Afraid of getting an Epidural

Marchmama11 · January 2011

I heard it's hard to push, I am nervous that I'll be so numb I won't be able to push! What do the doctors do if this happens? Anyone had trouble with this before?

Scout05 · January 2011

I think they just dial back the dosage until you can feel enough to push, if that becomes an issue.

I'm personally quite looking forward to mine.

Temp86398625009737 · January 2011

They turned mine off when I started to push, but I was still able to feel that I needed to push. Int he end, I pushed for over 2 hours and it was well worn off by then. I didn tknow this and wondered why it hurt like hell when she was somcing out, and the nurse was like oh, we turned that off hours ago!

MrsTotty · January 2011

I absolutely knew when it was time to start pushing ... and when I was having contractions. My whole body would tense up, but it wasn't painful.

I thoroughly enjoyed my epi. Best invention EVER.

misskarii · January 2011

i have the same concern...but i'm a wuss when it comes to needles, especially in my back! I'm sure you'll do fine!! GL!

kapereasd · January 2011

I was extremely numb with my epidural but still was able to feel enough pressure to push...it didn't hurt at all but I definitely knew when it was time to push!!

missfire · January 2011

Your body has a natural reflex to push, and your uterus is contracting and doing most of the work, and those will happen regardless. They say people who are paralyzed from the waist down are still capable of having vaginal births, even though they can't control their pushing. I never pushed when my DS was born - I was just breathing and trying to relax, and never got an urge to push.

If you want to test this out, next time you have to poop (in private - not in a public bathroom or you'll scare people!), instead of pushing, relax and moan in a really deep voice. You may get the urge to push at some point, or to rock back and forth or something, but I bet it's less "work" than usual. That uses a lot of the same muscles that will push your baby out, and the pushing that you do will be similar to trying to poop.

MrsTotty · January 2011

Oh, and getting the epi itself was not painful either ... I was very worried about that. But honestly, getting my IV stuck into my hand was wayyyyy more painful then getting the epi.

misskarii · January 2011

MrsTotty:
Oh, and getting the epi itself was not painful either ... I was very worried about that. But honestly, getting my IV stuck into my hand was wayyyyy more painful then getting the epi.

all this needle talk has me freaking out!!!!

Marchmama11 · January 2011

Oh thanks Ladies I feel much better! I am def going for the epi!

flowerchild77 · January 2011

I was scared of getting the epi with my dd so I didnt. Went natural and loved the experience. Planning on having a natural homebirth with this baby.

M&D06 · January 2011

I agree that the needle in the hand hurt worse than the epi. I was scared about getting the epi too though but was SO happy I did. Although mine did end up on the 'worked too well' side of things and I really couldn't feel anything. I kept asking them to turn it down but I really don't think they did. I pushed for 3 hours but things turned out ok! Once you're having the pain of contractions you won't care nearly as much about them putting the epi in!

GrayGhost13 · January 2011

I felt nothing but I still pushed really well. I only pushed for about an hour. I was able to touch my belly to feel for my contractions (although the nurse could also see them on the monitor),then the doctor and nurse coached me through pushing. You can still use the muscles just fine, you just can't feel it.

To be honest, I originally wanted to go natural, so it wasn't at all how I imagined childbirth to be, but everything went really smoothly--peaceful almost-- and I think in the end the epi was the right choice for me.

wesleysgirl1106 · January 2011

I was wonderful with the epi. It helped my body relax to the point that I dilated to 10cm within 2 hours... Then some idiot nurse decided to turn it off. I am extremely confident that I would have been able to feel the urge to push. Instead I pushed unsuccessfully for 2 hours and ended with a c/s.

realisticdreams · January 2011

I'm not really afraid of needles, just huge giant ones going into my spine. Plus I was terrified of getting a spinal headache. So, that's why I went natural with Peyton. You will know when to push though & if not they will tell you. Like PP's said they will turn it back.

00tedsgirl · January 2011

My SIL was told to cough to make sure she was pushing the right way. I have no personal advice because my epi failed and I only pushed 4 times.

hmontty · January 2011

Just for all the reasons you named, I will be doing a natural birth ) It certainly sounds like that's something you should consider, given your concerns.

KittahMama · January 2011

Had an epi- felt nothing and pushed about ten minutes and had my baby girl! It was awesome! I pushed... I don't know... ten times?

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