37 weeks pregnant thinking to go on epidural for labour HELP?

Question

I'm really terrified of what might happen on D DAY I go into labour. The pain and all stuff.. I will be 37 weeks the end of this week and I think it's time to plan for labour. I was thinking of getting an epidural this would get rid of some tension off my mind. For anyone who had one when is this given? When u get in pain? And could you feel your pushing or .. can you push with your body half numb? whats the sensation?

Answer 1

first off...what you're feeling is normal. i wasn't sure about the epidural and labor and delivery started to really scare me after a while. once you get into the next 2 weeks or so you will be sooooo ready for any kind of pain just so the baby can come out! promise.

here's what happened with me. granted not everything will be the same for you or done the same at your hospital, so it's best to talk to your OB and tour the hospital's labor and delivery ward.

i woke up on a saturday with some little contractions. i knew they were contractions but they didn't really hurt and i knew if i went to hospital with contractions so light that i would feel like a big ol wuss.
so, i just went about my day and they progressively got stronger and more frequent. by around 9pm they took my breath away and i had to kind of lean over and grip a chair or counter to help me concentrate on breathing through the pain.

so, i decided that they were strong enough to go to hospital. once there they assesed me and sure enough...i was in labor. so, they admitted me and off i went to the delivery room. once there they asked if i wanted an epidural and i said "yes, please, these are starting to really hurt" and i got the epidural. what a relief!
i went numb from the waist down and it was a bit odd, but i was thankful b/c i could see how hard my contractions were on the computer chart and i was hurting pretty bad when they were only half as strong!

that night my husband and i watched tv, played cards and called friends and family while i was in labor and not feeling a thing!! yippeee!

by the next morning, they woke me up to check how dialated i was and sure enough...i was 10 cm, so i pushed....and there was the baby! well, i pushed a little more than just once, but it didn't take any more than 15 minutes and there he was!
the pushing was easy b/c it was just a little pressure. i could feel just enough to know where i needed to focus all my energy and push as much as possible.
once the baby was born and the epidural was out i felt back to normal and i wasn't really sore or anything.
it was a cake walk, really. not bad at all.
i know some women aren't as lucky as me, but i'll brag all day b/c it's the most amazing experience you will ever have and once you get into it you won't be scared, you'll just be ready to do what all mommies do!!
HAVE THAT BABY!

take care;)

Answer 2

I was induced at 37 weeks and my doctor told me I could have the epidural at anytime. I got the epidural 6 hours after the potocin as the pain would just not go away and I had planned on getting one for pain if I needed it. Everyone has their own experience when it comes to D day, and I got to say I wouldn't recommend the epidural. I didn't realize you felt that numb and I was still uncomfortable because I felt a lot of pressure. It absolutley hurt getting it too, if I had a better anesthesiologist, I'm sure it wouldn't of hurt so much. I ended up having a c-section because after 12 hours of labor I wasn't progressing (only dilated to 3 and other compilcations) so I can't tell you about the pushing part but for my next child I plan on having a vbac with no epidural!!! Oh and I forgot, the after effects of the epidural suck!! You itch like crazy! They gave me benedril and some other type of anti itching medicine and it didn't work. It lasted like 2 days. You will also itch a little bit when they first give it to you and that wasn't bad but I wasn't prepared for all that itching after I got it out!

Also keep in mind everybody has their own experience, you can listen all you want to other peoples stories but trust me you will be surprised at how well you do and how well you cope. And talk to your doctor about other routes to take besides the epidural it might help to know what all of your options are.

Answer 3

I had an epidural with my first child and no pain control with my second child (didn't have time). An epidural is usually administered after you are about 4 centimeters dilated - any sooner could delay or slow down dilation - so you do experience some pain from contractions and it is pretty severe pain. Epidurals affect everyone differently - some people get only pain control and some people are completely numb, waist to toes. It is harder to push with an epidural, obviously, because you can't feel your body as well, but you will still be able to push. You will have to listen to the doctor, midwife or nurse who will tell you what to do. Having done it both ways, I definitely recommend an epidural. The pain of labor is very intense and it is worst in the last two or three hours before the baby comes. There's no way to have a "painless" labor and delivery but there's no reason to suffer. Do whatever feels right to you.

Answer 4

Epidurals have both good and bad sides to them. They can cause recurring headaches, backaches, and a variety of other issues if inserted improperly. They also do relieve pain very well, though. I would recommend that you get the book "I'm Pregnant!: A Week-by-Week Guide from Conception to Delivery"
by Lesley Regan. It has a LOT of very impartial information about different kinds of pain relief.

There are also many books that help you deal with the pain mentally instead of using medications, if you are at all interested. You might check into those. Some of the best that I've read are "Childbirth Without Fear" by Grantly Dick-Read and "HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing" by Marie F. Mongan. I was terrified of labor until I read these, and have since then actually decided to have a natural birth. Even if you don't, some of the techniques may assuage some of your anxiety. Good luck!

Answer 5

I would have not made it without an epidural, personally. The dosage they give you allows you to still be able to feel the sensation of needing to push, and you can tell when you are pushing, but you cannot feel the accompanying pain. With my first baby, I had too much medication and could not tell whether I was pushing or not, couldn't really move my legs, and couldn't walk for awhile. With the second, however, things were much smoother...I COULD tell when I was pushing, could partially move my legs when needed, and was up and walking within a hour.

I went into labor at 11:00pm, and was given an epidural by 1:00am. They are typically given when you are in true labor and have dilated to 4-5.

Answer 6

All they have told you may be truth in some way but it sounds like they want you to freak out, is not as bad as it sounds, and about the pooping is not truth that is because they didn't push right is because you really need to poop, the best thing you can do is relax and wait till the time came so you will experience for your self the miracle of having a baby, when the contractions became stronger if you are ready try to push and that will help you baby to came faster and, so you will not need to get an epidural, thats what I did with my last two pregnancies, the pain can be manageable as log as you want, trust God and everything will be fine Good luck, and God bless you!!!

Answer 7

I had an epidural with my daughter and am planning on having one with this one too (due the 19th). You can not feel the pain, so no you can not feel the contractions but you do feel pressure. I should say in most woman it takes the pain away, sometimes it dosen't work. I had my epidural at 10 am and she was born at 12. If you really want to know about it, ask your doctor, every woman reacts differently to it. And yes you can still push, just like I said you feel the pressure not the contractions. Hope this helped, and good luck.
Kath

Answer 8

I have 4 children, 2 with spinals, 1 with epidural, and 1 natural. in that order.
The epidural was given during labor while you are in pain and was eased off as it came time to push. I felt all of delivery and pushed him out.
For the spinals, I was given them just before time to push in the delivery room (yes back then it was a seperate room, I'm old) There you felt the entire pain of labor and none of the pain of delivery. Yes we were able to push with no feeling from the waste down.
For natural I was after the epidural but as I sat up to get it he came and well... too late.
Every one had a pro and a con. No matter what there was some pain involved either early on or at the end. I personally prefer losing the labor pain as the delivery wasn't that bad. By number 4 with the natural I'm glad I was able to go natural for at least one it was a great experience and not as bad as I thought.
Remember no matter what you decide chances are you may change your mind during labor and delivery depending on your tolerance and depending on the amount of discomfort you have. I have friends that went all natural for 4 births and thought it wasn't painful at all.
Discuss the pros and cons with the Dr at the next visit and see what they have to say and be open to whatever happens on "D day"

Answer 9

I wouldn't get the epidural. I am to scared of the chance of paralizing myself. I had 3 births and I am almost 36 weeks ready to give birth again. I would tell you though, that I gave birth to my first two with a shot that helps with the pain and did even relize that when I went to give birth to my third child that I was to late to recive anything for the pain and when he came out, he stayed awake for a long time looking at us and nursed right away. So I am hoping that I don't get any pain medicine because the experince after the baby is born is so much better. Good luck to you and hope you do what ever makes you happy.

Answer 10

Why don't you go into labor and see how you do and if you feel you want an epidural then, get one. I wanted one when I was pregnant with my first son. When I got to the hospital they checked me and told me it was to late. He was born shortly afterwards. With my second I realized that I didn't need it. Both were very fast labors and deliverys, under 3 hours. Now I am pregnant with my third and I figure I don't need one, but I could be wrong and the option is always there and I'll take it if I feel I need it. Good luck and congrats!