Epidural or no epidural?

[TamberlyAna]

I am still contemplating this. I have read all the good points and bad points, but I am still unsure. For those of you who have been pregnant before...what did you do? And for those of you who are first timers, like me, what are you planning to do?

 

[CruciFixed]

I couldn't handle the intense pain when I was in labor but I didn't get the epidural until I was 8cm because I labored so fast. I will let you know if done right the epidural can be a blessing, though it can have its side effects that you may not enjoy. They are all temporary. For me I had my ankles swollen to the size of truck tires (not literally) and couldn't walk for the first 8 hours after giving birth.

Other than that I didn't feel a thing. I was coached on when to push and it really felt good. Contractions for me felt like someone was inside of me and they put my uterus into a fire and squeezed it. I can't even begin to explain that to someone who's never felt labor pains before but on a pain scale of 1-10 10 being the worst I've ever felt I'd give it a good 10. I am NOT trying to scare you. Some women have barely any pain and don't even need the epi. I needed it and the pain wasn't even really that bad until about 6cm anyway. If you can get to 8cm without the epi its likely you will deliver without it. I got to 8 and I am a rare case where I didn't care if I only had 2cm left I wanted the epi, BAD. I think if I could have managed my pain a tad better I would have gone naturally because having no pain or feeling while in labor meant having to be coached on when to push and it caused me to tear. The epi didn't cause me to tear the coaching on when to push did.

Overall I had a good experience with the epidural. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

 

[Birbitt]

With my first child I had the epi about 40+ hours after I first go to the hospital. My first labor was induced and the contractions were INTENSE I couldn't take it anymore after 40+ hours and no baby I wanted relief so that I could at least TRY to rest so I'd be able to push. So I got my epidural and thought finally I can rest a bit...nope no rest because then my baby started showing signs of distress so they put me on my side and my epi went to one side and was basically useless.

With my second child I got an epidural because my labor came on so fast and it was very strong the epi was great worked fine had my son no problems....until the next day when I had back pain like I had never had before and it lasted over a week! I was told that was sometimes a side effect of an epi and that I could take some motrin for pain. Though I really couldn't take the motrin as often as the dr said to because I was busy caring for my newborn baby and I didn't like taking meds when I was home alone with my new baby.

Now I'm preggers again and this time I'm going to make every possible effort to not get an epi...I'm thinking that if the pain gets too bad I'll just ask for some pain meds but no epi. I just don't feel like risking back pains again this time as I already have back problems enough.

 

[TamberlyAna]

You both make wonderful points! Thank you so much for all your help. As far as getting the epidural....does that procedure hurt? Ive seen pictures of it being done..a needle in the bottom of your spine? Probably a stupid thing to be worrying about, but I hate any form of pain which is why I am considering the epidural in the first place.

 

[JayCeeGirl]

They'll numb your back up really well before they give you the epi. Mine didn't hurt at all. Mine also didn't take either, though. My legs got numb and that was it. We tried again, too, and still the same result. If I have another baby I don't think I am going to bother with it. It didn't take because of the shape of my back. I have significant scoliosis and I guess the curve gets really tight right where the epi needs to be, so it didn't fit very well.

I wouldn't worry too much right now. You may plan not to have one and change your mind, or you plan to have one and find that you don't really need it.

 

[overit]

Well I had an epi both times...but didn't want it the second time.

First time I labored almost 20hrs w/out one...and was so exhausted and in pain that i was "fighting" the labor-once I had the epi I relaxed and dilated fully and avoided a c-section...I was around 6-7 cm when I got it.

The second time I wanted to go natural-but my exh wasn't supportive, wouldn't coach and wasn't there 90% of my labor time....when he finally got there he didnt' want to help me through it-I got it again around 6-7cms...

Personally the headache was awful afterwards, I would have rathered been able to walk around and would have loved to go w/out it...the needle itself hut like HECK the first time mostly. The majority of pain comes because of HOW we labor now-many inductions, interventions, constant checking of cervix and bad positions...if you labor mostly at home and on all fours and use normal birthing positions it should really help.

If I had any more children it would be a drug free birth, at home with a midwife and possibly hypnobirthing exercises

Oh, and btw...I was able to push very well both times-first time it took over an hr pushing though...second time he was out in two pushes-I still felt the urge to push strongly and did very well w/little coaching.

 

[Leanna]

Read about it on wikipedia! Its scary to think how many don't work and the very real side effects. I had one this last time and it was one of the scariest experiences of my life.... I actually started crying "I don't want to die...." and it hurt like the dickens and then didn't properly work from what I have been told-- my legs were tingly and hurt and I wouldn't let anyone touch them.

 

[TamberlyAna]

Whewww. I guess I still have a LOT to contemplate..and even when I do have my mind made up, I might change it once I am in the labor room. You guys have been a great help though! Any other opinions would be great.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

Let me preface this by telling you I'm the biggest pain wimp out there...but I had 3 med free births. My first birth was ok, my second was excrutiating and my third was wonderful. What made me go natural the first time is that I thought the epidural and potential higher complication risk seemed more painful than just dealing with the labor and delivery so ironically the fear of pain made me go med free My advice is to read up on labor and delivery and learn the emotional sign posts and mentally prepare. If you are well prepared I would say that counts for 90% of getting through labor and delivery. One of the reasons that I believe my second birth was so painful was because I was not in a good place mentally for his birth. Many women these days are brought up with the idea that they need the epidural so don't give themselves a fighting chance at going natural.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Epidural, I think I would have went insane without it lol

 

[angelsgirl]

There was no way i was going to have an epi during my labour with Madeleine. But that all changes after 2 days of labour... I was screaming for one. It was pure bliss after it had gone in. I had no complications from it at all.
My dr kept telling me to wait a little longer... I was at 7 cm and he thought I'd be close to delivering within a few hours so he wanted to hold me off. 3 hours later I was still at 7cm and Madeleine was stuck. I got the epi, then about 2 hours later I had her via c-section. She was SO stuck. Poor little thing.

But next time, I won't go in asking for one, but I won't rule one out either.

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

my mindset was, the epidural is there if I need it - but if everything is going naturally and normally... well... women have been doing it for years without epidurals! I was scared of the whole 'needle in the spine' thing too, so I suppose I was more scared of the epi than of the 'normal, natural pain' that comes with birthing a baby...

I had two natural births with gas as pain relief. I needed a spinal tap after my second birth because of placental complications but I had no complications from the actual spinal tap and the needle in the spine didn't hurt at all...

So, I am thankful that I live in a good country where there is plenty of medical help if I need it, but I'll always prefer to go as naturally as possible...

 

[greenie]

my mindset was, the epidural is there if I need it - but if everything is going naturally and normally... well... women have been doing it for years without epidurals!

I think this is a really wise mindset. I was quite similar, in that, I go into all my labours with an open mind and the realisation that if I -need- pain relief, I will have it.
I'm also a huge believer in praying specifically about the kind of birth you would like. I've been fortunate enough to have 2 short labours (DS 6 hours, DD 3 hours) and both were totally drug free.
Often it's the fear of the pain that can make it more painful for us, read up as much as you can on different forms of pain relief (including natural forms) and different positions to labour in. I gave birth to both my kids standing up and I highly recommend it!!!!
The other thing to remember, is that you are NOT a failure if you do have an epidural or any other form of pain relief.
While I totally support natural drug free births, I know that not everyone has short labours like mine! And the worst thing we can do, as women, is feel guilty for the choices we've made in terms of how we handle pain etc.

 

[Hadassah]

I'm with Leanna and MrsA2J.

I have back issues anyway, and the thoughts of complications, adverse affects, difficulties breastfeeding after.. you name it.. it wasn't worth it. Plus I hate needles and there is no way I'm getting anything spinal done again if I can help it. (I had a spinal tap as a baby and am still scared of needles. They would not allow my parents to be there)

I had a mostly medication free birth. The only medication I had was to slow my contractions, they were less than 1 minute apart. For some reason it didn't work though.

On a pain scale of 1-10, I stayed around a 6 or 7. I usually have pain of a 10 during menses so.. I totally rode those waves when I could.

 

[TamberlyAna]

I think this is a really wise mindset. I was quite similar, in that, I go into all my labours with an open mind and the realisation that if I -need- pain relief, I will have it.
I'm also a huge believer in praying specifically about the kind of birth you would like. I've been fortunate enough to have 2 short labours (DS 6 hours, DD 3 hours) and both were totally drug free.
Often it's the fear of the pain that can make it more painful for us, read up as much as you can on different forms of pain relief (including natural forms) and different positions to labour in. I gave birth to both my kids standing up and I highly recommend it!!!!
The other thing to remember, is that you are NOT a failure if you do have an epidural or any other form of pain relief.
While I totally support natural drug free births, I know that not everyone has short labours like mine! And the worst thing we can do, as women, is feel guilty for the choices we've made in terms of how we handle pain etc.

Very well said! Thank you all so much for your wonderful advice

And RLunatic, your baby is beautiful!

 

[seamonster]

I think that you are the only one who knows what your body can handle and you're the only one who knows if you need the epidural.

I'm concerned about side effects so I refused one while in labor with my son. I ended up with a lot of complications and a c-section, so I did have a spinal block and FWIW had no complications from it or problems with nursing my son immediately.

With this baby, I'm hoping to avoid an epidural again, but I'm not anti-pain medicine. I'd rather have IV drugs if I need them than going straight for the epi

 

[Leanna]

I tend to believe that if you go into labor prepared and determined for a natural birth you are more likely to have one, unless there are unexpected complications. If you go in with the mindset to see how it feels and then decide, you will get an epidural. I see it all the time.

 

[gracepaints]

Honestly, I think you have to BELIEVE that an unmedicated birth is better for you and the baby to successfully and voluntarily go without pain meds. Birth is a super intense overwhelming experience. If you don't have the force of conviction that going unmedicated is important to you then when the going gets tough, you will ask for an epidural because you aren't really convinced that there is a compelling reason not to.

If you are truly interested in researching whether or not there are reasons to commit to going unmedicated over getting an epi, I suggest doing some reading. Start with the Dr. Sears Birth Book and then maybe move on to Henci Goer's Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Both give compelling arguements in favor of unmedicated birth and explain the risks of epidurals.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I tend to believe that if you go into labor prepared and determined for a natural birth you are more likely to have one, unless there are unexpected complications. If you go in with the mindset to see how it feels and then decide, you will get an epidural. I see it all the time.

Honestly, I think you have the BELIEVE that an unmedicated birth is better for you and the baby to successfully and voluntarily go without pain meds. Birth is a super intense overwhelming experience. If you don't have the force of conviction that going unmedicated is important to you then when the going gets tough, you will ask for an epidural because you aren't really convinced that there is a compelling reason not to.

If you are truly interested in researching whether or not there are reasons to commit to going unmedicated over getting an epi, I suggest doing some reading. Start with the Dr. Sears Birth Book and then maybe move on to Henci Goer's Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Both give compelling arguements in favor of unmedicated birth and explain the risks of epidurals.

I totally agree with these posts.

 

[gracepaints]

ulkkmmmmmmmmmm,mmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

- sorry, baby posted! LOL