What are the advantages and disadvantages

[MiMi0301]

I am not sure about whether or not to get an epidural.  I was wondering if yall could tell me the pros and cons to having one.

[nellila]

I went through the pain of getting it inserted and then it didn't work. Even the director of anesthesia came down to check it and could not understand why it didn't work. I don't plan to do it again. So just know that you could go through getting one and STILL feel everything anyway. But from what I hear from most people the pro is it did help make labor and delivery more manageable

[sweetvegetable]

I hope to never have an epidural. My first labor I had phentonol and gas, my second was drug free. And honestly, my second labor was way more of a positive experience. So here are my pros and cons:

Pros:
Can offer relief to someone who is at their wits end in labor (my friend labored for seventeen hours before getting hers, and it allowed her body to relax enough to get to transition within an hour). For this reason, I would be open to the possibility if labor was not progressing, but wouldn't start with one.
A good option for someone who is afraid of labor to the extent that they can't stop fighting the contractions.

Cons:
There is something powerful about feeling all of labor and coming out on the other side victorious. I'm not sure I would feel the same after an epidural.
Restricts movement.
Can slow down labor, and is linked to a higher incidence of c section.
Makes it hard to know when and how to push.

Again, I've never had an epidural, and I don't look down on people that do, so some of my reasons are based on second hand observation. Good for you for doing your research. If I were you I would plan not to have one but be open to the possibility if necessary.

[Turtleslj72]

I had one with my son two years ago. Never slowed my labor however I will randomly have back pain in the shot spot for a min. Not too long at all just random.

[mrsashk]

Sorry, autocorrevt. You will have a reason to be happy at the end and will forget about the pain.

[mrsashk]

Pros: eases the pain.
Cons:confines you to bed, can slow labor because you can be too numb, which can lead to induction drugs and stresses out baby, leading to csection, can cause permanent nerve damage.

Birth is hard. But drugs or no drugs you will have a readonly to be happy at the end and you kinda forget about the reat.

[MiMi0301]

I heard about the back pains and it worries me cuz i already have trouble with my back

[nickizzy]

I'm having an epidural pros are obviously it's the best pain killer for contractions and makes child birth very bearable. I had one with my girl 14 yrs ago cons it can make labor go longer and there's back pain that can happen also

[3bgirls15]

I'm a fan after having two. For me it made the birth experience actually enjoyable. I could relax and get excited about baby and hold her right away and nothing deterred the experience with all pain gone. I have intense labors and nothing but an epidural could keep me from going crazy from pain. Everyone is different though and I just suggest being open to it even if you decide to not go for it.