Epidural rule for vaginal delivery after VBAC?

Re: Epidural rule for vaginal delivery after VBAC?

• margeincharge3 member

  February 2013

  The answer is going to vary so you'll have to talk to your OB. My hospital strongly encouraged an epidural but did not require it.

  I don't think there's any reason you should have to have an epi though. Lots of women go without epis for a vbac. If it's something you want, you should see what options you have at your hospital or find a more supportive provider.

  DS1: August 2009 (emergency c/s, HELLP syndrome) DS2: September 2012 (VBAC)

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• iris427 member

  February 2013

  margeincharge3:

  The answer is going to vary so you'll have to talk to your OB. My hospital strongly encouraged an epidural but did not require it.

  I don't think there's any reason you should have to have an epi though. Lots of women go without epis for a vbac. If it's something you want, you should see what options you have at your hospital or find a more supportive provider.

   

  Whether you get an epidural is a personal choice, or at least it should be.  There is no reason you should be compelled to get one just because you are having a VBAC (and similarly there is no reason you can't have one just because it is a VBAC either).  I'm pretty sure my epidural contributed to my first c/s so I chose to go without one for my VBAC and I was very happy with that choice.   

  Once you have had a successful VBAC, your chance of having a UR or needing an unexpected c/s are low.   Studies show that mothers who have had a prior VBAC have success rates over 90%--those are better odds than a first time mother.  So if they aren't telling every other mom she needs to get an epidural just in case, there isn't really any reason that you should have to have one.  

  
  

  
  

  Big sister {September 2008} Sweet boy {April 2011} Fuzzy Bundle {ETA July 2014}
  

  
  

  
  

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• Amwinkler member

  February 2013

  Policy differs so much hospital to hospital. My hospital flat out refuses to give an epi if you VBAC.

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• bumpuser2548131 member

  February 2013

  My hospital just placed the apparatus (Sorry, it's late, and I can't remember the medical word) in my back, in order to more quickly give anesthesia if an emergency started to occur. I had the option whether to have an epi or not.
  

   

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• bella213 member

  March 2013

  I imagine it varies by hospital. My hospital didn't have such a rule.  I was actually begging for an epidural and it was so slow being administered that it didn't take effect before I delivered (granted things happened pretty quickly).  Once admitted, the hospital did require that I receive IV fluids in case of a section.  Once my IV bag was done, they kept the hep lock in throughout labor. 

  

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