epidural...?

Question

im 37 and 4 weeks preg and im planning to have an epidural and this is my first baby... can i still push if i had it?is theres a risk for my baby? how long will i have to wait till i get an epidural.. do i have to labor for an hour? thanks for the response in advance..

Answer 1

I had an epidural ,and it was wonderful. Typically, you cannot have an epidural until you have hit active labor (3-4 cm), so you will need to labor until that point. I had a walking epidural and was able to move my legs and definitely felt the urge to push. It took me 8 hours to get from 1 to 4 cm ( I was being induced, a week late), but once I had the epidural, I fell asleep for an hour and woke up at 9 cm. The risks to the baby are very minimal... my baby had no side effects. You have a lot of time to think about it. Your doctor will provide you with a list of benefits and possible side effects towards the end of your pregnancy and forms for you to sign. While some women don't want medication, I thought it was the best choice for my baby and me. Good luck.

Answer 2

When I had my son they offered me the epidural as soon as I wanted it, or needed it. The doctors and nurses want you to be as comfortable as possible while delivering your baby.

Epidurals are used in so many labors that I don't think they would if it was high risk for the babies. You can still push, you are not numb, the pain is just eased some. There will be plenty of help there to guide you through the pushing.

Good Luck to you and congrats on the new member of the family!

Answer 3

Usually the doctor will let you have the epidural whenever you want it; as soon as you are admitted, whenever you feel pain, or even not at all. Ask your doctor if they have any preference on the issue; sometimes doctors make their "own rules", but rarely. You will definitely be able to push--after all, there are LOTS of babies born with epidurals that all come out fine--it's just that the epidural essentially blocks the pain from pushing. It may be hard to tell if you are pushing correctly or even at all, but that's why the doctor and delivery nurses are there to help you and guide you through it. Additionally, there is essentially no risk to the baby, otherwise epidurals would not ever be given!

Good luck on your new arrival!

Answer 4

I have a 10 year old a 16 month old and i am +4 weeks prego now, I have had an epidural with my first two and plan on having it with number three. You can still push, actually you have to or the baby won't come out naturally and other means will have to be used.

Answer 5

This will depend on your level of pain and how much you can handle. When I had my first child the hospital I was at gave a class for anyone that was interested in using drugs and they showed what all the options were and the actual lines that would be inserted into your back for the edidural. I could still feel the need to push and took longer since she was face up instead of face down. With my 2nd he cam so fast by the time we got to the hosptal I was ready to push and had no time for any drugs so he was all natural. It wasnt that bad since I was only in hard labor for less than 2 hours any longer and I really do not think I could of done it I am not a person for pain. You can discuss everything with your dr and they will be able to explain all the riscks and see if there are any classes in your area for more information. Also see you if you are able to preregister at the hospital when you are farther along this will come in handy if you come into the hospital early or unexceptly. Then you do not have to worry about filling out paperwork while you are in labor.

Answer 6

Yes, you can still push. You aren't totally numb. You can still feel pressure. I think the risks are that it can slow down labor. Not sure if there's anymore to the baby. When I had my last baby (13 years ago), you had to be 3 cm dilated to get an epidural. Some women are already there when they reach the hospital. How long you have to wait will depend on your body.

Answer 7

Of course there are risks. Epidurals lead to interventions. The more interventions you have the more the chances of a c-section increase.
Childbirth is a natural part of life and should be treated as such.
Get yourself a good doula/childbirth assistant who can help you with natural pain managment and take some hypnobirthing classes.
You can give birth without an epidural with the right supports.

Answer 8

I had an epidural with both kids. With my son I was able to push, had an easy and fast delivery and felt no pain. I did still feel the urge to push so it doesnt hinder that. I was induced, so I got the epidural an hour after I go the pitocin.
With my daughter, they broke my water before I got the epidural. There was only one dr on call who could give it to me and he was stuck in a c-section so I spent 2hrs in misery without one. By the time he came in the room to give it too me I was 7cm...by the time he was done giving it to me I was 10cm and was feeling the urge to push, so I had no pain relief in that delivery.
So my advice is, get the epidural as soon as you can, ask for it, beg for it, bug the nurses or you might not get one in time.

Answer 9

I don't have the answer to any of your questions. But I've had one baby and it was natural childbirth. Epidurals were not available at the hospital I went. They didn't give me any pain meds. as my son was born so fast. If I had it to do again. I would go and fine a doctor and hospital that gives the epidurals. I would never ever have natural child birth again. Get it and don't feel bad about it. From what I understand you'll be able to push they just have to tell you to do it.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

guess, in spite of bad press i will advise you epidural coz it's still the most effective pain reliever we have for women in labour. yes, it does lead to little more incidences of vauum and forceps deliveries, as women dont push as hard. however, i dispute the theory that it leads to increased caesarians. that rate should remain the same. the adverse most worrying thing should be that fentanyl, which is one of the drug besides bupivacaine, causes the babies to not go for breast feeding. however, the other method of intravenous pethidine also causes sedation in babies and have a similar rate of failure in breast-feeding. overall, i will give epidural a thums up.