Only woman that have had an epidural please...(?)?

Question

Ok well I watch so much of the Discovery Health Channel it is unreal! I plan on having an epidural when the time comes. (I am only 9 weeks) But I have heard some mixed reviews, persay, on the epidural. What does it feel like? Is the effectiveness really amazing, a huge difference? I really would appriciate the feedback.

Im just really interested on what the epidural feels like, Ive seen it done on tv I just never saw the womans facial reactions

Answer 1

I had one, but I had a c-section, and therefore, had to have one. I hate needles, but it isn't very bad. They give you a little shot to numb your back first, then they do the epidural, and it feels like a warm sensation from your feet to your chest. I don't know if that will help if you are going natural instead, but I say, bring on the painkiller!

Answer 2

I had my first child without pain medication. I was extremely tired afterwards, but I was glad I chose "natural labor" for my first delivery. With my last child I had an epidural and it was wonderful!! The first thing that happens is that they numb your back with a local and that needle hurts! It's a sharp, quick prick though. Once your back is numb, they put the epidural needle in your back. The hardest part about this is that you have to hunch your back over to make your spine stick out (not an easy task when you're 40 weeks pregnant!!). The anesthesiologist is really good about waiting until you're not having a contraction though. When they put the needle in it feels like pin-pointed pressure, not really like an injection. Once it's in, they tape it so that it doesn't get pulled out and run a tube over your shoulder. They gave me a button to push when I needed it so that it would release more pain medication, although i didn't need it. The epidural does allow you to rest during labor so take advantage of that because you will need your strength later on. ( I slept for a few hours, but it's a very light sleep) One hint about getting an epidural is that if you are laying on your side, whichever side is down will become more numb than the other side. Something about gravity pulling the fluid and it begins pooling in your lower leg. Turn over as often as you can. You won't be able to get up and walk so you might have a catheter. Once it is time to push, the epidural can make it difficult to feel the muscles that you will need to use in order to push. That's one reason why I'm glad I did the first delivery naturally. There seems to be a higher risk of C-sections with moms who have epidurals. You should talk to your OB/GYN before you are 36 weeks about your options for pain so that you can be informed before you get to the hospital. Probably the biggest benefit of the epidural for me was that I wasn't exhausted after the labor and was able to stay awake a little longer afterwards. Good luck!!

Answer 3

ok, i know you said only ppl who have had epidural and that doesn't qualify me, but i gave birth without any pain relief. it was really an aweful experience and the worst imaginable pain. my advice to you would be to go with the epidural.
the reason that many ppl are anti it is because they say that anything that the mother gets is transfered to the baby via the umbilical chord right up until the chord is cut. but there is no danger to the baby - he/she might just be a bit sleepy for a few days, which is not necessarily a bad thing :-)
all the ppl that i have spoken to who have had epidurals only have good things say about and they actually enjoyed the whole birthing experience.
congratulations and all the best
what i know is that they put it in at the height of a contraction - the pain of the contraction ensures that you do not feel it going in.

Answer 4

First of all, permit me begin off by means of pronouncing this: Epidurals do not consistently paintings - it doesn't matter what the scale of a lady. 10-20% of females document epidurals handiest in part operating or now not operating in any respect. So you've gotten that risk besides. However, it could rely on how so much 'padding' is to your again aspect. Some medical doctors have difficulty getting the needle to head in all of the means if there may be an excessive amount of tissue to head via earlier than they succeed in the epidural house. You won't recognize till he/she attemps to place it in position. Have you concept approximately simply seeking to pass average? take a well childbirth magnificence and get ready your self it doesn't matter what the results :-)

Answer 5

i asked to have an epidural when i hit 3 cm, but because i was hooked up to a faulty contraction monitor i didn't get one until i was 10cm. hard to believe, i know, but it happened. needless to say, i experienced what "natural childbirth" feels like right up until the baby comes out. the contractions hurt a LOT - i mean, i was writhing off the bed in pain, unable to speak. but you know what? if i could go back and have the epidural five hours earlier, i wouldn't, because i feel so proud of myself for going through something i was SOOO scared to experience. i know i know, i didn't do the whole thing natural, but i still give myself a lot of credit. anyway, to answer your question, if you have the epidural early (3 cm.) you will basically feel nothing more than a few mild contractions beforehand, then a shot in your back (sounds gnarly, but not that bad when you consider the alternative), then presto, you are numb and all you see are contractions on the monitor (as opposed to feeling them), and then some pressure when the baby comes out. oh, also, i tore and didn't feel a thing. saw the dr. stitching me up, but couldn't feel that, either. the nurse will help you to the bathroom to get cleaned up, since it's awkward walking after giving birth. then you will be done! my friend who had an epidural at 3cm says she never knew childbirth could be so easy and painless. it's amazing how vastly different childbirth stories are!

ps - i do agree somewhat with the person (several posts above) who suggests epidural = disconnect. pain isn't fun, but it definitely gives you a very strong connection to what your body is doing, and it is very exciting to feel your baby fighting to come out.

Answer 6

i have had 2 epidurals and they are wonderful! you feel nothing from the chest down. you can see your contractions on the monitor but you just lie there comfortably and push when the doctor tells you its time. i just had one 2 years ago and pushed when the Dr said to even though i couldnt actually feel doing it. i didnt feel any labor pains once i received the epidural .. also, they gave it to me during a labor contraction so there was no pain when receiving it either. i am now 33 weeks pregnant and definitely plan on having another epidural. why should we go through the pain of contractions with todays technology. i say go for it and enjoy!! wishing you the best with your new baby.

Answer 7

I'm a 28 year old mother of an 8 year old son. I had epidural during labor, well because I hate pain. Don't get me wrong, for those mothers who can handle natural child birth? Kudos to you. But being that this was my first baby and I have a very small frame (I'm 4'11" and was 95 lb at the beginning of my pregnancy), i wanted to know all of my options. Even my mother, who had 5 children naturally said that I should go w/the epidural. It was the right choice for me, but before you listen me...a random person...you should really talk to YOUR doctor. He/she would know what's best for your situation.

Answer 8

When I was pregnant, I asked every woman I knew who had a baby about natural vs epidural. All of them - without fail - said to go for the epidural. Modern medicine has made some fantastic advances, you should take advantage of them to their full extent. You don't need to be a hero, you're not getting a medal for this, one woman said. Another told me not to be brave (the pain is intense). Ignore that man who posted about "natural childbirth being best for a caring mother" - what a load of crap!!! He is welcome to give birth naturally, if that is the case. I bet he'd eat his words. Don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong with natural childbirth, if you have a high pain threshhold - but people I know who who have done it both ways really liked that epidural. They don't give it to you until your labor has progressed to a certain point, because it will slow down the contractions. My labor did not progress normally so I had to have Pitocin, which is very painful - it gave me the most horrendous contractions, and I still did not dilate enough. I had 100% back labor. PAINFUL. They had to give me the epidural sooner than they would have liked, because the contractions were so bad in my back that they had to turn off the Pitocin. The epidural is wonderful - they give you a shot to numb you, then they insert the epidural tube into your back. They do it between contractions because if you're moving they could accidentally stick it in the wrong place. It is impossible to not move when your lower back is contracting as hard as mine was. They call it a walking epidural, but you can't actually walk - I could move my legs and roll over in the bed, and I had a very light tingling sensation all over my skin below the waist, but I couldn't feel any pain. Eight hours later, when my labor still had not progressed hardly at all, my baby went into distress and I had to have a c-section. They gave me the full epidural dose then - I could not feel or move a thing. When they cut into you, you can feel a lot of pulling and tugging, but no pain whatsoever. When they take the baby out they push really hard on your belly, so hard you can't breathe, then he's out and it's over. They stitch you back up and - sigh - turn off the epidural. I tried to get them to leave it in for a few more days, but no dice. Fortunately it takes several hours to wear off. Major abdominal surgery is no picnic, let me tell you. Our childbirth class coach said that nurses in the hospital where she worked said that they could tell the difference between a natural childbirth baby and one that wasn't, but every single one of them said that they were going to have the epidural when the time came. These were nurses who had attended numerous births and tended the newborn babies, so the drugs can't be that bad for the baby, like some people believe. A friend of mine who tried natural said that she would never do it again. She was so tired and worn out from trying to push, that she just couldn't do it anymore. They had to give her an epidural and pull him out with forceps (10 lbs 9 oz later). She said that it was one of the worst experiences of her life, and she had really wanted to have a natural childbirth. For her, the epidural was a godsend.

Answer 9

the epidural is scary and it hurts but it is worth it... you can enjoy the experience and be in a but more control

HOWEVER everone is a little different ... it only took to one side of my body and really hurt on the one side...

firstly i can recommend you do it though lol
secondly once the epidural kicks in you may be laying in a position you dont normally find comfortable and end up with a back ache once the epidural wears off

make sure you are comfy and have good support for your back to avoid this pain after labour

Answer 10

listen sweetie....although you are only 9 weeks pregnant. These are normal feelings.....not trying to scare you but once you are in labor you will gladly receive the epidoral without even a question. Infact you are going to love the Epidoral man who is going to admininister it to you.
by the time you are ready for an epidoral you are not going to care if it hurts or not.

But to answer your question...NO..an Epidoral Does Not Hurt!!! take it from me!! My personal main concern was more like if i get one am i going to become paralyzed while getting one if I have a contraction during it or move during it. The Answer was No...You are on a Monitor and the Dr.s, nurses, and the epidoral person is on board ...You have to understand that this is what they do for a living. Although People are human mistakes dooo happen but it is very very very and i stress....veryyy rare!

It';s just a prick in your spine and that isn't even the epidoral that is the shot that numbs your spinal area for the epidoral!

If you want to ask more or talk you can email me!!

God Bless and STop worrrying silly you have to worry about more things such as what color the nursey is going to be.. heee. heee...

and by the way...I had my epidoral at 7 centimeters.....that is cause i couldn't bare the pain anymore...but up until that..the pain was quite tolerable!! They kept asking me do you want your epidoral yet...and I said nooo not yet..but at 7 i was like.....ohh my god...i would have given anything for the pain to go away just a bit....and God Bless the Epidorals!! Its soo wonderful I cannot even tell you!!!