To epidural or not...

JoySeattle

We're planning a home birth so obviously not planning on having one.

That being said, I'm also a childbirth educator and highly recommend the book Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn -- good unbiased research and info about epidurals (and everything else) as well as a good quality evidence-based childbirth class series.

suv75

I had one but couldn't stand the numbness in my legs so they lowered the dosage twice. Needless to say, I felt a lot, unlike my friend who used the max dosage and kept pressing the button throughout the pushing stage.

Bakes4u

I got one for both my kids. Plan on getting it for this one.

Bakes4u

somebodysmama21:

I was in hard active labor for 40 hours with DD and had no pain meds. It can be done and is totally worth it. Do your research and I think you will find you probably would rather not have any. Also it is my understanding that the epidural doesn't help with the pushing pain which IMO was way more intense than the contractions.

You are actually completely wrong. Do not give advice on the board that you have no experience with.

The epi absolutely helps with the pushing pain. It doesnt just work while you are having contractions it works through the entire birth.

JilllyBean

bakes4u:

somebodysmama21:

I was in hard active labor for 40 hours with DD and had no pain meds. It can be done and is totally worth it. Do your research and I think you will find you probably would rather not have any. Also it is my understanding that the epidural doesn't help with the pushing pain which IMO was way more intense than the contractions.

You are actually completely wrong. Do not give advice on the board that you have no experience with. The epi absolutely helps with the pushing pain. It doesnt just work while you are having contractions it works through the entire birth.

 

Uh yes, this! Somebodysmama, what is the point of an epidural then?! This seems fairly obvious to me. 

ddrewes

My DH is an anesthesiologist, but I felt I could handle labor and delivery without much intervention because I knew it wasn't going to be easy or pain free. I was prepared for it. My mom was a midwife and LD nurse for years, so with her guidance, I had additional confidence that I could handle the pain. First labor wasnt beyond a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. However, if this next one hurts like hell, I have no qualms about asking for an epidural. :

BlueJewelM

I labored on my own until about 6 cm and then decided to get the epi. Contraction pain wasn't that bad. But I got really scared of pushing as it got closer.

I looooved DS' birth. My epi was perfect. I was not numb, I could still move my legs and scoot around fine. After I had DS I had to move to a different room and I stood up and walked to the wheelchair with little support from DH, maybe, 30 min after delivery? I could feel the pressure of pushing and I could still the "waves" of contractions, just no real pain!

I got the epi at 345 am and DS was born at 814 am. It didn't slow my labor and I only pushed for maybe 15 min. He was born very alert and was a champ breast feeder. It was a dream. I can't wait to do it again. I had such a positive labor experience!!!

heather524

BellaOso:

cole2144:

I know you did not ask this but I had one and it was amazing!

This EXACTLY. 

I'm getting one again this time. I will labor without at home for awhile, then into the hospital and get the epi.

Like I said in the previous post - I'm going in backwards with a bulls-eye painted on my back and an arrow that says, "insert epi here".

 

EXACTLY!

 I had every intention of not getting an epi, but after a laboring at home for a couple of hours, then my awful commute into Boston during rush hour laboring, I pretty much begged for one as I was being rushed into the hospital.  It was totally worth it and I had no problems with numb legs.  Will be doing it again this time around. 

TristansMom01

I had an unmediated birth and was on pitocin the whole time...I slept through most of the labor. We did hypnobirthing classes and that helped. This time I am going to a holistic birthing center and hoping for a water birth.

lynn97

somebodysmama21:

I was in hard active labor for 40 hours with DD and had no pain meds. It can be done and is totally worth it. Do your research and I think you will find you probably would rather not have any. Also it is my understanding that the epidural doesn't help with the pushing pain which IMO was way more intense than the contractions.

I still felt contractions and the urge to push but I wasn't in pain at all while I pushed. Delivering the placenta was extremely painful though as the doctor kept trying to get it to release. Much later, though, we found out that the placenta was stuck under a large fibroid I had so I don't think that it should have been as unpleasant as it was. And I'm sure it would have been excruciating as it was during a couple other exams postpartum if I didn't have the epi.