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January 2023 Moms
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Epidural and other pain meds

v_obeev_obee member
in January 2023 Moms
Hi! First time mom here, just wondering everyone’s thoughts on epidurals or if they chose to use other medication during their pregnancy. I don’t have the best pain tolerance so I’m thinking I won’t be able to go med free. 
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Re: Epidural and other pain meds

  • cc_clarkcc_clark member
    @v_obee I also ftm but I’ve already told my dr that I’m a giant baby so whatever she says is safe I’ll take 😅. I’ve done some research anyway, so I feel pretty secure that an epidural is fine.
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  • willrunforcookieswillrunforcookies member
    @v_obee I have a high pain tolerance, but for me labor was another level. Epidurals are truly amazing.  Go into the birth process with an open mind and knowledge of your options. 
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  • jennifer_louisejennifer_louise member
    @cc_clark I love your attitude haha 😄 

    @willrunforcookies Good advice! It always helps to be prepared for what options you will/won't have. I also consider myself to have a high pain tolerance but there was definitely a point during labor where I was swearing at my husband for putting a baby in me, and then I knew it was time to ask for an epidural.

    Keep in mind, too, that it might take a while between asking for an epidural and actually getting one. (The anesthesiologist could be busy, it takes a bit to place, etc). Unfortunately, epidurals don't always work either (or only work partially). But most women feel some, if not full, relief!
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  • L1C4galL1C4gal member
    @jennifer_louise totally agree! Especially with your last paragraph. If you wait too long, it's hard to keep still enough to get the epidural in (though not impossible--just might take more time!). I'm also one of the supremely unlucky women for whom the epidural didn't work :s I'm reeeeeeeally hoping that was a fluke and things go more smoothly this time! Need to beef up on my pain management knowledge just in case...eek.
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  • jennifer_louisejennifer_louise member
    Oh no @L1C4gal, did it not work at all for you? Or only partially?? Hopefully it was just a fluke!

    I actually had 2 epidurals (or maybe they just turned the first one on again after trying to push but then needing some rest? Tbh these few hours of my life are very muddled 😆). The first one worked great, although I could still feel contractions in my right hip, but it was still sooo much relief. The second one didn't seem to work at all. At least I thought I could still feel absolutely everything. I was pretty out of it from pain and exhaustion though.
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  • L1C4galL1C4gal member
    @jennifer_louise sorry you had a similar experience! Mine didn't seem to work at all for most of labor...I have nothing to compare against, of course, but I was screaming and almost vomiting from the pain for hours, so I think I was feeling it all :D The pain did ease up a lot when I started pushing, which was either my body "handling it" or the epidural finally kicking in...but I could still feel contractions enough to know when I needed to push before the nurses would tell me one was coming. So I guess I don't really know, but I'm hoping for a more consistent (and less horrifying) experience this time ;) Hoping the same for you!
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  • jennifer_louisejennifer_louise member
    @L1C4gal As somebody who did experience lots of relief from an epi, I'd say if yours would have worked, you would have known 🤣. Also I noticed that pushing relieved a lot of pain too...I would love to have insight on that if anybody has any ideas why or if that's universal....
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  • thankfullyamamathankfullyamama member
    Getting an epidural was the one and only mistake I made with my first, I didn’t want one going into it and my midwife kind of convinced me because my labour was progressing super fast and she was afraid I was going to “rip into two” (I went from 2-8cm in 45min) llmao so the pain and the fear of that had me saying yes. As soon as it took effect I started to panic, I hated not feeling my legs or being able to move, I hated laying in the bed I just wanted to get back up and move around, I ended up turning it off and taking it out right away and then it was time to start pushing but I was still so numb I couldn’t really feel anything and it caused A LOT of pelvic floor trauma for me because I was pushing way too hard way too early. I am 100% NOT planning on getting one this time. I have nothing against them I just can’t stand not having full control over my body lol 

    @jennifer_louise @L1C4gal fun fact! pushing typically relieves the pain because babies head is past your pelvic outlet which is where/why we feel the most pain! Like getting them past our pubic bone! Also at that point usually focused on the pushing and not just letting the pan rock your body lol (former labour and delivery nurse)
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  • willrunforcookieswillrunforcookies member
    Not being able to move was definitely a downside like @thankfullyamama said, my nurse was awesome about monitoring my contractions and telling me when to breathe and when to push when I wasn't fully feeling them.  There are a lot of books on childbirth (Ina May gets recommended a lot), and I would look at birthing techniques and strategies to go on informed. There are courses more in-depth than the hospital courses, I need to look into those further now that it's starting to get real. 
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  • L1C4galL1C4gal member
    @thankfullyamama good to know! I remember asking my OB about this at one of my earlier appointments but couldn't remember his answer...your explanation makes perfect sense! I'm also sorry that your epidural experience was bad. Half of me wants to try without it since I essentially did last time, but...I don't think I can go through with it :D
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