did you get any side affects during or after did it help
2006-09-23 19:34:02 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I had an epidural with both of my children. It was wonderful. With my first child, I was experiencing very painful back labor. I was so tired, and I was starting to vomit, and every time a contraction came, it felt really painful in my lower back. Apparently the baby's head was pointing up instead of down.
The hardest part of getting the epidural was sitting still during those painful contractions while they put the needle in my back. Yes, its a long needle, but believe me, that's the last thing you think about when you have contractions.
It felt kind of weird, that needle poking around near my spine. I mean, I've never had a needle in that area before. So he put the catheter in, and injected some of the medicine, and almost immediately the contractions felt less intense. They hooked me up and let the medicine drip. Over a few more minutes, all of the pain left, and I began to loose feeling in my legs and lower torso. I had a complete epidural.
If you can, request a complete one, not a walking epidural. I've heard the walking ones let you still experience pain.
Now, when you have an epidural, it makes it much harder to push the baby out, because you cannot feel anything. Ha, they told me to move my legs up so I could hold my knees when pushing, I couldn't do it. Its weird how hard it is to move when you cannot feel anything.
2006-09-23 19:41:37 · answer #1 · answered by Hicktown girl66 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An epidural will anesthetize you from the waist down. If it is properly placed, it you will not feel the pain. You can receive an epidural between 4-6 cm of cervical dilation. It is known as the window period. You won't receive drugs before 4 cm because it may slow down the progression (cervical dilation and effacement) of labor. You won't receive drugs after 6 because it may cause respiratory suppression in the infant. By the way, I say drugs because this applies to all the drugs, not just the epidural. If you want the epidural, they will usually sit you at the side of the bed, you will arch your back like a cat. You will feel about 4 local anesthetic injections. Then they will insert a needle which enters you epidural (the space outside of the dura in the central nervous system). This will be attached to the anesthetic which will infuse at a set rate. It is sort of like an IV that goes into your back. Once the anesthetic starts, you will not feel the pain. You may not feel your legs. If you can't feel one leg, roll onto your other side. Roll from side, to side. On the up side, no pain, on the down side, an epidural may drop your blood pressure. You will have Intravenous fluids to counter that.From here, if for whatever reason you should have to have a C-section, you are ready to go. You can be hauled off the to the OR and if your baby is in distress, he can be removed in about 5 minutes, and you won't feel a thing. It takes some time to insert the epidural, and that time won't be wasted if it was already done. Of course you can go under general anesthesia for a c-section, but you won't be awake when the baby first comes out. So the epidural will be removed some time after the baby is born. The other down scale thing is the MD can miss, or the epdural may not be in the right place and then it will not work. Mine penetrated to my dura space and I had to have it done again. Then you get a headache. Although, I would take the headache over the pain of the contractions. You have to hold very still while it is being inserted. One move, or like me answer a question, and the doc may miss. The anesthesiologist is the one who will insert it, so be sure to tell the staff, because he may not be in the hospital, especially if it is late at night. You don't want to miss your window if he has to drive to the hospital. Tell them your wishes early. The other thing is if the epidural is not in the right place and it does not work, you still will only have that window from 4-6 to have any drugs. I had a plan for an epidural with my second child, however, my labor went from 0 to 60 and I missed the window. I ended up having him without any drugs. I strongly suggest you take a lamaze class, even if you swear you won't use it, at least it will get you through the 0-4 cm's. If you don't breath, you will lose control. So practice, practice, practice. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am an RN. I work in a cardiac unit, but I had a rotation in labor and delivery and I have personal experience.
2006-09-23 23:30:16 · answer #2 · answered by Beth V 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had one for my first, but was not able to have one with either of my other two (one time it was the doctor's fault, the other time it went way too fast), and it was FAR better than feeling the contractions.
I don't recall feeling the needle at all during the epidural, which was nice, and they stuck in a thing so that when I needed another shot, I didn't have to get pricked again.
I had no side affects during. What was really nice, was that I was able to rest through the last two or three hours of labor, so I wasn't exhausted after my daughter was born. I was able to spend more time with her immediatly following her deliver than I was the other two, because with them, I pretty much passed our right away.
My back was a bit tender in the location of the epidural the next day, but nothing worse than when you have a mild bruise, and bump it. It wasn't constant, there was no horrible back pain from it.
The chances of there being any side affects are slim. Most women experiance none of them at all. It's the few that do, which cause them to be listed.
The epidural was a God Send, and if I could have done it over with my other two and gotten it, I would have in a heart beat. Chris (my son, 2nd birth) was a HORRIBLE labor, very long, very painful, and extremly nerve wracking. Not only was my mother-in-law there (a woman I can't stand), the doctor wasn't there to check or order the epidural (she was in the hospital, she just kept putting off checking on me), but to top those two off, my son blocked his cord and wasn't getting any oxygen. I would have done a lot better had I not been paniking over that, and in a horrible amount of pain. :(
2006-09-23 21:05:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well my intentions are not to scare you... but I had an epidural during labor... getting the epidural was the scarriest part of the entire process I was in labor 3 days and it had nothing to do with the epidural I never dialated all the way and pushed my daughter out at 8cm on the third day. I tried drugs to take the edge off the pain they didn't last long enough... and I was having contractions every two minutes lasting about 1 min and 30 seconds. There's no way I would have been able to go through with birthing my daughter had I of not gotten an epidural. I would have been too worn out from three days of labor pain.
They put my epidural in too low and I could feel what I would have felt like all over had I of not gotten the epidural. My shoulders and upper back were in intense pain an contracted back where I was in a slightly arched position and I couldn't relax them I don't know what it would have been like to feel like that all over and don't care to find out. This is rare and most likely won't happen to you.
Not everyone wants to hold their baby when they are first born... I wanted my husband to hold her so I could look at her I was too weak to hold her and it wasn't from the epidural, I also shivered vomited and ran a fever in the last few hours of labor.
Most of all everyone is different some people don't have as painful a labor as others. Some people have their babies quickly some take three days. (if it's your first plan for a long labor most first labors last at least 24 hours.) The epidural didn't keep me from walking my legs felt numb but that was about it. I got off the delivery table and walked after I had her and I'm fairly certain I could have at any point if they'd of let me. (walked that is) I could feel the sensation of the contractions and knew when to push. Some people feel nothing and are unable to walk... don't listen to people who are telling you to go completely natural... just because they are super woman doesn't mean you have to be. Do some research and make an informed decision!!! Check the link below for some information on the topic.
The epidural unlike taking other drugs by mouth didn't effect the baby which was the main thing I was worried about a baby who gets a dose of pain killers will be lethargic and uninterested in nursing which could make it hard to diagnose other problems.
All and all having the epidural and being able to have a vaginal birth rather then having to have a c-section I think was a good idea and I would do it again.
Good luck in whatever way you decide to go :)
2006-09-23 20:23:15 · answer #4 · answered by moonlights_rain 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have 3 children and approached each differently. My first I went with the epidural. It STOPPED my contractions and they had to give me pitocin to start them again. With my second child my labor was so fast there was no time for meds. The third I tried Stadol which takes the edge off the pain but not completely numbed. Here is my thoughts:
After my first,,, I could not get up to walk around for several hours. I believe it was about 6 hours. All I wanted to do was sleep not even see my baby.
My second... my body freaked out and I had uncontrolled shivers for a few minutes but I was up and showered and calling everyone within 2 hours.
My last I did the stadol. took just enough of the pain away that I could still feel the pressure of having my child but not the pain so much. Took me an hour or two and I was up an on my feet.
It really depends on what you wish to experience. If I were to have another child I would do the same as my third... just enough that I am not truly in pain but also able to bounce back and spend time with my daughter in her first few hours.
2006-09-23 19:50:54 · answer #5 · answered by tomandsyndi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a little painful when they administer the epidural. I had very intense contractions during my labor. I fell asleep after the epidural. I would have contractions and not even know it. I did not have any side effects. I would recommend it to everyone.
2006-09-23 22:34:57 · answer #6 · answered by stebbie73 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had an interthecal (can't spell) it's the same as an epidural except its a onetime deal...no more meds if the pain came. That was with my first child. With the second one, I didn't have anything. And to be honest, if I were to do it again, I would choose nothing. I didn't even want to hold my child after the interthecal...it was horrible. Good luck in whatever you do.
2006-09-23 19:37:37 · answer #7 · answered by Maggie Mae 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
hey hun....not to scare ya but i had an epidural with my little girl and wish i never had....not only did it take them several times to try and place the needle right (cause it felt like they were sticking a 3 inch pipe in my back) but it only nummed my left butt cheeck lol....and now 5yrs later i am having back pain off and on right were they inserted the needle....my twin sis on the other hand had her baby all natural and her and her baby were both more perky and attintive and she seemed to be up and going a lot faster then i was ....hope this helps with your decision hun...love daisy
2006-09-24 05:27:10 · answer #8 · answered by crazy_daisy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had a drug free labour, and i am so proud of myself. no tears, no drugs, and left hospital after 24hours
try an epidural as a last resort, as it slows down the birthing process.
2006-09-23 19:41:21 · answer #9 · answered by huney_mumi 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i had the intrathecal. i had my daughter 3 mos ago and sometimes the shot site hurts. it didn't work for me, but i was all tough about it :P i loved to hold my daughter i don't see why you wouldnt. i didnt get too nauseaous. everyones different
2006-09-23 19:44:01 · answer #10 · answered by ojibwe87 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋