Happy Epidural Story?

zurawsk5

It seems that all I can find are horror stories about epidurals or people preaching against them. Does anyone have an, "I had an epidural and it was a great decision and I would do it again" story? Or at least, that you had an epidural and everything was fine and I am not a huge wuss for wanting medication.

vernab

I was in labor for 30 hours with my son.  I'm soooo glad I got an epidural.  I was able to get some MUCH needed sleep!  It was wonderful!  Another reason I really wanted one, I wanted to be able to see him come out, and not be in so much pain I didn't care.  I was very relaxed during the pushing process.  I could definitely feel some stretching but it really was a wonderful process. 

CSP83

I loved my epidural. My labor was not bad once I got it. It was a great experience. I cannot imagine going through labor without medication. I will be getting another one with this baby!

cnw112784

my friends both had one and said it was fantastic..they went into labor, labored for awhile, got the epi, then took a nap and had to be woken up to start pushing....sounds fantastic to me, I just hope that mine goes as smoothly, lol

mrsgabus

Oh yes.... I had an epidural and I will do it again this time. I was in labor for 16 hours and got the epidural after 10 hours. It was the best thing ever. I needed to rest and was in so much pain, yes there are horror stories but there are tons of great stories too.

I do think that everyone who goes natural are super women and I give yall a thumbs up  

katiesue55419

A friend of mine, who had a baby in March, said that after laboring for hours without meds she eventually asked for an epi. She said she wanted to keep her options open for pain management and was sooooo happy she got one. She said she enjoyed the rest of her labor. Sorry I don't have any first hand experience to share with you, but she said she wouldn't consider doing it any other way in the future.

I'm hoping to not have one, but I figure if I do, that's fine too. If you're delivering at a decent hospital, I wouldn't be all that worried about anything going wrong, personally. They do so many of them and I just refuse to get worked up about all the "what ifs". From what I've read and been told in my birth prep class, its good to wait until you're in active labor (about 5cm dilated) to get the epi so that your labor doesn't slow way down. I've also read that for some women, an epi can help if she's really tired or really tense and won't dilate because of that tension. Like all things pregnancy and baby related, everyone's got an opinion! But the bottom line is that you're the one who'll be giving birth, so only you can know what's right for you.

love_melongtime

My sister has had 3. My mom has had 1. My SIL has had 4. All of them say "You HAVE to get an epidural!"

rkto

all of my friends (about 7 of them) have had epidurals and said it was a piece of cake to deliver after the epidural.

One of my friends said she didnt even know that she was pushing.  She bore down and said "am I pushing?" and out came the baby. 

pearblossom

I had one with DD and absolutely plan to do it again this time. You're not a wuss at all. Every method of giving birth has it's own challenges and rewards. Epis are a valid, medically sound option and it is all about what is right for you. Mine was amazing. Didn't hurt to have it put in, and I was playing cards, facebooking and watching tv right up until I started pushing.

vanessa11411

I was induced and got an epidural. Best thing ever!! I plan on getting one again. I don't remember the pain of the needle going in, all I remember is the pain of the contractions

nycegrrl99

With my first daughter I had been in labor for 16 hours. We were Bradley trained and determined to have an un-medicated birth. Unfortunately, I was in so much pain that my body had kind of frozen. The doctor called for an epidural and an hour later I had my baby girl. The epidural let me relax in a way I wasn't able to in the previous hours. It was an amazing relief. I had no trouble getting the epidural or afterwards and my daughter is perfectly healthy. The funniest part? My doctor went off call before my daughter was delivered so i didn't know the Dr who delivered her, don't even remember his name...but my anesthesiologist was Dr Mallory. Him, I'll remember forever.

You are not a wuss...everyone has to make the choice that is best for them and their family. 

CakeBatter

I had one with DD1. I was induced, and my contractions on pitocin were so painful that the first thing I said when the anesthesiologist introduced himself was "Oh, thank God". It was a quick pinch going in, but it was WELL worth it not to feel the contraction pain. I was able to rest and sleep most of the time until it was time to push. My only complaint is that it wore off right before I got the episiotomy. I will gladly have another with DD2, but will hold off as long as possible since it can sometimes slow down labor.

Soon2BMrsN

I didn't want an epi and was going to try for a natural birth. I labored to 7cm without one, but when I finally "gave in" and got it, I felt so much better. 

It ended up being sort of moot (I pushed for 2 hours but ended up having a c/s), but I am definitely glad I had the epi.  Getting to 7cm without it was excruciating, so I can't imagine what 7-10 would have felt like without it.

forensicmama

I wish I did. I have certainly heard positive stories, but I haven't experienced one myself.

kagl04

I LOVED my epidural! Hands down the best decision ever and I WILL be getting on when I go in to deliver DS. It was the best experience and easiest labor ever, especially for a 1st time mom and I owe it all to the epidural!!

KathleenCB

I told my anesthesiologist that I loved him and would marry him if I wasn't already married.  My epidural took all of my pain away-so much that I went to sleep and had to be woken up to have my baby boy (13 yrs ago) I pushed three times and there he was.

My daughter a year later was induced ...which was an absolute nightmare (won't get into too many details but I was throwing up with every contraction) the anesthesiologist was late getting to the hospital and waiting for him was unbearable.  Thank goodness he got there in enough time to give me my epidural (it was almost too late) and the rest of my labor was smooth sailing again.

So yeah epidural baby!

egankn

I had back labor with DD because she was sunny side up. After laboring at home for 10 hours and my water broke we went to the hospital to find out I had to have 2 hours without of an IV before I could have an epidural and I was already dilated to a 5. I was SO grateful for the epidural after those meds as the back labor was horrible! I was a 7 when I got it and immediately felt SO much better. 4 hours later they turned it down so I could feel to push, pushed for an hour and the entire epi was off by time she was born. I had no regrets at all. I barely felt the needle, hardest part was holding still through the contractions.

Mac0711

I had an epidural with both of my kids and AWESOME is the only way to describe it.  The pain was hellish before I got the epidural and after getting it I was able to relax and get my head on straight and enjoy the birthing experience.  I am definitely getting another one with this LO. 

xtencornfield

I had an epidural w/DS. I'm not going to sugar-coat my story for you, LOL, but it does have a happy ending:o)

I had consistent contractions for 3 days prior to going into active labor and got NO sleep those three days (I was one of the weirdos who instead of having contractions lessen when they layed down, mine got worse...so I spent 3 nights before going into active labor pacing the house). I was in active labor for 27 hours with 3.25 hours of pushing. There is no way I could have done it without an epidural, I would have had to have had a c section...DS was 10 lbs. The epidural allowed me to get some sleep and regain some energy (I didn't get my epidural until about 18 hours into my active labor--I was exhausted by then).

Now the not-so-good part. The doc had to try to insert it three times. That was NOT fun. I think DH was about ready to knock the guy out. Post-partum, I would occasionally get pain in all three insertion sites. However, that seemed to go away for the most part about 6 months or so after delivery.

In the end, I really believe it partially saved me from having to get a c section. I would do it again and probably will depending on the situation (I'll try to go natural provided I don't have such a long labor experience again).

CA2006

KathleenCB:

I told my episiotomist that I loved him and would marry him if I wasn't already married.  My epidural took all of my pain away-so much that I went to sleep and had to be woken up to have my baby boy (13 yrs ago) I pushed three times and there he was.

My daughter a year later was induced ...which was an absolute nightmare (won't get into too many details but I was throwing up with every contraction) the episiotomist was late getting to the hospital and waiting for him was unbearable.  Thank goodness he got there in enough time to give me my epidural (it was almost too late) and the rest of my labor was smooth sailing again.

So yeah epidural baby!

I think you meant anesthesiologist.  

I had a wonderful epi and my only fear this time is not getting to the hospital in time to get the epi. 

KathleenCB

CA2006:

KathleenCB:

I told my episiotomist that I loved him and would marry him if I wasn't already married.  My epidural took all of my pain away-so much that I went to sleep and had to be woken up to have my baby boy (13 yrs ago) I pushed three times and there he was.

My daughter a year later was induced ...which was an absolute nightmare (won't get into too many details but I was throwing up with every contraction) the episiotomist was late getting to the hospital and waiting for him was unbearable.  Thank goodness he got there in enough time to give me my epidural (it was almost too late) and the rest of my labor was smooth sailing again.

So yeah epidural baby!

I think you meant anesthesiologist.  

I had a wonderful epi and my only fear this time is not getting to the hospital in time to get the epi. 

DItto ...LOL and yep must be my pregnancy brain cells working overtime (or undertime!)  But really he was an awesomologist!!

antosh2008

I had an epidural with both of my kids, and it was the best thing for me. I was comfortable with pushing, with getting through contractions, and anything else that came my way. I will definitely be doing that again!!!

Sarahbear621

I puffy heart LOVED my epidural!! In fact I told the lady who administered it that if I had been having a girl I would have named her after her! 

My epi was great.  I was in a tremendus about of pain and the epi was the only thing that brought me back to reality.  I actually had no problem- almost enjoyed- labor and the whole birthing process afterwards because I couldn't feel anything.  It was wonderful to be calm and collected and understand everything that was giong on. 

leahraewku

Completely, totally, utterly, 100% happy with my decision to get an epidural.  I felt relief the instant the needle was inserted.  It was great to get a good night's rest before waking up to push since I had labored the entire day prior and got zero sleep.  I woke up, watched the Bengals play the Texans, then got to pushing.  I had zero complications and fully intend to get an epidural as soon as they'll let me have one with this next baby.

aliciaroset

I for one am pretty surprised that you're only hearing negatives about epis. You must be talking to very different people than I am.

I don't have any stories, but I will say I think epi's, while I don't want one personally, are totally appropriate in a few situations,  pp saying after 30 hours is one.  

They are not great for pain management, imo, because they generally administer so much that many women can't feel anything, which is not ideal, but they are excellent for relaxing overly tense muscles.  If a woman is expecting birht to be really painful and is very tense, she'll have a very hard time relaxing enough for her cervix to properly dilate.  (I think this is a huge reason why people end up with them, not so much that they need them as they aren't prepared for what it'll be like.)  Another reason to have one is if your cervix simply won't dilate and you need more time.

Finallly, I think it's appropriate after a long hard time waiting to let mom get a little rest.  She needs to have strong energy to push and if she's been working really hard for a long time, she just won't have it in her.

 

justhat1girl

loved it, planning on getting another.

i was induced, which can make labor a bit more intense, so it was a lifesaver! i HATE needles, and was horrified leading up to it... but when you're in pain, all you want is the relief. so worth it. 

estnc

I have had three epidurals. best thing ever. took all three times. i laughed and napped throughout labor and no problems with the kiddos or for me after  

anniemh20

I got the epidural with my son and fully intend on getting one again this time.  No horror stories here!