Epidural

Wussel78 · May 2014

I am going to try to cope with the labour pain just as with my first. At the same I know deep down that I will most likely ask for the epidural, it helped so much last time. I am not good with bad cramps, I always had very intense period cramps to the point where I had to throw up

spacepotatoes · May 2014

I used to have period cramps like that too and was on prescription pain killers for them before I started taking birth control. I'm hoping to go med-free but we'll see what happens. For now, I'm trying to remind myself that this pain is productive and temporary.

THD7580 · May 2014

I had the same issues with period cramps. At first my labor was all in the front but then after they broke my water it was awful back labor. I had to cave and get the epi cuz it felt like my spine was being ripped out.. I wish it would have stayed in the front I could have totally handled that. Of course it was like a sick joke when it turned to back labor..

sparklingdiamond · May 2014

I went in because my water broke, but wasn't really progressing, so they had to start the pitocin. So since I had to do that, I did ask for the epidural. I wanted to hold out longer, but pitocin sucks!

jcf2133 · May 2014

What she said... Exactly. And that epidural was a godsend. If faced with the same moment now, I'd make the same call, for sure.

mary97 said:

I did that last week. Hold out on epidural as long as possible with hope to be able to do without. I normally have high threshold for pain but the back labor was just too much for me. So glad when I finally gave myself permission to get it.

Wussel78 · May 2014

My epidural was what I needed. My daughters heart rate was over 200 and the OB said I should get one in an attempt to avoid emergency c-section and it worked. My active labour was only 6h for my first which is great.

Sdufort1216 · May 2014

I've always had terrible period cramps that I always dealt with without drugs. I have a good tolerance for pain ( physically anyway... I'm usually a mess emotionally ) am going to TRY to not get epi. I've been scared to death of them since I was a teenager and get this awful feeling I could be paralyzed from it so I feel like it's not worth my anxiety getting one and that I should just suck it up and go epi free. hope I can when the time comes considering I have no idea what I'm in for

mcnava · May 2014

sparklingdiamond said:

I went in because my water broke, but wasn't really progressing, so they had to start the pitocin. So since I had to do that, I did ask for the epidural. I wanted to hold out longer, but pitocin sucks!

Exact same thing that happened to me. I was fine witht he contractions I was having before, but after the pitocin, I was throwing up from the pain.

ladywolf1313 · May 2014

sparklingdiamond said:

I went in because my water broke, but wasn't really progressing, so they had to start the pitocin. So since I had to do that, I did ask for the epidural. I wanted to hold out longer, but pitocin sucks!

Agreed Pitocin makes the pains 10 times worse. I held out long as I could but I mainly had back labor which is awful.

Wussel78 · May 2014

I just wish people didn't have to justify why they had an epidural. It just feels like everyone is supposed to do without and if you don't there should be a good reason for it. It's the moms choice since she is the one giving birth and she has to be okay with it and not feel the need to explain herself to others.

spacepotatoes · May 2014

Wussel78 said:

I just wish people didn't have to justify why they had an epidural. It just feels like everyone is supposed to do without and if you don't there should be a good reason for it. It's the moms choice since she is the one giving birth and she has to be okay with it and not feel the need to explain herself to others.

I think this depends greatly on what the mentality is like where you live because where I am, it still swings the other way when talking to people.

lavendergiraffes · May 2014

@spacepotatoes‌ ditto for me! I'm basically told by everyone I know that I have to get one and that they loved theirs so I'd love one too!

manna1212 · May 2014

I planned on getting as far as I could naturally. My water broke first and my labor slowed way down on my own so they had to give me petocin. The pain was intense and contractions were well on top of one another early on so I chose the epidural. Best decision I made!

apinkpelican · May 2014

In labor now. Bless those women who hold out or can do it naturally. After 12 hours of labor on my own I am a much calmer and happier person now that I have my epi. Since we were up all night w horrible contractions it's been nice to snooze a little before LO arrives. Can't believe I'll meet her today. Def not ashamed of going for the epi

delatl · May 2014

I'm going in for an induction tonight. I will probably need pitocin (am starting with Cervadil tonight) and anticipate asking for an epi. I know a lot of women who would only go med-free but I feel like it's absolutely an individual choice. I plan to go as long as I can without just so I can try coping with the pain and progressing by moving around, but I'm still expecting to get one. It's funny, I also get terrible cramps with my periods and I feel like in some ways this prepares me to know that I may need drugs to cope. I certainly do with my periods.

lrmrtn · May 2014

I was always planning on an epidural and got one after my water broke. My contractions were on top of each other and unbearable and after the epi, I was able to sleep a bit. Plus the OB thinks it helped me dialate quicker because I was more relaxed.

spacepotatoes · May 2014

libbylu7 said:

@spacepotatoes‌ ditto for me! I'm basically told by everyone I know that I have to get one and that they loved theirs so I'd love one too!

I've lost count of how many people have said something like "the drugs are good!" and "take all the drugs!" in the last couple of weeks. I just smile and nod at this point because I don't feel like explaining why I'd prefer to avoid them, though I am open to them if I end up feeling the need.

People seem to take it as a judgement of their own choices. It's so silly. My birth, my choice. Your birth, your choice. We all do what we feel is best for our bodies and our babies, end of story.

Runningtostandstill · May 2014

I'm all about feeling empowered during birth. Being informed about the benefits or potential risks of any intervention. So I feel like each woman has to make decisions about what types of interventions they are ok with and under what circumstances they may feel like changing their plan. I have gotten a lot of "you don't get a metal for that" comments about my previous natural births which I thought was inappropriate and rude. I didn't get a "metal" but I feel like I was empowered to make decisions during the birth and that is what I wanted. I think that this can happen whether someone has an Epi, or "natural birth" or c-section or vaginal birth.

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