Can you give birth in the squatting position if you have an epidural or do you have to be on your side or back

Question

I am just curious as to what positions you can give birth in with an epidural. Please only answer this if you know-not a guess. Thanks!

Answer 1

It depends completely on what goes through the epidural catheter.

There are a few techniques that can allow you to have more control of movement, including the so-called "walking epidurals" and CSE (combined spinal epidural)

Epidural analgesia is usually accomplished with a combination of numbing medicine and pain medicine. If the concentration of the numbing medicine is made very dilute, you may still have enough control over your muscles to squat or move into other positions. Walking is possible with help, but what most of us have found is that women don't want to get up once the epidural is in. They just want to rest.

CSE involves a spinal injection of narcotic followed by placement of the epidural catheter. The narcotic will allow you to move, and if you deliver quickly enough, it may be all you need. If labor goes on longer than the spinal narcotic lasts, then the epidural is activated.

Hope that helps.

Many times we do make women very numb - lots of them don't want to feel anything, and will complain when the feeling in the legs comes back (despite not having contractions there!)

Answer 2

Well, it would depend on how much epidural drugs are left in your system when it comes time to push. When it comes time to push, they tend to stop the drug drip to your epidural so that you can feel what you're doing to push properly. With my first, the epidural had worn off completely during the 2 hours of round one pushing (go figure). I was moving around all over the place trying to find a comfortable way for me to push including on all fours.

Round 2 of pushing, my epidural was still fully functional so I didn't feel much so I didn't care what position I was in. And even though you don't feel the pain with an epidural, you still feel pressures and you can still push even if you're "frozen".

I was able to walk after having my baby (albeit unsteadily) and I'm not sure if that's from being in bed for the previous 24 hours or if it's from the residual effects of the epidural.

Answer 3

I f you have an epidural, your legs will be totally numb. You won't be able to stand up on them at all. I can't see how you would be able to squat unless you had everybody holding you. When I had my epidural I couldn't even move my legs on my own, but believe me after feeling seriously strong contractions, I was loving the epidural. It may not be for everyone, but to each their own. I don't know how I would have done it without one. I pushed while on my side for the majority of that phase but gave birth while on my back.

Answer 4

If you have an epidural, you'll be confined to your bed. There's no other option. If you have a very good epidural it won't interfere with pushing and moving your legs but the majority of epidurals seem to take all feeling and control from your legs!

Answer 5

If you have the epidural you won't be able to feel your legs...let alone stand or squat. Once you are given the epidural you are stuck in bed. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

Well, you can't feel your legs if your epidural works properly, so you wouldn't be able to hold yourself up to squat. You'd be stuck on your back or side.

Answer 7

Nope....if you get an epidural you are basically bed ridden. They wouldn't even let me out to take a shower even though I could still feel my legs and move them just fine.

Answer 8

With my epidural I couldnt move my legs or even my toes. you wont be able to squat or move at all

Answer 9

I was afraid to move with my epiderral but it is just fine. You can be in any position with the epiderral. However talk to your doc about squating, I've heard of two people doing it but I'm not sure if the doctors would reccomend it.