Aa
Epidural Get it or not?? Please help!
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.
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.
I have had 3 children and am cureently pregnant with #4. my first two I had completely natural and it was painful, but I felt great afterwards recuperated quickly and the babies were alert awake and not drugged at all! with my third i decided to try getting something in my IV and it helped for about 45 minutes althugh it made me very drowsy then it wore off and i think it actually hurt more once it wore off, because i had'nt felt the contractions build up as much. the baby and I were still fine afterward, although I was a little shaky, but not too much. I really did'nt like the experience though and with this pregnancy i am planning on trying to go all natural again. I know several people who have had good experiences with epidurals, but i am afraid of anthing going in my spine and the idea of an epidural scares me more than thr pain does. good luck and hope things go the way you want them too!
Well some doulas do a slide-scale pricing. It doesn't hurt to at least think about getting one.
I had an epidural with my first two and I wish I hadn't. Not because anything bad happened per se but because of my personal feelings about it. So my third baby I had her epidural-free and with a midwife instead of a doctor. It was an amazing experience. I felt closer to her and I healed way better and I felt like a million bucks after giving birth. With my second daughter I didn't even want to hold her after I had her because I was so shaky and felt like vomiting everywhere. It was a temporary means for my personal pain management and it adversely affected her. I was ADAMANT about not getting an epidural with my third daughter to prevent her from experiencing after effects as well; not just myself.
Everyone has to make their own choice but that was my experience! I recommend watching The Business of Being Born. It helped validate a lot of the decisions I made with my third birth and is full of amazing information.
And if you do end up getting an epidural you're no less a woman. Each birth is beautiful and unique in it's own right!
I had an epidural with my first two and I wish I hadn't. Not because anything bad happened per se but because of my personal feelings about it. So my third baby I had her epidural-free and with a midwife instead of a doctor. It was an amazing experience. I felt closer to her and I healed way better and I felt like a million bucks after giving birth. With my second daughter I didn't even want to hold her after I had her because I was so shaky and felt like vomiting everywhere. It was a temporary means for my personal pain management and it adversely affected her. I was ADAMANT about not getting an epidural with my third daughter to prevent her from experiencing after effects as well; not just myself.
Everyone has to make their own choice but that was my experience! I recommend watching The Business of Being Born. It helped validate a lot of the decisions I made with my third birth and is full of amazing information.
And if you do end up getting an epidural you're no less a woman. Each birth is beautiful and unique in it's own right!
No one can make that decision for you but I can tell you that I am on my 4th baby and had my first 3 All NATURAL, no drugs at all. I personally like being able to get up right after I have the baby and get in the shower. and walk around!!! Plus my opinion I feel that the epidural make the labor last longer cause you cant feel what is going on! I know several people that had alot of issues after epidurals. There is no way I would do it, but that is just me. Good luck with your decision and whatever decision you make I hope it works for you!!!!
I didn't have an epidural, I had a spinal (no catheter) because I had a scheduled c-section. I didn't have to live through contraction pain while they were putting it in, but the lady who started with it said I had a "tight" back, and tried 5 times before getting someone else to try, one of the tries from my right hip to my right foot had pain shooting through it. The guy that came in for the last try got it on the first time. So I had the local anesthetic and spinal needle shoved into my back 6 times each. It's been 20 months, and I'm now about to start physical therapy because my back hurts all the time still. I can no longer sleep on either side without a pillow between my knees, and can barely mop my 10 X 10 kitchen without stopping to give my back a break. I really hope if you do get the epidural that it turns out better for you than it did for me, I was planning on going completely natural without medication at all, but my son was breech. We are currently TTC number two, and I can tell you that this time unless it is absolutely medically necessary I am refusing a second c-section and plan to go completely 100% natural. I did have contractions before my c-section, and I'm sure they weren't as bad as they can get but I feel like I can handle it.
I have 4 children and I had the epidural with 3. I didnt have any back problems but I did have a reaction to it and had to be given benydryl. I always forgot about the iching untill after I was in heaven, lol. My last baby, the meds didnt work and I had scars from iching so much:~( Other than that is was heaven!
I was induced at 34 weeks exactly. my fluid was low so they wanted me to have my little girl early.
They induced me and it took me an hour to get to 10CM. At about 6 Cm I asked for my epidural. They sent my husband out and grabbed the guy to give me the epidural. The nurse who was taking care of me was with me the whole time. I was having HUGE labor pains the whole time he was trying to get me set up, You have to sit with your head in your lap kinda hunched, and not move which is horrible during contractions. they guy put the hole in my back and the plastic thing and the tube hook up. By the time he hooked me up the nurse had told him not to turn it on until she checked me because she thought it was too late for me to get any medication.
She checked me and I was 10 cm! within 10 min I went from 6 to 10. They grabbed my husband and I had to start pushing.
My husband was laughing at me on the inside and feeling real bad for me because they gave me the button to give my self pain medication but there was nothing hooked up to it, so in between pushes I was hitting it like a mad woman.
So while I had the procedure done, i did not reap any of the benifits. My back hurt in the spot they gave it to me in, for about a week, but I don't have any reoccurring back pain from it. However when he gave it to me, my left leg shook, and I could not stop it. He moved the tube around in my back until it stopped. he probably hit a nerve.
3 hours of pushing and my little girl was out, however they had to use a vaccume cause I should have had a C-section, and they snipped me with the scissors.
After she was out though they hit me up with a needle for the stiches so I at least would not feel that. It took about an hour after birth for me to get up and walk around to take a shower. After you give birth certainly try to take a shower, it will absoulty improve how you feel.
Yes it was the worst pain I ever felt, pushing while one doc is helping me push and barkking orders, while another doc is pulling on a vaccume and another doc snipped me with the scissors. Youch. But it showed me I could handle it, It just feels like a lot of pressure and the need to go to the bathroom, which all lets up as you push, so the more pushing the faster the baby comes out and the less you actually feel the pain.
If you decide to get the epidural:
- Dont wait too long, in case your start dialting pretty fast towards the end, otherwise they will take the option out of your hands.
- It will be difficult but usually people who get back pain was from one of two circumstances, A) the person giving the epidural's fault, they can hit nerves or not be expierenced enough.
b) No matter how bad the pain, especially if your in the middle of a contraction, do not move. The slightest twitch can really harm you.
If you decide not to get it
A:) yes, be prepared it will be the most excruciating pain you have ever been in, but you can handle it. The doctors are there to ensure you are ok.
b) Remember breathing is key during the pain. The only reason why they teach you to breathe in classes is because the pain is so immense you will forget to breathe or breathe wrong, and have trouble pushing, or even getting dizzy. If you can keep focused on just breathing you will be just fine.
c) I thought about my little girl the whole time I was in pain, what she would look like and all, it really helped me get through it.
good luck!
They induced me and it took me an hour to get to 10CM. At about 6 Cm I asked for my epidural. They sent my husband out and grabbed the guy to give me the epidural. The nurse who was taking care of me was with me the whole time. I was having HUGE labor pains the whole time he was trying to get me set up, You have to sit with your head in your lap kinda hunched, and not move which is horrible during contractions. they guy put the hole in my back and the plastic thing and the tube hook up. By the time he hooked me up the nurse had told him not to turn it on until she checked me because she thought it was too late for me to get any medication.
She checked me and I was 10 cm! within 10 min I went from 6 to 10. They grabbed my husband and I had to start pushing.
My husband was laughing at me on the inside and feeling real bad for me because they gave me the button to give my self pain medication but there was nothing hooked up to it, so in between pushes I was hitting it like a mad woman.
So while I had the procedure done, i did not reap any of the benifits. My back hurt in the spot they gave it to me in, for about a week, but I don't have any reoccurring back pain from it. However when he gave it to me, my left leg shook, and I could not stop it. He moved the tube around in my back until it stopped. he probably hit a nerve.
3 hours of pushing and my little girl was out, however they had to use a vaccume cause I should have had a C-section, and they snipped me with the scissors.
After she was out though they hit me up with a needle for the stiches so I at least would not feel that. It took about an hour after birth for me to get up and walk around to take a shower. After you give birth certainly try to take a shower, it will absoulty improve how you feel.
Yes it was the worst pain I ever felt, pushing while one doc is helping me push and barkking orders, while another doc is pulling on a vaccume and another doc snipped me with the scissors. Youch. But it showed me I could handle it, It just feels like a lot of pressure and the need to go to the bathroom, which all lets up as you push, so the more pushing the faster the baby comes out and the less you actually feel the pain.
If you decide to get the epidural:
- Dont wait too long, in case your start dialting pretty fast towards the end, otherwise they will take the option out of your hands.
- It will be difficult but usually people who get back pain was from one of two circumstances, A) the person giving the epidural's fault, they can hit nerves or not be expierenced enough.
b) No matter how bad the pain, especially if your in the middle of a contraction, do not move. The slightest twitch can really harm you.
If you decide not to get it
A:) yes, be prepared it will be the most excruciating pain you have ever been in, but you can handle it. The doctors are there to ensure you are ok.
b) Remember breathing is key during the pain. The only reason why they teach you to breathe in classes is because the pain is so immense you will forget to breathe or breathe wrong, and have trouble pushing, or even getting dizzy. If you can keep focused on just breathing you will be just fine.
c) I thought about my little girl the whole time I was in pain, what she would look like and all, it really helped me get through it.
good luck!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.
