So I'm in nursing school and currently taking pharmacology. Today we discussed epidurals and I ALWAYS thought there's no way I wouldn't get one. Because it's there and available and to not feel pain would be great!
But when my professor was telling us exactly how it's prepped and inserted to what point, pulled out a bit, then release the juice it made me naseuous and not much does!
Then of course all the side effects and that it "can" pass to baby and cause fetal respiratory distress and "may" prolong your labor.
Anesthetics are tough shit. I mean those meds can be lethal. Those meds are chemicals and chemicals are not natural to the body. Although they can be used safely every day to thousands of patients.
I guess I'm just surprised at how my view changed. I certainly think that they may be safe for use and don't see a problem with others getting one or myself in getting one. But now I'm just re thinking that my personal plan might be changing. I'm sure I will ultimately decide during labor but my class today REALLY turned me off of them by getting the real health effects of those meds and understanding of their actual components.
I'm glad I'm educated on what it really is now, but I do kind of wish I could un-see what I did today.
Re: Epidurals
After 30+ hours of labor and no sleep, yes I broke down and asked for it. My anesthesiologist was amazing. She talked me through it, told me how important it was to sit straight and I hardly felt a thing. I also slept a glorious sleep. I do not regret it at all.
ETA: I plan to try to do pain-med free, but because of a back and hip condition I won't feel guilty if I end up with an epi.
Baby Boy due October 2017
I agree with what I think was OP's intent...it's important to educate yourself on your options and make sure you are aware of the potential dangers of each.
For me, I had a bad experience with my epidural, but it was NOTHING in comparison to my labor pains. My anesthesiologist was a complete jag. He stuck me 3 times and accused me of having scoliosis (which I do not). I ended up in the small percentage that get a spinal fluid leak which leads to severe headaches. This required a second "epidural," but this time to patch my own blood in to seal the hole. That anesthesiologist agreed that I have "interesting anatomy."
When I begged for my epidural, I was maybe 3-4 cm dilated and EXTREMELY tense. Once I got the epidural, I dilated almost immediately, like within 30-40 minutes. 2 pushes (which I could still feel the urge) and DS was out.
Again, I think it's important to get educated on ALL options, epidurals included.
Yes, one should not bank on being able to get one either. I think it is important to keep an open mind about labor because you never know how it is going to go until you are in the situation.
Getting the epi didn't hurt at and I felt better. After a few minutes I had to flip on all fours for a while because DS's HR dropped a little. Moving was a lot easier than I thought it would be. His HR was back to normal pretty fast and I was able to lay on my side and sleep.
At 3pm they checked me again because I was starting to feel a lot of pressure and contractions were one on top of the other. I was at 10 And ready to push. My epi wore off and I was able to move around a bit and felt everything during delivery. 3 hours and 49 minuets of pushing and out came DS.
Tl;Dr. Do research and make the best choice for you, but be prepared to deal with things naturally just in case.
My mom is a nurse anesthetist and she administers epidurals, so I'm very comfortable with the idea of getting one myself. Although, I have to admit, when I see someone getting one on the labor & delivery documentaries, it does make me cringe! But I'm sure I'll be over that fear when the time comes!
I do hope to have my mom there when they do it though...it will just make me feel better to have someone watching who knows what they're doing!
BFP - 01/04/2016; EDD - 09/15/2016 DS #1 - 07/2014
Honestly though if your reason for avoiding it is increased CS risk the bigger risk is induction. I'm just finishing up a research paper on medical intervention during labor and if I had know how much they increase the risk of CS I never would have gone that route. \
Nobody knows how they are going to react to the pain of labor. Never say never (about anything, that's what I've learned about being a mother lol).
So, I understand not wanting any medical intervention, and how scary a needle in the spine is. That being said, I don't regret my decision to have one at all and am planning on getting one this time as well.
To each her own!