Are you getting an epidural?

Brannykaye · April 2015

Curious how popular they really are? I have heard tons of negative stuff about them and again a lot of positives.

Brannykaye · April 2015

I'm saying no. Since this will probably be our only child, I'd like to completely experience every bit of labor. I've heard epidural a completely numb you to where you can't even feel the baby come out, also that you end up with back pain afterwards for awhile. Anyone have some wisdom on this?

mistyjewel88 · April 2015

I did not have one with my first and loved the fact that I was in control of my own body.

peteresa · April 2015

I labored for 16 hrs in lots of pain with my first daughter before my doctor came and suggested I get an epidural so I could rest some before the pushing phase began and what an amazing relief it was! I was all "smiles and fun" from that point on! I will definitely take an epidural this time around too because pain is not my friend!!!

trishadobel · April 2015

I am having a c section for the 2nd time. An epidural has to happen!

SmrBrd2012 · April 2015

I put not sure. I'd love to be able to get through labor without one, but I am open to it if the pain becomes too much. It's my first so I don't know what kind of pain to expect and everyone is different with their pain thresholds!

mandapanda806 · April 2015

I am going to try the IV meds first to see if that is enough help to relax me and get me through labor. However if I'm still struggling and labor isn't progressing as we hoped then I'll most likely have an epidural.

louloutte87 · April 2015

I've never had a baby before so I have no idea? I really don't want to stay in hospital any longer than a day so I really don't want an epidural.

That being said, if it hurts too much, I'm not going to say no....

TBsquared · April 2015

I had an epidural the first time and didn't feel anything. Didn't feel the baby come out, had to be told when to push because I couldn't feel contractions. It was nice not to feel pain, but for some reason I'm going to try no pain meds this time around. (Sometimes I'm regretting this decision lol) I just want to experience birth and be able to say I did it! I had no side effects from the epidural after wards, no back pain or anythjng, but it did make me shake a bit in the beginning and I don't know if this is normal but I have very little recollection of the birth and afterwards which is sad. I don't remember nursing my daughter for the first time or a lot of what happened during my hospital stay. I feel like the epi contributed but there's no literature that I've seen that says this is possible so I don't know?

sunnyday016 · April 2015

I'm not sure. I did not have one with my DD and my some as an emergency c-section. I'm hoping for a VBAC this time, but I'm going to play it by ear on the epi.

katyeblue · April 2015

I didnt do anything for my first. Totally natural experience. I am not doing that this time. Not because it was a bad experience but because it was a little tramatic and this pregnancy has been really hard.

ksitzes81 · April 2015

I had them with both my children I was walking around within an hour of having them it's not bad at all... They controls the amount if feeling... Leas u take the faster you can move around after. I'm due again with my 3 rd and planning on it...

jodi1008 · April 2015

I had an epideral last time and I could still move my legs and felt in control, just felt a little heavy and couldn't feel pain. I was up and walking right after

catrudkin · April 2015

I'm not getting one. I had one with DD1 and it couldn't feel if I was even pushing or not. It took longer to deliver, pushing for nearly an hour, and the doctor ended up using forceps to assist.

With DD2 I had nothing at all, I progressed so fast I didn't even realize she was crowning. I just felt like I had to use the bathroom lol. I literally pushed for 15 minutes and she was born. Of course, it hurt thru the contractions but the pain went away with each push. I believe that really helped the birth go faster and smoothly.

With DS I plan on going completely natural again! For me, the experience was so much better.

vhowle · April 2015

I am not getting one this time. I had one with my first and that has been my biggest regret. Since this will be our last, I want to experience labor without medications.

4everamom · April 2015

mistyjewel88 said:
I did not have one with my first and loved the fact that I was in control of my own body.

Same for me. I am not getting a epi with this baby either.

ali0608 · April 2015

I got one with my first. Your hear stories of it slowing labor. Mine was the opposite. In the hour after getting one, I went from 4 cm to 9 cm very quickly.

sherilb100 · April 2015

Yes I won't do it without it

JericaLH · April 2015

I am about 75% yes I will get one and 25% we'll see what happens. I want to progress as naturally as possible so I want to be able to walk around, sit on the birthing ball, etc. However I do want to get the epidural before I go into that really bad transitional labor so I'm not totally wiped out before the baby arrives. I learned in my Prepared Childbirth classes that my hospital has a policy of "turning off" the epidural once you've completely dilated so that you start to get some feeling back before you start pushing. I guess the pain is still deadened but you can feel pressure and get that "urge to push" feeling back. That seems ideal to me. The 25% maybe comes in only if I progress too fast to get the epidural. While not ideal, I'm all for a fast labor! So we'll kind of play it by ear and see what happens. I'm hoping I can get one though.

clarever · April 2015

My first I had the epidural but after pushing for a couple hours it wore off and when they upped the dose I ended up not feeling a thing. It also took 7 hours before I could stand.
My second I did all natural only because I got to the hospital and had no time. Only in the delivery room for 10 minutes before pushing. The recovery was better and I was up walking around 10 minutes after. I was breastfeeding the moment my second came out and felt like I was fully present and really took in the moment. Mind you, the birth was a lot less traumatic.
I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do this time around. I do plan on getting to the hospital sooner though so I could at least have the option of an epidural.

marthaudani · April 2015

I'm going to try to avoid one only because I've done it before and I can do it again. Secondly because I want full use of my legs after labor.

It's going to hurt - a lot, but I feel like this is something we are built to do. We can get through it.

I'm looking forward to that bonding time with DH. He'll probably have a sore hand afterwards but he'll be ok. lol

traceyade11 · April 2015

I am definitely having it. am not great with pain

cassietegtmeier · April 2015

I want all the drugs. I want to, joking, ask my dr to give me some now.

supersarah77 · April 2015

I said no, but that said, I'm prepared to roll with the punches. I had a 39 hour unmedicated labor with DD, including 10 hours stuck at 9 cm, so unless things go completely sideways I will be unmedicated again.

twodreamers · April 2015

I'm having a c-section and would prefer to just be knocked out completely and be totally alert (and numb) right as she's being pulled out.

keitlin415 · April 2015

I'm getting one. I got one with my first baby and I had an amazing experience. I still had control of my body and I knew exactly what my body was doing - it just wasn't painful!

Huanne · April 2015

I'm 65% not getting one, 35% reserved in case i cave under the pain. I'm most concerned about tearing because the epidural left me unable to feel anything. I really want to come out tear free and totally lucid when my DS is born. Here's hoping!

icajesica82 · April 2015

I got one with Dd but this time around I'm going to go for the natural birth.

gamergirl83 · April 2015

My boys have been really big (in the past) so I will more than likely cave.

PutMeintheZoo · April 2015

My OB ended up putting me on Pitocin since I wasn't progressing fast enough after my water broke. Had to have an epidural to manage the pain from that (Pitocin made my contractions so horrible).

So hoping that I won't have to get Pitocin this time around and will be able to go med free... but if not, will definitely do an epidural.

jhodgesl91 · April 2015

I had a horrible experience with my first epidural!! It took 4 tries to get it in and only worked for a couple hours. When they took it out my back hurt so bad I couldn't stand straight, I'm not sure if they did it wrong or not. I am hoping I can make it med free this time so I don't end up with another bad experience.

katielyn1 · April 2015

I had one the first time and it was heavenly.So glad I got one since she was huge. I will definitely be getting one this time. I had no back pain from it. The anesthesiologist told me there is absolutely no proof that it slows labor.

beaseg · April 2015

I had an excellent experience with dd when I had my epidural. I got it at 5cms and it was terrific. I asked for it to be kept low but was told that wasn't possible. I knew then that wasn't 100% true, but I couldn't argue with the doctor and nurse. Or at least, didn't feel I could. So I felt nothing, but pushing was fine for me as people explain it as very similar to going to the bathroom. So that's what I tried to do, and apparently it was great because she was out in about 5 easy pushes.

They turned the epi off after I was done getting a couple stitches. By then I had nursed and was moved into the recovery room. I think about an hour after that, and maybe 3 total after delivery, I was up and walking around.

It was an easy experience. No bad side effects. But this time I do intend on attempting a natural childbirth. This is my last child, and I really just want to TRY. I've hired a doula to help. If I end up needing it, there's no shame or problem with it. But I'd really like to give it a try, and I think having a doula and an experienced husband will help!

kaycorey89 · April 2015

I am a FTM and am planning on going without an epidural. Doesn't mean I'm not open to it if the pain gets unbearable. I do have a high pain tolerance, but never having been thru this before no idea what to expect. Everyones labour and delivery are different. So plan is natural. But if an epidural happens it happens.

kaynix21 · April 2015

Brannykaye said:
I'm saying no. Since this will probably be our only child, I'd like to completely experience every bit of labor. I've heard epidural a completely numb you to where you can't even feel the baby come out, also that you end up with back pain afterwards for awhile. Anyone have some wisdom on this?

This is pretty much what I'm saying too. Unless it hurts so bad I can't cope lol

Yolypujals · April 2015

I'm soo getting it Im a TTM i had it with my 1st child but decided to go natural with my second & that was the most traumatic experience I ever had & I have a high tolerance to pain . It was the best birth control ever had but now 13yrs later I still remember that pain so Yess I'm definitely getting it & any other pain reliever I can get

kristeenbutler · April 2015

I am for sure as soon as I can! I went natural with my first and maybe I'm a baby but that is something I never want to feel again!!

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