question about epidural?

Question

i am due to have my baby any day now and i still dont know about having an epidural. can anyone share their epidural experiences with me, has anyone had any bad experiences with an epridural?? and does it hurt??? and does the fact that i am a big girl with a little fat on my back (that sounds horrid) ;make it harder to get the needle in?

Answer 1

I didn't have an epidural, but I had a spinal. i didn't even feel it when they did it. I also had been given demeral and phenogren beforehand. I say that if you can't take the pain of having an epdiural, then you NEED to get one, because having a baby without it is more than likely going to be much more painful. Good luck with everything and congrats!

Answer 2

I had an epidural after swearing to myself I wouldn't. I was prepared to go natural. I read the books, studied the breathing and all that. When I was in the labor room, I was crying for an epidural. It was such a relief after I got it! I am so glad I did. It did NOT hurt at all. I didn't feel one bit of pain from the epidural. Only problem I DID have with the epidural is that my right side did not take the epidural... so while my left side felt great, my right side felt EVERYTHING. But, as much as I was against an epidural originally, there is NO way I would have ever done it without it.

I kept saying I would NEVER get an epidural. I said I did not trust anyone with a needle in my spine...... but unless you have ever experienced labor, you really can't say whether you would get one or not. I have a very high pain tolerance level... but contractions feel like you are going to DIE. I was laying there and a light bulb popped up over my head, saying, "Hey... they have stuff to stop all this pain... why am I putting myself through this horrible pain?" You wouldn't believe how anti-epidural I was before I went into labor. It was a good thing I had the epidural too... because I ended up with second degree tearing (second degree - down into the second layer of tissue) all inside and had to have 20 stitches in my "lady area" immediately after giving birth.

Answer 3

i just had my baby on the 11th of last month, and i would tell you, that if everything is going normal, to have the epidural. they give you a shot of novacaine in the back first so you dont feel the huge needle. it doesnt hurt. and im scared of needles. you will however have to have an i.v every woman is different, when i had mine, i had hypertension which is a raise in blood pressure, the epidural actually dropped my blood pressure so low that i had to have a shot of steroids to bring it back up. sometimes epidurals slow the labor process, but i went from 3 to 9 centimeters an hour and a half after i had mine. plus i got some much needed sleep. you can get really itchy, as you are numb, but it did relax me a lot. if your contractions arent that bad and u think u can go without give it a shot! having the epidural might prolong your pushing process, as you cant feel anything until it wears off, so you cant tell how and where u are pushing, i pushed for two hours! but i pretty much had a good experience and would recommend it

Answer 4

A gave birth 2 years ago, and almost 4 months ago.. I had an epidural with both.. I had planned on having it with both. But with my first, when the contractions started comming, and the nurse made a comment that they were strong, I thought I could do it.. OH BUT WAS I WRONG! They started comming a WHOLE LOT stronger, and realized there was no way! With both kids it didn't hurt.. What they do is give you a local anistetic, then give you the epidural. It doesn't hurt, it's just uncomfortable. It feels like pressure between your spinal cord, and feels like something that shouldn't be there. You don't have to decid until you get to the hospital, and when the nurse asks, let her know you are still unsure, and want to see how things go. But make sure they let you know if the anestesiolgist has to do a C-section, because that means they will be tied up anywhere from 20min to 1.5 hours. Because I waited with my first, I ran into that problem, and man was I regretting it.. With all the uncomfortableness of pregnancy, and when the contractions hit, You may not care how bad it hurts (if you think so) fo 2.5 secs, just remember that all the pain will go away! Good luck.. and P.S. take your own pillow to the hospital with you, their's suck!

Answer 5

I had an epidural about 15 hours into my labour. I had tried the gas, and pethadine, but was not coping well. When the anaethstatist started to prep me for the procedure, i was freaking out! But was seriously looking forward to getting some relief. He gave me an injection of local anaestetic before he put the catheter needle in my spine, So It wasn't that painful when he did. I still felt a little pinch though. About half an hour later I began to feel the effects of the epidural, but unfortunately i could still feel the contractions, in my tummy and lower back. My legs were totally numb though. If you have an epidural you hav to have a catheter put in, as you cant get up to wee. That was uncomfortable. Also there is a bigger chance you will have to have an episiotomy and forceps/ventouse delivery, as its not as easy to push if you cant feel the contractions.
It did take the edge off though and it distracted me for a good hour and a half. Ive only had one side affect, ive got a little numb spot on my left thigh, still 5 months later. What happened to me was very rare, So dont let this put you off! If i have another baby i wont hesitate to try it again. Best wishes for the birth!!!!!

Answer 6

I would not go through childbirth without an epidural!!! LOL I'm also a big baby when it come to pain!!! I have had 2 kids and had an epidural each time. I didn't have any side effects and with my 2nd child I was around 260 lbs (yikes I had gained a ton of weight!! It is off now I'm back down to 145lbs) They were able to give me an epidural being the weight I was. Good luck and happy pushing!!! :)

Answer 7

My epideural experience was HORRID! The anesthesiologist stuck me several times before I was truly numb. Ultimately he overdid it to the point that I couldn't feel anything below the waist so I pushed for over an hour before anything happened.

Within a day, I started to get a feeling I can best describe as what I think rigor mortis would feel like. It's like my head, neck and shoulders started to lock...my head began to throb and felt like it would implode.

I was told that I was experiencing spinal headaches-he'd punctured my spine and leaked some fluid out, so my brain had lost some of it's cushion.

For almost three weeks, I had that head/neck/shoulder locking and excrutiating pain. Thank God I had my hubby and fam to support me because once I found a comfortable position in my bed, I did not want to move for anything. They had to force me to get up to eat, use the bathroom...I needed help holding my baby...

I decided that any other children I had, I'd go natural. I did with my second and it was a much better experience. The pain was intense but the contractions were unbelievably productive-fast as lightning. Once the baby left my body, all pain ceased immediately!

I don't believe that spinal headaches are common but I'm pretty sure they're mentioned in the papework you have to sign before the epi can be done.

I'm just one person sharing my experience. Don't let anyone scare you or decide for you. Use these answers to gain perspective, question your doctors...do your research and make your own decision. Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 8

I'm not sure about the fat on your back affecting it. But I'll tell you my experience. I loved the epidural! I had been up pretty much 36 hours with only a few hours sleep before I got mine. I was 5 cms when I got it and the epidural allowed me to get a much needed nap. I got the epidural in at around 4pm and had my daughter at 9:35 pm. I am so glad I got it. It allowed me to rest a bit so I had the energy to push.

It didn't really hurt since they numb before they stick it in you. I just felt a pinch.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Um with mine they made my fiance (now husband) go away the room. And I needed to hug a nurse that I did not recognize for alleviation. I wasn't too pleased approximately it. But oh good. Anyways by way of that factor I used to be in SOO a lot to quite consider them placing the epidural in.But after supply which used to be at 12:24 they stated they could be in in a while to take away the catheter from my again. Well they did not come till approximately 6 within the morning. It used to be incredibly uncomfortable. And once they took it out it harm worse, or I spotted the ache extra considering that I wasnt in exertions anymore =D I feel the big tape that's for your again is what harm whilst getting it eliminated. Overall it used to be quality regardless that. I received my epidural at 6 cm's I consider, and forty five mins after that (which that entire time I used to be ready to nap) I used to be nine a million/two and just about equipped to give. I do not forget my hubby calling my mum and dad, who had simply left for McDonalds, to hurry again otherwise they have been going to overlook supply! It appeared adore it helped velocity alongside my exertions, however it is going to have simply been twist of fate!

Answer 10

I had one. It really didnt do much for me. The actual inserting of the needle felt like a pressure and a needle going in. It only numbed my right leg and I felt everything. But .... everyone else I know that has had one loved it. They felt no pain. Just some discomfort. One needle vs/ the pain of labor???... I would go with the needle. If you have painful monthly cramps you labor will be more painful than that. I would love to have a painless birth experience so I could enjoy the birth of my child. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you.