Epidurals

Hi ladies,
Just wondering if some of you could shed some light on what an epidural feels like. I had a spinal epidural for Myah (c-section), but am now opting for vbac. Yesterday, my Dr told me that one of the key things to watch for is pain around my scar, which might indicate uterine stress, at which point they would rush me to an emergency section.
My question is this: I intend on an epidural for pain, and am now wondering-would I not be able to feel scar pain if I was to have an epidural? Because I have never had this kind of pain relief, I'm not sure where the numbing/pain relief actually is. Sounds stupid, but I guess the only stupid question is the one you don't ask, right? :)
I don't want to opt out of an epidural, but I want to be able to monitor my own scar if that is important as my Dr made it sound. I know they will monitor me in other ways as well, but I guess I am the best judge of how my scar is reacting.
Any comments are greatly appreciated-thanks everyone!

[Myah's Mom]

Hi guys,
Should have done a little research before I posed the question, hey? Just found these 2 useful links, if anyone else is VBAC'ing and interested:

www.storknet.com/cubbies/vbac/exwc4.htm

www.storknet.com/cubbies/vbac/exns5.htm

[Clarter]

Doesn't seem as if you would be able to feel scar pain if you had an epidural.  My first child I felt nothing.  My second child, I had to have two, becasue the first did not take.  But once it took, I felt nothing.  It doesn't make sense for you to have to monitor that if you have an epidural, unless doctor is talking about pain around the scar prior to the epidural.  Good luck!

[Christie2004]

Just saw your news that the baby TURNED!!!!  I have goosebumps!  

In my opinion--an epidural won't "mask" the pain of a rupture, nor is it as important as you were led to believe to be super vigilant about pain in that area.  Pregnant women and laboring women (even if no previous C/S) frequently have pain there.  How much pain is too much?  How much is normal, how much is dangerous?  There is no way to know that, so it pretty much renders the nebulous term "scar pain" useless.

The ONE AND ONLY rupture I have ever seen that had severe clinical importance was made extremely obvious by the plumeting fetal heart rate and the huge bulge that appeared over this womans desperately rigid abdomen.  She had had 3 sections and was attempting a VBAC--her doctor had tried to discourage her but she simply wouldn't agree to a section.  

Rupture after only one C/Section---it probably does happen, but I've never, ever seen it.  Most doctors will agree that barring some unforseen  or unknown situation, your risk of rupture is almost as low as that of a woman with an unscarred uterus.  Almost doesn't mean you can ignore the slight risk, but if something bad happens, you can be assured you will know it, epidural or not.  You will be monitored continuously, and that is probably the most important safeguard you can have.

We do epidurals routinely for VBACs.  Not a problem.  I'm thrilled for you!  Like you said, if it turns out labor is prolonged in some way, if things don't look promising after laboring for a while you can always change your mind.  Labor is hard work though, and won't be any walk in the park, epidural or not.  Don't put a time limit on it until you have entered active labor(more than 4 cms)--I see lots of Vbacing women get discouraged with a long prodromal labor and opt out just to get it over with.

There isn't anything, really (outside of sex) that will get that baby going.  And sex isn't going to do it if your body isn't ready.  Stay fit, get lots of rest, eat well, and have a positive attitude.  

Great news about the baby turning!

[boycrazy]

Boy I sure do believe everything happens for a reason and I am glad you and your dh were not there in London.  I do believe though, until we (United States) get our act together about our own citizens who commit crimes (i.e. the sex offender in Idaho who took those kids and murdered the boy and now maybe the whole family) and give them the punishment they deserve from the first offense, we are dealing with an up hill battle.  We need to show other countries where these people are coming from who commit these horrific crimes that we will not tolerate it from our own citizens nor from any one else.  This guy in Idaho should have been executed long ago! We are dealing with some real sicko's these days in this world and I am just tired of our justice system. I am gonna write my congressman a letter and I would encourage all of you to do the same about these criminals who get off so easily.  God bless us all.

[blondie72]

Not that I have EVER thought otherwise though (about God)

Ok my DH just informed me that either he or we were SUPPOSE to be in London this week.  His high school band was invited there to do a performance and he was suppose to be there this week visiting and getting the final arrangements made.  How scary to think that he could have easily been on the bus or subway that was attacked.  He was unable to go because his Superintendant of Schools would not allow the trip (this is what I mean about everything happening for a reason).  I just wish we could end all this terrorism **** and just have a peaceful world.  Well I just thought I would share that scary story.    Hope everyone is having a good day

[mixy]

well my epidural story ...ok i whent into labor at 12pm and by 1pm i was on demarol ...water had broke way before like at 11:30am and i was bleeding a lil ...i was dilated 2cm .when the first shot of epidural ws giving i quickly when to 5 ..the epidural is uncomftable cause you cant move and you got a beach ball inbetween your legs .so it hard to stay still ....i did not feel a thing my husband sys it a huge neddle ok i did not feel a thing ,,,what i did feel is comfort from minute 2 cause minute one is weird you lose the feeling to your legs scary ...but then you move your toes and it all gone ....now labor became weird cause i had no more pain ...at all i was now 5 they said i was like ok ....my friends and family where int he room and more thatn a labor it was a get together i had no pain the monitor ws reading strong contraction and i felt nothing ///then at 5pm the medicine started to wear off cause i woke in pain and i ws not feeling the whole pain but more like an edge i called the nurse and told them ...they said ok we will add dose 2 ok from 5pm till 8pm 3 hours of no drug only alil demorol ...i was goin crazy ...i felt the real thing ....then the lady cam ein and refilled me ...at 8:05pm

and the unthinkable happened .due to the relaxation of the epidural ...i jumped from 5-10 cm this felt crazy the baby just drop the monitor was reading awful contractions i felt nothing ....i was so numb that to push i had to ask my husband to tell me squesse my hand when you see my belly contract ....18 minutes into pushing without feeling a thing ...he was out ...so to me the epidural is god .......

[Myah's Mom]

Christie-thanks so much for your support and advice. I am thrilled-dh is a little nervous, but he'll survive:)
Thanks for your comforting words about the actual rate of uterine rupture, too. My ob-gyn is really prone to trying to scare me witless. I suspect she has seen something terrible, and she therefore feels obligated to caution me, which I respect.
However, I am young and healthy with a tight 2 year old scar. My family Dr, who will be delivering, feels absolutely confident that I am a textbook example of a vbac waiting to happen, so I am going for it!
Just hope that I don't drag on too long into (or after-eek!) next week, which we would be a bit of a kick in the teeth, knowing I could have met my baby on Monday....
I totally agree with you about the epidural business-seems like the scar pain is really neither here nor there in the grand scheme of monitoring things.....
Just praying for a safe delivery of a healthy baby.

Blondie72-Also glad to hear you guys weren't in London after all. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways, doesn't he?