3rd Trimester
Options
Pushing with an epidural
I would like to have the option of having an epidural, but am afraid that it will prevent me from feeling contractions, therefore making it harder for me to push. And I am really concerned that I won't have the strength to push if that natural urge is dampened by the drugs, because I have been reduced to a pathetic weakling over the past few months (have been put on modified bed rest, etc, and now barely have any energy to walk up a flight of stairs!) I feel like I will end up with a c-section either way - either because I
can't successfully push the kiddo out with an epidural when I don't feel contractions, or because I don't get an
epidural and pass out for the pain. Bah. Would love to hear from moms who have been there and done that about this - did having an epidural impede your ability to push?
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Re: Pushing with an epidural
I had a natural childbirth and it was hard to push. After 13 hours and nothing to eat, I just didn't have it in me. So instead of pushing, my nurse had me play tug of war with her, pulling a sheet. It simulates the pushing movement but you don't have to do anything but tug as hard as you can on the sheet. My daughter was born shortly after.
Here is the info:
https://www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/technique/tug.html
Make a pregnancy ticker
Personally- I had an epidural and the anthestiologist told me specifically " I will NOT be able to stop- the pain associated with actual pushing.. this will only help the pain during contractions.." He was totally right.. I felt it all.
I didn't find that it hindered my ability to push at all.. not one bit.
If you can't feel it-- ask them to turn the strength down.
I had an epi but was feeling a lot of pressure when they were ready for me to push. The pressure was like what you feel when you have a BM (sorry if thats tmi). In fact that's what a lot of women describe it as when they are fully dilated according to the nurse I had. It made me want to push. I will be having an epi this time as well.
About turning the epi down. I have heard of that but I was on a pump and my DD was born so fast that I don't really think it would have had time to wear down enough to benefit me in pushing.
CRAFTY ME
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I was at 10 cm at 6am and they kept telling me I had to wait to feel the urge to push before they would let me push. I just didn't feel like I wanted to push, I couldn't feel anything. They turned my epi totally off and we waited for a few hours until I felt like I needed to push. I sat at 10cm from 6am-10am when he was finally born
I was at 10 cm at 6am and they kept telling me I had to wait to feel the urge to push before they would let me push. I just didn't feel like I wanted to push, I couldn't feel anything. They turned my epi totally off and we waited for a few hours until I felt like I needed to push. I sat at 10cm from 6am-10am when he was finally born
I was at 10 cm at 6am and they kept telling me I had to wait to feel the urge to push before they would let me push. I just didn't feel like I wanted to push, I couldn't feel anything. They turned my epi totally off and we waited for a few hours until I felt like I needed to push. I sat at 10cm from 6am-10am when he was finally born
I was told I had the "perfect" epidural, so I guess it probably won't happen again, but I felt ctx, but not the pain with them. I felt dd moving. I could feel my legs and knew when to push. I also stood up an hour after delivery and moved to the wheelchair on my own.
Each experience and body responds differently.
Apparently I have exceptional pushing skillz (who knew?) but I had an epi with both kiddos and had DS out in 30 minutes and DD out in ONE push. Both were well over 9 pounds.
I don't think it mattered at all and I'd much rather have the epi, then not have it. Especially considering that I make little monster babies.
Carter Robert 7.18.08 | Brynn Sophia 5.24.10 | Reid Joseph 9.10.12 | Emerson Mae 1.27.14
I didn't have an epidural until my 3rd child and I was able to push him out (9lbs2oz) in 2-3 contractions very easily. Part of this may be because I knew where/how to push already even though I didn't have complete feeling down there and also maybe the "way had been paved" already??
I do know that a lot of it will just depend on how good your epi is. Some are way too strong where you literally can't feel anything or even more your legs. A good one will still let you feel sensation down there and even more your legs a bit. I think that will be your biggest issue and unfortunately you don't have a whole lot of control over that apart from asking them to turn it down which I think is becoming more standard now for the pushing phase.
Regardless, don't go into it with such a negative attitude. You need to try and be positive and tell yourself you will be able to do. A lot of it is in your head and if you're doubting yourself now, it will be really easy to doubt yourself in labor and give into other interventions much quicker (forceps, vacuum, c-section) that you may have not really needed.
With my two kids, I was on bedrest for 20+ weeks and was concerned about muscle atrophy and physcially being able to push out a baby and asked about physcial therapy or something to help after 36 wks. My OB reassured me that your body is capable of it and would know what to do.
I was induced with both of mine so that helped to keep the contractions going. I did have an epidural but it was placed when I was at 9cm for DD and 10 cm for DS. Obviously, I labored through most of it and definitely felt the urge to push but the nurses didn't believe that I had progressed that quickly - hence how I ended up so dilated without an epi. I could still feel the contractions but nothing like before and you can also watch your stomach. With me, when I have a contraction i also feel it in my chest and shortness of breath. Also, once the epi was in it was like drinking a red bull and without having the pain I had a jolt of energy and could focus on the baby and pushing.
Trust your body and best of luck.
I would suggest waiting as long as possible before getting the epi if you don't have pitocin helping you along because it can slow down the process.
Married 1/2/99.
TTC since 4/09.
Diagnosed PCOS. Diagnosed Hypothryoid 11/09.
SHG & SA normal. PCOS Research study started 5/10.
Clomid/Femara cycle #1 - 6/10 = BFN
Clomid/Femara cycle #2 - 7/10 = BFP #1 - Missed miscarriage 9/2/10
11/12 - BFP #2 - 11/22 - m/c
5/1/11 - BFP #3 - Pre-eclampsia, IUGR & bed rest from 32w. DD born via induction 1/4/12.
I agree w/ a number of the PPs- for both of my kiddos I was insistent that they not make the epi too strong- I was adament that I would be upset if I couldn't feel anything at all- I wanted at least some control. Both times, they didn't make it too strong, and I didn't feel pain but did feel pressure. As others said, the nurses/dr. tell you when to push anyway, but I felt like I was able to gauge how hard to push. DD was out in 3 pushes and DS was out in 7. I also think having some control helped avoid tearing (I didn't tear either time). That's just my own theory; who knows.
GL- you'll do great!