Hi ladies,
I did a search and didn't find much on a thread related to this topic specifically.
I'm curious to hear the things about your experience with the epidural- like how many of you got no relief or not much relief? How many of you couldn't feel your legs and bottom half of body and for how long after delivery? How hard was it too push since you were not able to be in tune with your body and what it was trying to do on it's own?
I'm just curious to hear about this aspect.....I know most would say they were thankful for the drugs- but I'd still like to know the real deal experiences with this aspect of the meds- or anything I didn't mention.
Thanks!
Re: BDTD moms; Epidural birth stories
the nurses will tell you when to
push by watching your contractions on the monitor, so you're still working with your body.
Only negative I experienced was when it was being put in, the dr grazed mu
sciatic nerve and that shot lightning pain into my ass cheek. Really awful feeling. And for months after, the skin on my right thigh was numb, bjt NBD.
as far as when it wore off, I'm really not sure. I know that by the time they moved us to our room, it was gone and I walked. But gosh, I don't know how much time passed, it's a blur.
ETA: I think it took close to 6 hours to wear off, but mine was more potent because of the c-section. It was also kind of cool because it forced DH into daddy mode...he changed diapers and did other things with DD because I couldn't walk.
@camichael84 had the opposite happen, she progressed hella fast after.
I'm not sure how long it took to wear off, but when they were ready to move me to the post-partum room, I was able to get in a wheelchair with the nurse by my side just in case.
It is kind of weird not having control of your legs. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get them in the stirrups on my own.
My labor did not stall in either case. I was getting pitocin prior to each of my epidurals...not sure if that matters or not.
The one thing I found funny was you kind of have to lay flat to keep it evenly dispersed. I tried laying on my side and my one leg started to tingle (like if it had fallen asleep). As soon as I went back to laying on my back with some pillows propping me, everything went back to being numb.
ETA: I had two small tears with my first. I ended up with 4-6 stitches. I felt none of that.
Regarding the epi, I got immediate and complete relief. The skin on my legs were numb at the beginning, but I could easily move them the whole time. I had no trouble pushing, but I think my epi either wore off or didn't go far down because I felt a lot during the pushing phase (pressure, water leaking with contractions, an extreme urge to push, the OB feeling my completely dilated cervix for a good 2 minutes). No one needed to tell me when to push, I told them when I was ready. I also felt her coming out and getting the stitches. Honestly, my epidural was a dream for me, and I've never once regretted getting it because it went so perfectly.
ETA: I was up and moving within a couple hours after birth. I'm pretty sure I could have moved before then, but they wouldn't let me.
Because of what happened, my biggest fear with DS1 was the epidural...as I knew there was no way I could experience that pain again. Luckily, it all went well and I was completely numb for that csection.
But each delivery is different! I'm still not opposed to trying epi again even if it's to rest alittle bit! Best of luck!
My only complaints about the epidural were the need for an IV and catheter. For whatever reason, they wouldn't uncath me for what felt like forever which meant I was confined to bed. Then, they wouldn't take the IV out until the next day and I couldn't take a shower until it was out so that was more than annoying. Some might say they were small prices to pay for a painless labor but they (along with how fast my labor went and how well I managed prior to the epi) are honestly enough for me to reconsider my pain management decision for baby #2.
Just as an FYI - I've always heard that getting an epidural too early could slow labor and increase the risk of later interventions. I was reading an article just the other day that said new research shows that the timing of when an epidural is adminstered has little effect on either. Getting an epidural in general can slow labor and increase later interventions but it supposedly doesn't matter if you get it at 2cm or 8cm.
Also, yeah, that's a long time with the cath! They took mine out while I was still a little numb because they said they didn't want me to feel it coming out. I was thankful. And my IV came right out too, I think....I don't remember but I do know it was out when they moved me to my room.
It was probably the one element of my labor that went as smoothly as possible, and thank god for that, because I was on it for about 10 hours.
They turn it off when you start pushing, because it takes a while to wear off and they want you to be able to feel some sensation to work with the contractions. I pushed for 3 hours and it was completely out of my system by the time the baby was actually born, which was horrible, but really had nothing to do with the epidural itself.
re: being cathed. I actually had one for the full day after. I don't remember exactly when they took it out. It may have been two days. This was due to my labor injuries, not the epidural.
I loved my epi! It gave me so much relief, I could barely feel anything from the waist down and I don't remember the needle really hurting at all (I think the contractions pretty much drowned out any other pain). At the hospital I go to, as long as there are no complications, it is pretty much mandatory that you have an hour of skin-to-skin after baby is born and I think most of the effects of the epi had worn off by the time I was done with that, it might have been 2 hours at the most. I do remember having a feeling in one of my legs, which I can only describe as what I would imagine a blood clot feeling like, kind of like a blockage or something, but this went away as soon as they stopped the epidural after giving birth. I remember having the urge to push even with the epidural and being aware of most contractions, they just weren't painful.
ETA: I was in labor for a total of 47 hours from the first contraction, so I don't know if I would have gotten through it without the epi since I was so exhausted, it helped me a lot to sleep and relax before DS's arrival.
BFP #1 5/5/13 MC confirmed 5/9/13
BFP #5 5/16/18 EDD 1/29/19
I loved my epidural. My labor was very very slow, and I waited until I was 5cm to get it, and was completely dilated 4 hours later. So I guess for me it sped things up. While pushing, I could still feel a little bit of pressure enough to know when my contractions were happening.
DS1 -- 9/30/2016
this time, after I get it, I plan to sleep! I regret not sleeping last time.
The second time the epi was the best thing ever. It was instant relief and I had no pain whatsoever.
The epi had zero effect on either baby.
JWarfield726 any idea why they didn't sedate you? I know two people who went in for a c section not completely numb, but the second the doctors figured it out they put both people under completely.
This sounds terrifying.
i will most likely get an epidural again. My total labor start to finish was only 5 hours last time so it will depend hour quickly this one goes.