Epidurals

[Singin4Him]

Is anyone else choosing an epidural? It seems like the majorty are not, I was curious if there was anyone who is?

 

[Leanna]

I bumped the thread where some said they were, and some not. I chose one for my first delivery but I didn't like what all it caused, that's all.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

I am.

 

[RoseofLima]

Somewhere around 90% of all American women choose epidural pain relief, so you are absolutely not alone in your desire!

I think there is nothing wrong at all with choosing that road....as long as you are truly free (not pressured, bullied, or had information withheld) when you are making that decision. In essence-- if it is right for you....do it!

 

[CarrieAg93]

With my first I wasn't planning to, but after 14 hrs of labor I jumped at the chance when they offered. I knew I would want one with my next child.

 

[jgonz]

I believe there is a time & a place for an epidural. If the mom is uneducated about childbirth, is not tolerating labor well and fighting contractions, or is exhausted from not being able to sleep (being in labor a long long time), then it's probably best to have an epidural so she can rest &/or relax and let her body birth the baby.

As long as the mother realizes that epidural meds WILL affect her baby (and most likely early breastfeeding), and she's aware of the potential issues associated with that, then it may be worth using the epidural.

There are different Varieties of epidurals, too, which isn't discussed much. You can ask for something called a "walking epidural", which is like a 1/2 dose, that you can literally still walk around with (although I don't know of a doctor who would let you, but that's what it's called ).
The benefit of this type is that you can still feel pressure, move your legs, change positions in the bed, and work with your body when the time comes to push.

There are also different meds that can go into the epidural, so that's something else to discuss with your doctor.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

i had one...i was induced so my contractions were hard and very frequent almost from the beginning, so once i reached 5 cm they offered and i took it. it allowed me to rest a little, altho for some odd reason it quit working near the end, they kept redosing me and all it was doing was making my left leg go numb..it hurt for anyone to touch it...and now i have back aches and head aches and before i got pregnant i hardly ever had a head ache, now they're quite frequent...but the anestheiologist will tell you everything.

 

[lin1235]

I don't plan to unless it's necessary. I mean, I'm not scheduling it in advance. It's my first baby, so I don't know what to expect, but I know my mom & grandma both gave birth REAL easy (my mom was born in the hospital foyer!) so at least there's a chance I won't need it!

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

I will probably have a c-section by maternal request when I have our children - and I am DEFINITELY having an epidural - I would even if I did end up going naturally.

I've worked up in Women's Theatres for 2 years now, and have yet to see any complications. Same with postoperative care - most women I know praise the things to high heaven!

Quite happy to use this means of pain relief.

Sasch

 

[Leanna]

I've worked up in Women's Theatres for 2 years now, and have yet to see any complications.

I guess it depends on what you call complications. If interventions are complications then it happens quite often, epidurals increase the chance you will get c sections and other interventions like pitocin (because epidurals slow labor), forceps, etc. And statistically the chances of complications are more often than you know, but its not something you see during labor its something that appears in post partum most often. My friend had a c section and thought it was the greatest thing in the world because she was going to have to wait through 8 hours of labor and instead she got it done. Well anyway I just had to reply to this because there are complications, even if you aren't seeing them because they appear later. Upon first glance and on my records I didn't have any complications with my epidural, but now I know better-- I had some, they just weren't major enough to note in medical books, but they were detrimental to me none the less. I realize lots of people are still going to choose epidurals, and I understand why , but you just have to have the facts.

 

[jazzbird]

I think message boards can create the perception that there are a lot of natural birthers because perhaps we just tend to be a bit more vocal about birth. For me, I have always found it so fascinating and miraculous. I love to read and learn about it, and now that I've actually experienced it, I feel even more passionately about it. It would make sense that those who have a passion for something would tend to participate in conversations about the topic more often.

As Rose said, the epideral rate in the US is 90%, and I believe there is another 5% who choose another form of relief (i.e. narcotics). So, you are certainly not alone in your choice.

 

[Cright]

As Rose said, the epideral rate in the US is 90%, and I believe there is another 5% who choose another form of relief (i.e. narcotics). So, you are certainly not alone in your choice.

Actually it's closer to 56% see page 19 of this site.

those states are from 2003 or 2004.

the percentages goes up to 85% (forgot the site, sorry) if you include ALL births including c-sections. It's much less if you are only including vaginal births...

of couse that number will increase again if you say "pain medication" that's closer to 90% +. This number includes IV drugs and such.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Actually, Leanna - I was talking about seeing the entire process - for both emergency/inducement and elective with epidurals. Most of my experience has been with people who have chosen to have epidurals over any other analgesia - and something I keep hearing is 'thank GOD I had that epidural'...

I've probably seen easily over 200 - and noone has come back with complaints.

As Jazz said - you'll find most 'natural' birthers are generally more vocal on birthing forums, so that's probably why you don't hear much from others.

If it's the 'norm' (which it is over here), you're less likely to get a lot of vocalisation over it - whereas when you DON'T use it, it's more reported.

Sasch

 

[Leanna]

Actually, Leanna - I was talking about seeing the entire process - for both emergency/inducement and elective with epidurals. Most of my experience has been with people who have chosen to have epidurals over any other analgesia - and something I keep hearing is 'thank GOD I had that epidural'...

I was speaking of after it wears off, not during the process.

 

[ufonium2]

I decided to get one halfway through labor, and it ended up being a good move because i had to have an emergency c-section (i was bleeding internally and had been for days, so the epidural didn't cause it) and since the epidural catheder was already in, they could do local anesthesia instead of the full anesthesia they have to do with emergency c-sections. So I got to be concious for the birth, which was nice.

 

[jazzbird]

Actually it's closer to 56% see page 19 of this site.

those states are from 2003 or 2004.

the percentages goes up to 85% (forgot the site, sorry) if you include ALL births including c-sections. It's much less if you are only including vaginal births...

of couse that number will increase again if you say "pain medication" that's closer to 90% +. This number includes IV drugs and such.

That report is from Ontario, so yes, if you take into account North America in general, the rate isn't as high. Jonas is fussing, so Ill come back later to post a statistic of epidural use in the US.

 

[Leanna]

I'm thinking its 75 to 85 percent....

 

[ChristusG]

There is nooooo way I would do it without an epidural. I am a sissy when it comes to pain LOL! I had an epi with my first and I will definitely do it again. For me, I see no reason to go through unnecessary pain. I know that some people feel like they dont get the "full birth experience." I have noooo issues with that LOL! I carried that baby in my tummy for 9 long months.....I have no desire for any "full birth experience" LOL.

 

[ChristusG]

Oh, I just wanted to add that sometimes epidurals actually help labor. I was dialted to 3cm and not progressing. I asked for an epidural because I was starting to feel the contractions, and my OB was actually just about to suggest that I get one anyways in order to relax me and help me to progress further along. It worked and I began dialating more.

I actually know quite a few people this has happened to.

 

[LJSGM]

I didn't get an epideral for either of my two baby boys. So many people are scared of pain, but I personally don't think it was "painful" at all. There was a lot of pressure, that's what I would call it, so much pressure that sometimes you think it's pain, but it's not really (to me anyways), and after you start pushing, that sort of pain goes away and the only pain left is when the head comes out which only lasts a minute or so... I thought it was great experiencing the whole thing, I look on it with fond memories.