for mommies who had an epidural last time

pinkpajamapants · January 2011

dumb question since I had a drug-free birth last time. I watch the last episode of 16 & pregant yesterday and she got an epi and is just chilling and then the Dr. comes in and checks her and is super surprised that she is fully dialated. And then she pushes because she is told she is having a contraction. I mean that would explain why the Dr stuck his fingers up me last time, wiggling around showing me the way until I yelled at him WTF he was doing and why they always count. But lets say the Dr. would not come and check on time (but I guess thats why they come every hour???), would your body still start pushing? I know weird question, but since my birth experience was so different, I was just wondering....

Alyssajoy87 · January 2011

I had an epi with DS, but I could still somehow tell when I was fully dilated. I never experienced the "urge to push" like some women describe, but that could've been because I was pretty medicated at the time.

I've heard of some women whose bodies start the pushing process, but I have no personal experience with that happening.

Kiranie · January 2011

I had an epi, and that was not my experience at all. I felt like I had to go to the bathroom so I called in the nurse, she checked me, and sure enough I was 10 cm. A few minutes later I felt a serious urge to push. It took the doc about 10 minutes to get to the room, and I was literally resisting the urge to push with all my might. As soon as the doc was there I pushed when I felt the urge, and my DD was out in 3 pushes. I never felt any pain, just the urge to push, and pressure.

JennDave+1 · January 2011

The EPI worked way to good for me. I couldn't tell when I was having a contraction unless I looked at the monitor, I could not feel anything. Even when I was pushing I couldn't tell if I was even pushing. Which is probably why I ended up with a c-section. I just had this discussion with my OB yesterday about the EPI and not being able to feel a thing.

luvdv8 · January 2011

You can deliver a baby in a coma- so yes, your body will start pushing without you.

I had complete control over my epi by a push button- I asked if I could only use it to take the edge off, not completely numb everything and they said it was fine. I could feel the pressure when it was time to deliver and pushed just fine, even though I upped the dosage before we started the pushing.

LisaMarisa · January 2011

I was induced with DS because I was 6cm but not in active labor yet (OB was worried that my water would break and I wouldnt make it to the hospital). When I got to the hospital, I got my epidural, they broke my water and started pitocin. I was 10cm within an hour and a half but the baby was still really high so they had me labor down for 2 hours. During that time, I never felt the urge to push or any pressure but he was still really high so being complete doesnt mean that you're ready to push. I eventually did start pushing but couldnt feel anything in the beginning. By the time he was in the birth canal I could feel the pressure of him being there but no pain.

You can sit at 10 cm for a while without having to push but they check you frequently enough that they usually know when you're complete. And it's not like the baby is going to slip out without you knowing it.

poolgirl7901 · January 2011

I had an epi but DS changed position and I needed a C-section... that said, I was in labor for 14 hours and could tell when I was having a contraction. You still feel changes and pressure... just not pain.

That is... until I went in to back labor - related to DS turning over and putting pressure on the nerves at the base of my spine. Turns out an epidural does not cover that nerve cluster and let me tell you, when the guy came in to give me the spinal for my c-section (which takes all pain away from waist down), I nearly asked him to come home with me.

azuremama · January 2011

I think it depends on the epi. I was able to feel an urge to push, still tell when I was having contractions, etc., but sometimes women don't.

Moghra · January 2011

My nurse was checking on me. I think the last time the doc checked me I was around 6 cm, and then disappeared. lol. The next time I saw her was after they told me to stop pushing because the baby was almost out. I sort of felt pressure but no pain.

MrsTotty · January 2011

I had an epi and absolutely knew when I was fully dilated and needed to start pushing, as well as when I was having a contraction. The contractions weren't painful, but I could feel LOTS of pressure and my whole body would tighten.

mommydale · January 2011

I have no idea. I had the epi with DD and I was actually asleep when they came to check to see if I was fully dilated. They had to wake me up to deliver her.

stamperbride · January 2011

I think it depends on the Epi... I knew when I was having contractions the entire time, they felt like gas cramps. I knew something was going on when I felt like I HAD to push soemthing out. I thought it was a little soon since I was checked like 30 minutes before. Then my body actually started pushing on its own so I called the nurse and told her I was either gonna poop or have a baby, she checked me and I was 10cm and I strated pushing.

Goodysgirl · January 2011

I had the epi. While I didn't feel pain, I felt an incredible amount of pressure. I knew it was time to push because I felt like something was going to explode out of my butt. Sure enough, it was time. That said, I couldn't feel when to push so the nurse watched the monitor and told me when I was having a contraction.

I loved it though and plan to get one again.

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