Epidural?

[mel91512]

Who plans on getting a epidural, and who has already had one? Does it really help A LOT like people claim?
I'm 35w+5d and trying to make a mini birth plan

[lilbit_17]

I had one 3 mOnths ago and it was AMAZING!!  I've heard that they can stall labor, make the baby drowsy and take a while to wear off, but it all was the complete opposite for me. I was induced, so from start to finish, I was in labor for approx 4 hours. When the baby arrived she was very alert and the thing wore of within thirty minutes after
birth. The best part of it all was I felt nothing!! The only complaint i have about it is it made me really nauseaus but I'd do it all over again tomorrow :)

[summero87]

I had one with my daughter an unfortunately after 10 mins of working it stopped ...I had a natural labor an delivery after that..I'm almost 38 weeks pregnant now an plan on trying to get another one hoping it stays working this time ...the few mins I had it an it did work it was wonderful ..

[Aaron_N_SophiasMommy]

I had one w/ my son it really helped me. I had back labor and I got to sleep and relax before having to push. I was up and walking about 30mins later. I have no side effects. Only down side was I had to be told when to push since I wouldn't feel the contractions.
I recently had my daughter and had her natural. No pain meds before or after. I was more intune w/ my body, and I used deep breathing to get thru each contractions.

[mrsreeder2be]

I had it with my first, and it was amazing. I was able to get rest and focus when I needed too. I ended up with a c section, not related to the epidural.

[savanna09]

I opted for the epidural when I was in labour. I wouldnt have been able to manage without it!!! My contractions were horrible and the epidural took all pain away :-) although I did feel tons of pressure which in turn helped me control how I was pushing.

[sim89]

I went without with my first-I cudnt even have gas n air coz it made me puke.don't assume you'll need it coz you probly won't as it seems like your alredy psych for having it.every labour us different....some say its unbearable,others say it was painful bit ok....just see ow you go.....x

[LovemyKids86]

I had one with my first, they placed it and it hurt at first because they hit a nerve that affected my right leg and made it cramp up really bad…I told them and he pulled back or something on it and it went away. It kept me numb for a long time but mostly on my right side..I could feel a little bit on my left side when a contraction would come and go. I actually slept for 2 hours after getting it placed because I was given an IV med for pain an hour before getting the epi, when I was around 7 cm I felt a lot of pressure and they checked me to make sure it wasn't time to push….when I got to around 9 cm the pressure is all I felt, I wanted to push so bad…..
There are pros and cons to getting the epi, my blood pressure dropped after getting it placed and it wouldn't stay up I think the lowest was around 85/44, it can slow your labor down, and it can make it hard to push because you are so relaxed and numb you don't really feel if you are pushing right or not…everytime I pushed the baby's heartrate dropped to around 90 they thought there was a cord wrapped around her neck. When she finally came out there was no cord, she didn't have a cone head because I didn't feel the contractions so she was just coming on down the birth canal on her own without any strains…

I am going to try to do it without this time around

I would just suggest that in your mini birth plan to put that you want to try without the epi and have the nurses only offer it when and if you ask for it so they don't push it on you, they pushed it on me with the first using the "it's better for the baby because it doesn't go directly to their blood stream" card…

Good Luck

[mel91512]

I wanted to try natural but then again I am a nervous wreck for the pain I have yet to come lol. I just don't want it to be "too late" for the epidural. I have heard good and bad about the epidural so I'm kind of stuck in the corner of doing it, or to not do it.

[MinkY001125]

I want to try naturally. Ive heard too many horror stories. But who knows i may change my mind.

[proudmommy120612]

I had one with my first and I felt absolutely nothing but with this one I wanted to try and go natural