3rd Trimester
Saw an Epidural video...oh my!!
So I saw an epidural video as part of my child birth class. I think it made me more nervous! They emphasized that you have to be completely still. How do you not flinch when they are putting a needle in the spine?? I know the numb the area, but it looks like it would still hurt when it gets that deep. Anyone been through this and have tips on how to be completely still despite this? I tend to worry about stuff (even when not likely) when it comes to things that could cause serious problems (such as anything with the spine - I had a nerve injury in my back in the past and was in PT for a year...bad memories!), so any tips/reassurance are appreciated!! Thanks in advance! 
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Re: Saw an Epidural video...oh my!!
Well, it wasn't my favorite thing I've ever had done, but it wasn't that bad. The only thing that "hurts" is the numbing shot they give you first. It just burns a little. After that, you really don't feel anything expect them pushing or putting pressure on your back. I think the worst part for me was being nervous I was going to feel something. It also took them 3 times to get mine to work, so that was fun! They will have you lean over a pillow and a nurse stood in front of me and held onto my shoulders. That helped me hold still. I just tried to be as still as possible so it would over as soon as possible. Again, it's not a ton of fun, but it really wasn't too bad!
My only tip is to not get an epidural.
I don't understand why they show pregnant women a video of this. When you are in labor and in pain, and epidural is the least of your worries. I don't remember feeling anything because I wanted it so badly. You don't see it go in anyway and they numb you first.
Don't worry about the epi right now. When you are in labor, you will know if it is what you want or not. Promise
Ditto! Too many potential complications and the pain of labor is nothing in comparison to them sticking you wrong if your L4 and L5 are messed up (like mine are), and plus, if your baby has shoulder dystocia, with an epidural you have to have an emergency c-sec, but without one, you just flip over onto your hands and knees and push the baby out.
I was way more freaked out by the birthing video than the epidural video.
Unable to even.
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You don't understand the appeal of Benedict Cumberbatch / think he's fug / don't know who he is? WATCH SHERLOCK. Until you do, your negative opinion of him will not be taken seriously.
This is ridiculous. There are potential complications in every delivery no matter what.
My first labor was almost 72 hours. I would not have been able to push my baby out at 10cm because I would have been completely exhausted.
There is no rule for epidurals, it is a decision each woman has to make when she is in labor.
This is ridiculous. There are potential complications in every delivery no matter what.
My first labor was almost 72 hours. I would not have been able to push my baby out at 10cm because I would have been completely exhausted.
There is no rule for epidurals, it is a decision each woman has to make when she is in labor.
Because drama sells, darlin'!!
If you're having back labor, you are desperate for anything to get rid of the pain. I would have opted for a frying pan over the head if that would have put me out for any amount of time. A needle in the back was nothing compared to dealing with those contractions. If you were in the hallway near my delivery room, you would have heard me scream "Owww!!!! Fvck you contractions!"
You are ignorant and judgmental. I really don't have much more to say to you about the subject.
I didn't plan on getting an epidural, but got one bc I ended up with a c-section. When I got the epidural, my contractions weren't as strong as they had been, but they were still coming, and I probably had 3-4 while they were inserting the needle. The biggest help for me was to hold onto my DH and really really focus on breathing through them - I had taken prenatal yoga with that pg, and I did the breathing/relaxing from that. Stay calm is probably the best advice I can give, and just focus on something during contractions. hth
ETA: why is maternity care the one time that it's considered rude to research/question and learn more about your options? If I was having any sort of medical procedure done (not that birth is a medical procedure!), I would still be learning about and wanting to know about it as much as possible. Women should be shown a video about what happens during an epidural - ignorance isn't neccesarily bliss.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Guys...
You're going to be pushing something the size of a watermelon out of your vagina.
The fact that someone is going to spend a couple of seconds putting a needle in your back should not be high on your 'OH HELL NO" meter.
Unable to even.
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You don't understand the appeal of Benedict Cumberbatch / think he's fug / don't know who he is? WATCH SHERLOCK. Until you do, your negative opinion of him will not be taken seriously.
She's ignorant and judgmental because she had a conversation with her medical provider about the proper course of action and her medical provider gave her both facts and opinions about the different options she has?
Explain how, please? Sounds like she's getting information from an expert and isn't being judgmental at all (the whole "on the fence" thing).
Additionally, it is a fact that natural childbirth is very trendy these days -- a fact which natural childbirth advocates are thrilled to death about. It's far more popular now than it used to be. It ties in with the whole DIY, green, organic, healthy thing. How is that ignorant and judgmental, either?
::sigh:: how right you are Monkiem!
Good point...LOL!!! All the feedback helps a lot though!!!
In my "birthing class" (which was really an extended, multi-session advertisement for the instructor's doula services), she showed an Epi Video that as far as I could tell, had more in common with a wartime propaganda leaflet than any sort of instructional message.
Though there were no graphic, slo mo, in depth depictions of the actual BIRTHING process in the whole class (vaginal wall tears? back labor? shoulder dislocation? No?), the epi video featured graphic, in depth visuals of what happened during an epidural alongside dire predictions of the possible complications with NO real world stats to show you how often something occurs.
My husband turned gray, watching it. I took him home and printed him out an actual fact sheet about epidurals and the statistical unlikelihood of any of the complications actually occurring.
Maybe going natural is trendy for some people and for others it is based on medical evidence, including my doctor's opinion on the matter (and yes, an OB). I do not care if someone gets an epidural. It does not effect my life in anyway and I do not judge them. If that is what they feel is best for them and they are ok with the risks, great. I hate when people assume I'm a hippy or trying to be trendy because I choose to not have medication that effect my daughter. Just like I chose to quit smoking immediately and some people chose not to eat lunch meat or whatever. The risk is not acceptable to me. Besides, being the only person I know that is trying to go med free out of almost 40 people I know who have had kids in my life, I don't think I'm being trendy.
My back injury was just the nerves (sciatic - sure I spelled that wrong), and the discs were okay. My spine was out of line for quite awhile, but PT seems to have fixed that. My doctor has not expressed concerns and at this point has said the epidural would be okay. But, as I said, any risk of injury to the back now makes me nervous. I feel better knowing the numbing injection does help and that a nurse or my husband can help me hold still though! I don't do extreme pain well, so I nkow I will need something! I do plan to talk more to my doctor about all options at me appointment next week also.
My back injury was just the nerves (sciatic - sure I spelled that wrong), and the discs were okay. My spine was out of line for quite awhile, but PT seems to have fixed that. My doctor has not expressed concerns and at this point has said the epidural would be okay. But, as I said, any risk of injury to the back now makes me nervous. I feel better knowing the numbing injection does help and that a nurse or my husband can help me hold still though! I don't do extreme pain well, so I know I will need something! I do plan to talk more to my doctor about all options at me appointment next week also.
let's all take a chill pill, calm the hormones. To clarify.... this is what my Dr said, not me, my Dr.....SOOOO just because he said it doesn't mean I'm getting an epi or not, I"m still on the fence and considering NOT having one. What's the big deal if it is trendy? How does that make me ignorant if I told you what he said? Doesn't mean I think that. I am also going to breastfeed which is also getting trendy again vs bottle feeding regardless of how many people try to turn me away from it. Is that ignorant? Hey man, to each his own, I'm not here to judge...ok I'm done
let's all take a chill pill, calm the hormones. To clarify.... this is what my Dr said, not me, my Dr.....SOOOO just because he said it doesn't mean I'm getting an epi or not, I"m still on the fence and considering NOT having one. What's the big deal if it is trendy? How does that make me ignorant if I told you what he said? Doesn't mean I think that. I am also going to breastfeed which is also getting trendy again vs bottle feeding regardless of how many people try to turn me away from it. Is that ignorant? Hey man, to each his own, I'm not here to judge...ok I'm done
It's also really annoying when people blame emotions on hormones when they are pregnant.
If your doc said that, that doesn't surprise me. I just get irritated about the subject since everyone thinks they know why I'm choosing what I do. Many people, not just your doc, think I'm being trendy or crunchy or whatever, and it annoys me since I am basing my decision on scientific evidence that many docs are starting to finally acknowledge. So I'm sorry about freaking out on you, it should be directed towards your doc.
ETA: And BF and med free are what is best for your child if they are options. If there are medical or personal reasons for not choosing either, FF and an epi can be fine for your child. I am not trying to debate that. Like you said, I'm not here to judge either, your post just came across that way to me.
My doctor told me that they will go with whatever I feel most comfortable having.
I am getting an epidural...and I'm scared about it. When I was working, a girl in another department went in to have her baby, had the epidural...and now she is permanently paralyzed. There are good and bad to everything. I think whatever one wants to choose is a great choice for them.
Now if I could seriously get knocked all the way out and somehow still push the baby out...I would do that. If I end up needing a c-section, I am going to ask that I be put to sleep, I am not comfortable being awake at all.
To each their own, but I have heard that going natural...it is a better and quicker recovery (from ladies I know that have gone natural).