im also planning to have an epidural but im afraid of the risk to my baby...
2006-12-23 15:35:00 · 19 answers · asked by mybabytart 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
there is hardly a risk to the baby. The baby might be sleepy but in good shape. You shouldn't be put through pain if is not necessary. You want to enjoy the time with your newborn. You don't want to be exhausted from giving birth with no pain meds and sleep right after.
2006-12-23 15:42:36 · answer #1 · answered by myangelbarry 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think there is much risk to the baby. However, try to avoid having an epidural unless you really need it - which is kinda a catch 22 sometimes as it takes a while to set up and kick in.
I had an epidural during my first pregnancy. I was induced and the contractions were really bad (contractions over contractions). The epidural hurt, but afterwards, I couldn't feel a thing past my hips. I pushed when the nurses told me to push. And yes, I ended up having an episiotomy as well... the entire birth took 16 hours
My second pregnancy, the midwives kept telling me there wasn't time to give me an epidural considering how dilated I was. I ended up having the pethidine (didn't help) and gave birth 6 hours later. I had a slight tear, but didn't need stitches.
Discuss with your doctors. If you're concerned about the epidural, then there are other methods like the pethidine or gas.
2006-12-24 08:17:05 · answer #2 · answered by midnight_lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey congrats on your new baby,I know you will be a loving mom and you are concerned about your baby but I did my research on it when I had my first and only child I was in alot of pain and after looking into it I decided epidural was a good decision for me so I got one and the most concern is YOU that is what alto of people fail to realize so dont worry about your newborn I am sure that you have and are making the best decisions already so continue to keep up the good work again congrats oh yeah my son is 10 yesterday and a honor roll all A student no harm done!!!!!
2006-12-23 23:47:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had an epidural with my daughter and she was completely fine. She had a little trouble latching on when I would breastfeed her at first but that was fixed with a thing called a nipple shield that the nurses gave me to help her latch on, so it was no biggie. She was find after a couple of days though and could nurse like a pro! Now she is 9 months old and she is very smart, she already has started taking steps and everything.
Get the epi, you and your baby will be fine.
Congrats!
P.s. The epi did not hurt. All you feel is a little prick and then some pressure, and that was it! And I am the biggest baby with needles too LMAO. It was no big deal at all!
2006-12-24 00:01:34 · answer #4 · answered by cleverness_444 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
risk of epidurals are pain at the site like any other injection . infection since they've pierced your skin like any other shot. The most serious is spinal Headache as this procedure is done by feel only. it is a chance 1/200 of them puncturing the dura and leakage of spinal fluid that can lead to a severe headache that can last days ..they will try to help with lots of fluids ibuprofen caffeine but if this does not help they need to go back in and replace the lost fluid with blood they have drawn from you, this doesn't happen often like i said 1/200 but when it does it hurts like heck. most common side effect is because you relax the blood vessels you get a drop in blood pressure and need fluid IV bolusing .. there is no risk to fetus as none of the meds go to baby. An epidural is a potential space outside the spinal column like an envelope that is closed until you blow on it and it opens the same is the epidural space it is outside the spinal collum and after the MD numbs your skin he guides a needle in between your back bones through a ligament once he passes the ligament it feels like going through melted butter he can be assure he is most likely in the right space he them passes a small catherter tube and gives you a test dose while monitoring your HR (he puts a little adreneline in the mix and if he is in the wrong space your heart rate will beat fast and he can then replace and try again but most likelky he is in the right space he then injects medicine novacaine type med and the epidural space opens up this is outside the spinal colume where the nerve fibers come out so that when he injects the novacaine mixture you will become numb to pain but not pressure so you will still be able to feel the baby move and come down the birth canal with out pain.so enjoy the greatest joy of your life and instead of focusing on the pain focus on the love and joy.. congrats to you and your family
2006-12-23 23:58:26 · answer #5 · answered by helenobrn 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It's all up to you. Don't just listen to the people here. Do independent research and make up your own mind. Keep an open mind when you go into labor. You might need it, you might not. There's risks to *you* with an epidural, but an epidural *doesn't* affect the baby, whereas the other pain meds can. But do your own research at sites like WebMD and such.
My personal epxerience with an epidural was good. I didn't need it in the beginning of my labor since it wasn't that bad, but then I started to have back labor, and *really* needed it! And it was great! Had no problems. But there are other women who have bad experiences. You'll never know what'll happen. Just wait and see what you'll need during your labor.
2006-12-23 23:49:20 · answer #6 · answered by alimagmel 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
i had my first baby (little girl) at home, so i didn't have the option of one. my second (boy), well, that was another story. i was in labor for four hours and was 6 1/2 - 7 cm dilated (not normal, women in my family have very fast labors) and decided to have one because he was laying on my back and that was horrible (compared to "normal" labor pains). and hour later he was born. the thing i liked about my anesthesiologist, is that he was aware that i was having a fast labor, so he didn't give me a complete epidural, he said it was only a partial because i wouldn't need a whole one. he was right, and it wore off about 30 minutes after the birth (it seemed like 30 minutes, anyhow). my son was fine and still is. they say that babies tend to be less responsive (and i'm sure in some cases that's true) but my little guy was alert and responsive. i think the one thing i missed (this is going to sound crazy) is the "bearing down" feeling i had with my daughter. because i was numb, i couldn't feel anything and the only way they knew i was ready was to check me.
my answer to you is go through labor as long as you can. in fact, plan on not having one, put it into your birth plan for them not to ask if you want one, but to give you one if you ask for it. it's painful to wait, but it kinda makes you feel like a stronger woman (like i felt after my first one, since i didn't have an epidural with her) to see just how much you can endure.
i never had an episiotomy. thank goodness the ob's in the area i live in are against them unless a woman has been pushing for (i think my ob said) over an hour or so. i had a small tear with my daughter, no big deal, and had a tear with my son on my labia (nowhere near where an episiotomy would have been) and needed one stitch, so i'd say that isn't too bad.
oh, and i'm preggie with number 3 and not sure if i'm getting one again, or not, but wouldn't be too opposed if it came down to it.
2006-12-24 00:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by Mommyof4 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
YES, yes, yes! Do it! Get the epidural! Actually, you don't need to make that decision now. Just make sure you will give birth in a hospital where it will be an option. Then when you are in the middle of labor you'll either decide the pain is more than you expected and you'll get an epidural or you'll decide you can manage without one. It's impossible to predict now what you will feel when you are giving birth.
2006-12-23 23:43:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 1⤋
i also had an epidural
but it was for my c-section
it didn't hurt the baby he is fine and as smart as ever
if you have to have a c-section don't worry it was great i was awake and i got to experience everything and so did my husband he thought it was sweet
you wont feel pain if you have an epidural hope this helps
2006-12-24 00:06:53 · answer #9 · answered by billiejo_8 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I dont know a lot about it, but I would say that there is no more risk with this than any other thing that you would have. Anyway think how much easier it will for you to have your sweet baby. I hope you the best of luck with your baby. Happy Holidays.
2006-12-23 23:41:41 · answer #10 · answered by karen v 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋