Epidural Question!!!

[Harley-girl]

I know I am a long way off from delivery but my doctor has already approached me re: pain mgmt. I have opted for an epidural. Are any of you going to do an epidural as well? For those that have had one before I am scared!!! Does it hurt going in???    Thanks Ladies you are the best!!!!  (((((hugs))))))

[markysmom]

I was going to have an ep...but I ended up w/ a c section and had the choice btw the ep and spinal. I had the spinal done. Hurt like HELL going in, the dumb jerk missed the spot and had to jam it in the second time....but once it kicked in. I felt fine.
It was just a pinch and a hard push for the spinal....
I was told eps are very similar. it's fast...so you should be fine.

[sam2]

I've had 3 epidurals (2 with my girls) and one with my d&C.  It doesn't hurt more than a normal needle, just the cold antiseptic they put on  your back feels really awful.  Contractions hurt a hell of bunch more than the epidural will.  The hard part is just staying still to get it in during active labor.  I tried both times to do it all natural, don't go there.  Epidural is the way to go.  Also, one more thing, don't do Demerol.  I did that with the first, I was in so much pain and so high, I was telling my husband to clean out his mothers pocketbook.  When you are in that much pain, no one needs to be on drugs.

[ima1]

By the time they will give you the epidural, you will be in so much pain form the contractions you wont even notice it going in:):)  Good luck and dont worry, it will be fine.

[Debbie@38]

I had an Epidural with my DD and glad I did.  My plan was to go natural, I have studied martial arts for years and they teach you to put the pain somewhere else and how to stay focused.  Well honey... when those contractions started I went as far as I could which was 7cm and my doctor told me if I was going to get the ep, I needed to do it NOW, so I chicked out and got it, but very glad I did.  My contractions were so bad they were doing my Ep when I was having a contractions and I didn't even feel a thing.  I was lucky I only pushed for 15 minutes.

[babe4me]

I agree with the above posters.  The epidural is definitely less painful than the contractions.  In fact, I don't even remember the pain from the epidural only how good I felt afterwards.  I have a very low tolerence for pain so I had 3 shots of demerol before the epidural and I can tell you that after the first shot the demerol it did not do any good.  The only negative things I can say about he epidural is that I could not feel where to push so it made it more difficult for me to push the baby out (although when threatened with a C-Section somehow I managed to get the job done :)  ) and the second bad thing is that ever since I gave birth over 5 years ago I have pains in my back that I never had before when I have to bend for extended periods of time so I believe that it had something to do with it.  Overall, however, I must say that I don't think I could have done it without the epidural.  Good Luck!

[dylansmommy]

i didnt find that bad . i slept well in labor for 1 and a half hours when i woke up i had to push which only took 17 mins . i think i will do the ep. again this time around .


good luck amanda

[pearl451]

I thought it was the greatest thing on earth. I didn't feel a thing when it went in & it actually made labor easier. I felt like I really got to enjoy pushing my DD out without having to fight the pain. Some people can do it, some can't. I have a high pain tolerance but let me tell you, some of those contractions are enough to send you over the edge! A friend told me when i first thought about not having any drugs , Try it natural, just remember no one is waiting outside the delivery room with a metal saying "I had no drugs"!

[Harley-girl]

I love all of your stories and you have really set my mind at ease. Thank You.
When is the epidural removed? Immed after delivery??? Also did it delay any of your deliveries? I know some mentioned that you had more trouble pushing since the area was nice and numb.

[froggies1]

I got an epidural around 6:15am after 4 hours of horrible labor and then delivered my DD at 8:00am and I felt everything.  I think I was too far dialted by that time. So they gave me a local so I wouldn't feel them stitch me up.  OUCH.  I don't remember when they took it out though.  I will get an epidural this time around hopefully I can enjoy this delivery not like the first time.

[girlybuff]

I'm 33 weeks today and I told my doctor from day one not to be afraid of the epidural.
I've suffered from a herniated disc for years and have had them before for back pain but the one they give for labor is a little different.
I have never had a child before so I don't really know what I'm talking about but I do know that I have heard labor pain is a million times worse than any needle and that it works, so go for it, I AM!

[stephd]

I had an epidural and it was the greatest thing.  I couldnt wait to get mine.  But then in the end I ended up having a C-section anyway so I dont know about the pushing aspect of it.  I didnt feel a thing when they were doing mine other than a small pinch when they did the local first.  After that it was smooth sailing.  I would definately do it again though if I had the chance.  I will have another C-section this go around (my dr. said there is no reason to lay in labor again cause I will never have a natural birth.)  Its just not possible.  So I dont know if I will opt for the epidural or the spinal.  They are pretty much the same thing I think.  I dont know.  Anyway - that is my story.  I think it is removed after delivery.  They give you so much medicine before hand and then stop giving it to you.  I cant really remember when mine was removed.  I remember getting my catheter (urine) removed...that was awful!!  Good luck to you Harley!!  You will be fine!

[markysmom]

I was just wondering why they told you that. Mine told me the same thing.....( one of the nurses said it was because I was short and fat) she said this while i was still in the hospital in pain. Can you believe she actually said that to me??
I wanted to wail her!

[stephd]

HOW RUDE of that nurse to say that to you.  I would have been so pissed.  Anyway she said that my pelvis is too narrow, this is why I didnt dilate fully with DS.  I got to 6cm and stopped after laying for 17.5 hours!!  but that is her reasoning!  i dont know why my previous dr. didnt catch that but whatever!!

[markysmom]

UGH!  I laid for a whole day. Had 3 gels and all that other ****....blek. Didn't even get to 1cm.
I just don't think I was ready...and if they would have waited He would have come out sooner or later. I was 2 weeks early and they just haaaaad to induce me. It was the second time they tried- the week before nothing happened either.  So I was just ready to get it over with by then.

[mgi]

I loved labor and delivery after the epidural

my experience getting it was awful though.  she missed the forst time.  teh second time she hit a central nerve so my legs were spasming all over - it was a horrible ten or so minutes - I mean horrible - BUT  I would take those horrible ten minutes for the hours of blessed nothingness afterward!

[ni-ki]

i had an epidural and it didn't hurt at all wasn't scared because i knew it couldn't hurt as bad as the contractions haha but the crazy thing is the epidural numbed my whole right side from the waist down the left side was ok.... didn't feel any contractions which was awesome but when it was time from my son to come out it hurt like hell i don't think the epidural worked for me as far as that aspect went..

i think all the women out there who do it 100% naturally are my heros LOL i could never do it naturally.

[sam2]

I was told it would help speed up the delivery process as it helps your body to relax and then you dialate easier.  With my first I heard the same thing and waited until I was ready to die before I had the epidural and once I had that I dialated really fast.

[luv_babies]

Sorry to bust in on your post Kelly but I have another question. Is anyone allergic to morphine and had an ep?

[Harley-girl]

Good question. I itch like crazy from Morphine but I guess that is a normal side effect for most people.

[luv_babies]

I get VERY sick from it. After my D&C the nurse gave me some and I was stuck in that hospital until 6pm (D&C was at 9:30am) Everytime I moved I would puke (happens everytime I get it). Nurse had to give me two shots in my IV for nausea before I thought I would survive the 20min ride home. Horrible. I would rather be in the pain!

[Harley-girl]

You would think that after me having 9 tattoos I would not be so freaked out by needles but I am!! LOL
I am def getting the epidural. Thanks ladies!!!

[AndiJ78]

During labor with my first, before the epidural I was given Stadol (oh bless that stuff!!!) my epidural experiences were hit and miss, the first one worked great for my long labor, but when it came time to deliver, I had some issues. With my second I got the epidural, didn't know it wasn't continuous drip, so therefor never redosed after the initial shot. Which worked to my benefit with the way the labor went, I was able to feel every little thing, work with it and get my troubled baby out ASAP.

Now, one thing I feel very strongly about is first time moms who get pushed into going natural, whether it be from family, friends, or some sort of distorted perception from society that makes a woman think she is less of a mom for taking the pain meds. Horse poo! Labor is nothing like you have ever felt before or will ever feel again (unless you have more children of course) Always keep an open mind going into it. Given the long labor with my first, I know I would have been miserable without it, I was literally thanking everyone after it was placed!! I felt so much better!

Having been through this labor and delivery thing a couple times now, one with the epi, one without the benefits of it, I plan on getting it placed, but not dosed. I want one in just in case something goes south (which each of my boys I wass literally on my last push before a crash c-section) I really do want it all set and ready to go to avoid wasting time or risking general.

Anyway, keep an open mind. I was actually joking to a friend the other day that i almost think it should be policy for first time moms to not go natural : ) Oftentimes I think it is pressure from outside sources that makes them make that they have to go natural. Or that they really do think they are failling themselves or their baby if they get some help. trust me, you want to remember that time and the time when I was blinded by pain is a blur, but the time when the pain was controlled are crisp and clear.

Andi

[adrianas_mama]

Myself I could have done eithout the damn epidural! lol It was more a pain than help but I don't think itd be that way for everyone. I was dilated to a 5-6 when I got mine, and it never fully kicked it. I felt everthing! They told me to just give it time, I would be able to sleep for a little while, no baby tonight! (It was about 11:30pm) My contractions were so intense at that point, it didn't hurt at all when they stuck the needle in. Just a quick pinch. The hardest thing to do was sit still while having the contractions and arching my back. I was persuaded to have the epidural anyway, I was feeling so miserable but I was coping, and my doctor came in and asked if I wanted it. I was sitting on the toilet at the time (it made me feel better) and when he asked I was just like, Ahhh! I DONT KNOW! lol So my doc just yelled at me IF youre in pain, get the damn thing! lol So in my weak state, I caved. My advice would be to not loet anyone make you do something youre not sure about. And it did not slow my labor down at all, I had the shot at around 11:30, and I popped out my 8 and a half pound baby girl at 12:39! Felt every last centimeter of that tear I got from her, too.

[LyndaH]

I had epidural with all 3 kids and I didn't regret it. Each person's experience is different, mind you. But I plan on doing it again. :)

[Morgan277]

LOVED the epidural!  I really tried without but with the pitocin kicking in, I didnt even have a breather- there was no rest between contractions!  I was nervous getting it- something put into my spine but so glad I did.  I worked tremendously and I was able to concentrate on pushing and was completely coherent while doing so.  Good Luck!

[JJety]

Epidural = heaven.  

I have absolutely no regrets and will get one again.  Compared to the pain of labor it's nothing to get a small ***** of numbing medicine, and they absolutely do not show you the needle.  You'll take anything compared to the pain of contractions.  

They turn it off (or take it out, can't remember!) right after delivery so that you can get up and walk shortly thereafter.

Good luck!