- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
November 2019 Moms
Dancer688
member
Epidurals - Questions and Discussion
Dancer688
member
I figured since with had the unmedicated advice side we could give the opposition equal turn so as to not take over the unmedicated advice discussion.
I know that I am not the only one with pro-epidural experience but I'll at least put my two sense out there as well. I was on the no epidural train until I had my first and then I don't know why I fought it so long since it was a much more positive experience after. I didn't realize that throwing up can be your body's reaction to pain so once my contractions hit the point where that start happening regularly it is time for me to get the epidural
My experiences:
- I am terrified of needles but if the dr is good at his job not only will you not feel it (since they numb the area first) but you will never see the needle.
- The IV is way worse in my opinion
- I could control my epidural dose so if you want to feel more you definitely can or vice versa. I typically stop giving myself more around 9cm dilated so that I had more feeling to push. That being said, I did have some tearing (9lb+ babies are fun) so I gave myself some more before they sewed me up so I didn't feel that at all.
- I did have to get pitocin after I had my epidurals as my laboring did slow down a bit but that gave me time to sleep. (It is just something they put through your IV so no other change)
- I could feel my legs for the most part although they did feel funny and I would need help turning from side to side (I blame most of this on the HUGE belly and the IV though)
- You do get a catheter because you will no longer be leaving the bed for the bathroom
- Recovery was a non-issue, once the epidural wears off and they check you out of L&D and into the Newborn care there was no residual effects from the epidural for me. The biggest recovery issue I recall is the tearing recovery.
Labor 1: Epidural at 4cm -> 14 hours of laboring to 10cm (aka watching movies and sleeping) -> 45 minutes of pushing
Labor 2: Epidural at 5 or 6cm -> 12 hours of laboring to 10cm (mostly sleeping since I checked in during the late afternoon) -> 10 minutes or less of pushing
Hope that gives another side to epidurals as I know prior to my first I was terrified and read so many negatives and I would have appreciated having more information prior to it.
I know that I am not the only one with pro-epidural experience but I'll at least put my two sense out there as well. I was on the no epidural train until I had my first and then I don't know why I fought it so long since it was a much more positive experience after. I didn't realize that throwing up can be your body's reaction to pain so once my contractions hit the point where that start happening regularly it is time for me to get the epidural
My experiences:
- I am terrified of needles but if the dr is good at his job not only will you not feel it (since they numb the area first) but you will never see the needle.
- The IV is way worse in my opinion
- I could control my epidural dose so if you want to feel more you definitely can or vice versa. I typically stop giving myself more around 9cm dilated so that I had more feeling to push. That being said, I did have some tearing (9lb+ babies are fun) so I gave myself some more before they sewed me up so I didn't feel that at all.
- I did have to get pitocin after I had my epidurals as my laboring did slow down a bit but that gave me time to sleep. (It is just something they put through your IV so no other change)
- I could feel my legs for the most part although they did feel funny and I would need help turning from side to side (I blame most of this on the HUGE belly and the IV though)
- You do get a catheter because you will no longer be leaving the bed for the bathroom
- Recovery was a non-issue, once the epidural wears off and they check you out of L&D and into the Newborn care there was no residual effects from the epidural for me. The biggest recovery issue I recall is the tearing recovery.
Labor 1: Epidural at 4cm -> 14 hours of laboring to 10cm (aka watching movies and sleeping) -> 45 minutes of pushing
Labor 2: Epidural at 5 or 6cm -> 12 hours of laboring to 10cm (mostly sleeping since I checked in during the late afternoon) -> 10 minutes or less of pushing
Hope that gives another side to epidurals as I know prior to my first I was terrified and read so many negatives and I would have appreciated having more information prior to it.
Re: Epidurals - Questions and Discussion
I think there is a lot of pressure in today's mommy world to go unmedicated, or maybe just a lot of comments from outside parties when you do go medicated. I've posted this in other threads before, but I had both the nurse and the LC at the hospital comment on the fact that I got an epidural and the nurse even said that she had 4 kids before they even had epidurals, so I should be able to get through it. These sorts of comments really hurt me at the time, especially since I had a little bit of a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I ultimately ended up with a c/s.
Here's my experience-
I arrived at the hospital around 3cm dilated in the evening, was admitted since I was 40+4 at that point and a snowstorm was on the way in 2 days. I got the epidural around 4-5cm, and was able to sleep the rest of the night. I stalled at a 9 for around 5 hours, they gave me pitocin through my IV and broke my water, but ultimately nothing else happened and I stalled at the 9 and baby stayed high and did not descend. After another few hours the on-call OB came to see me and recommended we move to a c/s, so we did. During the c/s MH was told that positionally, DS was stuck somehow in a position that would have made it unlikely he would have been able to descend and come out vaginally. I am grateful I already had the epidural so I was able to rest during the night. i can't say how much it stalled my progress, but I don't think too much since it really took me a long time of feeling contractions before we got to the hospital and I was only 3cm dilated that point.
It is like breastfeeding and formula fed. Fed is best, whatever gets baby the nutrients and keeps the mom sane.
For me, I forget how dialated I was by the time they came, but I did have to wait a long time for them to come so if you want it, keep in mind there could be a wait. I have also talked about getting it being not the best experience but only because they were a-holes. Once it was in I still had discomfort but was in a much better place mentally. I should have slept. Also, not sure if it happens to everyone but I had the side effect of being very very itchy from my neck down (I've now read in other birth stories that they can give Benadryl for this but I'm iffy on how I feel about that for next time). I could still move my legs but I don't think they would have been able to hold weight. I thought having a catheter was great 😂
They ended up shutting my epidural before delivery because they were afraid I'd not be able to push correctly. I still don't know how much wore off by the time I had my son but once I was ready to go things moved really fast and I only pushed for 14 minutes and there was plenty of pain lol. As for recovery, before they even brought my son back from getting checked out and his first bath I was able to get up and walk myself to the bathroom (MH was out cold, lol). Removing the needle was painless and I never had to see it. I will be doing it again as long as things don't move too fast.
I’m not trying to scare anyone but I think it is important to know that you may get a crappy doctor like I did and end up having a horrible experience. It was so bad that I told DH if I need an emergency C for this delivery they can just knock me out and I will see them both when I wake up. He knows what I want as far as the baby goes right after delivery and I trust him to do all those things.
Sorry about the soapbox.
My epidural was very effective but I did not react well to the medication. I was fortunate to have a very good anesthesiologist and his student. My OB specializes in plus-size birth and the anesthesiologist on her team understands larger bodies. I would not say it was painless, but it wasn't that bad. I was terrified of the c-section and they were very kind. (The student took our meeting the baby shots and he did such a nice job). I did experience a Brady event and the c-section was really fast because the baby's heartrate was dropping. Whether it was the fear, the meds, or the surgery I don't know but I had trouble staying conscious. I did get a migraine from the epidural and I found that I had flat affect for 3 days afterward. There is some data linking epidurals to increased likelihood of postpartum depression - it could be the meds or the circumstances of birth, or the lack of social support. I would not say it is a reason to avoid an epidural but your support system should be aware so you can get support if it comes up.
My sister wanted an unmedicated birth as well. Her first labor was really long - multiple days. At a certain point about 36-48 hours in they advised she get an epidural so that she could sleep or they worried she would not have the energy to push. It really helped and she was able to avoid c-section. Second baby it went a lot faster and unmedicated. She didn't have a bad reaction to the meds. So it really just depends and sometimes an epidural can help facilitate a lower intervention birth (if that is what you want).
It is great to know what you want and to push for it (forgive the pun) but bodies and babies have agency. Sometimes things won't go to plan and being open to and ready for that can really help emotionally and mentally.
For me, the epidural slowed things down which is why I hope to avoid it this time if I have a choice. However, my sister had two quick births on epidurals and we are very similarly built, so it really is different for everyone. Regardless, I did not feel the catheter after they put it in and it was not painful when they did it-this was honestly one of my biggest fears beforehand! I tore a lot due to interventions, so it was nice to have the pain relief from the epidural when they stitched me up since it did take over an hour. Within half an hour of stopping the meds I was able to walk to the bathroom no problem. I had a pretty low dose through labor, I could feel mostly everything and could move my legs, just couldn’t put weight on them and don’t remember them feeling funny.
My anesthesiologist was amazing, and it didn't hurt. It was just hard having to stay still during the contractions while he inserted the needle. My husband stayed in the room, but he had to sit in a chair facing me. I did have to wait about 45 min for the anesthesiologist because there were apparently two other women ahead of me.
Once I got the epidural, I could control how much to give myself. I think I overdid it, because I fell asleep for an hour and when the nurse woke me up to start pushing, I couldn't feel my legs at all. But it didn't slow down my labor, I didn't push long, the numbness wore off quickly and I didnt have any lasting effects. I also didn't get a catheter. I was thankful to have something to take the edge off, because I tore pretty badly and needed stitches.
My advice to FTMs is do your research and make the decision that's best for you. And even if you plan for an unmedicated birth and change your mind, don't feel any shame! The most important thing is a healthy baby and mom.
Mom-shaming needs to go the way of the Dodo. We all do what we believe is best for our families and children. Happy, healthy children are the goal.
I've heard there's such thing as "too far along" for an epidural - how far would that be? Will a doctor/nurse say "this is likely your last chance"? Haha I am preparing myself for no epidural, but I'm open to the idea that things will hurt more than I'm capable of withstanding.
Other than that it depends on the mom and doctor. I had a friend who was not able to stop moving because she was just about to hit the transition stage and the doctor said they wouldn't give her one because she wasn't able to be still. But in the end her husband and a few doctors were able to calm her down and help her be still so the doctor revised his opinion.
Others may have more experience with the not being able to get one.
If I were you I would go back to old BMBs to read birth stories and see how it goes down, because I've seen plenty where they were told it was too late and then managed just fine without.