Debating an epidural

g8trkim · June 2015

I had an epi with DS which was great because I was in labor for 12 hours and pushed close to 2. Any relief was welcome. I also had one with DD but progressed so quickly that by the time they put it in I was in so much pain. They immediately checked me and had me start pushing which took all of 2 minutes. I could still feel my legs. In hindsight, I just wish I wouldn't have gotten it because having to sit still while the baby was transitioning was excruciating.

I'm just thinking, should I even bother this time? I know every labor is different but being my third baby it will likely go fast again. Any mommas out there who had labors with and without an epi to compare? I have a high pain threshold. If things seem to be taking longer I may still opt for it. But right now I'm thinking I won't even bother. Plus, I've heard recovery is easier and though I didn't have bad side effects from an epi I know they are possible.

I know I still have lots of time to decide but just curious about other's experiences.

CountryAir13 · June 2015

I had one with my DS. My water broke hours before I started having contractions. So when they started... It sucked. I opted for the epidural. I don't plan on deciding either way until I go into labor with this one. To each their own.

LuckyInIreland · June 2015

I didn't have one and I pushed for a few hours, but then I had DS at home. Do what you feel is right for you and baby!

g8trkim · June 2015

CountryAir13 said:

I had one with my DS. My water broke hours before I started having contractions. So when they started... It sucked. I opted for the epidural. I don't plan on deciding either way until I go into labor with this one. To each their own.

I had the same thing. Water broke with DS at 3am but no contractions until 7am. Water broke with DD at 2pm. No contractions for a couple hours but when they came I went from 5-10cm really really fast.

kayjay44 · June 2015

I had an epi that worked on half my body. I am another one in the camp of do what feels right once you're in labor. Having too many expectations can lead to disappointment.

name1109 · June 2015

I planned to go natural with our little lady but opted for the epi when I got to the hospital. I got to the hospital and had her 2 hours later. In hindsight I probably could have "done it" but it wasn't the right decision for me at the time. I'm planning on evaluating how things go for this one and make a decision then. I think you will know. I couldn't agree more with @magnumj about setting yourself up for disappointment if you are set one way or another.

g8trkim · June 2015

Oh, I'm definitely not deciding ahead of time! That's why I said I could always change my mind later. I was just curious about experiences.

name1109 · June 2015

I think I had my epidural around 6cm? When he put it in, it was REALLY difficult not to more. My legs got numb-ish (actually more so on one side). I was really worried about not feeling when it was time to push. They had to break my water and soon thereafter I had the urge to push. Maybe TMI and probably similar to others experiences but it ended up working out. I just remember how much work pushing was. I can not imagine how exhausting it has to be to push and have massive amounts of pain but that is just me.

BBEA2006 · June 2015

I had an epi with both of mine, but this time I'm going to try to go without medicine. I feel like a crazy person because my other two birthe were so easy and painless, but I just feel the need to try to go natural. I'm thinking of trying a water birth in the hospital.

txbrideinblue · June 2015

I am a very big proponent of doing exactly what you want to do when the time comes. With my first, I was able to wait until 6cm because it was easy until then. Then, my blood pressure tanked and I passed out and they had to give me epinephrine. After that, it was business as usual. With my second, my pain was way worse and I got it at 3 but had an emergent c-section within like 45 minutes.

mayamoo · June 2015

I had an epi with my first and i'm glad I did. I had to push for 3 hours and then I got an episiotomy and a forceps delivery. I ended up not having one with DS2. Oh I wanted it but the nurse wouldn't let me have it. I was only 4cm when I asked for it and she said I wasn't dilated enough, wanted me to get into the tub first. yeah I went from 4-9cm in less then a 1/2 hour. I didn't even have a chance to get the IV meds before I was pushing him out. in hindsight i'm glad it was med free. it was much easier to push when I could feel what I was doing. He was out in 3 pushes. All that said, I have no idea about this time, i'll decide in the moment I guess or when it gets closer.

MississippiCatfish · June 2015

I have a long drawn out story that I won't bore you with;), except to say that I had an epi that only worked for a little while (stopped at 5cmish) with my first baby, and a natural hypnobabies birth with my second (because I was so scared my epi would fail again). My second was much less painful, and I would recommend hypnobabies to anybody, even if just for comfort leading up to an epi.

camusoh2011 · June 2015

I didn't have one with either of my two deliveries. With my first I wanted to try without it because I felt like if I didn't on my first I would never have the guts. With my second, by the time I was admitted I just wasn't even thinking about it as an option. I'm glad I went without because I was able to be up and walking right away. I don't plan to have one with this one either.

BabySeaTurtles · June 2015

I had one with DS and I am glad that I did. I had planned not to but made the call to get it at 4 cm. As soon as I got it, I fell asleep (it was 5am without sleeping the night before obviously) and I slept until it was time to push (noon). I plan on saving the decision for labor time this time around.

BabyHope2013 · June 2015

I had an epi with DS----but the pump didn't work until right when I actually was delivering him. So I feel like I can deal with the pain levels--however I was super glad that I did have it because I had a fourth degree tear and they needed to stitch me up. It took almost 45 minutes for that---so then I was beyond glad that I had the epi to block the pain of that all happening.

That said---I didn't have feeling of my legs for about an hour afterwards, but they did give me a booster in the epi when they were stitching so that could have been from that. I don't think I got up to pee until 3 hours or so afterwards because I was worried I would be really wobbly.

purplepenguin3 · June 2015

I had a very similar situation. with my DD i was in labor for 11 hrs and had and epi. It was glorious. I just chatted and labored the whole time. probably in my eyes a perfect labor lol. then with DS they couldn't get me an epi right away b/c they were low staffed, so i finally got one and he was born a half hour later. But in my situation it definitely was worth getting b/c his heart rate kept dropping every time i had a contraction. once i had the epi, he seemed to be doing better, so i think me relaxing helped him. I wouldn't change anything, but it's definitely case by case. I say that i'm probably going to get an epi again, but if i'm only in labor for a couple of hours....i just don't know.

Life is Exciting · June 2015

I had everything with my son. Induced at 36 weeks. 10+ hours of natural labor. Not dilating. They threw everything at me to try to get me to dilate. First they turned off and then back on the pitocin, then tried narcotics, then tried an epidural. Eventually I ended up with a csection.

I am trying for a Vbac this time around and, if I get the opportunity, I'm going to take the epidural. Everyone's experience is different, but they checked me 3 times without an epidural and one time with the epidural and the times they checked me without the epidural were the most excruciatingly painful moments in my life. I feel like I'd be terrible at actually pushing a baby through there without numbing drugs. Hopefully they offer a walking epidural.

Blinggal24 · June 2015

I tried very hard to go without mess but what got me was that they gave me something which only made me fall asleep between contractions and wide awake when they happened!! Then I had to have oxygen because every time I had a contraction her O2 sats dropped. I ended up getting an epidural because I had LEEP surgery a couple of years prior and there was scar tissue preventing me from dilating. Within an hour I went from 2-10 and pushed 3 times and she was out. I may opt in early for an epidural this time

ErinC1014 · June 2015

My first baby, my water broke as they were putting the epidural in. I was fully dialated and wish i had done it without, because my son was born 5 mins later. Second baby, I was at the hospital less than 15 mins and no time for an epidural. I am thinking the third will be natural too, but just because I seem to labor so quickly and can appreciate less recovery time, no big needle, and no additional anesthesia bills

I would not want to suffer for hours and hours though, and would probably get an epi with a longer labor.

lilqt3929 · June 2015

Since I was hesitant about the epi the nurses talked me into trying some pain med they put through my IV and I did not like that at all. It felt like I was severely drunk, room spinning and all. I asked for an epi after that at 5cm. Once it was in, they checked me and I was already at 8cm and shortly thereafter to 10cm. They had me try pushing but DD's heart rate would drop everytime so they had me labor down for a couple hours and since I was exhausted from hardly any sleep the night before it was wonderful to not feel anything so I could sleep. When I began pushing again the nurses were surprised how well I was doing since I couldn't feel a thing, about an hour later she was born and I was stitched up. This time around I will most likely get the epi, natural birth scares the crap out of me but I will ultimately play it by ear.

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Debating an epidural

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DD1: 9/19/11
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DD2: 1/31/16

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Debating an epidural

Re: Debating an epidural

DD1: 9/19/11DS: 1/1/14DD2: 1/31/16

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DD1: 9/19/11
DS: 1/1/14
DD2: 1/31/16