Epidural

MississippiCatfish · December 2013

I agree with PPs. In one way, you do kind of forget how much it hurts. And it is 100% worth it. And I was ready to do it again 11 months later:)

SecondTimeinMSU · December 2013

Agree. The idea of the epidural freaked me out but it really was nothing after the contractions and the evil nurse jacking up putting in the IV in my wrist and torturing me again and again until she got it in right. The epidural ended up not being effective, probably since I progressed so quickly, but the experience was fine and I plan on doing it again and hoping for a better outcome. Seriously though after what I'd been through before that point I was like "that was it?" when they were done.

jenandbrett · December 2013

Ok here's my experience. I planned for my full pregnancy last time to get an epi and then at 8 months, my platelets plummeted and I could not get an epi, no choice. So, I had 3 weeks to prepare for natural labor. I read hypnobirthing and read lots of testimonies and watched videos and did my best to prepare. Then, I had to be induced early because of my low platelets and labored completely naturally (except for the pitocin) for 27 hours. Of course it hurt, but I can't describe the feeling of empowerment and strength that comes from doing it yourself. I am honestly so grateful that I didn't have a choice to get an epidural. If you say you will wait and see, you will definitely get the epidural. No question. It takes resolve and self-belief, wavering will never make it. Now this time, I will be going naturally whether I have to or not. It was an experience I really wouldn't trade in for comfort. I'm not saying your are a wimp or anything for getting an epi (not even close because that was my original plan) but it's totally worth it if you decide to go naturally. And I have tons of tips of anyone is interested. So, the moral of my story is be prepared with alternate plans no matter what! My plan changed at 8 months!

mek20 · December 2013

My husband passed out while I was getting my Epidural! He was holding my hands to keep me still...stupid contractions...and he just fell to the floor!

I don't even remember feeling the needle, and it made me feel great instantly. I was able to nap during labor, because I had been up for 24 hours already thanks to pre-labor. If I didn't get the epi, I wouldn't have been able to push my son out myself, and that was more important to me than having a med-free birth.

My goal for this LO is to go for a as long as I can stand the contractions and then get the epidural. If it is too late, then I keep on keeping on.

Kristen Bell said it best "I'm not trying to be a hero."

LegalLadyBug · December 2013

If you are a light weight when it comes to pain meds, do not do IV meds instead of an epidural. I did that, I'm a light weight, big mistake. I spent about 5 hours completely blacked out from it. I remember nothing until I heard the nurse tell DH I wasn't in active labor yet at which point I demanded an epidural. DH said I just laid in the bed in the fetal position crying for like 5 hours...and yeah, I was completely gone from the meds.

RaeJ004 · December 2013

I loved getting my epidural with DD. To be able to focus on pain somewhere in my body other than my abdomen was great. The needle was nothing!

LaRouge8382 · December 2013

Ok here was my experience. I too have a hatred for needles. Actually, I almost threw up in the birthing class when they showed a diagram of an epidural! Just a diagram, no pictures or videos. Yeah I'm that bad. Last June I was induced after a stillbirth at 24 weeks so the medical staff highly suggested I get an epidural because at that point there was no reason not to. However I did put off getting it as long as possible, partially because I'm scared of needles and partially because I wanted to get an idea of what contractions felt like for the future. For the record, contractions suck.

After a few hours when I had finally had enough, they called in the guy with the needle and sent my husband out of the room. They turned me on my side, had me hug a pillow, round my back and hold very still. I'm not going to lie. It hurt. A LOT! I yelled so loud my husband could hear me in the hall way and I'm not a very vocal person when it comes to pain. With that said, it was quick. 30 seconds and they were done.

The epidural was VERY effective. No more pain. No more movement in my legs either but just to have the relief from the contractions was really great. It changed the whole experience. I was able to focus on other things than just managing the pain.

I did have 2 minor reactions to the medication. I got the chills pretty bad. They had to get me a heating pad. The other was the itching. I itched all over. Not enough to be a real concern, just really annoying.

Taking out the epidural was not a problem. You don't even feel it.

In hindsight, now that I am pregnant again I will definitely be getting an epidural. I know there are a lot of advocates for natural births which I really respect. But after getting a little glimpse at both sides, I feel like taking the intense pain out the situation really opens the experience up in a whole new way. That's just me. Hope this helps!

margaritachikita · December 2013

If you want to try to go unmedicated, it is best to do some prep work. You wouldnt run a marathon without training, and birth is a very similarly physically demanding event. Take some classes, Bradley or something similar, and hire a doula. I don't judge anyone's birth choices, but I do get a little upset when women say "Oh I gave it a shot and couldnt handle it" when they didnt do any preparation beforehand. Labor hurts, and if you go into it with an open mind you will most likely get pain medications, especially because doctors and nurses tend to push them, directly or indirectly. If you want to go unmedicated you have to prepare and work for it. Just research any decisions before you go into labor. Also, hire a doula!!

crestedlady · December 2013

Personally, I opted for an epidural. I went into labor with an open mind - I would get an epidural if I needed one and not before. I ended up experiencing back labor, and because they hooked me up to a fetal monitor pretty much directly upon check in, I couldn't (or they told me I couldn't) move. I found that without being able to move around, I was not able to manage the pain effectively and opted for the epidural about 5 or 6 cm in. Perhaps, if I had been better prepared with additional coping mechanisms (beyond the basic breathing exercises) or asked if there were monitoring options that would allow me to continue to move about, I would have been able to go med free longer. Who knows. This time, I may try to do more research on the Bradley Method or Hypnobirthing, but if I end up needing/wanting an epidural again, that will be fine as well. As has been previously said by many, the actual experience of having the epidural administered was pretty painless - the only really difficult part being trying to hold still.

Joelle 101110 · December 2013

If you do get an epidural you are much more likely to have to get a C section. That was my biggest fear. Labor sucks and it's painful and you definitely need to have a plan to manage pain ...I did a lot of breathing , bouncing on labor ball, and was able to give birth after 28 hours in labor with no epidural and no pain meds:) it can be done! You just need to know you can do it! I had a very supportive husband and great midwife...you need a team to remind you how strong you are:) basically though, once you get the epidural you lose a lot of control over your body and over your delivery...just fyi

emeraldJ17 · December 2013

Epidurals are amazing! The end. No in all seriousness, I was super nervous too and I was actually shaking the entire time. The dr was really nice and the nurse calmed me down. You don't feel a thing and they tape it all to your back so you really have no clue it's there. I ended up with a c-section anyway but there's no way I'd want to push without one.

YetterEA · December 2013

When I was a pregnant with DD, everyone kept asking me if I was getting one. My response was "I don’t know, depends on how much it hurts". I wanted to make the decision when I was actually in labor not walk into the hospital with my mind made up.

Well I had to be induced, so my opinion might be a little biased b/c I have heard that petocin contractions hurt 100x worse, but it hurts a whole hell of a lot. I’ve torn my ACL, cut my finger down to the bone, had my tonsils out as an adult and then got an infection and labor hurt worse than all of them combined. Times ten. Just imagine being electrocuted from your spine and that radiating out to your belly and then through all of your limbs*. That’s what it felt like to me, so I got one and I don’t regret it for a second. DD was born with apgar scores of 9/10 so she was perfectly healthy.

*I tell you this, not to scare you, just to prepare you. No one ever described labor pains to me before so I had no idea what to expect.

KeyLime81 · December 2013

The other ladies have really said everything that needs to be said. You need to make the decision that's right for you. Just because something was or wasn't right for your friend/sister/cousin/random internet stranger, doesn't mean it will be right for you.

Having said that, I was also very nervous about getting an epidural, but the moment came when my desire for pain relief outweighed my fear of getting an epidural. I had an awesome nurse and anesthesiologist who talked me through everything. That helped a LOT.

ElTrain5 · December 2013

I really wish we had more pain relief options. Every time I see "one born every minute" I'm so jealous of those ladies huffing on the gas and air. I think sometimes you just need "something" to help you get through and unless you are prepared with natural techniques the options are basically narcotics or epi. Maybe that will be the next movement. Gimme some nitrous!

ElTrain5 · December 2013

Oh you Can definitely move around. I've had it at the dentist before. It provides more of a "sense of well being" than actual pain relief. It wears off almost immediately. I get in my car and drive as soon as I leave the dentist when they've used it. It would just be nice to have something's on hand to offer to ppl besides a spinal. Just to get through those tough moments. Not sure about the side effects.

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