Contemplating an epidural with Baby #3 after 2 natural births...??!?

Question

With both of my boys, I had natural births, With my first one, It was all said and done so quickly that I didn't regret not getting one, My 2nd labor was a lot rougher, Consisted of feeling ALL of the contractions, And having to walk the hospital halls from 9:30 am-5:00 pm, But afterwards, I was able to take myself to the restroom and get up and walk around and such, Even went down to the cafeteria for some dinner....I'm contemplating asking for an epidural this time, 'cause I've heard they pretty much take away ALL of the pain, Was just wondering, If, after an epidural you're still able to get up and walk around afterwards, And does the actual needle going in hurt really badly? (I don't do so well w/needles) also, When should I ask for one? I did ask for one with my 2nd baby, But she said 'Let's break your water, and if you don't progress anymore, We'll give you one'...Well, She broke my water, And I had him immediately.

I went in so early with my 2nd baby, because I was to be induced that day, But upon arriving at the hospital that morning, I was already dilated to 4cm, And the midwife told me I could either start Pitocin, Or wait and see if I progressed any further on my own, And since I've heard being induced is a HORRID experience, I decided to go ahead and see if I could do it on my own, And sure enough, My Li'l fella chose his own bday! :-)

Answer 1

If you have the same long, painful labor with your third, there is nothing wrong with considering an epidural, but I've heard from many friends who have done it both ways that the non-epidural route is better in the long run. You feel way better afterward, with less pain. Yes, the needle hurts.

My doctor gave my something "to take the edge off" because my labor was induced (painful, fast labor). This was just enough to help me relax into the contractions instead of fighting them.

Answer 2

I assure you that if you have had 2 natural childbirths...the needle from the epidural will be a piece of cake! I had epidurals with my kids, and I am 7 months prego right now and will definatley have another. To be able to relax and enjoy the moment is wonderful...and you can get some much needed sleep before the pushing starts. It does take a short time after the birth to be able to get up and walk around, but not long. Also, I think that the body aches and pain afterwards is less because you are not all tensed up for hours and hours before pushing. I think they usually offer an epidural around 4 cm. or more ...but not before 4cm.

Good luck! :)

Answer 3

I had an epidural, and I would recommend it to everyone!! My labor was so awful before the epidural that the pain was actually making me throw up. It was terrible!! After the epidural, I was fine, laughing and joking with everyone. I was able to be up and around very soon after I had my daughter. The nurses were joking that I was too perky for having just given birth. And the needle goin in doesnt hurt at all. I was in so much pain already that i literally didn't even feel the needle go into my back. I would definitely recommend going for the epidural.

Answer 4

I will tell you this is chioce you will have to make for yourself.I have had both and I will have anymore children I have naturally. the recovery time is just so much easier. I believe that I can do anything for a day and having a baby at the end is so worth it for me. Do your research and decide what will work best for you. But either way i would really look into taking a Childbirth education class somethign like bradley or lamaze or hypno-birthing, not a hospital class it will not give you the real fact just how they plan for you to birth in there facility. All hospitals are a little different but you will begin to get your feeling back with the 1 hour after the birth but often they don't want you up alone for anything in the first 6-12 after the delivery. Shakes after delivery are normal as I am sure you know but the epidural does make them worse normally. Good Luck and do your research and follow your heart and find support in either desicion.

Answer 5

Ive never had an epidural. I had all 3 of mine natural and Im pregnant with my 4th. I was thinking about it with this one, but then my friend gave birth a few weeks ago and she decided to have an epidural with her 3rd child. She had had her other 2 natural. She said it was the worst thing ever and told me not to do it. She said the needle hurt so bad and it took the lady 3 attempts to get it into her back and then she said she was so numb but because she couldnt move she was so uncomfortable and hurting. She basically just said it was extremely uncomfortable. She is also still having back pains and headaches from the epidural and its been 3 weeks already. She said she will never do it again. She would rather go natural.

Answer 6

I didn't feel pain with my epidural, so to speak, I felt the pressure of the baby moving down the birth canal. I didn't know that I was even ready to push until I mentioned that I felt like I had to go to the bathroom. The nurse checked and sure enough I was completely dilated. I don't know how soon you will be able to get up and walk around though. I had high blood pressure so I was on bedrest anyway after baby was born. The needle hurts about the same as getting blood drawn. Needles don't bother me though so that may make a difference. I really appreciated my epidural, with my blood pressure being so high they lack of serious pain really helped to keep it from rising anymore.

Answer 7

This is my story, everyone is different. I had an epidural. I was so scared of the needle, I was crying. But, trust me the contractions hurt worse than the needle. Ya, it sucks to get it done, the needle can pinch nerves. But, I couldn't have done without it. They will give you an epidural as early as a 1 these days, I got mine at a 2, because I had to wait for other women to get theirs. They will put a cathider in you, so no, you probably won't be walking, also they will encourage you to sleep. You wouldn't want to walk anyways with and IV, Cathider, and Epidural in your back. Unfortunatly, the guy put mine too high, because he didn't take into acount how tall I was, and didn't numb me completely. I screamed for hours. So, mine didn't really work. I know it worked to some extent, just not what it was supposed to. You won't need to ask for one, they will ask you if you want pain relief, you tell them then if you want one, and when the time comes they will send someone in. I wasn't sure if I was going to have one, so they had me sign papers just in case. Then when the time came to give me one, they asked me again if I wanted it. Problems with epidurals....I had HORRIFIC nerve pain for a month afterward. It kept me up at night. It was all in my right leg. When they give you the epidural, it either leans to the left leg or right, and one of them will be affected. But most women think its worth it. I still say its worth it, and It didn't even work right.

Answer 8

They usually turn the epidural off when you start pushing. It only takes a little while after the baby is born (like 30min) and you are able to walk around. The aesthician will numb the area before he puts the needle in, I didn't feel it at all, plus it goes in your back so you won't see it either. Once it's in...no pain. I never even felt my contractions until I was pushing. Good Luck!

Answer 9

If you are at all afraid that you will be there a while, I would suggest NOT getting the epidural. They don't allow you to eat anything while you are on the medication. And you are right, inducing labor is AWFUL! I wanted to die right there on the bed. But now I have my little dude and I'm happy. I have never had an epidural, and I'm scared to because I am very touchy when it comes to my back.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 10

I remember nothing of the epidural but I do remember that it didn't work. I ended up with a c-section and they had to do a spinal on me. I do remember thinking that the needle would hurt more going in but it didn't. The most uncomfortable thing was the position you have to be in to have it inserted (hunched over with your shoulders curled). My friends that have gotten the epidural have all said that it doesn't take the pain away but it does take the edge off. It made it easier for them to relax and push. Good luck.