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July 2015 Moms
Epidural yes or no?
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Re: Epidural yes or no?
My first labour was induced and I had decided before starting the process that I wanted an epidural because the common belief is that 'induced labour hurts more than natural labour' (my opinion it probably does but of course I have recall bias lol). Before the epidural I was in a lot of pain, trying to cope with entonox alone but struggling as the pain was so bad I was also constantly vomiting. I was like that for about 2 hours until the anaesthetist finally arrived. Like one of the posters above I promised the anaesthetist the earth as I was so grateful when the pain went away. He laughed at me and called me a typical anaesthetist with no pain threshold. I had problems when it came to pushing as I couldn't feel my contractions or push very effectively and I had a ventouse assisted delivery. I did experience pain in the perineum as these nerves can't be block effectively by epidurals in a lot of women. My epidural contained fentanyl (an opiate like morphine) but it didn't make me groggy at all - I had been awake for 36 hours by this point so I was tired.
Second labour was spontaneous, much shorter (6 hours in total) and definitely hurt. However no epidural this time just entonox and water. Three pushes and my daughter was born.
Given the choice we would all chose the quick, drug free birth but my first labour was never going to be quick and easy. All we can do is learn about our options and just go with what we feel at the time. It's part of my job to perform epidurals but I'll also encourage mums to keep going if they really wanted a natural birth and they are nearly there (for some reason women ALWAYS want an epidural in transition however fleetingly). Hope this helps someone
I should start by saying that I wasn't one who printed out a birth plan... I wanted to go with the flow since I didn't know what to expect and I wanted to do what felt right at the time. So with my first I labored at home until I really started feeling pain and ended up being 7cm dilated when I got to hospital. The nurses asked me right away if I wanted an epidural and I hesitated... I mean I was in pain but it was tolerable and now looking back I wish I had waited a little longer. However, I went with one and it slowed my labor big time. Because I had to lay on the bed and not walk around anymore I feel like that was a huge factor. It took about 5 hours for me to go from 7 to 10cm and by the time I was pushing it was so hard because I couldn't feel where or how I was really pushing. I pushed for 4 LONG, hard hours!
With my second I tried to see if I could go without the epidural and at 8cm I just couldn't handle the painful contractions so I went with it then. However, it only took on one side of my body! So I felt everything on my left side!! Which I think was a blessing in disguise because although it was painful I could feel how and where to push when the midwife was touching on me and showing me where to push, which is just like pooping btw (and side note you would think even with an epidural you would know how to push like you're pooping but it's such a weird feeling to be trying to do that but not able to feel if you truly are...) so anyway, I only pushed for about 45 min with my second.
After my first two girls were born i was very groggy, sore and just felt out of it. This lasted for a couple days and slowly got better when I got home.
With my 3rd I was pushing him out in the elevator at the hospital! Almost didn't make it into the room! When they say they come quicker the next time around it's no joke. So I had no time for any meds at all. Super fast, super painful labor but I have to say it was the most amazing, euphoric feeling immediately after birth. I felt like skipping down the halls and had so much energy - it was really strange! The nurses had to ask me several times to sit and rest.
Sooo what is my plan this time? Pretty much the same thing - no plan just go with the flow. But I am going to get to the hospital a little earlier this time (I do not want to be one of those delivery on the side of the highway stories!) and I'm going to keep how over the top wonderful I felt immediately after a natural, drug-free birth.
Sorry for the long story but I'm sure hearing many different experiences from many will help you see that there are so many different situations and choices... I wish you the best with your first!
I was reading up on it to see what drugs they use in the injection, and I saw that they can be opiate-based?
As far as orally ingested opiates go, I definitely couldn't be a pill junkie. They make me break out in a cold sweat, I turn pasty white (even my lips) and I throw my guts up.
The last time I had surgery, I suffered through the recovery sans pain meds rather than ralph.
I was just wondering if injected opiates would do the same thing, I'm assuming they would.
It wasn't clear in my research, though (all the info seems to mention about getting sick with epidurals is regarding drop in blood pressure).
And if that's the case, I'd rather go without.
Then again, if I'm going to be throwing up from pain (which I read is a common occurrence as well) then it probably doesn't matter either way.
No one likes nausea, but I'd rather be punched in the face than throw up.
This for me too, except I would argue that I did do it "naturally." I guess natural is a relative term. I was induced with Pitocin, got the epidural at 4cms when I couldn't stand it anymore, and had my baby vaginally. I'm going in this time with the same (lack of) expectations.
Then came a miscarriage March '11
Then came a baby in the baby carriage May 16, 12
Waiting on our second little peanut!
In the end do what is right for you. But just remember you don't get a special stamp or special acknowledgements for coping with the pain. IMO what is the reason to deal with the pain when there are interventions to help?
That being said, the pain I experienced was like.....there just are no words. I tried to prepare with hypnobirthing, like someone else who posted, but didn't have the same success. I had PPROM at 36 weeks and definitely had not practiced enough (still highly recommended! I do believe it helped in a lot of other ways, like helping me learn to relax enough not to resist the contractions and help labor progress. I will be using it again with #2 with the addition of a doula as my partner.) By the time I was 1cm I was literally begging anyone who walked in my room to get PLEASE get me the epidural. I cannot explain the level of pain. My nurse was amazing, She knew my goals of going without and really supported and kept trying to convince me I could hold out longer and that I could do it. I finally got the epidural after I was checked and had reached 5cm, but by the time the anesthesiologist had gotten down there to do it, we (my nurse and myself) were pretty confident that I was transitioning, so it was the last possible moment.
And then the pain was over. So that was glorious. I didn't like that I couldn't even tell I was pushing. Luckily, I've pooped enough times in my life that my body knows how to push even when I can't feel that I'm doing it!
A major con for me was the hours of being paralyzed. For me, being completely unable to walk lasted a long time after labor. Perhaps it's normal that it lasts so long or perhaps it's because I got it pretty late in the game, or maybe it's because I was transitioning that they gave me more than I needed (it never took away the pain of the actual transition), or some combination, but when my 6 hrs passed after labor when I needed to pee or get a straight cath, I needed to be carried to the toilet by my post partum nurse and tech. I still couldn't walk on my own, 6 hours later.
For some people, this may not be a huge deal. For me, the feeling of helplessness in those early hours of having my first child impacted my sense of confidence as a new mom. I did not like that. Such is life, but I would have much preferred being able to walk, and scoot myself around while holding my daughter.
So the pain relief is amazing, but I will definitely aim for unmedicated the next time around, again. Since I had a slow leak with my first and needed to be induced with no signs of my body helping out with the labor, I also had a pretty intense induction and reached the maximum limit for pitocin as early as legally possible. Baby got out with no c-section, so I cannot complain, but hopefully next time around will be different and I'll make in the whole way.
Good luck, and whatever you decide healthy baby, healthy mom is the most important thing!
I didn't talk about that stuff with my OB until I was in third tri.
Things to think about.
How well are you with pain? High or low tolerance?
Are you good with managing pain? Do you tend to freak out or can you keep yourself calm?
I was shocked at my last appointment this was my 2nd appointment and they asked about and Epi Testing for downs and so many other things I left a little overwhelmed
As maddening as this answer can be, most women just know and you probably will too. For my first my MWs recommended waiting until contractions were at least 3-1-1, contractions would be three minutes apart (that's from the start of the first contraction to the start of the second), lasting for at least one minute and having that pattern for at least one hour. We live 15-25 min from the hospital depending on traffic. They never gave me a recommendation with my second.
With my first I labored at home for 10 hours. I remember saying to DH, I don't think I'm super close, but would rather just head to the hospital now. Sure enough was dilated to 6 cm when I got there and had DD 7.5 hours later. So my instincts were correct, I knew I wasn't really close, but far enough along to be in a solid labor pattern.
With my second I had maybe been in true labor for 30 min and my body was saying, 'get to the hospital!' I kept telling myself it was too soon and kept ignoring my instincts. We left home after I had been in labor for 1-1.5 hours and when we arrived in triage they didn't have to check me, when I went to lay back DH and my MW could visibly see DS's head! Had I left when I first felt it was time to go, we wouldn't have cut it so close.
As for your bag breaking that's not really a good indication of how close you are, both of my babies descended in their sacs and my MW broke their bag right before crowning. Reasons to call your provider or go in if your bag breaks might include, if you are GBS positive, if there is meconium (sp?) or if your bag breaks and contractions don't start after an extended period of time. My comfort level would be 12 hours, but that is something to discuss with your provider as everyone has their own. Also while you are at home make sure you are feeling the baby move periodically between contractions and staying well hydrated/eating if you can.
As maddening as this answer can be, most women just know and you probably will too. For my first my MWs recommended waiting until contractions were at least 3-1-1, contractions would be three minutes apart (that's from the start of the first contraction to the start of the second), lasting for at least one minute and having that pattern for at least one hour. We live 15-25 min from the hospital depending on traffic. They never gave me a recommendation with my second.
With my first I labored at home for 10 hours. I remember saying to DH, I don't think I'm super close, but would rather just head to the hospital now. Sure enough was dilated to 6 cm when I got there and had DD 7.5 hours later. So my instincts were correct, I knew I wasn't really close, but far enough along to be in a solid labor pattern.
With my second I had maybe been in true labor for 30 min and my body was saying, 'get to the hospital!' I kept telling myself it was too soon and kept ignoring my instincts. We left home after I had been in labor for 1-1.5 hours and when we arrived in triage they didn't have to check me, when I went to lay back DH and my MW could visibly see DS's head! Had I left when I first felt it was time to go, we wouldn't have cut it so close.
As for your bag breaking that's not really a good indication of how close you are, both of my babies descended in their sacs and my MW broke their bag right before crowning. Reasons to call your provider or go in if your bag breaks might include, if you are GBS positive, if there is meconium (sp?) or if your bag breaks and contractions don't start after an extended period of time. My comfort level would be 12 hours, but that is something to discuss with your provider as everyone has their own. Also while you are at home make sure you are feeling the baby move periodically between contractions and staying well hydrated/eating if you can.
Thanks so much! That was super detailed. I appreciate it.
I'll leave it in God's hands.
Knowing I need A LOT of drugs and that they will not give me that amount while birthing im opting for a holistic hypnobirthing.