not trying to be snarks...legit question

MysteryRater · June 2010

but when is an epidural ever safest or best for you or the baby? other than pain relief for you it really doesn't have any other upside right?

Caryssa8 · June 2010

Not that I am aware of. Although I believe I watched an episode of a Baby Story where the OB basically made the mom get one because she was so weak from the pain that she wasn't going to be able to do anything (like pushing).

MMcLean05 · June 2010

I don't think it is. I was just meaning that I wasn't sure if it was in my birth plan, and that I would be just winging it and if the epi was part of it I would do that, and if I could handle it I wouldn't have one.

Guess I should of been more specific. My B

Lexi0402 · June 2010

Considering the many sources I've looked at/consulted, an epi = pain relief without hurting the baby in any way. I see nothing wrong with it.

firsttogo · June 2010

There are also no studies that determine it to be in any way detrimental to the baby. The only part of it that could cross the placenta is the initial anesthetic that goes in for the placement of the catheter, which some women get when there is an episiotomy, or even having an IV put in.

tiggergirl0325 · June 2010

There are certain times when it actually helps with the dialation because it allows the mother to relax. This is usually when the contractions are one on top of the other and the mother doesn't get a chance to recover in between. When that's the case, the cervix can actually start to swell and close and in that situation, the epi would likely space out the contractions enough to allow for better dialation.

It's really a case by case thing.

sandraanddrew · June 2010

For me it is the safest option for me and baby. I have malignant hyperthermia, which prevents me from having general anaesthetic (I've had an attack before under a general ana, where I almost died, lost all my muscle mass, and took months to recover). I have been told by both my OB and a specialist the me having an epidural in place early in my labour is the safest thing for the baby and I. In case I have to have an emergency c-section, where in this area, the doctors like to put you under a general ana. Obviously I can't have that. So they want the epidural in place and working ahead of time just in case. Sometimes it is the safer option.

His-N-Hers · June 2010

Also, if you have high BP issues going in, an EPI will help lower BP during labor... at least so my BFF's OB tells her and she tells me.

tiggergirl0325 · June 2010

Oh, also, speaking of spacing out the contractions more, I forgot that the epi actually helped my son avoid injections in my second labor. I was GBS+ and my labor was progressing so fast that they didn't think they were going to be able to get the two rounds of IV antibiotics in before he was born. In that case, he would have had to have a shot of penicillin afterwards. The Epi spaced my contraction just enough that I was completely dialated almost exactly at the same time the second bag of antibiotics were done. We later found out that he's allergic to penicillin, so I have no idea what that shot would have ended up doing to him.

tsevere · June 2010

Sane mother = good labor experience = happy and sane mother/baby bonding

So yeah, mentally, for me, it is definitely the best for me and the baby.

Summadaze · June 2010

MysteryRater:
but when is an epidural ever safest or best for you or the baby? other than pain relief for you it really doesn't have any other upside right?

Not sure if some of the OP are reading this the same way I am. But I THINK I get what you mean. You're not trying to say don't get one and it's horrible. But where do people get off saying you should get one because it's best or safest for you and the baby? You're not going to die or harm the baby if you don't get one anymore than if you do. I think mother's need to do what they feel is best and safest for them in terms of childbirth. If someone ever told me I need to get an epidural cause it's safest for the baby they would run the other way screaming I would be so mad.

And like the OP said sometimes there are medical reasons to get the epidural, but people don't usually think about that when they are pushing you to get one..

Sharon&Paul · June 2010

With my last pregnancy my OB encourage me to get an epidural since I had pre-eclampsia. He said the epidural would help lower my BP. He was on the borderline with using mag sul. It worked for many reasons!!!

jewelbride07 · June 2010

agree with pp that getting the epi can allow the mom to sleep and get energy to push. this is what helped me push out dd so quickly. i had been in labor unmedicated for 15 hours and had been awake for nearly 48 hours. my OB told me to just take the epi so i could rest or i'd never have the energy to push. i'm glad i took her advice. and i'll be getting the epi the very second they offer it to me this time. no more messin around this time! lol!

haleybeth81 · June 2010

It does help keep your anxiety levels down (contractions can really hurt) which can help keep a baby having distress calm down some. I will say I was glad to have my epi after having severe tearing with DD#1 because when it wore off all I could do was cry and try not to scream (I was definitely an extreme birth experience and not the norm though). I'm definitely getting another one this time around but I think everyone should make their own choice when they are in labor and think people who go natural are definitely tougher than me.

Kateysomething · June 2010

I'm not trying to be snarky, but I'm going to ask a controversial question in a condescending way, if that's ok with you...

His-N-Hers · June 2010

Kateysomething:

I'm not trying to be snarky, but I'm going to ask a controversial question in a condescending way, if that's ok with you...

haha!!!

JQuin10 · June 2010

MysteryRater:
but when is an epidural ever safest or best for you or the baby? other than pain relief for you it really doesn't have any other upside right?

I'm really glad you asked this question! It's a very good question and I don't see anything snarky about it!

mrskilbride · June 2010

Both of my previous deliveries, it wasn't till I got my epi that I was able to 'relax' through my contractions and dialted fully....so that was good. I supposed eventually I would have dialated anyway, but If they were on thier way out safely anyway, why not make it as pleasant(quicker) experience as possible?

Last I checked they didn't hand out certificates for doing it more painfully...to each your own!

KFH73 · June 2010

Kateysomething:

I'm not trying to be snarky, but I'm going to ask a controversial question in a condescending way, if that's ok with you...

THIS Yes

madhatter2003 · June 2010

No, it does have 'upsides' at times for mom or baby, it just depends. It can give mom time to rest after a 100 hour labor and have strength to push like it did for me. I'd say that was 'best' for me and DD.

sept0305bride · June 2010

I went to natural childbirth class and one class was dedicated to interventions so we were prepared if they came up.

The example they showed us was a woman who had not slept for 3 days, who had a previous c-section, who wanted to deliver vaginally, ideally without meds. However, because she had had contractions for long and had been awake, she needed to sleep and relax so she could push.

She elected for the epi, was able to sleep, her body relaxed, and she woke up ready to push. It literally prevented her from having another c-section.

So in her case, the epi was the right choice.

kellimchris · June 2010

There are times when an epidural allows the mom to relax, in a sense her own body is holding the baby in due to tension... So baby makes progress and comes out safely.

pixy_stix · June 2010

pwned.

MysteryRater · June 2010

i'm sure any question questioning epidurals might seem condescending but that was not my intention. I really am curious to know if epidurals have any positive effects other than pain relief. i am not anti epidural. settle down. thanks to all those who answered maturely.

HarkelAD · June 2010

tiggergirl0325:

There are certain times when it actually helps with the dialation because it allows the mother to relax. This is usually when the contractions are one on top of the other and the mother doesn't get a chance to recover in between. When that's the case, the cervix can actually start to swell and close and in that situation, the epi would likely space out the contractions enough to allow for better dialation.

It's really a case by case thing.

This. My contrax were on top of each other, and I wasnt progressing from a 4. Once I got the epi, I was at a 10 in under 2 hours.

Want a personalized experience?

not trying to be snarks...legit question

Re: not trying to be snarks...legit question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards