My completely unsolicited advice about epis....;)

eatmorecupcakes · July 2012

After reading the recent posts about whether or not people will be going medicated or unmedicated, I wanted to share my point of view. I am by no means an expert and am basing this advice on my labor and the labor of a good friend of mine.

In my opinion, unless you are having a scheduled c-section or are getting induced, I feel like the smart thing to do is to go into labor prepared to have an unmedicated labor. You never know what your birthing experience will be like and you may find yourself in a position where you are unable to get an epidural. If you are prepared, no big deal - it is what you planned for anyway. If you were hoping and praying for an epi, well you may find yourself in a stressful situation.

It seems like it would be easier to get something you didn't initially plan on (like changing your mind and going for an epi) than not getting something you think you can't handle labor without. Both my friend and I had roughly 3 hour labors and I know that my friend had some mild panic when she got to the hospital and they told her that there was no time for the epi she had been planning on.

Hope this makes sense. I am in no way judging anyway - labor is a very personal experience and I think each individual person needs to make a decision based upon what is best for them! Just thought I would share some personal experiences.

Soon2bBivens · July 2012

Very well said!

Mason&Mama · July 2012

I went into labor with the plan of getting an epi only if I needed it. I assumed I would get one, but part of me hoped that I would be able to make it without. I finally gave in after the first 12 hours of labor (2-5 minutes contractions for those 12 hours). I got the epi at the same time they started pitocin for failure to progress. The epi didn't work. I actually was able to walk to the bathroom after getting an epi. They kept on adjusting it, but I never got relief. After 24 hours of hard labor only progressing to 7 cm, I finally had a CS. I will go into this next labor (hopefully a VBAC) with the same attitude of only getting an epi if I really need one. Hopefully it will work this time if I want one!

misscarter87 · July 2012

Was this your first baby? yikes i'm so scared now esp if epi doesnt work!

bearkatjen · July 2012

Great advice!!

EAMommy · July 2012

Very good advice. My cousin also went all-natural unexpectedly. They induced her but she must have been ready because the baby was here within 6 hours. By the time they checked her at 4 hours, she was at an 8 and there was no time to get the anesthesiologist. One more hour of labor and one hour of pushing later baby was here!

adventureolive · July 2012

I agree for the most part. I don't like the idea of scheduled C-sections or inductions at all. My baby will choose when it's born, not a doctor! And I know that epi's often make contractions hard to feel so it's harder to push, and then they give you pitocin which makes labor even harder, and then so many women get C-sections because of all that intervention. The US has such a high C-section rate and such a high infant and meternal mortality rate, I want as little intervention as possible. I'm going the Euro way!

sbevmc09 · July 2012

Mason&Mama:
I went into labor with the plan of getting an epi only if I needed it. I assumed I would get one, but part of me hoped that I would be able to make it without. I finally gave in after the first 12 hours of labor (2-5 minutes contractions for those 12 hours). I got the epi at the same time they started pitocin for failure to progress. The epi didn't work. I actually was able to walk to the bathroom after getting an epi. They kept on adjusting it, but I never got relief. After 24 hours of hard labor only progressing to 7 cm, I finally had a CS. I will go into this next labor (hopefully a VBAC) with the same attitude of only getting an epi if I really need one. Hopefully it will work this time if I want one!

This is pretty much my experience as well. Except after 24 hours of hard labor I stalled at 8cm and DS was having trouble probably due to the Pitocin. I'm honestly scared (and I know this is something that it's important to work through) because I had such a negative labor experience last time, but I'm just going to keep reminding myself how the epi didn't work anyway. AND because DS's heart rate was having trouble (again, likely from the Pitocin that had to be administered because of the epi slowing things down) they only let me labor on my left side. I feel like it will be a much more pleasant experience if I can just flipping move around!

ellaNu630 · July 2012

adventureolive:
I agree for the most part. I don't like the idea of scheduled C-sections or inductions at all. My baby will choose when it's born, not a doctor! And I know that epi's often make contractions hard to feel so it's harder to push, and then they give you pitocin which makes labor even harder, and then so many women get C-sections because of all that intervention. The US has such a high C-section rate and such a high infant and meternal mortality rate, I want as little intervention as possible. I'm going the Euro way!

I think the point she was trying to make was to be ready for anything. Non-medicated coping techniques are great to read, even for those Mama's who know for a fact they want an Epi or other drugs, because sometimes, it's not an option, or it doesn't work.

Wanting a med free, no intervention birth is great, but you can't always plan things. You may end up with an emergency induction/ CS and so it makes sense to look into what that would entail as a just in case. Knowing what you want is great, but I would hope you would never refuse emergency care just to prove a point. Make sure you pick and OB and a hospital who are supportive of the birth plan you want, hire a doula if you think they're questionable and want an advocate with you, but either way, be prepared and educate yourself on all aspects on birth, medicated or not.

missjackson7786 · July 2012

I went into labor of i was getting an epi and that was that. The anthesiologist got stuck in a c section and i never got an epi. My med free birth was amazing, and in a way im glad it happened the way it did. I wish i would have prepared better for the fact that i maybe would not get an epi.

Schrodinger · July 2012

adventureolive:
I agree for the most part. I don't like the idea of scheduled C-sections or inductions at all. My baby will choose when it's born, not a doctor! And I know that epi's often make contractions hard to feel so it's harder to push, and then they give you pitocin which makes labor even harder, and then so many women get C-sections because of all that intervention. The US has such a high C-section rate and such a high infant and meternal mortality rate, I want as little intervention as possible. I'm going the Euro way!

There are plenty of medical reasons why a scheduled c-section or induction is medically necessary. I think the statistics on scheduled c/s and inductions need to be viewed through a filter. The US also has a really high rate of obesity, heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, etc. A lot of these can cause complications to women that want to carry to full term. Sometimes the healthiest option for mother and baby is delivering when a doctor decides, not naturally. These mother's shouldn't be judged for following sound medical advice.

Soon2bBivens · July 2012

Schrodinger:
adventureolive:
I agree for the most part. I don't like the idea of scheduled C-sections or inductions at all. My baby will choose when it's born, not a doctor! And I know that epi's often make contractions hard to feel so it's harder to push, and then they give you pitocin which makes labor even harder, and then so many women get C-sections because of all that intervention. The US has such a high C-section rate and such a high infant and meternal mortality rate, I want as little intervention as possible. I'm going the Euro way!
There are plenty of medical reasons why a scheduled c-section or induction is medically necessary. I think the statistics on scheduled c/s and inductions need to be viewed through a filter. The US also has a really high rate of obesity, heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, etc. A lot of these can cause complications to women that want to carry to full term. Sometimes the healthiest option for mother and baby is delivering when a doctor decides, not naturally. These mother's shouldn't be judged for following sound medical advice.

If I had waited until DD was ready to deliver I likely would have died due to my blood pressure. I was induced at 36 weeks and by the time I delivered my bp was 200/100. There is no way it would have been healthy of me or my daughter to keep going with the pregnancy.

Now I realize there are statistics and lots of studies done, but I am fully aware that i'm not a PHD and therefore I put my trust in my doctors hands. If you dont trust your doctor's judgement then you should likely find a new doctor.

sbevmc09 · July 2012

Soon2bBivens:
Schrodinger:
adventureolive:
I agree for the most part. I don't like the idea of scheduled C-sections or inductions at all. My baby will choose when it's born, not a doctor! And I know that epi's often make contractions hard to feel so it's harder to push, and then they give you pitocin which makes labor even harder, and then so many women get C-sections because of all that intervention. The US has such a high C-section rate and such a high infant and meternal mortality rate, I want as little intervention as possible. I'm going the Euro way!
There are plenty of medical reasons why a scheduled c-section or induction is medically necessary. I think the statistics on scheduled c/s and inductions need to be viewed through a filter. The US also has a really high rate of obesity, heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, etc. A lot of these can cause complications to women that want to carry to full term. Sometimes the healthiest option for mother and baby is delivering when a doctor decides, not naturally. These mother's shouldn't be judged for following sound medical advice.
If I had waited until DD was ready to deliver I likely would have died due to my blood pressure. I was induced at 36 weeks and by the time I delivered my bp was 200/100. There is no way it would have been healthy of me or my daughter to keep going with the pregnancy.
Now I realize there are statistics and lots of studies done, but I am fully aware that i'm not a PHD and therefore I put my trust in my doctors hands. If you dont trust your doctor's judgement then you should likely find a new doctor.

I'm not sure, but I would assume that PP was referencing elective C/S/inductions vs. medically necessary ones. I don't know that I've ever met someone who doesn't acknowledge that there are circumstances under which an induction or C/S is definitely necessary for the health of mom and baby.

ECBeaches · July 2012

That is a helpful and interesting way of looking at it. Thanks for sharing your experience.

st.augbride · July 2012

As someone who ended up having to be induced at 34w 5d and ultimately needed a c-section, I find it hard to plan on anything or care about any of it other than having a healthy baby and getting as far along as I can. It's a question I never had the luxury of worrying about.

Yellow415 · July 2012

st.augbride:
As someone who ended up having to be induced at 34w 5d and ultimately needed a c-section, I find it hard to plan on anything or care about any of it other than having a healthy baby and getting as far along as I can. It's a question I never had the luxury of worrying about.

This is exactly why I think everyone should be prepared for both situations. None of us can say exactly how labor and delivery will be so I think having an open mind to both, medicated and natural, is very important.

Personally, I want to have a med free birth but Im finally facing that fact that it just might not go my way and for me, I will have to prepare myself more to have a medicated birth vs natural. I can barely get through watching a video on an epidural before practically passing out. I also cant stand not being in control or feeling medicated/high/drowsy so its going to take a lot to prepare me for that situation.

Yellow415 · July 2012

LindsRockies:
Yellow415:

st.augbride:
As someone who ended up having to be induced at 34w 5d and ultimately needed a c-section, I find it hard to plan on anything or care about any of it other than having a healthy baby and getting as far along as I can. It's a question I never had the luxury of worrying about.

This is exactly why I think everyone should be prepared for both situations. None of us can say exactly how labor and delivery will be so I think having an open mind to both, medicated and natural, is very important.

Personally, I want to have a med free birth but Im finally facing that fact that it just might not go my way and for me, I will have to prepare myself more to have a medicated birth vs natural. I can barely get through watching a video on an epidural before practically passing out. I also cant stand not being in control or feeling medicated/high/drowsy so its going to take a lot to prepare me for that situation.

If your epidural is done right, you shouldn't feel high or drowsy.

Good to know! Its not just the epi that Im worried about, though. Its all medications that can cause similar affects.

Edit: just read your edited response and that is exactly what I was talking about

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