Got an epi for pushing

stoneycakes

Hi Ladies,

I read a lot of posts on this board before my labor and delivery I was really committed to having a natural birth but unfortunately I had 52 hours of contractions!  About 40 of these hours were active labor. I labored naturally until I was fully dilated (46 hrs), but just did not have the energy to push because I hadn't slept in two nights.  My amazing midwife suggested that I get an epi and get some sleep so that hopefully I could still have a vaginal birth because I was headed towards a c-section.  At that point, my contractions were coming right on top of one another but I had no urge to push and getting the epi was sweet sweet relief, lol.

I know I made the right decision because I was able to have a successful vaginal birth, but I guess it makes me wonder if I'm really cut out for a natural birth.  Has anyone had a similar experience and was able to have a natural birth in the future? I have to admit, I was thankful not to feel the ring of fire and the stitching afterwards and it makes me wonder if I could have handled it without the epi.  My contractions at the end were excruciating with no break in between and the nurse commented that the contrax monitor looked like I was on the maximum dose of pit even though it was all me, lol.  I guess I just wonder how much harder the pushing stage is, since I didn't feel mine.

 If anyone is reading this who hasn't given birth yet, please don't let this post scare you.  I still totally enjoyed my birth experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  My labor was a really unusual circumstance with it being so long and it was really only difficult at the end. A lot of the 52 hours were the hurry up and wait kind.

Jcrab

I bet you'll be fine next time, you just got stuck with a very long labor. It's amazing you made it as far as you did without the epi. No ring of fire here so I would t worry about that either. Each labor is different.

Sawyerplus1

I'd say if you handled it as long and well as you did without an epi, that you'll be perfectly fine to try a natural birth next time! You did great, and no one can blame you for needing some rest before pushing after that many hours. Great job, and dont be too hard on yourself! Every labor is different, so who knows how it'll be next time

SWBs Wifey

Congrats!  Subsequent labors are generally (not always) shorter than first babies.  Your body "remembers" what to do.  If you're going to get an epi, I'd say a first baby is the one to do it for.  I had an epi for DS1 (19 hour labor- water broke on its own, put on pit to speed contrax) and none for DS2 (7 hour labor completely naturally).

laoch101

I think you did awesome! Sounds like you did everything right and kept at it. That's is exactly when an epi should be used, not just when someone is afraid of work. 

Good job! Very inspiring actually since you went through 52 hours! Of labor!  

jellybeanjean

Basically what the posters above said.

I'd take pushing over transition any day.  Since you handled everything naturally up to fully dilated, I'm sure that with a shorter labor next time, you'd be able to forgo the epidural entirely.

Glad you had a happy, healthy baby!

pixieprincss

I elected an epi at 55 hours into what ended up being a 63 hour labor for similar reasons. I also had some other medical factors going on, but the gist is the same that I was likely headed for a c-section because the OB who came on call  in the last day of my labor was not supportive and even though I had regained some mental clarity, there just is only so long someone can go in a setting that has become negative, food can only be eaten while hidden, days with little to no sleep, etc. To my mind, it was a medically beneficial choice, not a choice about eliminating  labor pain. I feel totally equipped for an unmedicated birth coming up. After all, I made it over double what the average  FTM's labor is. It was just too much stacked against me in a tough setting with a tough labor and a baby in a tough position with DS.

Now, I will say that my confidence now is a result of a TON of processing about what I consider a traumatic birth experience. . This PG we are using a CPM and won't be in a hospital and I am getting regular chiro care to prepare my body for birth. So, I am going into labor feeling VERY empowered and supported.

celiabwatson

I also want to say that transition for me hurt way more than pushing. Pushing is actually not very painful at all. The contractions hurt less and the pushing itself feels pretty good, like working out almost. Ring of fire is no fun but I didn't feel it with number 2 so it may not happen for you. I think you can totally do it next time (in the event that your labor is shorter and easier).

ridesbuttons

A couple of things.  I got an epi, got checked immediately after receiving it and found out I was at 10cm, ready to push.

I felt the ring of fire, babe emerging, delivery of the placenta, everything.  It just took the extreme pain of the contractions away without making me numb at all.  I still felt the contrax, I could move around fine (squatted to do most of the 2 hours of pushing) didn't get a cath and walked to the bathroom shortly after delivery to empty my own bladder.

For me, the epi was a very good experience but really told me I could have done without.  I'm posting this for those who haven't delivered yet to know that sometimes an epi can be totally fine.

I delivered by second son completely med free.  Ring of fire, babe emerging, placenta delivery all felt identical to the birth with the epi.

So what I am saying is that getting the epi with the first actually made me more confident about going med free with the second.  Odds are things will move much faster with your second as well.  52 hours though.  Wow.  Hats off.

ljanette85

this is why i am not totally closed off to an epi.... 52 hours yikes! every birth is different , whats important is that you have a healthy baby

see what happens next time. by the sounds of it you got very far on your own and made the decision that you felt was best. im sure you would have been fine without the epi had the labor been shorter.

congrats on your new baby!!!

outnumbered

laoch101:

That's is exactly when an epi should be used, not just when someone is afraid of work. 

Is there a magic fairy that removes the baby when somebody gets an epi??  I did not realize a fear of work was why people choose pain relief.

APendola

Wow!  That's a long time to be in active labour and I'm amazed you lasted so long before getting the epi.  In the end, all that matters is the baby is healthy.  It's great that you were able to deliver her without a C-section!

I want to have a natural birth, but if my labour is very long - I would like to get an epidural. 

lindsay.lou

I asked a similar question a little while back. I had a somewhat similar experience. I didn't have a long labor (7 hours) but ended up getting an epi at 10 cm (which I didn't even think was "allowed") so I basically just had it for the pushing stage. Actually, the anesthesiologist said to me, "You can just push now, you're ready, or do you want me to place the epi and wait 15 min for it to fully kick in?" I chose the latter.

Like you, I'm grateful to have avoided the "ring of fire" and mostly the afterbirthing. My OB was NO LIE almost elbow deep in me because my placenta wasn't coming out. So glad I didn't feel that. 

This time around I'm on the fence. I think I'm going to attempt natural, but I had an ok epi experience, so if that's what happens, that's ok too. 

lindsay.lou

pixieprincss:

.

Now, I will say that my confidence now is a result of a TON of processing about what I consider a traumatic birth experience. . This PG we are using a CPM and won't be in a hospital and I am getting regular chiro care to prepare my body for birth. So, I am going into labor feeling VERY empowered and supported.

I'm so sorry you had such a sucky birth experience. I just wanted to add that I got regular chiro care throughout my entire pregnancy (including 2X a week for the last 4 weeks) and I'm convinced it helped tremendously. My entire L&D lasted 7 hours start to finish and I had no tearing at all. I think all the adjustments helped with DS's positioning.