Epidural the second time

Kristentaylor90 · December 2014

Did anyone else have complications with the epidural? This was my second pregnancy. The first time around it was cake. I went into labor around 11pm went to the hospital was dilated to 3cm got the epidural around 4am delivered at 6:35pm. This time was totally different. I was induced around 7am and got the epidural when I was 6cm around 5pm delivered at 8:05pm. The pain was excruciating. It took almost a half hour for her to place the catheter in my back. She had to numb it at least 5 times. A second anesthesiologist had to come in and give me something different for pain. And in the end it didn't even help it felt like I was pushing out a football player in full uniform. Little man was 8lbs 13oz 21in.

Wulfgar · December 2014

MW's epidural was itchier this year and it seemed like it took them longer to place it. They had a newbie that was being watched by the teacher. It also didn't seem to last as long this time for her since she had to get a booster this time also.

erien · December 2014

Something similar happened with my first. The epidural just never worked. I declined an epidural with my second baby. I knew I had done it once without an epidural and I could do it again! With my first, the nurse told me that the epidural wouldn't take away the pressure. I kept telling her that it wasn't just pressure I was feeling and that I could feel everything. She didn't believe me until I reacted in pain to them placing the catheter. I had only heard women talk about how great an epidural was because they could sleep through the contractions. I was disappointed to say the least that it didn't work. However, nothing is guaranteed and, luckily, labor was quick so the pain didn't last long.

RaeChay · December 2014

both times for me the epidural worked far better on my right than on my left side. This time I had to call the anesthesiologist back after a couple hours because I had total sensation back on my left side (along with a dead right leg). So he had to untape, pull the catheter out 1cm, and re-tape, then bolus me with extra.....only to then discover that my nurse hadn't turned the epidural pump back on after she refilled the med bag. He wasn't happy.

Luckily for me the left side kicked in 100% right as end stage labor began! It was a heavenly experience. Thank god for anesthesiologists.

hollieandaaron2012 · December 2014

First it took forever for them to get it in. I guess the needle bent with mine so just when I need to start pushing it stopped working. They were able to get it to work again but I had to have an unplanned c section and it stopped working near the end. I could feel the last few minutes of them stiching me up.

chetrick · December 2014

My first c-section, it took them 5 times before they got the epidural in the right space. I could hear my heart rate falling and had to lay down before they got it placed. They had to insert it while I was on my side. I threw up for 24 hours straight after they removed it.
I had a spinal for my c-section 3 weeks ago. Took them 3 times to place it. Apparently I have a twisted spine. In both of the c-sections I could tell them how I was feeling the meds (just down the right side or down the left) before it was placed correctly. Not fun.

rshamos · December 2014

My epi was a dream! It went in quickly and pretty painlessly, and worked well. I felt the pressure and when to push, but the contractions weren't bad at all. It wore off for a little and I could feel the contractions on my left side, but they upped the meds and it went away. I will most definitely have one again!

momtoE25 · December 2014

With my first, the epi was much stronger on the left side than on the right. My left leg was straight dead weight and was hard to maneuver when I was pushing. DH had to hold it up for me because it was so heavy. They actually had to turn the epi off bc I couldn't feel what was going on down there and didn't know if I was pushing the correct way. This time around the anesthesiologist did an amazing job. He was quick and it was the perfect amount of numbness. I couldn't feel my contractions but I could still move my legs and felt what I needed to feel to have a productive push when it came time to do so. I did shake a lot with the second epi. DH was worried because I couldn't stop shaking. I do think it had to do with being nervous also. (LO came 3 weeks early so I wasn't exactly prepared mentally when they told me I would be having the baby that day)

BabyByTim · December 2014

I fought getting the epidural. I have nerve damage in my cervical spine and after hearing horror stories from friends and family, I did not want to risk nerve damage in my lumbar as well.
After the pitocin kicked in, my contractions were coming every 45seconds to a minute apart and lasting a minute or more. I couldn't catch my breath. When the dr came in and told me that after an hour or more of these contractions I was only 3 cm, I lost hope. They told me if I didn't get the epidural I would need a c/s. After I decided I would get the epi they decided it would be a good idea to pump it up to the highest dose. I remember nothing after it kicked in. I felt nothing from my waist down. I HATED it. When the dr and my husband tried to prop me up into a sitting position I fell over. I didn't even feel pressure as the baby came out. When I woke up after the initial dose I asked them to turn it down. They went from 12 to 6 and I was still completely numb. I stayed numb for 24 hrs and I had to be carried/ wheeled to the bathroom. Thankfully I don't have any residual pain or symptoms from the epi. I don't know that I would get another one. I hope to not need the induction with the next kid and I'll be able to have the natural birth I wanted to begin with...

Beevol · December 2014

Both times mine worked great. The first time, I couldn't feel anything, not even pressure, it was surreal and slightly nauseating to even see my feet because I couldn't sense them at all. The second time, I think I got a lower dose because I could wiggle my toes and feel a bit of pressure with contractions. It was lucky because I was able to feel my water break and call my nurse (lucky because my water broke when I was 10cm and DD2's head was all but hanging out of me, not that I could feel that).

feeshah · December 2014

Yea.
With my first the epidural only numbed me from my knees down. I was told to give it time to spread. A few hours later I was in horrible pain and I felt like they didn't believe me. They said the anesthesiologist was on his way back. A few MORE hours later he finally showed up and fixed it. 10 min later I was was pushing and couldn't feel anything.
This time...everything seemed to be going well. Got the epidural. I could feel the "pressure" but no pain. It was a "walking" epidural so I could still move my legs (sorta) but then I began feeling pain in my left hip. The anesthesiologist had explained that I may have to flip flop sides of that happened. BUT LO heart rate dropped if I was on my left side soooo I had to suck it up.

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