I'm not afraid of pain from Epidural but the possible affects?Help!!?

Question

There is some really serious stuff that can happen to you with the epidural. That's really why I can't decide if I want it or not. I heard that the doctor gets you to sign a form stating that if you are paralyzed they would not be held responsible. IS THIS TRUE??? If it is, that is awful and not something I want to get involved in. I am so confused. I don't want to be to tired or in pain so much that I won't be able to enjoy my first baby girl. Lord Help!!

Answer 1

The need for pain relief is one that you should make during labour. No one can tell you how labour will be for you. I can tell you with preparation and stress relief it need not be painful. Fear causes pain by reducing the amount of blood reaching the uterus causing the muscles to build up chemicals, the same ones that make your muscles ache after a strenous work-out.

There are many side effects from epidurals, some rare (paralysis) some common (spinal headache and back pain for days or even months after, may be as common as 30%). In addition there are some risks to the baby.

Prepare yourself as best you can for labour. Empower yourself, learn what tests and procedures are necessary and what are not. Think about where you will be less stressed and more relaxed. Work on mentally preparing yourself for birth. Work on breathing and relaxation (not necessarly Lamaze, in fact I find Lamaze counter-producive long slow moans worked for me, and loose lips = loose vagina... apparently *lol)

Prepare yourself, learn the risks of all forms of pain relief and leave your options open, if that is what you want. If you decide you absolutely would not have an epidural consider a home birth or a birth centre.

Trust Birth!
http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/about.html

Answer 2

I had an epidural three times. The first time, my mom was shocked at how easy it seemed. The second time they could not get the IV in and the epidural didn't take effect in time and I had not pain relief, but when the birth was over, the medicine took hold and I could not move for quite sometime. (not abnormal just bad timing) Third baby, I literally never had a pain and was eating lunch 1/2 hour after she was born. I can say that was a pure joy, being able to enjoy every moment, not being tired or stressed. I don't remember signing anything specifically but I am sure I signed some kind of a waiver, they are going to cover their a**. That being said, women endured this pain for 1000s of years and that is what our bodies are designed to do. There are those who only believe in the natural experience, I just happen to not be one of them. We take chances everyday all the time. No matter what your decision, take some birthing classes so you know what to expect. You may plan to go natural or plan to take the epidural and you may not be able to do what you plan. A class will also help you aid in your decision. I am not fond of the IV drug idea, as they make it into the baby's blood stream. If you have never taken them, they make some people very nauseous. Also, you will be groggy and hung over for a long time. Good luck. :)

Answer 3

Yes, it is always risky when getting an epidural or spinal tap. Anything to do with your SPINE, could POTENTIALLY cause paralysis, however, if you have a good doctor (anesthesiologist) that you trust (maybe even check his/her track record... how many epidurals they've done and how many have ended up in paralysis...) best bet is, most are successful. Do you know how many babies are born every day? Do you know how many people request Epidurals because of the labor pains? I would say it is pretty safe, but just like EVERYTHING, there is that CHANCE. It's your choice... If you don't want to go through the labor pains, do the epidural. If you can endure and have the baby naturally, you go girl!!! Also, the epidural CAN make you sick to your stomach. I threw up, but my delivery was...ANOTHER story to tell.... Good luck in your decision. If this helps. I wanted to have my first child naturally, but when those contractions hit and they asked me if I wanted an epidural, I was looking for a pen to sign the papers! Take Care and Good Luck!

Answer 4

I had one with my daughter and never again, i don't care how much pain I'm in. I had an epidural and it was fine while i was in labor, all the pain was gone and i delivered my daughter successfully everyone was happy............and then that's where the trouble began. Around 15 minutes after i gave birth i started to have pains like labor pain but much more intense, they increased so much i could no longer hold my new daughter. The nurse came could not explain it, the doctor came, could not explain it. Then the pain got worse and i got no relief in between pains it was just one continuous long one. I started feeling sick and the pain was indescribable. MY mother had to feed my new daughter as i could not even look at her never mind feed her. I was moved to the C section recovery ward and i was screaming so bad the woman that was supposed to share the room with me had to be moved else where. My legs did not work for 2 days i had to have a catheter fitted, and seriously asked the doctor to put a gun to my head and end it. In the end the pain died down and i eventually got better. There only explaination for my pain was i reacted to the epidural. I would NEVER have it again with this pregnancy not for all the tea in china. I expected once i had given birth the pain part was over. I was wrong. It was the begining of worse part, more than the labor. Think about it seriously, I'm not trying to scare you, just to make you aware there are people who react badly too it and i never thought it would be me. You could have one and be 100% fine, but reactions do excist make an informed choice. See how far you can go without it. There is gas and air, pethodin injections and honestly it will all be over before you know it. Good luck and whatever choice you make, just make sure its the right one for you dont let anybody sway you one way or the other.

Answer 5

I was going to post but really, Mystic Eye above said everything I was going to say except I disagree labor need not be painful. Without an epidural, you will have some pain. How much pain, for how long and your perception of it - that will vary.

Honestly, I felt like a truck hit me after the epidural, after my two natural births I had a natural high from the endorphins running around in my body. But I had short labors so that may have made the difference.

And by the way, as far as the "it's not like it's SOME NURSE sticking you with a needle" um...many hospitals especially state or country run, or rural areas use CRNAs (nurses with advanced degrees) who administer the anesthesia and they can be just as competent as the anesthesiologists (MDs). That said, if I was going to have a needle stuck in my back I'd rather someone who had done thousands of epidurals successfully, no matter what their degree.

Answer 6

That is true, but you sign a document when you first go into the hospital allocating that the hospital is not at fault for anything that happens to your baby. You will sign a lot of stuff when having a baby. The possible problems that come with an epidural are very minimal. You have to be moving a lot for the doctor to miss his target spot. The process takes about 30 minutes just to get you epidural because there is a lot of preparation to ensure that nothing goes wrong. I have had two epidurals and would easily do it again if I had another baby.

Answer 7

i had to sign a release form before they would administer the epidural stating that they weren't liable for any complications. you have to bear in mind that they do a zillion of these things, i mean the person who actually gives it to you, that is the only thing they do all day. the release is just a precaution. that said, i only ended up with one because i labored for 28 hours [drug free] and the baby was not coming down, so my physician opted for a c-section. good thing too cause he was all tangled up and couldn't get into the birth canal. i dreaded it for my second child as well because it is scary and intimidating but no one was willing to attempt a VBAC with me so i had little choice in the matter. all i can say is the first time i was laboring when they told me to hold still for the needle in the spine and that was darn near impossible! but the 2nd time was scheduled so it was far easier to sit still for the procedure. just some food for thought. also, i had an epidural the 1st time and i was groggy and out of it after the birth but i had a spinal the 2nd time and i was wayyy more alert and so was the baby. not sure what your options are but you should inquire about everything before you decide. an educated decision is always an easier one. have a good birth and a safe birth : )

Answer 8

You'll have to sign a lot of forms that have some pretty scary side effects--though the worst are rare. Even checking into the hospital if you read the forms it states that childbirth can result in death. Hundreds of thousands of hospital patients get an infection while at the hospital, and some of them die.

The risks are minimal, but you should always try to minimize the number of risks you are willing to take.

I got my tubes tied and the doc told me there was still a 1 in 1000 chance of getting pregnant, that's a risk I'm willing to take--we're not using condoms.

Another risk, more likely than paralysis, from epidural is a spinal headache.

Answer 9

They do make you sign a release form but the rate of paralization is so low almost non-existent. There are other side effects such as uncontrolable shaking, the intensity of your contractions decrease which in turn they would give you pitocen for that. Umm pain at the site where they gave you the epidural. They are a godsend though! I slept for like 3 hours during my labor because I couldnt feel anything!

Answer 10

i have had 4 daughters and didn't have any pain relief at all.. i actually enjoyed going through all the pain because at the end the reward is something so beautiful. i was able to take a shower and walk around the hospital and wouldn't have been able to do that if i'd had an epidural.. i had good friend our babies were 6 weeks apart and she had an epidural, they put it in wrong and she was leaking spinal fluid she was unable to carry her son for 2 weeks because of this.. it is also harder to feel the urge to push if you are numb from the waist down... i guess this is really a decision you need to make, i did what was right for me and you need to do what you think is right for you... good luck