Did having an epidural make you sick?

Question

I had two epidurals with my first two and was sick both times after they were first born. With my third I had a home birth with no pain relief and hence wasnt sick. I said to my midwife I was always sick after the birth. She said it may be due to the injection they give you to deliver the placenta so i chose to deliver the placenta naturally. I wasnt sick but now dont know if it was due to not having and epidural or not having the injection. My 4th is due in the summer and I would love to have my last labour pain free but am worried about being sick. What were your experiences with the epidural and the injection to deliver the placenta?

The injection, for those who dont know, is given just as the baby's shoulders are being delivered. It is standard practice nowadays to do this as it speeds up the delivery of the placenta and reduces bleeding.

Answer 1

I didnt have an epidural but I did have the injection to deliver the placenta and I was sick

Answer 2

I had an epidural with my 2nd and I wasn't sick but for about 2 months after I would get a really sore back and numbness. Yes I checked with my GYN and she said that this happens sometimes. With my 1st and 3rd I had completely natural births. With the 3rd was great. I had wonderful support from the midwife for breathing exercises which do work. I also liked the feeling of being in control, with the epidural I didn't like not being able to move.

I have never had injection for delivering placenta as my contractions, milder than during birth, deliverd it. So no epidural didn't make me sick, just very sleepy!

Good luck

Answer 3

With my first pregnancy I just had gas and air and I was fine even though I had the injection to hurry the placenta along with my second pregnancy I had an epidural and I was really sick after and very shaky and cold It must have something to do with the epidural that may effect people diffrently

Answer 4

Wow! I have never heard of them giving an injection as the shoulders are coming out. I know some people that have had pain after having an epidural, and I've only heard once about being sick after an epidural...but she also had a c-section, so that could have caused it. I would ask different doctors and nurses. The more you ask, the better conclusion you come to.

Answer 5

I had an epidural and wasn't sick at all. I also did not have an injection to deliver the placenta. Even if I did have an injection and wasn't aware of it, regardless, I did not get sick from it.

Answer 6

i don't remember getting any injection to make me deliver the placenta....usually you continue to have mild contractions and they deliver that naturally....that sound odd that they would give you an injection without telling you.
all my injections were explained to be before i got them, and i was able to refuse them if i wanted. (although those anitheiaologists REALLY push pain meds).

i had an epidural with my first child, it never worked for me. and it made me HORRIBLY sick! i was miserable!

i since have not done epidurals at all. i find that i am able to manage my pain better than i thought i could. although i found it quite annoying that every hour the anitheiaologist would come and ask me over and over..."are you sure, are you sure". i wanted to DECK him. i said YES! get out!
lol

i think that's why some women buckle to pain meds...they keep pushing it. (or at least they did where i was).

it's different for everyone.

Answer 7

When I was pregnant the midwife mentioned that having epidurals could make me sick and delay the process of labour. I just thought sod that as I didn't fancy that so decided to just go without it. Delivered my two sons naturally without any epidurals or such.

The midwife did offer me to try gas but I felt claustrophobic and preferred to breath big deep breaths. It got me through.... (phew) also had a warm bath at the start to help ease the pain.

Thank goodness its all over (the labour)!!

Water birth could be worth a try... its supposed to help you and the baby (gentle warm water).

After the 1st child, labour seems to get shorter and shorter as you pop out more babies. So you may not have time to take anything when the 4th comes?

One of my friends had her 3rd baby within 5-10 minutes of getting to the hospital (phew a bit close!)

I had my 2nd child within 3 to 4 hours as I arrived to the hospital.

Just relax, and don't stress too much.

Good luck with your 4th.

Answer 8

didnt have the epidural but had the injection for the placenta on 3 of my sons and wasnt sick ...

Answer 9

I threw up a little while after my son was born but don't know whether it was the epidural or not. It didn't make me feel ill or anything I was just a tiny bit sick. It probably didn't help that I was eating dolly beads for hours before I got to the pushing stage! I would tell you to do whatever you want to make you feel comfortable. Would you rather be in agony for hours whilst in labour or be sick afterwards? Good luck with the future.

Answer 10

i myself have never had an epidural...OTHER pain meds, yes. but i do know quite a few people that had. but i haven't heard of anyone getting sick from it....the usual reactions if they had any was more of back aches or migraines....some that even lasted years. but like i said, i have never had a PERSONAL experience with one. i HATE needles and just the prospect of having something in my spine terrifies me! oh, i have never had the injection to deliver the placenta either...that sounds more to me what could cause the sickness. hmm my placentas always spontainously delivered with in 5 min of delivery of my babies anyway. pelvic massages do help with that too.