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epidural question
I was at the nail salon the other day and all the women were talking about the pain in their backs from the epidurals. Some have older kids (around 11 yrs old) and were stating they still get the pain from the area where it was inserted in their backs. It's pushing me further and further away from considering it, which I was considering it only if Icouldn't handle the pain anymore or if I have a long labor. Of course I will consider in an emergency or if I need a c-section etc. I'd like to get opinions from you girls.
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Re: epidural question
I have never had any pain from my epidural - it didn't even really hurt when they put it in.
Medicine has come a very long way from even a decade ago, just something to consider about the ones with 11 year olds.
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I was TERRIFIED of having the epidural administered into my spine....TERRIFIED!!! But, it wasn't painful AT ALL and I have never felt any sort of residual effects of it. I am so greatful I had it too, because I had to push for 2 hours. Two hours unmedicated would have sent me straight to a C-Section because I wouldn't have been able to do it drug-free.
I wouldn't have wanted one except that I had to be induced. They tend to lead to a cascade of interventions. It was very frustrating to not be able to push very well. On the other hand, I didn't feel anything else either, ie: when they check your progress. This was excrutiating after having undergone a cervadil induction. So although I hoped to avoid it, between that and the pitocin induced contractions, I wouldn't have made it without the relief. I was not surprised that I ended up with a c section and after 2 hours of pushing, I didn't want to take any chances with DS as he was sunny side up and having a heck of a time getting through.
The epidural itself was no big deal and I had no issues. I was terrified of a spinal headache, but that didn't happen either.
were you at a vietnamese nail salon?
i ask because a lot of older vietnamese women believe this. but they also believe you should stay in bed the first month after the baby is born to recuperate. oh, and don't you dare immerse in water for that matter!
i had back pain before my epidural, but it has not gotten any worse since. i had no pain when it was inserted, and did not feel like i had no control. i was able to walk just fine shortly thereafter. even before i got to the recovery room.
I had a WONDERFUL epidural experience even though I was soooooooooooo scared. But it wasn't bad at all, and made the experience of labor/delivery that much better for me (no screaming or pain), in fact, we were chit chatting in between contractions.
With that said, I do have lower back pain (that's where the epi went in), but how knows if I would have had it or not without the epi due to my bad posture and weight now.
i am the same as savannah. i had no pain from the epi, but i hated the way i felt when it was administered. i was shaking violently, felt like i was freezing cold and had no control over my lower half. my shaking was so bad (and i was told after the fact that shaking is commom) that they had to give me even more drugs in recovery to stop it.
but i have never had any residual pain and know noone who complains of this...
I don't have pain from it, but my site does get really itchy every once in a while. Like, uncontrollably itchy. Strange.
Ditto V on the shakes. I hated that because I couldn't hold Natalie immediately because I was shaking so bad in the recovery room.
6 of my 8 cousins, including me have had epidurals. none of us have had any residual effects.
I hardly felt it going in, and at that point, the contractions were so strong and painful that the slight pain of the epidural paled in comparison to the labor I had up till that point. it was a godsend.
mine was a low dose, I could feel my legs, just not fully control them, and coming off of the epi was the worst for me as one leg came out of it faster than the other, and that sensation was just icky.
but I was busy watching the nurse give my new baby her first shampoo and sponge bath while coming off the drugs, so my mind was not on me at the time.
it was a good day.
ditto rayskit10 all the way. ??
I was so scared of getting one I threw up when we made the decision...
The most painful part of it was holding still during contractions. They were coming about two minutes a part and the process took three or four contractions to get everything done and it was horrible having to hold still through them.
I did not get the shakes from mine until I was laid out for the c-section. I cannot remember if I got a lower dose and the upped it when we called for the section, but I think that was the case. I was able to move myself from my bed to the OR table, but not back, so I'm 99.9% sure they upped it when the section started. Then I got the shakes and the vomitting came back. But they gave me drugs for both and I had Marion nursing by 45 minutes after her birth.
j+k+m+e | running with needles
I guess I'm the only one who thought the epidural was painful. ?For me, it was the worst part of the whole labor experience, but I had a very fast labor. ?My water broke at home, and they induced my contractions. ?In order for them to get the needle in the right place, you have to be bent over forward and relaxed. ?By the time I asked for the epidural, my contractions were so close together, I had a very hard time staying bent forward and never really relaxed. ?After 2 very painful attempts (I had more pain from the needle attempts in my back than the contractions), they gave me some drugs in my IV to relax me, and then he was able to get right in. ?I didn't feel anything after that... never even felt my son come out! ?
I also got the shakes afterward, but I didn't know if it was from the epidural or whatever they gave me to relax me. ?I guess now that it was from the epidural.
I think it's unlikely that the back pain from those women came from the epidural. ?Low back pain is very common, and they may have just developed it in the area where they had their epidural.?
I have no residual pain and had no problems with the insertion. the dr saw my back and said "wow, I've never seen this before" because I have a curved spine. but it went in pretty easily. the only problems I had were due to the curve and were easily resolved. they turned mine off so I could push better (ended up with a c-sec for other reasons). then turned it back on for the c-sec and I did get the shakes then, but needed a really high dose to not feel the c-sec.
i think it comes down to would you do it again and I would do it all again in a second.
Both of my epidural went well. I will say that every now and then I get a tingling sensation where the epidural was. I asked the anesthesiologist about this and he said that it was normal. It is not painful at all thought.
I have two stories of the epidural.
With Joshua: Went in perfectly. Never even felt the insertion. I did get the shakes and had blood pressure issues after (but I tent to have low BP anyway). When they took it out never had another pain or sensation in the area.
With Gabrie: When the doctor put it in it felt like it went in crooked. I really can't explain it, but instead of feeling pressure I was feeling pain on the left side of my spine. They took it out and did it again and it was better. I would say for a good three months after he was born I had a pulling sensation in the spot whenever I would bend over. I was pretty uncomfortable. It has since gone away.
compared to the pain from the contractions i was having, the pain from the epidural was next to nothing.
i didn't have any pain from the needle. i did have a "leak" from the needle after they took it out.
eta: i completely forgot about the shakes! i was shaking so badly that i couldn't even feed myself the night dd was born. i couldn't control it, especially in my arms or jaw. it was baaaaad. and the sucker didn't take all the way either. i didn't realize how much i could really feel until my ob went to sew me up.
I didn't have any issues with the epi.. I was scared to get it.. However, I have MAJOR needle phobia.. I had a "walking epidural"... The pain was gone, but I had full control of my legs.. I even got up and went to the bathroom about 10 min after he was born.... I'll do it again.
thank you so much for asking this D!
OK, I am the only weird one, I guess....
I totally still get back pain in the EXACT spot it was administered. STILL, 3 years later.
And for me it didn't really hurt going in (well, maybe slightly, but not enough to remember) and I didn't sufffer any crazy weird side effects.
But I still feel that spot at times. And I've never had back pain issues before. COuld it be attributed to my weight....possibly....but I also think it definitely has something to do with the epi.
An aside, my sister complained of the same thing--said she could feel pain in that area for 1+ yrs. after delivering her twins.