Torn on epidural...

LittleAngel09 · February 2014

With my two previous babies I've had one natural labour and one epidural. I can honestly say I 'enjoyed' my epi birth much more. I felt much more in control.
But they don't come without their set of potential problems. They do slow your labour down. They make the chance of needing an assisted (forceps or ventouse) delivery much more likely, plus there is a heightened chance of neededing an emergency section. There's a chance if experiencing an epidural headache afterwards, which is painful but easily fixed. Depending in whether it's a walking epi or the normal one you could be catheterised until around 12 hours after the birth (uk anyway). And there are some who still have aches and pains in their epi site in their back (I get it bad after lots of housework or if I'm coming down with something).
Weigh up the pros and cons before deciding but either way, have a good birth. I'm opting for another epi this time round.
Xx

awc1986 · February 2014

I'm an FTM with a pain threshold of -150. I'm thinking of putting it in my birth plan so I have the option, but I can always change my mind. My SIL didn't have one with her 2 boys, but I'm not as tough as her.

I was initially worried about the lack of mobility and having to wear a catheter, but I imagine that the pain of tearing and stitching will be worse than not feeling my legs for a while. As a PP has said, i want to spend that first couple of hours holding my baby anyway.

chillypenguin · February 2014

I was admitted to the hospital when I was around 5 cm and got my epidural soon after. My labor was starting to become more intense, but honestly it wasn't too bad up until that point. I kind of wish I I would have waited to see how I handled it, but I am a big baby when it comes to pain, so I knew I would end up getting one anyway.

Mine worked great while I was in labor. I felt nothing and could actually get a little bit of rest. It did wear off when it was time to push, so I had to push for an hour and a half with basically no epi. The doctor is the one who called the anesthesiologist back in right before I delivered, I think he knew he was going to have to do an episiotomy. Of course, then they tell me that I couldn't push for my next. 2 contractions so the meds could work, but the baby was crowning, I HAD to push, there is no way I could stop my body from pushing at that point. So I pretty much delivered with no meds. It sucked, but I did it. I was up and walking soon after delivery.

This time, I am going to see how things go, but I am probably going to be getting another one. Even though it wasn't much help for delivery, it was great while I was in labor and I could rest a little bit overnight.

JAM85 · February 2014

I'm a FTM and my plan is definitely to go without for many personal reasons and I am actually looking forward to it but that's just me. I also know I react horribly to medications and tend to get every side effect known to man so that has always been a big reason to avoid them when possible so I definitely would never opt for one. I also hired a doula because I know having the extra support for me and DH as first timers will be great and invaluable. The hospital also has tubs available for anyone who wants it, a birthing ball, squat bar, etc and I have a private room so I will be having dimmed lights and music so in other words I am going in prepared. However it is always to each their own- you have to decide what is right for you and you may not know until you get into it as many pp have said and that's ok. The main goal is everyone coming out the other side happy and healthy!

FunSizeGrl · February 2014

To me the words "undecided" and "open to it" are very different. Like said above, labor is like a marathon. No one in their sane mind would attempt to run a marathon without preparing - nor would they be successful. So if there is even the hint of wanting to try birth without one then you've got to prepare. Then be open to how things go in the moment. It seems like a good idea to me for everyone to know basic main management techniques since an epidural doesn't always work the way it should.

JACKIE_RS88 · February 2014

I didn't have one last time but I'm going in with the same mindset this time. I won't go in asking for one from the get go. I'll gauge how things are progressing and then figure it out. My goal last time was to make it so far in that by the time I wanted it I couldn't get it - then I knew I was close to the end anyway.

neems1982 · February 2014

I got the epidural and it wore off after about 3 hours, so when it was time to push I felt EVERYTHING. Talk about a ring of fire, my sons head kept coming out a little then going back in. It was the worst burning sensation ever in life.

Mittens14 · February 2014

I'm a repeat c-section so I will not have a choice about getting one, lol. But why do you have to decide now? Do your research and when the time comes and you see how you're feeling, ask for one or don't... No sense stressing over something that you have no idea if you'll even need or not...

dakota01 · February 2014

I had an epidural with my second. It was great. I was up and walking after having him within 30 minutes. I think mine maybe wore off a bit or pulled out cuz I had full feeling if my legs and was able to get into different positions like squatting etc to help get him out. It could have been all my movement pulled it out a bit. If I have the chane to get one again I will! I did my last child without one and that was wnough for me!!

MinaE01 · February 2014

I knew that I wanted one from the get go. I'm a giant wuss with no pain tolerance. I got one with DS at about 6cm. The insertion was a very easy and painless process. It felt like I was in heaven after it kicked in. When it was time to push, I felt the pressure and was able to hold my own legs. I did feel the the crowning. The actual delivery was painful (definitely agree with the ring of fire description) - but very temporary.

I will absolutely do it again.

MIZZOU527 · February 2014

MrsT2008 said:

I had one and loved it. It does take a couple hours for it to wear off after delivery but at least half that time was spent in bed anyway holding baby (and if you tear, getting stitched up).

I second this. I felt fantastic after mine. DD's labor was so fast it couldn't keep up so they gave me another pain med on top of it, so with DS, they gave me a higher dose to start. Ended up lowering my heart rate too much so they gave me something to get that back up. Everything ended up fine and I will definitely get another. Spent an hour after each getting cleaned and stitched up, so I didn't even notice the time passing before walking. It honestly was goofy...but walking on my own didn't take much time after it all.

CMDR513 · February 2014

For me, I will have a spinal for RCS. No way will I ever, ever have another epidural. With DS, the epidural was my worst regret. As soon as the dr gave it to me, DSs heart rate plummeted (talking 130s to 60) in mere seconds. My blood pressure went way down. All the machines went off; my room was packed with hospital staff. I was put on oxygen and was given a shot to counteract the epidural. That was the scariest experience of my life. This happened over 5 years ago and can still picture it so vividly.

Storrmys · February 2014

I wanted one with my first however they tolD me it would slow my labor down. Walk around take a shower they said we will check you in an hour.
An hour and a half later I was too far along. So I did the whole natural childbirth thing.
I am this time planning on getting one because the first time hurt and I would like a more pain free experience.

Hallil · February 2014

I didn't have one with DD, it wasn't really an option and everything went well. I think it's important to understand the risks that come with them along with the benefits and keep that in mind. No you can't really decide today how everything is going to go but I find so many people that 'keep an open mind' end up doing it just to try once labour gets a little hard and then later wish they had held off longer. If your goal is a pain free experience then you'll likely need a lot of medicinal pain management. Personally I went into labour expecting it to be hard work. It was, it was hard, there were moments where I didn't know how I was standing on my own two feet through the contractions, but it was all exactly as it should have been for me. Also I tore quite a bit when DD was born, they froze me and stitched me up, it sucked a little bit but the freezing only took a few seconds and there was no full fledged side effects of the epidural just so I didn't have to feel that. There are women who progress well with an epidural and women who stall with it, you don't know which you will be.

NonnyM · February 2014

I didn't want an epidural, mainly because it can limit your range of movement, and I wanted to be able to push in whatever position felt comfortable. I had back labor and pretty significant tearing, but didn't have an epidural. Planning to do all natural again.

ABColeslaw · February 2014

I don't feel like this is one of those decisions you have to lock yourself into now. I had one and it failed. There were two things on my birth plan, 1. Baby out safely 2. epidural...i want it. lol. Mine failed and I felt everything. And I survived. Either way, you can do this.

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