Epidural?

haileebug72 · April 2015

My sister is in nursing school and she has said so many horrible things about getting an epidural that I'm almost scared to do it, if I end up choosing to. I was just wondering if it is normal to worry so much about this and some experiences of getting an epidural!

lopezroke · April 2015

Totally normal. I say now that im on my second if i could go back and do something diff with the first it would be to pass on the epidural. I ended up with this tingling sensation in my back where the needle went in that hasnt gone away 3 years later and if you get one its a back labor for sure.. I ended up having to get a csection because my baby couldnt come out. He was sunny side up and his head was there but just couldnt get out but i honestly feel now that if i hadnt taken the epidural i could have changed positions he might have been able to come out naturally.
Its scarey but try not to think about it too much. I was trying to go all natural in my original birthplan but that thing went out the window when i got to the hospital.

kajordan09 · April 2015

Don't listen to your sister - she's seen the worst of the worst and is probably failing to tell you that there are plenty of experiences where an epidural has been totally fine. I would talk to your doctor instead, and have them tell you all the risks vs. benefits and go from there. They will probably give you a better idea of their complication rates.

erinc79 · April 2015

I'm scared of the epidural and any interventions, really. I know there are so many people who have had no issues being induced, receiving pitocin, getting and epidural, etc. but I want to deliver naturally and be able to move my body into different positions if my baby isn't coming down, etc. Interventions have proven a slippery slope to c-section, and the only way I want to go that route is if its an absolute medical necessity. I think its smart to be worried, or cautious. Not that they are bad, by any means, but because its good to do your research and make sure you know you're making the most informed decision for yourself.

momofsweetps · April 2015

Honestly everyone and every birth is different. I had a WONDERFUL epidural with my first. I could still feel my legs and it was great. HOWEVER, with #2, it was HORRIBLE. I had problems with it for months afterwards and could still feel the spot in my back where it was placed for a year and half. It was horrible. SO with that said, I was so traumatized from that experience I had my next 3 (and this one) naturally without any pain meds. If I could have the epidurals like with #1, I probably would have had it with the others.

excited2bmommy09 · April 2015

I've heard so many mixed things about epidurals that I've come to the conclusion it really just depends on the person and the labor! I've talked to women who went without it with their first and it was so awful had an epidural with their second and swear by it. And then I've heard the opposite where people had the epidural and hated it and went without it for the second and the labor went better. I'm a FTM so personally I have no experience with it, but I think for this first one I would like to try without the epidural and see how it goes...

hrossi253 · April 2015

I LOVED mine! I will definitely be getting another one this time!

mrscate88 · April 2015

I've been present for a few births and heard hundreds of stories, pretty much everyone in my family has 3+ kids! None of them had a bad experience with an epidural, but as others have said, it's different for every woman and every labor. This is # 1 for me, I'm not afraid of the epidural at all and I'll probably get it at some point, but my goal is to go natural as long as possible. Just go in with an open mind, talk to your doctor about options and risks, you'll be fine!!

KissMeImScottish · April 2015

I'm in the same camp at @mrscaterosales. I'm not afraid of the epidural, although I'm aware of the potential risks, but I'm going in with the mentality of wanting to labor as long as I'm able naturally, including hoping to labor as long as I'm able at home (luckily, I live 10 minutes from the hospital), but I am definitely not opposed to receiving an epidural if I need the relief.

Mufflerlove · April 2015

I was always really afraid of it and decided I would prefer not to get one if I could handle it but wasn't opposed if I thought I needed it. I didn't have one with my first and hope not to this time. Everyone has little things they are afraid of and makes them worry.

Boobopgirl · April 2015

I had a lot of fears about epidurals as well. Mostly I thought that not being able to move/feel my legs would really freak me out. I ended up being in labor for over 30 hours. By about 24-26 hours in, I was spent and really needed to rest so I gave in, got one and fell asleep.

A few hours later, K was having some issues and we had to make some quick decisions. Some people would look at that and say "the baby had problems from the epidural." I say "the baby had issues because the labor was so long" and if I hadn't had the epidural and a bit of a nap/ still been in so much pain that it was affecting my processing ability, I probably would have been absolutely hysterical and not able to decide what needed to be done in those crucial moments. I would have panicked and may have done something that would have injured me or her and/or assaulted a medical professional and gotten in trouble. I ended up having a vaginal birth which I'm sure would have been an emergency c/s without the epidural and she and I were fine. They have their place.

lovesgummies · April 2015

I was so afraid of them until I was in labor. Then it didn't scare me one bit. I seriously didn't feel it. Worked great for me. But since everyone is different it's hard to know how you'll react. I'm just saying lots of things change once you're in the middle of labor!

LaurenNewph · April 2015

This is my first and the epidural scares me a bit, but I have the lowest pain threshold ever! I'm in the minority I guess but I trust my doctors! If they say you need a c section then I understand it's for the best. I was an English major... They went to med school!

WDDCH · April 2015

It IS a risky procedure.

You have to weigh the pros and cons to decide the best choice for yourself. If your sister is giving you anxiety let her know that she needs to cool it.

I've had births with and without it. I preferred the births without it.

nika716 · April 2015

This is my 3rd and I will get an epidural when I can't take the pain any longer. I've had 2 epidural before with no side affects or issues during labor. Both vaginal delivery.

irenejean · April 2015

I have a couple friends who didn't want epidurals, but ended up getting them and were grateful for them. One friend didn't want the epidural and couldn't get one by the time she changed her mind, she told me I should definitely get the epidural. I'm pretty sure I'll get it at some point, no one I know personally has had a negative experience with an epidural.

jmacd22 · April 2015

I wanted an epidural and wasn't able to get it. Many women have done it with and without it. I think it depends on what you're comfortable with.

CruiseGirl28 · April 2015

I had an epidural with no issues. I loved it, and I'm planning on getting it again.

I was scared to get it too.

Boobopgirl · April 2015

I should add to my above story and say they never said I needed a c-section, they just said she needed to come out FAST and if I had still been so tired/not able to push or had gotten hysterical and started panicking, I might not have been able to get her out effectively and needed a c-section. With me having gotten a little rest, I was able to focus and push and not panic and she probably came faster that way than if we had had to move to an ER and everyone had to get prepped and stuff. So sometimes, even in an emergency, vaginal can be better/faster as long as you and baby can do it.

Lisa9926 · May 2015

With my first the epidural was great. I was induced and the pitocin gives you horrid labor (contractions right on top of each other and stronger). The epidural was amazing and I could still feel the baby and move my legs, but the edge was taken off. With my second I was induced again and didn't think twice of getting one. It wasn't a good one. My heart was racing a few minutes after I got it which was scary since it felt like it was beating out of my chest (it went away after a few minutes) and the epidural wasn't really working on the left side of my stomach, but my legs were totally dead. During that delivery I ended up herniating 3 discs in my back and have had bad back pain and sciatica for 3 years. I attribute a lot of it to that crap epidural. So with this baby, I'm scared to get one. I talked to my doctor about it and she said that if I got induced again she would def. recommend it or I'll be miserable, but she suggested maybe more fluids beforehand and to give me a low dose Epidural. She also told me the heart thing was a fluke and not to let that scare me. I'm leaning to taking her advice. Labor sucks and you just feel so much better with the epidural.

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