Epidural during labour?

Question

Can anyone thats had an epidural (to be numb from waist down during labour) please let me know more about this? im thinking about options for in the future. Is there any pain at all, side affects, risks? If you have any info id be interested in knowing as this is an option i am seriously considering for when i give birth. Can you request an epidural?

Answer 1

you can absolutely request an epidural! I've had three pregnancies and had epidurals done during all of them! I never had any side effects...I did have a friend that got a headache afterwards.

As for pain, I never felt anything much. They always told me I'd feel a pinch, like a bee sting, but I never did. The most "pain" I've ever had is a toss up between my second and third epidural. With my second my mother in law was in front of me and I couldnt round my back out as far as I should have. The doctor did quite a bit of pushing on my back (with his fingers) trying to find the spot he needed. With my third there was a second, when the doctor was where he needed to be, that my foot jerked, I said "OH" and he asked what hurts? Nothing hurt, it just felt REALLY weird. But no pain involved at all for me.

I suggest signing the consent form when you pre-admit yourself to the hospital. That way if you do decide you want one, there's no hassle. The key is to do what works for you. Don't let someone talk you into something you don't want to do. Don't let them push the epidural on you, and don't let them try to get you to try something else, when you want one.

There are several techniques, other than medicine, that you can try, if you'd like. There's always walking. My sister really liked the birthing ball. She spent her entire labour on it. Music can help too, as can changing positions.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Epidural? Y-E-S!!!!!!

They had to give me petossin because my water broke, but I was not dialated, and the baby hadn't dropped low enough. Petossin pushes the labor along, and it is painful!! I welcomed the epidural with open arms, and will tell anyone to take it.

Pain? The only "pain" I felt was when they inserted a needle into my back. But it really wasn't pain to me, because I was in full-blown labor at that point, and the contractions were far more painful than that. They numb the area, and then a larger "needle" (I didn't see anything - they do it in your back; it was all behind me) is inserted, where they put a blocker into your spine to stop the impulses signaling pain from going below the waist. An IV is then put in, and that continues to send the medicine into the body to keep the block going.

Risks? They check to see if you have any broken teeth (why? something about possible infection), they ask a series of questions (as if full contractions weren't hard enough, they give you a quiz during them!!), and tell you that there is a "remote" risk of injury or paralysis. But the risk is very remote.

I had a great anesthesiologist administer mine, and it was PERFECT! I would recommend it to anyone. You can - and have to - request it now days. I waited until I was in contractions that I could no longer handle. I have a high tolerance for pain, and I wanted to see if I really needed it or not. I have great respect for the ones that didn't get one and had a baby. . . But there is nothing wrong with drugs in that instance. If anyone tells you different, they are either not a mother or they are crazy.

Answer 3

i am on my fourth pregnancy. I had epidural for 1st two. Wanted it the last time but there wasnt any time. I have quick labours and it really isnt worth it for this time, but i am leaving the option open. My labours have been, 4 hours, 3, 1/2 hrs, and 2 hours.
There are possible side effects but that, i'm, sorry , i cant explain, i dont remember. I never experienced any side effects myself. But you should know about them.
I did not feel any pain of the needle either. Could be I have a higher pain tolerance or in comparison to the labour pains, it didnt matter.
For my 2nd epidural, it was basically only kicking in when i delivered.
I recommend them. Especially for the typical length of labour, I think it would be well worth it. I thought it was great, especially for the first baby.
My friend used to tell me that you couldnt feel anything or help push, but even though you are numbed up, you can still feel, and push. I think the numbness stays for 2-3 hours.

Answer 4

I did end up opting for the epidural. I was so worn out from the contractions - my back was killing me! There are risks and they will epxlain those to you in detail in your child birthing classes. And, yes can ask for one and receive as soon as your are in active labor. It depends on the hospital usually about 4 - 5 cm dialted - just so it doesn't stall your labor.

I did have to have a cathetar while on the epidural. Which meant I had a hard time controling my bladder after birth. I never even felt a sensation that I had to pee at all. Also, I had severe swelling. The doctors told me it was either from the epidural or the IV, no way to tell which was the culprit.

At the final state of labor when my son's head was crowning the epidural ran out. Well, actually a little before that but they didn't want to give me any more. Plus, at that stage it really won't stop the pain. It's best if you have it before the intense pain comes. For me, once that intense pain came nothing was going to help.

I've heard this is common in women with a higher pain tolerance. That the epidural works to a certain point then it breaks even and goes down from there.

I'm now 22 weeks pregnant and have opted for a friend who is a doula to help me labor naturally. I know it sounds crazy but the way I felt the pain with the epidural combined with the complications from the epidural....I'd just rather do it my own way. And, sitting on a hospital cot just isn't right for me.

I think the key is knowing yourself enough to know how to labor. My sister did great in the hospital bed with her epidural. Much better than I did. Also, my OBGYN said the particular hospital I chose is known in the area for not wanting to give epidurals...which could have been what happened in my case. Either way talk to your doctor or midwife about all your options. :))

Answer 5

I got an epidural and I had to have a catheter. I remained in bed until the epidural wore off: it took 6 hours from the end of my labor. The nurses said this was a little longer than most. It's supposed to wear off in a couple hours. I had the catheter until the next morning (after delivery), so it was less than 24 hours after delivery. I could have gotten up, but I felt too exhausted to do so because I'd lost a lot of blood. (TMI, sorry). The reason you were in bed last time was because you had to have a c-section. Vaginal deliveries are different. If you choose to have an epidural you must have a catheter. If you don't want an epidural, then you need to go to special classes to help prepare your self. I've heard of the Bradley Method and of Lamaze. I think there is a third method that is considered "natural" but I can't remember what it's called. Talk to your doctor about not wanting a catheter and of not wanting to be stuck in bed. Perhaps he or she can help you formulate a plan for a natural childbirth or direct you to the right resources.

Answer 6

WOW....all I can say is YES get the epidural, if you don't want to experience the PAIN of Labor.

You will not even feel the Epidural Needle when you are in ALOT of pain!!

You have to make sure you find a doctor that will adminster the Epidural at ANYTIME!! Sometimes the Doctors will say there is a window for the epidural to be adminstered and really there is NO Window!

I had both of my Epidurals at 8cm!! And It was GREAT!!!

You will have contractions less then 3 minutes or less apart, the Doctor will have you try to curl in a ball and give you the epidural. The pain you will feel is the Contractions!! and WOW once the epidural starts working usually within seconds you are able to relax and enjoy the process of delivering your baby!!!

I Highly suggest the epidural!!!!!

Good Luck

Answer 7

Every single medical procedure carries side effects risks. The biggest LIE about an epidural is that you can become paralyzed. It's 100% not true. So don't listen to anyone who tells you that. There is NEVER a needle that goes into your spinal cord. A catheter is placed in your spinal space to deliver pain medication to you (typically novacaine, what you get at the dentist).

I had an epidural in 3 of my 4 deliveries for labor pain managment. Yes, you request it. I am very thankful for it. It made the labor tolerable and helped me rest up for pushing. Some problems could be that you'd be extremely numb and unable to push. You can't urinate, so if you are in labor for a long time, you will be given a catheter to drain your bladder. Sometimes they are unable to get it to work, sometimes it may only work on one side.

Benefits are that you won't be in immense pain, you can relax in labor and be ready to push. I also noticed that with my youngest after laboring all day, I was only 3-4! I was so bummed, he gave me the epidural and I was complete in 2 hours!! You are also coherent when your child is born, unlike narcotics.

My other delivery was c-section (breech baby) and I was given a spinal, almost the same as an epidural but up higher to numb you from the chest down.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Yes, you can request an epidural. Some side effects would include that it doesn't work, stops working, and sometimes the numbness lasts longer than it should. Yes, it does hurt going in. It only lasts for a second though. I had no problems with mine except that it quit working and one leg felt like pins and needles while I didn't feel the other leg at all!! Everyone is different and don't expect my experience to happen to you. I wish you the best of luck and hope your labor is short!

Answer 9

Given you have no health problems that prevent it, you can request whatever you want for pain medication. I had an epidural and was worried given all the horror stories you hear. However, mine was perfect. I wasn't completely numb, I could feel my legs, and feel when to push, I could feel her come out just not the pain of the contractions..which were really bad because they had to give me pitocin. So anyway, I think epidurals are great. Right after you deliver they shut it off and feeling returns pretty soon after. I got up a few minutes later and went pee. And as far as receiving it goes, it was like a pinch, then some pressure, but hardly hurt at all. I suggest it to everyone. But do make sure you get some kind of nausea medicine beforehand because it is a strong drug and makes some people throw up. Zofran, Kytril, and Phenergen are all good for it. Good luck, and talk to your doc about it too.

Answer 10

I've had epidurals with two out of three pregancies.

The first epidural, I felt absolutely nothing...even when my son was crowning...that was 13 years ago. The second epidural was just three months ago today...she administered only enough to take the edge off. I still felt the labor, but I was finally able to relax enough and gather my strength for the actual pushing.

The worst side-effect of my more recent one came in trying to walk afterwards...you'll need some help getting from the bed to the bathroom and back. You'll also find it difficult to go pee (they want to make sure you CAN pee afterwards), but I don't know if that's from the epidural or from the fact that I no longer had a bowling ball sitting on my bladder.