What are the the negative sides of getting a epidural during labor?

Question

I'm thinking more of the negative part for my baby not just me.

Answer 1

I've never had one, but I think it can sometimes leave you paralized.
Just do it with entinox and maybe some pethadine.
Giving birth really isn't that bad you know, I've had three, first with entinox and pethadine, second with pethadine and my third was completley natural, and he was born at home, he weighed 8lb 12oz so wasn't a small baby.
Trust me you can do it without an epidural, just breathe deeply and you will get through it.
Good luck x

Answer 2

After you get one, you will what is referred to as the shakes. It is normal and you should not try to fight it.
Your legs will feel heavy. You will feel pressure and maybe a little pain so that you will know when to push. (They usually turn it down a little during deliver to aid in pushing.)
It takes a few hours before it wears off, so they might have to put a catheter in to empty your bladder.
Some people experience a little pain in their back after wards. You should talk to your OB/GYN and the anesthesiologist about the pros and cons. They will be your best bet for all the technical information and side effects of an epidural.
The epidural is in your spinal cord and it does not do anything to the baby. It is not like IV pain medications which are in the blood stream and can make the baby "sleepy".
Some of what was said by the people above is true, but you really should get the real information from the experts...and that would not be anyone on the forum.

Answer 3

I ended up getting one and was very upset with myself because I was set on not getting one!! My water broke before I went into labor with my daughter, so I had pressure on my intestines for 14 hours!! That is why I got the epidural, but wouldn't you know it...it didn't get rid of THAT pain!! Also, when they gave me the epidural, it only numbed one side of my body, so what was the point??

I have also heard that it can cause back pains...just aches. I don't think I've had any issues, but can't say for sure!! I have a sore back every now and then, but not sure if that's what it's actually from.

Answer 4

The only "negative" thing I experienced was feeling cold, shivering and some vomiting (but maybe that was b/c of labor in general??). Other than that it was GREAT for me. Couldn't feel a thing and the baby came out in 2 pushes.

Answer 5

I guess all these people had a bad experience. Mine was the total opposite I'm glad I got one. I felt my first and ONLY labor pain when I was 9cm {due to an incompetence and dynamic cervix}. The anesthesiologist was experienced and as gentle as possible the only thing I felt was a little sting when she put the needle in. Ask your Dr if your so worried he'll be honest regarding potential side effects.

Answer 6

Do you really want to know? My daughter had one, if you had seen it you would never let them near you. First the blood spurted all over the anesthesiologist, then the tube went up too far and poked a hole in the sac of fluid around the brain. That caused severe migraine headaches for a week until they patched it up. When they finally got the epidural done, only one side of her body was numb and the other side felt everything. I will never allow it to be done to me for any reason. Of course they say her case was rare and that usually never happens, but it happened to her and I saw it.

Answer 7

long term back problems, it wears off too quickly and you'll feel everything once the baby hits the birth canal. sometimes the pain med isn't strong enough and have to stick you again in like four hours anyways and no anesthetic when the epidural goes into your back, and you have to get a cathedar, and those things hurt you and discomfort you even more than you already are!!

Answer 8

hypotension 12 - 23%
maternal fever - (then unnecessary antibiotic therapy - then the yeast infection - then.....) one study cited an increase of 0.07 Celsius rise per hour exposure to epidural anesthesia. another reported 5% of fetuses reached cores temp in excess of 4Celsius, another found a statistically significant increase in maternal temps > 38C associated with EA.
inadvertent spinal ( and headache to follow - which a blood patch does not always cure - the incidence depends on skill of operator.... July - new residents - expect a huge increase in spinals in the teaching hospitals..... )
pruritus, nausea and vomiting. (no numbers here - but more likely with spinals)
backache - significant more women c/o backache following EA (RR 1.8)
fluid overload- ?pulmonary edema???
infection from epidural site
resp arrest
anaphylaxis
nerve damage
indirect increase in:
fetal distress- bradycardia - one study reported 11% occurrence within 5 - 20 minutes of administration
dystocia (oft cited as reason for significant increase in C/S following epidurals)
operative delivery (forceps, vac, C/S)
episiotomy/tears
oxytocin augmentation
fetal scalp electrodes and IUPC use
intrauterine infection - related to the increase in V/Es, IUPCs, etc. breastfeeding and infant behaviour - depending on amount of narcotic and anesthetic the baby has been exposed to.- the local anaesthetic from regional anaesthesia has been detected in cord blood following birth... - led one researcher to comment that epidural babies were floppy but alert....

Answer 9

would you get you teeth pulled w/o novacaine? everything has side effects. i got an epidural with my first child yes it was painful but i am happy i got it. i plan on getting another one with my second child.

Answer 10

If you move the wrong way you could become paralized