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October 2012 Moms
FlowerJules
member
Has anyone had an Epidural before or planning on it for baby # 1?
FlowerJules
member
Please do share some insight and your experience or knowledge on this. I am reading statistics, etc. and a pain-free birth sounds much more appealing to me! I hope to hear from you soon 
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Re: Has anyone had an Epidural before or planning on it for baby # 1?
I got mine at 7 cm. After I got the epidural my labor progressed very quickly. I pushed for two hours and the epidural was effective the entire time. I agree with pp...the IV hurt more than the epidural.
I was planning from the get go to have an epidural. I know I am a big baby and my pain tolerance is not great. I was in so much pain from back labor that I didn't even feel the epidural go in. Right away I felt a little off. I just sat there quietly and remember hearing my DH, Mom, and MIL talking around me but I don't remember what they were saying. DH finally got in my face and asked if I was ok that I had a weird look on my face
I told him yeah that I just felt weird. After about 10 min of that I felt freaking awesome! Numb from the waist down and no more pain. I am a RCS this time but if I was going to VBAC I would for sure be getting another epidural.
Currently going through our second deployment. Can't wait for Zoe to meet her daddy!
Lurker here, I had DS a week ago and now can't imagine what it would have been like without an epidural. I was having severe back labor that was excruciating and once I got in and had the epidural at 5 am I was able to get some rest. I was afraid it would slow me down, but I was 5 cm when I went in at 4 am and at 9 cm when they checked me at 8, and I started pushing at 10 am. I was surprised at how much pressure I could still feel so I knew when to push. Actually the most painful thing about the epi was taking the tape off that held the line in after he was born!
in short, totally recommended!
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With DS1 my water broke, but my contractions did not start, so they started Pitocin, and then the aneths. came in and said I could get the epi (now or never as he had a series of surgeries to attend) and so I opted for "now" w/out every feeling any contractions (I was 3 or 4 cm at that point, though). Worked for my whole labor and 4 + hours of pushing. No problems getting it in. They had me lay on my side and curl in to a ball to get it in.
W/DS2 I got one at 5 or 6 cm after a few painful contractions. This epi did not insert so well, however. I was given novacaine and they tried to get it in 5 or 6 times and could not. They had to use a different spot in my spine, so had to start over. It was awful, and the bruising I had from it was horrible. Once it kicked in, it was amaaazing and I did not feel a thing. After it wore off, however, the stab spots from it were far, far more painful than my vag. When they put this one in, they had me sit on the edge of the bed and lean over. Except my belly was so huge I could hardly bend, and I kind of feel like that is the reason it didn't go as well. Of course, I did not remember having my first one inserted laying on my side until after the fact when DH mentioned it.
I will say that the second one, the anest. pushed REALLY hard on my spine before the novacaine, and holy crap did that hurt! And I was not expecting that, I was expecting a needle inserted, so I jumped and got yelled at!! Would I do it again? YESSS! I will get one this time, too!
Ok so I hate to be the Debbie Downer but not epidurals are wonderful. I hated mine and had a couple of strange thing happen because of it. I know that my story isn't the norm but I feel I should share so that you see both sides of the coin even if my side is smaller.
I got my epi. about an half hour to and hour after my water broke. I had to have a bag of fluids before they would let me have the epi and that how long it took to push the fluids and get the doc down there. Looking back I was changing fast and could have gone with out it because I when from 3.5cm to 5.5cm in that hour and if I hadn't gotten the epi my labor would have been much MUCH faster. But I got the epi and my labor stopped progressing. I was stuck at 5.5cm for 3 to 4 hours before I started changing again. It took 11 hours to make it to 10cm. During that 11 hours I had to have 2 shots of adrenaline to keep my blood pressure up. My DD heart rate would drop as my blood pressure did. Then it didn't work in one hip. I felt every contraction as if my hip was being ripped out of socket and pushed back in So i couldn't rest because every 2-5 mins I hurting. I pushed my DD out without problems and only took like 6 pushes only 4 with the doc in the room.
But here is where it get strange I was unable to walk on my own after my daughter was born for 12 hours. I tried to "solider" walk to the bathroom before I was moved to recovery and fell hard bruising my back and butt. Had to be recatitored before I could go up. Then It just wouldn't wear off like everyone else. I could move only the leg who hip was in pain during delivery after about an hour and only at the hip joint. After 12 hours I was able to start moving my legs on my own but it was like they were asleep for another 2 to 3 hours. It wasn't until the next day I could really feel my toes again. So every time I had to pee (the 1-2 hour they make you get up and pee even if you don't have too) I had to have a nurse or two come in and walk me to the bathroom while my DH watched our DD.
I will not be getting an epidural again. I just can't spend my first hours (day) with my child unable to care for myself. I will be having a natural child birth form now on.
My experiences:
DD: I got the epidural about 3 hours in to labor, when I was at 4cm. It only worked on the right side of my body, so I felt everything for the next 10 hours on the left side. It wore off completely before pushing so I felt everything, plus I felt every stitch when she repaired my 2nd degree tear.
DS: I got it 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital, and when they checked me after, I was 9cm! It worked like a dream, and I was able to labor comfortably for 3 hours to get the antibiotics for GSB+ and for my dr. to arrive. She broke my water then and he was out in 2 pushes. I could feel the pressure of contractions, but zero pain, and I didn't feel anything when she stitched me where I tore again. I was up walking around within half an hour, and we were home 23 hours later. Amazing experience.
I plan to get one with this baby if there is time. It's difficult to sit still while they put it in, but it doesn't hurt. It's like a mosquito bite where they numb you, they insert the cath, tape it on, and by the time you're lying back in bed you can feel your legs going warm and the next contractions will be more pressure than pain.
GL!
I had an epidural with DS1. I plan to get one this time, too. It was amazing and the best decision I made.
I would, however, avoid any IV pain drugs. I was given nubain before I got the epidural and that was my one and only regret during labor. I felt disconnected the rest of the day.
After losing my twins, I always figured I'd do anything to get this baby out healthy and coming home with us. I still feel this way, but I'll be going natural with a doula this time. During our prenatal class we learned how awful unnecessary interventions (like an epi) can be. If I don't absolutely need it, I won't be getting it. However, the one thing I am adamantly opposed to is morphine. Those types of drugs are worse than an epi I believe b/c they tend to make you loopy and don't even help w/ the pain really!
It's really a personal decision. Do your research on both sides and make an informed decision. Good luck!
ETA: I had morphine when labouring w/ the twins. It was TERRIBLE. I felt everything but was mentally not present. Worst thing ever.
I had no pain relief with my first delivery and an epidural with my 2nd. I will most likely have another epidural this time unless my labor is crazy fast or something. My epidural experience was great, even though they had to try twice. Getting the epidural didn't hurt, and I was able to sleep for several hours, woke up to feeling pressure, felt the contractions enough to push but it didn't hurt, pushed for 20 min or less and my son was born!
I remember more about my son's birth than my daughter's, I think because I was able to be calm since I wasn't in pain. However, I agree with the others who advised against IV pain meds. Personally, I just hate the way narcotics make me feel, but the epidural didn't make me feel loopy or anything, just like my normal self with heavy legs! Plus IV narcotic pain meds can contribute to constipation, and that is not what you want to be dealing with after delivery!