Epidural or no?

[WestIndianMama2b]

Im wondering what u ladies are planning on doing. This is my first baby but there is no way I will use epidural or spinal block. Ive researched the topic alot and the risks are so great. And I saw the study said only 67 out of a thousand women have adverse reactions/problems but im not interested in being number 66! Im interested in getting a midwife and trying for a natural birth but will do systemic drugs if I feel unable to deal. I wonder do any of u feel that epidurals are accepted by women without being fully aware of the risks? Or that hospitals shouldnt b so quick to give them out? Or do you think there is no prob?

[WestIndianMama2b]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience.

[WestIndianMama2b]

I understand that the odds appear small, but that means that out of every 1000 women on this page, 67 of us would have issues if we all had an epi. I know it would be easier for you to have one seeing as you had a previous positive experience, but the risks are still very high and imo not worth it. I agree that women do CVS, and Amniocentesis, without knowing the odds or even fully understanding the procedure. However I'm not getting any of those tests. Doctors don't really explain to women that these tests are optional and that there is not much you can do about the results anyway, except have an abortion if you find out something that might b bad, that is i you don't miscarry. I took a genetic counseling class,where the cheif ob at the hospital expain in depth each procedure, and the risks and then help you pick a strategy for childbirth. More women should take more classes like that and be more educated about what is going on with their bodies.

[Ashelen]

No I think people realize that they might be in that small percent, but you can't live life fearing that small percent because there's a small percent of risk for EVERYTHING :-).

I got an epidural with my first two, and long story short the epi wore off with my 1st before I started pushing, but I was lucky I had it in place because I ended up transferred to the OR for 1 1/2 hours of tear repair and the anesthesiologist just ramped up the pain relief instead of having to put me under....

with my 2nd, I got the epi but it stopped working so I pushed and labored w/o pain relief.

SO with #3 (due in April) I'm going to skip the epidural all together. I've already pushed out 2 with pretty much no epidurals so I don't see the point in putting myself through it again, I just have bad luck, lol.

BUT with that said...I think epidurals are a great resource for the women who need them. almost all women who have epidurals won't have any sort of a complication or problem with them, and for a woman who has had a long exhausting labor it can give you the rest you need to push and in some cases avoid a c-section because of that. that's nothing to pooh-pooh!

but on the other hand, I did have very painful back labor with my 2nd and still managed to do without, and my recovery was instant (up sitting cross-legged minutes later, up peeing right after that, then back in bed and fast asleep while the baby was checked in the nursery lol).

[WestIndianMama2b]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience.  I think that people never think they could be in the small percentage where something goes wrong.

[Clysta]

There is risk to everything. Yes, many women do epidural without knowing all the facts but that applies to everyday life. Many also do not know the risk that pregnancy alone can carry, what natural birth can do, what c-section can do. There's even risk to you walking around or driving your car around.

Many hospitals give them when the female asks for it. It's not forced upon them. I had an epidural and had no problems. I was able to walk immediately after my daughters birth, and could do anything I wanted.

You have to weigh your own thoughts. Birth can be done however you feel, and whether you medicate or not doesn't mean you're uninformed or weaker than someone else.

[mikaleen]

I had 3 epidurals for herniated discs, and though I had no problem with them, they did nothing to help my pain.  With my first childbirth I asked for an epidural, and it brought instant relief.  However, my recovery was very very slow after and I was sent home with a catheter for a week because I was unable to urinate at all.  My second birth I opted for IV meds if needed, no epidural.  I got through with no meds at all, and I was up walking around with my daughter 1 hour after birth.  My plan is the same for this birth, no epidural.

With that in mind, I have to say that no matter what your feelings are, and what your plan is, you always have to be ready for a change.  In no way do you have to let the Dr. or nurse push you into anything you don't want, unless there is truly an emergency, but things do happen, and if you find the pain unbearable, don't feel bad if suddenly those odds don't seem so bad to you.  (which they are not at all!)  My nurse was aware that I did not want an epidural, and she was wonderful throughout my labor.  She encouraged me and helped me through along with DH.  I asked for an epidural at one point and they both talked me down because they knew my feelings, and they were absolutely right.  I was lucky, both times I reached the point of asking for an epidural, I birthed my babies within an hour, so it went quickly for me by that point.