any one have bad experiences with an epidural?

Answer 1

There's all sorts of things that can go wrong with epidurals.

-With my step sister, they administered the epidural and forgot to turn the machine on. (so they thought she was doing a whole lot of complaining for no reason.)

-If they do it wrong, you can get a spinal headache for up to a couple weeks (I believe) after giving birth. It'll definitely last at least 2-3 days. A spinal headache is a really really bad headache-- Someone I knew couldn't sit up, could barely breastfeed, couldn't walk to the bathroom, etc.

-It can slow down your labor and make you get a c section. (Watch baby story for a week--I promise you'll see a handful of situations where this occurs.)

- It can make it difficult to push. usually they turn it off so you can feel yourself pushing. (so you still have the pain.) Even then, you can be a little sluggish. It took my sis in law 3 hours to push out her 1st baby.

- It can slow your baby's heart beat down.

So, like all drugs, you have to weigh the benefits of the epidural with not getting one. It's all what you prepare yourself for.

Answer 2

It seems like some people are blaming epidurals for pain and problems that could be caused from something else. True, it's possible that things can go wrong since it's a drug going through your spine... but really the percentage is pretty low. I personally had a good experience with the epidural. It made labor very enjoyable and I could laugh and talk during the whole thing. It did not slow my labor one bit (only 5 hours long) and even though it wore off a bit during the end, it actually was a good thing because I could feel when I needed to push. I'm definitely going to have one with this one, even with the risks. The hospital I'm delivering at has a great reputation and I'm trusting that everything will be great again.

Answer 3

I did. but over all it was well worth it. They had to do it three times. The first time it didnt take right and there was still a spot on my lower left belly that i could still feel. So they did it again. When they were sticking the needle in my back they popped an air bubble i guess. It hurt and i felt this fizzy feeling go up my spine and to the back of my head then a pain behind each ear. I got a head ache from it and could still feel that spot on my belly. They had to give me another pain med threw my IV to stop my head ache so i could move and then they told me i could 1)try for another epidural and it WILL work 2) try an epidural again and it WONT work and i would go for a c section or 3) just go for the c-section. So i got it again and after that i felt GREAT i didnt feel a thing when i was pushing. i got some sleep because i wasnt feeling anything at all and got aggervated with the nurse because she kept saying "let me know when you have your next contraction" but i wasnt feeling anything.

I say go for the epidural it will be well worth it even if you do need it three times.

Answer 4

I had a horrible experience with my epidural. With my first I had a shot of pain med and had him in 4 hours, with my second it seemed like it lasted forever (24) hours, anyway I couldnt take the pain anymore, and I gave in and got an epidural. Well anyway they had not given me enough fluids (so they say) and just as soon as they had the epidural in, my blood pressure bottomed out at its lowest I think it was 30/10 and my pulse was like in the teens. I couldnt move or speak all I saw was the reaction on my husbands face, he was all to pieces, next thing I know a nurse came running back in my room with 2 needles in her hands and jabbed them into my legs, good thing is that the epidural had started to work and I didnt feel the needle, their was epinefrine in the syringes (some king of meds used to make your heart rate go back up) and they had brought the crash cart in I didnt know what was going on. Like I said I couldnt move or speak. Then after all of that I couldnt feel my contractions, so I was having a hard time pushing. So anyway to make a long story a little shorter, I am ttc my 3rd and I plan not to have an epidural.

Answer 5

with my first son the epidural made HIS heart beat droppe to 36 and then with my second child the epidural .. strangley i don't know if this has happened to anyone else made me hurt A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT worse than the contractions alone i had a total of 3 visits from the anestheiologist i don't think that is spelled right but he had to come back 3 times in about a hour and 15 minute time frame and the nurse kept giving me doses from the box as often as it would let her. i would have rather gave natural childbirth than it also made my blood pressure bottom out but IM OK didn't feel a thing in fact my doctor demanded that i stopped laughing and keep pushing. :) don't be afraid of it it's there to help you if your unsure there are other routes

Answer 6

No exactly a bad experience, but my back has never been the same since. It could be other factors but I have heard epidural can mess up your back and ever since I had my epidural my back has been messed up. I throw it out every couple of months and am paralyzed for days. it could be something else causing it but it didn't happen until after I had my son.

Answer 7

OMG definite! for the time of my first sons transport for some reason after the epidural became in my returned the nurses moved me right into a diverse mattress. That think of got here undone or blocked or something. i became in intense soreness and advised them and that they did no longer something. I had a complicated transport and that i "torn " badly down there. I felt each sew they put in and that i advised them and the docs mentioned to loosen up because of the fact i became numb and could no longer experience something. After endless stitches and me moaning with each somebody ultimately checked the epidural and it became blocked and not working. For my 2d baby's beginning 11 years later I did it organic and it became uncomfortable yet no longer insufferable. If I ever have been to have yet another baby i might in no way get an epidural.

Answer 8

While I wouldn't really classify it as a "bad" experience, this was quite frustrating. I was having a scheduled repeat c-section and it took the doctor literally 12 tries and 2 different needles to be able to get it right. I ended up with a bruise on my back that looked like either a lower-case "b" or snowman, depending on who you asked. Because he stuck me so many times he was worried that I might get a spinal headache but I didn't and once it was administered everything went perfectly.

The epidural with my first, emergency, c-section was totally smooth and I didn't even feel the needle prick.

Answer 9

I have to say that getting an epidural was WONDERFUL. He did have trouble getting the needle to go in the right spot at first, but compared to the back labor contractions I was having, it was nothing. I did throw up, just water, because all I had in me was ice, and I felt much better after I got it out. And yes, it did make me really shaky... but by the time they moved me from delivery to my postpartum room, i was fine, and starving! It made me feel so much better and the delivery was beautiful because i wasn't concentrating on the pain.

Answer 10

My best friend had one and she threw up the whole time she was numb. My mother in law had her first epidural with her 6th child two years ago and her labor lasted for twice as long as any of her other children. It also caused both of them to have bad back pain after it wore off.