Scared of potential side effects of an epidural?

mcwhittaker · April 2011

Ok... Maybe I'm oversimplifying here.

You know being 40 years old and having a history of various health maladies, I am not squeemish at all when it comes to medicines or procedures.

I'm watching this thread in the May Mom's forum and laughing to myself at the statements about fear of side effects from an epidural. And how the possibility of a side effect is so horrifying that they'd rather go through hours of painful natural child birth.

First off let me say, If you want to go through a natural childbirth, for the experience or to see if you can do it, or whatever, good for you. I have NO Problem with that decision.

But I have to question the sanity of someone that goes through natural child birth because they're afraid of the needle/pain associated with the epidural, or they're afraid of the "possible side effects".

Have you ever really sat and listened to the laundry list of 'possible side effects' from ANY of your day to day medications?

Lets take for instance, oh I don't know how about a common allergy medication.

Nasonex side effects: Slow wound healing, viral infections, headache, sore throat, coughing, weakness, vomiting, low blood pressure, increased risk of infection, and potential to worsen glaucoma and cataracts.

Reading that list, one would have to question the sanity of anyone willing to take said drug to relieve a stuffy nose right? But we all realize that possible side effects really doesn't mean a whole lot.. it's really more for covering the manufacturer's legal toosh.

Is all medicine bad all of a sudden?

I just don't get it ...

Ebeth_in_ATL · April 2011

Amen, Sista!

I do know of someone that had some horrendous experiences with an epidural. This was before my 1st. I knew this and still wanted mine. No worries for me. Now that i'll be having my 3rd c-section, no choice unless I want to be knocked out.

kimb311 · April 2011

this gets my goat. When I go outside every day there is a possible side effect of me being hit by a car........

kimb311 · April 2011

Holy crap! I spit my water all over my laptop when I read this from the post you are talking about

"And the daughter of a co-worker just had one and it made her brain drop right in her head because she was losing spinal fluid."

Confused

LauraLynneC · April 2011

pain of contraction:12 on a 1-10 scale

anything else is a tickle. including the epidural.

But if someone wants to go natural - I'm all for it. My doc and I just had a simple discussion and the note in the "epidural" line on my chart is "wait and see"

HisEarth. · April 2011

kimb311:

Holy crap! I spit my water all over my laptop when I read this from the post you are talking about

"And the daughter of a co-worker just had one and it made her brain drop right in her head because she was losing spinal fluid."

Say what naw?!

I agree to each, his own .. all drugs have side effects!

Peppernut · April 2011

Waaaay back in 1986, I got the spinal headache with an epidural. It was bad enough and lasted long enough that I went natural with Margaux. Yeah, it hurt, but when I was done I recovered so fast! I hope to manage med-free again this time.

So, yeah, for me it's about recovery time more than anything else. I only rarely take symptom-relievers when I am sick, though.

mcwhittaker · April 2011

Peppernut:
Waaaay back in 1986, I got the spinal headache with an epidural. It was bad enough and lasted long enough that I went natural with Margaux. Yeah, it hurt, but when I was done I recovered so fast! I hope to manage med-free again this time.
So, yeah, for me it's about recovery time more than anything else. I only rarely take symptom-relievers when I am sick, though.

I think the headache is only if the person giving the epidural breaks the durmal layer, which they're not supposed to do.

Funny thing, I had a spinal tap once because I was having severe migraines. They took a fluid sample, after the spinal tap, i was deathly ill throwing up any time i was vertical for 3 days, then miraculously everything went away, including the original migraines... How is that for weird?

I think the difference here is, you tried it once, had a bad reaction and decided against it due to bad experience. Which is totally logical to me. I wouldn't put my hand in the fire after I got burned the first time right?

But yeah... the whole "so and so's brain dropped out of her head due to lack of spinal fluid?" seriously? lol

kikijbunny · April 2011

Peppernut:
Waaaay back in 1986, I got the spinal headache with an epidural. It was bad enough and lasted long enough that I went natural with Margaux. Yeah, it hurt, but when I was done I recovered so fast! I hope to manage med-free again this time.
So, yeah, for me it's about recovery time more than anything else. I only rarely take symptom-relievers when I am sick, though.

Yeah, it's the spinal headaches and recovery time that dissuade me from the epidural too (and whether I can feel it, see it, whatever, I admit to having some anxiety about that darned needle). If I can stand it, I'd rather not have anything extra in my system (or baby's). And I'll admit to being a masochist, sometimes unnecessary pain is very satisfying (I was a rower in college, lol).

SFAug07 · April 2011

I didn't feel the needle at all. I was 9 cm when they gave it to me as I progressed so fast, and the contractions were making me squirm so much they barely managed to get the needle in. Once it was in - total bliss. I was out of the hospital 24 hours later, was walking in the neighborhood with Sarah the next day in the San Francisco hills and running 3 miles a week later. No side effects at all. LOVE the epi.

tanyajill · April 2011

Peppernut:

Waaaay back in 1986, I got the spinal headache with an epidural. It was bad enough and lasted long enough that I went natural with Margaux. Yeah, it hurt, but when I was done I recovered so fast! I hope to manage med-free again this time.

So, yeah, for me it's about recovery time more than anything else. I only rarely take symptom-relievers when I am sick, though.

With my first I had the epidural, and labour was long and a c-section was threatened and I felt awful afterwards.

With #2 she came so fast there was no pain options available to me except the laughing gas. The recovery was fast and I hope to do the same this time.

Cilley · April 2011

I know that this is not so common, but my sister got an epidural and they did it too high. She couldn't even breathe or even tell them she was having probs breathing. They finally had to knock her out. That's enough to scare me! But a lot of my friends opted for the epidural and were happy they did. I don't plan on using it this time around, the same as last time.

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