ended up needing forceps for the last push as the baby had the cord wrapped around her neck and was having pretty serious decels (heartbeat slowing). I often wonder if i hadn't had the epidural would I have been able to push her out more quickly and efficiently. but then i think about how absolutely excruciating those forceps would have been if i had been able to feel them!
anyway,, undecided for next baby. I figure i will go in with the same lack of plan as i did last time. no epidural unless i really want one. It seemed to work out fairly well.