The epidural?

Question

I have heard so many bad things pertaining to the after effects from using the epidural. I know people who have experienced back pain which will not go away etc...I am concerned, because I don't like pain....and yes ofcourse child birth will be painful. Also I've heard it prolongs labor since you can't feel anything?....Can anyone give me some insight please?

Answer 1

typically, women having their first child go into labor with the best intentions. most are like you are now, (and me with my first baby) -- scared of possible after effects, and scared because one of the pregnancy classes described in detail how an epidural is done.

i think you shouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about this topic. when you go into labor, you will discover whether you are one of those lucky women who actually have "bearable" pain. if you are then don't get the epidural. (but please don't be one of those who afterwards give out tips on how everyone can do it).

but if you are one the vast majority of women who find that they are in the worst #$%@$^& freaking pain of their life, it won't really be a choice. you will ask and beg for it. you will see the big needle and swoon with joy, and why is taking so long, just stick it in! and a word of warning. it will take some time to prepare you for the epidural. in some hospitals, they have to page the anesthesiologist first! every minute will seem like forever for you at this point. how long does that take before he gets to you! so take that into consideration when you are evaluating the level of pain you are currently in, and whether you think you will be able to stand it for much longer.

most women i know (including me) tried to hold off as long as we could. then we begged for the epi. a few were denied because by then they were too dilated, so again a word of warning on holding out too long. (when it came time for our next babies, we all got the epidural early, specially those who were denied the first time. lol)

i also discovered that it could actually help to get the epi at an early stage, so that when it comes time to push, the epi is not at full strength, and you can actually tell when you are contracting, but without the pain.

i don't know how much the epi can prolong labor. but given the choice would you rather have let's say 2 hours of excruciating wish-you-were-dead pain, versus 12 hours of not feeling anything? my husband and i were actually able to sleep for a few hours after i got my epidural, it was the first rest i had since i started labor!

don't stress about it. and good luck!

Answer 2

GET THE EPIDURAL!!! I was a little nervous about it at first but after labor started, I was in heaven. I would be happy if labor was prolonged when you cant feel anything, this way you spend less time pushing. Contractions make the baby move down the canal by itself, the longer you wait to push the better for you. And since you cant feel it anyway, who cares. :) I had a little back pain afterwards about 2 weeks later. It went away after about a week or so and its not intense, its just a backache. The epidural is a God-sent! I would never, EVER go through child birth without it; and next time, I'm not waiting so long till I ask for it. LOL.

Answer 3

I had the epidural. I had no problems with it other than the fact that it did not work (it was given to me too late in the labor). I have heard of people getting a headache or backache but have not heard if it not going away? I just read in a recent copy of parents magazine (I think it was either this or last months issue?) that having the epidural will speed up your labor since a relaxed mother who is not in pain will deliver faster than someone who is tense and nervous? I am currently 35 weeks pregnant with my second child and fully intend to have the epidural again, and plan on asking for it a lot sooner than I did last time. If I can avoid pain I will. I had a few friends tell me that they never felt a thing during delivery because of the epidural. My one friend even helped the dr. deliver the baby herself? Only a woman who is not in pain could do that. Hope that helps a little.

Answer 4

I had the worst back labor ever on the morning that I went into labor. I wasnt going to get an epidural but hunny when the back pain came upon I quickly changed my mind. I had back labor so bad that my mother in law caught a towel in my microwave on fire because I wanted heat so bad for my back. By the time that I finally couldnt stand it anymore I went to the hospital and I used the last heating pad there was in that place. When the nurse asked me if I want an epidural I heard the angels sing. If you have back labor I would say a YES to that. It hurts so bad. I have a pain in my back on occassion but its only like when its fixing to rain and stuff like that. I can tell you that I would recommend an epidural because look at it this way, yes the epidural hurt but when your contractions are the worst you really dont feel a thing. It saves energy for when its time to push that baby out. And trust me you will need all the energy you can get. Yes it sometimes prolongs labor but usually the nurse or doctor will turn your epidural off when you are getting close to 10 centimeters (its what you have to be dialated to to start pushing) so the last bit you can feel so that you can start pushing. I know for me they turned the epidural off about two hours before I started to push. I would recommend that anyone who has back labor deffinetly get an epidural but I think for my next child even if I dont have back labor I will still go through with an epidural. Im the biggest wennie when it comes to needles, so if I can do it so can you. Let me know what you decide and let me know about the baby. Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 5

I went natural with my first baby and was a 9 and 1/2 for 11 hours it was horrible. I have no idea what I was thinking not having an epidural. With my 2nd 3rd and 4th babies I had an epidural. I swear after I got my epidural I wanted to nominate Jim (my anesthesiologist) for sainthood. It made my labors pain free. I actually slept and played uno with my husband up untell it was time to push. It can prolong labor sometimes but that can help the doctors. Because your not in as much pain your better able to stop pushing if they need you to so that you don't tare. Plus if your to numb from the epidural and cant push a lot of doctors will have you play tug of war with an OB nurse using a bed sheet this makes your body push the right way even if you cant feel what your doing.

Answer 6

I don't know what I would have done without it! It was the most amazing thing ever for me. I was even able to nap while waiting until I was ready to push. I also got to watch my contractions on a computer monitor and laugh because the looked so intense and I didn't feel a thing. Also, my tailbone broke during childbirth. And I thank God that I didn't have to feel it. I heard a very loud 'Pop' - like when people pull their finger out of their cheek- anyway it hurt for so long after-wards, I can't imagine what that would have felt like when it actually happened.
I only pushed for 15 minutes. The nurse brought in a mirror so I could see myself pushing. It really helped. And also, I got to see my little guy come into the world. :)
I WILL have an epidural again.
Good luck!

Answer 7

I have to admit, I have a low threshold when it comes to pain. I was pretty fearful of the epidural procedure because you have to sit VERY still when they insert the needle into your back. However, because my labor was so intense, I was grateful for the epidural. Quite honestly, I didn't even feel the needle go in. And then suddenly--voila'--all pain was gone. When I was giving birth, it didn't hurt at all, but I could still feel a bit of pressure when it was time to push. After I had my daughter, I can honestly say that the back pain was minimal and it did hurt a bit for a few days and then went away.

Answer 8

i had an epidural with my son. it wore of and i could feel pain on the right side of my body but none on the left. i don't know if it prolonged the birthing experience my son was 9lbs 3oz and face up so i think that may be the reason my labor was so long. if you don't want pain i would get the epidural. i haven't had any back pain. it was nice when it worked for me. very very nice. good luck. i hope you do okay.

Answer 9

I have had two babies so far. #1 was with the epidural, and the 2nd not. I never suffered anything, but maybe a week of discomfort in my back, but since everything else was sore..... BUT as nice as it was to not feel the pain, i would do it with out anyday!!! I swore to the docs and nurses i would not push my second out till they gave me the (*&%^%#(*&(_ EPIDURAL!!! but there wasnt enough time, and i had no choice but to do it all naturally... painful yes, but remember this.... wheni was in labor....man it hurt like a SOB...and wheni said i wasnt pushing, the nurse told me.....The pain your feeling right now, will NOT get any worse, so you might as well push!!!! So remember that, delivery didnt hurt, it was the LABOR that hurt!!!! she was right, and it actually gave me relief to push!! if you can stay away from teh epidural, then do.... i did both and would recommend not to!

Answer 10

No you can't get up off the table and go dancing,but it will help immensely with the pain.I had an epidural with both kids.It helped me greatly with my first child,before the shot I was hyper -ventilating and very uncomfortable.After wards,I was more relaxed and was able to cope and labor went alot smoother.With my second child,after the shot,I layed in bed and chatted with my husband and nurses until it was tie to push. So don't worry!! Everything will be fine.Kim