Epidural Get it or not?? Please help!

[cocacolapanda]

I have lots of time to figure it out, but I was just reading about the Epidural (I didn't have it with my first, got pain meds via the IV) and I'm scared to death of it!  All the back problems it could cause afterwards, etc.  

So, For those who got the Epidural, Are you glad you got it?
Did it hurt?
Did you have any issues afterwards?
Did you recover quickly after the birth?  (For example I was walking and moving around once they stitched me up from tearing).

See, I got the pain meds in the IV, and I didn't really like how they made me feel, Kinda loopy and in and out of sleep.  IT was horrible for the contractions, but then slept when no contractions.  From what I've read those are my two basic options.  

Also, I want to wait till I need them, last time I was fine till they broke my watter, I want to try and do it naturally, but need to have pain management as a back up.

[tinytoes201]

i got it on my first,i did not feel any pain,but i did not feel incontrol so that was horrible.it also took me afew days to get over it,to walk properly and bodly funtions etc(sorry if tmi)  plus my back has never been the same, i so wish i didnt get it. i had the rest of my kids with no pain relief at all and it was great. its not as bad as you would think, your in complete control and know exactly what your doing.and the recovery was great.30 mins after delivery i was walking around the hospital and felt great.

[therese101]

I had the epi, for me it only lasted 20mins so it was a waste of time, at the time i was glad i got it until the pain came back. I ended up with a really sore back and its still sore some days after 6 months. So since it ran out i was able to get up and walk around straight after i was stitched up! In hindsight now that i know i can handle the pain without it i would never get one again, as once it wore off i couldnt get back up and walk around while still in labour. Good luck, its hard to make these decisions in the lead up because i guess you cant really gage how much pain you will be in until it happens

[martikadragoon]

I had a csection so they gave me a spinal, but it REALLY helps. I didn't feel my ctx afterwards (I was in labor when I had my csection)

[cocacolapanda]

30something13 - I know EXACTLY what you mean!  My first birth didn't go how I wanted it to at all.  I want to try natural again, because I did just fine till they broke my watter to speed things up (If I knew what I did know I would have made them wait a few hours at least!).  See I dilated 3X faster in the first hour after they broke my watter then I should have, and if it progresses like a Typical labor then I'd be just fine.  When I asked my midwife about this, she said that my chances are 50/50 for the same thing happening when my watter breaks.  I guess it's common when they break your watter, but some women, even when the water breaks on it's own, it still progresses like that!    I'm looking into the pain management for when I can't handle it, because the IV made me loopy, and I didn't like that.  BUT the facts are that the IV pain meds have less complications, but the Epi is much stronger.  I'm just trying to decide which I want as my back up.

I'm the kind of person that likes to look at all the what if's and put them in the birth plan so I don't need to think while in labor!

honeybear56 - I know what you mean about the baby stories!  I watched them too!  They scared me, however I knew my chances of a bad labor were not THAT high.  Mine wasn't the best, but it could have been worse!  

[honeybear56]

I had the epidural and i have had no back problems whatsoever. I think for my first child it was the best choice, i mean i lasted till i was 6cm and my contractions were 1min apart. Its really up to you and how your labor is going. I wouldnt read to much because it just makes everything more scary then it actually is...trust me i used to sit at home and watch those baby stories and most were the ones with complications and they scared the crap out of me. So i would just see how it goes and then decide. I waited till the last min. to get mine. I hope this helps.

[30something13]

yeah that is awful and sounds wrong that they won't let you walk around! My sister had a 4th degree Y cut and was sore to move at all but they told her to walk around too. I though that most hospitals just say like if you have had pain stuff to ask for help till it wears off, or the first couple times getting up cuz your blood pressure can fluctuate after bleeding from the birth. You go girl for walking around your room!!


No getting one does not make you lees of a woman in any way!!! It is personal choice and yep I would say that it is about 50/50 for yays and nays. But it seems like woman on either side once they have a bad experience then they say NO and once they have a good experience say yes:)

I am a all natural woman and have a high pain tolerance so my opinion on them goes that way. I also don't trust dr's and meds as it seems like down the road they say oops we made a mistake and it is not a good thing and this med is bad for you now. I have had that happen all to much! I also have heard enough horror stories that freak me to death.

Glad to hear no one is pressuring you in to anything. I hope they give you support till the end and the goods and the bads you know both ways. Good luck deciding what to do and I hope that you do not put to much into " I want it this way" becasue it seems that is when woman get disapointed with the whole birth if it doesn't go how you'd expect. You know what I mean? Like you said you want a back up plan, that is good!