I keep finding conflicting information about epidurals stalling labor

OSUx2 · January 2012

There probably isn't a way to keep this one short. In 2008 had DD. I went into labor the day after hurricane Ike hit. L&D was fully but they had to keep me b/c my water broke. I showed up at 4 cm and was contracting but apparently not enough for the nurses b/c the said I needed pitocin. I questioned it but didn't know any better and now wish I had fought them more. I really think they were just trying to hurry me along since the other hospital in the area had no power since the generators failed. Anyway the contractions on pit suck and caused me to vomit because they pain was so bad. I managed to do that for several hours and progressed to 6 but by then the pain was horrible so I got the epi (that I never intended but I couldnt' deal with it anymore). After the epi I never progressed further and ended up with a c/s. They did try upping the pit after I hadn't progressed for awhile but DD's heartrate would drop so after about 7 hours stuck at 6 they took me in. I fully believe that the epi stalled my labor. I remeber in our birth class they warned us that it could happen. This time around my Dr has agreed to let me try a vbac but she said that epi's don't cause stalled labor and since I stalle once I am more likely to stall again.

Jena503 · January 2012

I stalled out too and I really and truly believed it was from the epi. I was induced and went aobut 5 hours without the epi and then had my water broken and my pain level went way up and I got the epi. Ended up stalled for 5 hours and then had a c/s because the pitocin was maxed out and "there's nothing else to try" they said. Labor time = 19 hours from start of pitocin induction to c/s.

So I was dead set against an epi the second time.

Guess what... I stalled again. Without an epi. Turns out, it's just me. I had a childbirth book that showed a "normal labor curve" with progression measured against time... I fell off that chart.

I decided to get an epi. And honestly, in the back of my mind... I was doing it to prepare for the c/s that I felt was coming. Fortunately my OB was SUPER patient and said lets see what happens.... and after a while, things started progressing again. OB said he felt that sometimes an epi can help a woman relax and it can help. And it did, but slowly. Very slow progress and a lot more patience from my OB and I had a successful vbac. Labor time = 29 hours, 24 hours of it in the hospital, 19 hours from start of pitocin.

In both births, the babies never had any fetal distress. After my 2nd experience, I feel like the epi wasn't a factor in having a c/s, I feel like it was my OB. She wanted to go home and didn't have the patience to wait for my slow labor.

P.S. The ICAN group in Houston is really nice. I don't know where they're meeting these days, but they meet once a month and have a fairly active discussion group on yahoo.

bugabean · January 2012

Some studies have found a correlation between epidurals and stalling, but correlation is not causation. It could be that people with long, hard labors are more likely to stall and also more likely to ask for epidurals, for example. Some studies have found no link at all. Basically, it's not a clear-cut, black-and-white thing. There are too many variables in labor to say for sure.

You could have stalled for any number of reasons? cervical scarring (e.g. from a prior LEEP), the baby being a poor position, your being stressed, etc.

FWIW, I didn't get an epi during my first labor, which ended in c/s anyway, but I did get one during my VBAC. Like PP said, it helped me relax. I had been stalled at 7 after more than 24 of labor but fully dilated in two hours (while asleep!) thanks to the epi.

MAprincess · January 2012

Yes, there have been some studies that suggest they might be correlated, but no definite connections.

With my VBAC, it took me almost 17 hours to get to 5 cm (with an induction). I was exhausted and opted for he epi at that point. I was complete an hour later. My midwife said the same thing that sometimes the epi helps you relax and stopd your body from fighting the hard contractions. So, for me, the epi was not a problem. That said, I have heard that you don't want to get it too early in labor. It doesn't sound like tha was the case with you.

Harper'smom · January 2012

My section was not the result of a stalled labor so I can't speak from personal experience on the topic. However we just learned abouthe Natural Alignment Plateau (NAP) in my Bradley class. It is completely normal to stall and there are a list of non-inasive measures you can take to try (Dr. Sears has several under the header P.R.O.G.R.E.S.S.) and shorten the length of the stall. The problem is that hospital protocols and their clocks typically don't have much patience for the NAP, women are labled as failures to progress, or pumped so full of pit and whatever else that the baby can't tolerate it, and off to the O.R. you go. I would research the NAP and speak to your provider about how they manage it and what they consider "normal".

MrsVictoriaB · January 2012

I struggled with this question too but for every person you find saying it stalled their labor, another will say it help speed it up. For me the epidural was awesome and helped me progress super quickly

cchill01 · January 2012

MrsVictoriaB:
I struggled with this question too but for every person you find saying it stalled their labor, another will say it help speed it up. For me the epidural was awesome and helped me progress super quickly

This! I was induced from 0%/0cm and was progressing really slowly. After 48 hours of a very slow induction, the stadol got me from 4cm to 6cms in like an hour and the epi got me from 6cms to 10cms in a few more hours.

I also shared your concern going in, but I don't think there's a clear cut answer. With #2, I will try to avoid or put off both induction and the epidural, because I want to be able to move around during labor.

honkytonk_kid · January 2012

I think there is conflicting information because it really depends on the woman. For some people, epidurals stall labor, and other swear it helped them to relax so they could progress faster. I haven't seen any research that shows a real correlation. That doesn't mean for YOU, an epidural didn't/won't stall your labor, I just don't think it's a rule.

Geekchick921 · January 2012

I've had both experiences.

With DD, I was induced and got the epidural pretty early. Pitocin contractions and being stuck in bed on my back, I asked for it not long after 3cm. I do think it contributed to me stalling out and having a C-section, but I also think she just wasn't ready to come out (I was misdiagnosed and induced because of that, at 39 1/2 weeks).

With DS, I went into labor spontaneously, and while I wasn't progressing very fast, I was still progressing. I got the epidural around 7cm, passed where I stalled out with DD and had the C-section. I was pretty much complete in an hour. I had been trying to relax but I know I was fighting the big contractions before the epi and that helped me get there.

mrsjune25th · January 2012

THEY DO Stall labor and anyone who tells you otherwise is just telling you what they think you want to hear.

BeanieWeanie · January 2012

With DS, I waited till 7-8cms before getting the epi. From the time my water broke & contractions started till I reached 8 cms was less than 5 hours, so it was pretty quick.

Once the epi was in, it took me a further 8.5 hours to progress to 10 cms (bearing in mind the average is like 2 hours I think).

So I am convinced that the epi stalled my labor, absolutely. I am really hoping not to get one this time.

bugabean · January 2012

mrsjune25th:
THEY DO Stall labor and anyone who tells you otherwise is just telling you what they think you want to hear.

Or we're saying what the evidence actually shows. I have no motivation to tell anyone on this board (or otherwise) what they want to hear.

mom2b_09 · January 2012

The epi actually sped up my labor, I think that it was because it allowed me to relax?

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