Community› The Bump Message Boards› VBAC
VBAC
New Discussion

Epidural causing slow/failed labor?

palma44palma44 member
in VBAC

  I had a emergancy c-section with DD and I am planning on trying VBAC for #2 and I have been hearing a lot about how epidurals slow labor if they are recieved before   5cm dialated. So my  thought right now is to not get an epidural at all if I can make it but if I feel that I need one to wait until at least after 5cm.

Has anyone else heard anything about the epidural slowing or stoping labor?

Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Report Reply to Post

Re: Epidural causing slow/failed labor?

  • Bambina54Bambina54 member

    I'm not getting an epidural this time for many reasons, but this is a huge factor in my decision.  The epidural slows labor which then means you need pitocin which then can lead to fetal distress and ultimately a c-section.  You should check out the film The Business of Being Born.  It's pretty interesting.

     

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • palma44palma44 member
    imageBambina54:

    I'm not getting an epidural this time for many reasons, but this is a huge factor in my decision.  The epidural slows labor which then means you need pitocin which then can lead to fetal distress and ultimately a c-section.  You should check out the film The Business of Being Born.  It's pretty interesting.

     

     

    I'm in the middle of watching the business of being born, thats what made me ask!

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • Bambina54Bambina54 member
    imagepalma44:
    imageBambina54:

    I'm not getting an epidural this time for many reasons, but this is a huge factor in my decision.  The epidural slows labor which then means you need pitocin which then can lead to fetal distress and ultimately a c-section.  You should check out the film The Business of Being Born.  It's pretty interesting.

     

     

    I'm in the middle of watching the business of being born, thats what made me ask!

     

    :)  It's pretty much exactly what happened to me.  I wish I would have been more educated the first time around :

    Oh well, you live and learn! But I wouldn't get Luvs ;)

    Report Reply
  • MAprincessMAprincess member

    In many cases this is true.  For me, it was not.  My VBAC wouldn't have happened if I didn't get the epi.  I was induced with pit because I had reached 41 weeks and the hospital would not allow me to go farther.  Pit contractions are NOT fun. 

    I labored for 16 or so hours and barely made it to 4 cm.  By then I needed to nap because I was just exhausted.  I got the epi and in less than an hour, I was ready to push.  My CNM said that I was probably so tired that I was fighting the contractions rather than working with them and the relaxation that came with the epi helped my body get through the last 6 cm.  I pushed for 45 minutes and she was born!

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers image image
    Report Reply
  • cchill01cchill01 member

    I had the opposite effect with my c/s labor.  It took me around 54 hours of induction to dilate to 4cms.  I got stadol and went from 4cms to 6cm in two hours.  Then, I got my epidural and went from 6cms to 10cms in under two hours.  The drugs really helped me relax.  The negative was that I was so tired and so drugged, I just couldn't push her out.

    With #2, I went so quickly, I didn't have time for the epidural to arrive.  My midwife ordered it when I was around 4cms, because I had a good previous experience.  She wasn't concerned with it slowing me down.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • RumbleLinaRumbleLina member
    imageMAprincess:

     My CNM said that I was probably so tired that I was fighting the contractions rather than working with them and the relaxation that came with the epi helped my body get through the last 6 cm. 

    I haven't VBAC'd yet but the above is true for my first delivery when I was induced. I was so tired and fighting the contractions that once I had the epi things exploded down there and I was ready to push 3 hours later where as it had already been 24 hours. (couldn't push baby out which is why I am a c/s momma)

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • preg_amypreg_amy

    I also had the epidural get me to 10 cm.  I was stalled at 5-ish.  Once I got the epidural, I dilated the rest of the way within a few hours (it had taken me at least 24 hours to get to 5). 

    I was so tired I was fighting the ctx.  Once I had the epi, my body was able to relax.

    Mama to Elliot (11.09.08) and Jude (09.01.11)
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Report Reply
  • MKE6115MKE6115
    I had an epidural for both of my labors. It didn't slow things down for me. With my VBAC I was debating on not getting one but my labor was all in my back so I did but I also was worried if I needed a repet section in an emergency I did not wan to be put under general for it so I would rather have the epidural.
    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"