Epidural a good idea afterall?

[Marisa14]

I just have a question for all new mommies out there...how many of you had the epidural?
My son just turned 7 months and i had the epidural with him because i was in labor for 29 hours...BUT, i am having really bad back pain and especially when i wake up in the morning and i've been sleeping on my stomach...i can't even move.
I'm thinking now that maybe the epidural wasn't that great of an idea...i know it helps with the pain but i think for my next child i'm not going to have it (lets hope its not another 29 hours) but i'm just cope with the pain...sometimes i can't even pick up my son because my back hurts so much.
Anyone else out there feel like this too?

[CYW]

when i got my epidural the anestisiologist sp? said 1 of 3 things would/could happen...1..it doesnt work...2. migraines and 3 back pains but would eventually go away...i had back pains for about 3 weeks due to the huge bruise that was left in my back...i still get some slight back pains but totally not even close to where my epi was at...

[Avanaar]

I haven't had an epidural (this is my first child), but before reading this, I hadn't wanted an epidural.  Now, after reading that a lot of you have had instances of back pain and headaches, I *really* don't want one!!  lol

Whatever you choose tho is your personal decision.  No one is going to judge you or make fun of you for choosing to go natural or go with an epidural.  

[ashiepooh]

I haven't read through all these posts I got through a few,. and one says their sil had a shot in her back to help with the pain!

It's called a steroid shot into the discs.  I have herniated discs in my lower back, never had an epideral cause my labors are too quick, but i've had the steriod shots, it's really cortizone is what they shoot into your spin.  It's awesome.  But not during labor!  I don't think even if I want an epidural that I could have one.  

However, if you believe you can get through labor without one, I highly reccomend it!  Just focus on breathing and it's an unbelievable experience!  I would say to focus on breathing it helped me!

I was told by my back doctor that, the pain most women feel after wards it due to pinched nerves from the epideral.  Can't really fix it, unless you go to a physical therapist and have them work on you and show you some stretches that should move it!

[KM604]

I am due in February and have decided I do not want an epidural.  A friend of mine had it done and they injected it wrong so had to do it a second time.  Aparently she was almost paralized because of it.  Her daughter also shook for about 2 weeks, which was an effect of the epidural.  My friend also had bad headaches for a bit after also.  Now on the other hand my sister-in-law had it done and absolutly loved it and had no problems herself nor did her baby.  I just worry about what could go wrong and I know the chances are like 1 in a million of becoming paralyzed, but I just don't think it's worth it.  I know there are some medicines they can give you to help with the pain, which I plan on talking with my doctor about those options.  I kind of look at the pain as being part of the child birth process, then again I may think again when I'm in labor, LOL!  But I am going into the whole thing not wanting one and I will do my best to truck my way through the pain.

[misslollipop]

I still have back pain from my epi, I would have liked to go without but ended up giving in, Next time i have a baby i would opt not to have a epi but if i can't handle it then i will again also depending on what possie the baby is in to. Alos after  epi went in i was all itchy and shivering from the medication used in the epidural, do what ever you can cope with

[pinkbelle]

I had an epi and the guy missed the first time but got it in the second time and thank gawd he did what a relief! but i do occasionally get back pains from it and the day after labor i broke out into a huge rash and my face got swollen and itchy but I'd still get it again.. labor pain was unbareable

[pmperez]

Ive heard of to many bad experiences with them, I dont have any personally but Im getting ready to have my baby anytime now and I will try my hardest not to get one.....my doula told me one of the main things to remember is dont let the doctors break your water or try to induce you unless medically neccessary because that can cause labor to me much worse than if you do things on your own...not to say it wont hurt offcourse its gonna hurt

[diela]

i had bad experoence during epidural administration where the anesthetist had to do it 3 times. First time,the needle went sraight into my vein causing me to bleed from the epudural port. 2nd time, the epidural was blocked and they had to do it again. 3rd time went in well but i was shaking from head to toe after the epidural kicked in. My blood pressure drops and they could not regulate it that led to fetal distress. My baby,s heart beat drop to 86 from 130-150 range where they hv tp do emergency c-section. For the c-section,they put me off to sleep since baby and myself could not tolerate well to epidural. After surgery, i hv bad back ache for 4-5 days in the 2nd week that i blamed on bad posture and not epidural. Once i correct my posture during sleeping,standing and sleeping, the backache is gone and never comes back. Despite the epidural,my c-section recovery went very smoothly. I managed to go shopping and do all my house chores 3 days after rhe surgery. In 2 weeks time ifully recovered. Next pregnancy i will opt for elective c-section with general anesthesia (put to sleep). There is no way i wanna put myself in 30hours labour again and big no-no to epidural.

[babyscience]

I will not get one again.  I have had back pain too.  Mainly if I lean back on something.  When I got it, it hurt like h ell!  It felt like a shock going up my whole spine...so obviously he hit it going in.  I have had really bad headaches too and I am now wondering if it is from the epidural.  I also had it turned off on me and I felt the entire birth, so I only had comfort for about 2 1/2 hours out of 22 hrs....so yeah I think I can handle a unmedicated birth next time!

[GRose]

I was really nervous about having an epidural because of stories like this, my neighbor and my sister had horrible migraines after theirs. Thank God I was lucky enough to have the head of anesthesia do mine. I thankfully did not have any back pain or headaches. I am so sorry that all of you have had problems with it.

[cindin]

I have had 3 epidurals and I had pain in my back for a couple of months after the first.  The other two were just fine.  I have heard that you could get severe headaches and pain.  My sister-in-law had to go in and they did some type of injection where she had the epidural, that really helped her.  Having an epidural agian...well that is a very personal question and it is up to you.  I would rather have the epidural then the pain during labor. With my First they turned off the epidural so I could push at the end and it was awful for me. I had wonderful experiences with the birth of my other two.  I am going to have my fourth in Dec. and I am having another epidural. I would also talk to your doc. about your pain in your back. I hope you feel better.

[Marisa14]

I think that next time around i'm just gonna go natural...are you ok from your fall?
What the heck did you do?
I just want to let you know that i was looking at the pics of your son and he is absolutely gorgeous.....he is so precious.

[martikadragoon]

I had a Spinal for my csection.  it worked just fine. however the day after bringing him home from the hospital I fell on the stairs by myself and hit my back and had to get xrays. I found out I've got scoliosis, ARTHRITIS (i'm 21 freaking yrs old!) and weak bones and disks.

[Marisa14]

Sometimes the pain is unbearable....sorry for your loss.
Are you expecting again?

[tarrah87]

i lost twins at 21 wks in march and i had a spinal and an epidural due to a minor operation they tried to do b4 i went into labor and have back problems since then as well.