Epidural

StephyMarie · June 2011

I'm just wondering... Are you planning to have an epidural? Why or Why not?

rebelina1 · June 2011

I will have one because I am having a repeat (planned) c-section.

Sascha3 · June 2011

Yes. The older I get, the less I tolerate pain. I get bad anxiety from severe pain. I figure, why suffer if I don't have to. I did have my first child natural, but I was much younger. I don't feel like any less of a woman for wanting an Epi.

cocadoll · June 2011

I'm not. Well mainly because of the whole homebirth deal. But if I was in a hospital I still wouldn't. I had one with my first and although it was needed since I ended with a c/s I hated it after the fact. My left side was partially numb for almost a year after my son was born. Very annoying.

star173 · June 2011

No. I got one with DD and ended up with back pain for MONTHS. It wasn't horrible, like a constant bruise though. It wasn't worth it. I prepared and planned to go without an epi with my son, and though it hurt, it was an amazing experience.

kcvasquez · June 2011

If I end up trying for a VBAC then yes I will, and obviously with a RCS I would too! I think they are the greatest invention to date!

Annya26 · June 2011

Planning to do everything I can to avoid it for a few reasons, with the main one being fear of the complications that can arise. I also will not know until a month or so before I deliver if it will even be an option due to moderate to severe scoliosis that has cause my spine to not only form an S curve but twist as well. I have been warned that they may not be able to find the right spot. :S Here's hoping the midwives and showers can ease my pain!!

MrsMeMo · June 2011

Yup! I'm a wimp.

Stirpy33 · June 2011

Definitely! I am NOT good with pain and they gave me mine at 3 cm with my son! I had heard so many horror stories about labor but honestly it wasnt that bad, thanks to the epi!! It's great if you can go natural but it's not for me.

Oatoa · June 2011

I don't know. I guess it'll depend on how I feel that day. I've never been through birth before so I'm keeping my options open.

DEBBIE33CASEY · June 2011

Yep- I plan to get one. Labor hurts. A lot. Geeked

darters82 · June 2011

I had one with DS and had a good experience, so I will probably have one again. I don't want to go into this delivery dead set on one, though, because if for some reason I can't get one, I don't want that to add unneeded stress. I went into my first delivery with an open mind as far as not being set on having one or not having one for that reason, so I will do the same this time.

Mlewis2319 · June 2011

Probably. I had one with DS when I was 8cm. I was handling the contractions ok, but I couldn't imagine pushing DS out...I did not want to feel that. So I'll probably get one this time.

lurkeyloo · June 2011

This may sound silly, but I have severe anxiety about the thought of being stuck in a bed. I very much need to move around when I am in pain. So because of this, I want to avoid any interventions that will potentially keep me in a bed.

perfectoops · June 2011

No, I plan on avoiding it. I don't like taking medicine in general.

kle0113 · June 2011

kcvasquez:
If I end up trying for a VBAC then yes I will, and obviously with a RCS I would too! I think they are the greatest invention to date!

This!

bluemnem · June 2011

Oatoa:
I don't know. I guess it'll depend on how I feel that day. I've never been through birth before so I'm keeping my options open.

this!

kle0113 · June 2011

Annya26:
Planning to do everything I can to avoid it for a few reasons, with the main one being fear of the complications that can arise.

Those complications that can arise can happen with or with out an epidural.

JessieP76 · June 2011

I plan to. I'm not good with pain and think I will need it. I'm a little scared of having something put into my spine, but I remind myself they do it a million times a day.

Stirpy33 · June 2011

Oatoa:
I don't know. I guess it'll depend on how I feel that day. I've never been through birth before so I'm keeping my options open.

I actually really like this response. I know I posted that "yes" I will get one but no one can really know today how they are going to feel when they are in labor. So I say "yes" today but might change my mind, or some who say "no" today might end up getting one. Good to keep an open mind about it! Yes

chigirlinaz · June 2011

DEBBIE33CASEY:
Yep- I plan to get one. Labor hurts. A lot.

QFT. There not a hance that I won't get one. It made labor SO much easier. I was able to relax and wait to dilate to 10 while watching movies, it was fabulous, LOL!

SmittyPants · June 2011

Absolutely. Why feel pain if you don't have to?

BritanyV · June 2011

m.mckee1224:
Yup! I'm a wimp.

Ditto!

samakasrc · June 2011

No. 1st of all, my spine is fused and connected with hooks, wires, and rods, so an epidural would be very risky for me. BUT I wouldn't even if I didn't have the back surgery history. I went natural with 0 meds and it was wonderful to feel everything, pain and all. It was amazing to feel my body doing what nature intended. I've read a lot of horror stories of stalled labors and things too and tha doesn't help. Some people rely on the epidural to get through labor, but I chose not too. good luck!

mrs.larry · June 2011

I will not. Unless my labor goes completely differently than my first (read: long and complicated) I had a pitocin-only induction last time, and didn't need one. I'm thinking I can get through again.

why? because for me, giving birth is this crazy, intense, twice (I think!) in a lifetime experience and I want to fully live through every part of it.

I honestly don't believe that there would be a lasting or tremendous effect on my child if I got an epi. I've done a lot of reading, taken a lot of classes, and I'm just not convinced that enough of the drug gets into the blood stream to cause issues. (I would not get narcotics for this reason, but not the epi). But for me, I just don't mind feeling the pain, if it means I get to feel my son or daughter emerging into the world. Giving birth was the single most amazing thing I've ever experienced, pain and all.

And yeah, it hurt like hell. I'm not one of those women who's all "it felt wonderful! I had an orgasm!" um. no. it was painful, no doubt about that!

but all of that being said, I truly don't begrudge anyone her epidural. I don't judge anyone for having a different outlook or pain threshold or a longer labor than me and asking for pain relief. Honestly. It's just not for me, that's all.

glitzandglitter · June 2011

jules&andy:
I am because I am having a repeat c/section but even if I wasn't I would still get one. The epidural was amazing with my first and I realized how much it helped with pain when it wore off and my son was stuck

This. I pushed for 2 1/2 hours, they applied vacuum, and then took me for in emergency c/section.

textbookcase · June 2011

I will try not to. I had one with my first, but it didn't take. I didn't have one with my second and all was fine. I would like the option to be there if I am having a really rough labor but I am planning on going natural again.

Mrs.Ash · June 2011

lurkeyloo:
This may sound silly, but I have severe anxiety about the thought of being stuck in a bed. I very much need to move around when I am in pain. So because of this, I want to avoid any interventions that will potentially keep me in a bed.

This, this, this. I cannot imagine not being able to walk around or get up and stretch at the very least.

With that being said, I've never given birth before. If my labor is tremendously long or just waaaay more painful that I had expected, I would definitely consider an epi. My goal is to go natural, and I feel like if I don't fully commit to that, I will give up in the end. Also, I will be asking nurses and doctors to not offer an epidural to me. I think it will be like dangling candy in front of a baby. I know it's there, and I'll ask if I need one.

VABride2008 · June 2011

I plan to go without an epidural like I did with DD.

mjay79 · June 2011

Being able to walk around in labor was awesome and after the birth was even better. All that said, had one first time around, not the second and I'm hoping not to this time again, but I like to keep my options open and I'm in it with an open mind.

PitterPat11 · June 2011

I have done it both ways, with and without. I would rather without. I did not like the way it made me feel and how sore my back was afterwards. It just kind of depends on how I feel in the moment I guess. I went natural with my first and was induced with my second, the pit. was awful hence the epi. So if I don't need Pit, this time then no epi.

lucky81089 · June 2011

I will probably get the epi again. I was induced with DD and they say the pitocin makes contractions a lot stronger...It was absolutely terrible until the epidural. I really didn't want one, but at that point didn't have too much of a choice. I couldn't stop sobbing because I was so nervous about that needle! Even the second time around I am scared of getting it, but know that I will. You hear all kinds of horror stories about the epidural and what can go wrong, but I feel like if it's that big of a risk the Drs wouldn't be so comfortable about giving them!

tkhrabs313 · June 2011

SmittyPants:
Absolutely. Why feel pain if you don't have to?

This. Exactly!

MAMAxB · June 2011

I will not have one.

I had on with DD and it was the worst part of my labor.

The anesthesiologist was a B*TCH and yelling at me because I was moving when I had contractions and she had to "re-put it in" 3 times. I was balling. Getting it was the only stressful/horrible part about my entire labor.

I also believe that my body was DESIGNED it give birth and I am strong enough to do it without.

Haley.Beth · June 2011

lurkeyloo:
This may sound silly, but I have severe anxiety about the thought of being stuck in a bed. I very much need to move around when I am in pain. So because of this, I want to avoid any interventions that will potentially keep me in a bed.

That is exactly how I feel, and everyone keeps looking at me funny for saying it. I am extremely claustrophobic, and the thought of not being able to move around as I want to, to just lie there helpless scares me a LOT more than the thought of labor pains. I've been in the hospital once before, and I even hated being hooked up to an IV, so there is no way I can calmly get an epi. I'm not scared of needles at all. I can deal with pain. But I CANNOT deal with loosing my ability to move around.

So then I started looking at ways to get around it, and ended up on the natural birth board. And now I'm looking to go all natural, to avoid Pitocin and any other medical interventions that could cause me to need an epi. I'm just that scared of one (not to mention the health benefits to mom & baby to leave unnecessary medicine out of the ordeal).

DEBBIE33CASEY · June 2011

Haley.Beth:

lurkeyloo:
This may sound silly, but I have severe anxiety about the thought of being stuck in a bed. I very much need to move around when I am in pain. So because of this, I want to avoid any interventions that will potentially keep me in a bed.

That is exactly how I feel, and everyone keeps looking at me funny for saying it. I am extremely claustrophobic, and the thought of not being able to move around as I want to, to just lie there helpless scares me a LOT more than the thought of labor pains. I've been in the hospital once before, and I even hated being hooked up to an IV, so there is no way I can calmly get an epi. I'm not scared of needles at all. I can deal with pain. But I CANNOT deal with loosing my ability to move around.

So then I started looking at ways to get around it, and ended up on the natural birth board. And now I'm looking to go all natural, to avoid Pitocin and any other medical interventions that could cause me to need an epi. I'm just that scared of one (not to mention the health benefits to mom & baby to leave unnecessary medicine out of the ordeal).

I was seriously freaked out about not being able to get out of bed, too. But once I was in the middle of labor and the pain got out of hand I welcomed the thought of no pain= stuck in bed. The pain was worse than my fear of being bedridden or the big needle. It was a little uncomfortable being so numb but not nearly as bad as feeling like my vagina was being ripped apart. LOL.

Jess084 · June 2011

I am having the baby at a birth center, so no.

Chattsgirl · June 2011

100% yes, for sure!

star173 · June 2011

kle0113:

Annya26:
Planning to do everything I can to avoid it for a few reasons, with the main one being fear of the complications that can arise.

Those complications that can arise can happen with or with out an epidural.

There are some that are specific to the epidural.

PhoxySteph · June 2011

I had a good expierence with all 3 DDs. So I am doing the Epidural again.

This is just my expierence: My midwife said there are pros and cons. She said that most of the time an epidural means a lot less stress for mom and baby. I enjoyed all 3 of my labors! Of course my labors were short and sweet. 5 hours with all 3 DDs. I recovered fast and didn't have any complications.

Every woman is different and every woman will have their own oppinion Smile