How bad is labor with an epidural?

Question

Please be honest. Worst pain you've ever felt? Not as bad as you thought? Was there anything more painful (like breaking a bone, etc.)?

Answer 1

I didn't feel a thing with the epidural. My biggest mistake was telling the doctor that I wanted to wait when he first asked me if I wanted it....DUMB!! If I had taken it when he first asked I wouldn't have felt a thing the entire time. Once the epidural was in place (which did hurt, but quick) I fell asleep and was woken up when it was time to push. I pushed with all my might and didn't think anything was happening. The nurse turned to me and said, "Do you want to feel your baby's head?" I reached down and there he was. A few more pushes and he was out...I never felt a thing, maybe just a little pressure. I only had to push for 20 minutes! I was SO WORRIED about pain before I had my baby, but it really was no big deal with the epidural! Good luck and no worries!

Answer 2

That's the way to do it. Go in with an open mind, try and see if you can handle the contractions, and if you can't get the epidural. Contractions are VERY painful, I won't lie. Pretty much all the breathing techniques you learned go out the window! I could take it up to 5cm dilated then HAD to get the epidural which doesn't hurt at all compared to the labor pains. There is a cut off point however which is 5cm dilated for getting the epidural. The reason is you need to feel pushing when you are ready and if you get it later then 5cm, you won't feel to push. But don't worry, when it's time to push with the epidural, you will feel only pressure to push, no pain at all. Epidural's work!!!

Answer 3

I felt that yes it was the worst pain I have ever felt. I had 2 babies the first I had an epidural and the second I didn't. And with it being the first you don't really know what to expect so thats why i took it. The epidural takes the pain of the contractions away, but then all of a sudden you know you have to push and you feel the baby coming out, but not too much pain. With out the epidural it hurts like a period cramp but a million times worst. But having the baby only feels llike you are constipated. You will feel scared but you can do it. Imagine back in the old days when there wasn't the epidural....... women are strong and we can all do it. :)

Answer 4

Not that bad, IF it takes before the baby decides to make his/her appearance. I wanted to do a natural birth, but I couldn't handle the contractions any more towards the end, so opted for the epidural. I had even had some sort of IV med/drip-thing that made me so loopy, I was talking out of my head; however, I still felt the contractions HARD and I was beginning to hold my breath while having them. That's when I said "Okay, I give....where's the epidural? It hurt getting it done, but it wasn't anywhere close to being as painful as the contractions I was having. Afterwards, I felt soooo good and actually got an hour nap before my son decided he was coming. And it didn't hurt him coming out either. It just felt like I had to take the biggest poo in the whole wide world. I had to have an episiotomy, too, and never felt it. Only thing I felt was some tugging from the doctor stitching me up. Now, about 30-40 minutes after that, I was none too happy, but getting to look at my son's beautiful face made it all worth it. Now, I will tell you this: it took me 4 days to get over the epidural. It felt like my left butt cheek was asleep and tingly. However, I am still going to get an epidural with this child. It's so much easier and this way, I'll be able to relax before having her instead of being in pain.

Answer 5

My epidural stopped working, and by time the second dose kicked in, I was already pushing my daughter out. But I would have to say that it was the worst pain I've ever felt, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I've never felt anything more painful. Most people are all for getting epidurals, so I would say that most generally they work pretty well, but it didn't for me. Stadol (spell?) was awesome. I was still in pain, but I was tripping so hard, I didn't even notice the pain.

Answer 6

My child was back to back and it was the most painfull thing i ever felt and I am good with pain.I ended up having an epidural and all the pain went away but it affects people differently and is usually 70% affective.My advice is for you not to do a birth plan as you just don't know what is going to happen.try for a natural birth and then leave yourself open for an epidural.I would say stay away from the pethidine as it does not take any pain away it just makes you loose your mind.If you are thinking of breast feeding don't worry about what you have as I had everything and a c-section in the end and was very successful with breast feeding-just be confident.hope this helps and that all runs smoothly for you.enjoy your baby.

Answer 7

I got an epidural but still felt some pain. But it was totally manageable. First birth with no drugs and it was the most painful experience of my life, and went on for hours and hours. Afterward I looked like I had been jumped by a motorcycle gang. The second and third I was all "give me the drugs" and it was really easy and I felt great afterwards.

Answer 8

I felt no pain with my epidural onlyup untill I was fully dialated, and then i started feeling my contractions again, just not as bad as before I got my epidural, and the pushing part wasn't as bad as it would have been had i not gotten an epidural.

Answer 9

First trick is to get it at the right time (whenever dr. says it is okay). Remember this theory: If you can't feel pain, you aren't fighting it and things will progress much quicker. With my last child the epi only took on one side though, so it wasn't all that effective. WIth my 2nd they were going to have to do an emergency c-section and wouldn't let me have the epi, once they said okay I could have it, it was almost too late. With the first, when I got the epi I had only progressed in 14 hours to being dialated to 2!!! Once I had the epi I delivered 4 hours later. Bottom line: Everyone is different, just like labor, no guarantees, some people love it some hate it. I did find that sitting on the edge of the bed to get the epi was better than when they had me lay down.

Answer 10

Once you get the epidural you don't feel anything. Without the epidural though the labor pains can be really bad, especially after your water breaks. I suggest getting that epidural early on.