What was your experience?
2007-09-17 08:28:15 · 22 answers · asked by Jeanne 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
With my first yes. i was young, scared and the nurses and anesthesiologist PUSHED it on me. i was confused, and unsure of what was going on. i was clueless about what was happening...so i gave in.
it never even worked for me, and actually the anesthesiologist hit a never that numbed my whole right side for days after wards (that "leg gone to sleep-pins and needles type of feeling" very uncomfortable). even though the epidural drugs never worked to relieve my pain, they DID work to make my son very listless and groggy when he was born. he had trouble breathing and they had to give him oxygen. he was fine after the first 2 hrs, and was off oxygen and in my arms after that...and i never let him leave my sight!
i never had one again because of that experience, and i will NOT have an epidural w/my next delivery either. but like always i know that the anesthesiologist will try to push them, they always do. i don't like pain meds anyways, cause they usually make me very ill, but mostly i will never have another one because i saw what those drugs do to the unborn child...and it scared me.
all of my deliveries have been induced (for medical reasons) so i wouldn't know the difference of "normal contractions" and "induced contractions" i do have high tolerance for pain i discovered, and once i educated myself about labor and delivery and my options i felt i didn't need drugs. my choice, and it's what is best for me.
2007-09-17 08:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by ☆MWφM☆ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I was always open to getting the epidural but I planned on seeing what it was like before commiting to it. I was ok at first. The pain was bad enough to where I couldn't walk through a contraction, but I could bear it. But then after my water broke, the contractions went to a whole new level. The pain was so unbearable... I dreaded every contraction that I knew was coming. You're helpless...there is no way to stop the pain. So after an hour or so of those contractions, I decided to go with the epidural. I wasn't bad getting the epidural. They made everyone leave the room (even my husband). The shot didn't hurt at all, but I felt a pop in my back when every they put it in. I moved a lot when the gave me the shot but nothing bad happened. I haven't had any side effects from it, so I am extremely happy with my decision. With the epidural I was able to relax and let my uterus do the pushing. All you feel is pressure, no pain. Once it was time to push, the doc could already see the baby's head and I only had to push for like 30 min.
I would recommend it. To me, there is no point in going through so much pain when you can have an easier less tramatic labor. A lot of women who do not get it, don't have the energy to push when it comes time, and they have to get a c-section or they have to use the vacuum to get the baby out (not something you want to go through).
2007-09-17 08:41:26 · answer #2 · answered by __XXX___ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was determined with my second to not get an epidural. When labor struck I was fine even with the worst pain but then, my daughter decided to play and not stay facing down, she was no longer pushing on my cervix so the doc decided to give me the IV they use for inducing. Those pains are horribly different and more painful so I cried for the epidural. Still my daughter was not pushing down and I ended up having a C-section (also painful after the fact). You just never know no matter how much you plan.
2007-09-17 08:35:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had two babies without.... then on my third child I got the epidural. The first two labors were slow and I did fine on staydol...... that was it. But with my third child everything was different. My water broke at home and I was freaked! They put me on pitocin at the hospital because I wasn't going fast enough. Pitocin makes labor hurt harder much faster. I was having a totally different experience than I had with my first two children and I almost wanted to walk out and give up. Looking back I think I could have physically done the pain thing.... but I would have lost it emotionally. Another plus about the epidural is my husband thought it was great . We were talking and laughing... he hated seeing me in pain the first two times. So based on my experience... I say go in and analyze the situation. It is always an option! You are not weak for having one..... millions of women do it. You still have to push the baby out. If you are concerned about the baby being groggy....... they snap out of it all too fast and keep you up at night soon enough. Good luck with your labor!
2007-09-17 08:42:10 · answer #4 · answered by noed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everyone is different, and everyones pain threshold is different. Labor is very very painful...and you have to decide if you want to be natural and work through the pain, or go ahead with the epidural. The epidural will allow you to just feel pressure, no pain, and allow you to concentrate on what you need to do instead of the pain.
I had one, but only because after days of labor I had to have a c-section. On baby 2, I labored 12 hours without one, and had another c-section. The epidural is NO picnic, its painful to get it done, and for me it was scary. Its a big needle inserted into your spinal cord! You just have to decide what is best for you, make up your mind, and know that during labor you will want to get rid of the pain any way possible...so stay strong! :)
2007-09-17 08:39:09 · answer #5 · answered by Angie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was determined for my first child, that I was not going to get one. My mother had 3 kids w/o one, why cant I. I was doing great. 7 cm, and no epidural. But I couldn't take the pain anymore. I waited for 2 hours for the Dr. to come give it to me. Right after he was done, They checked me, and I was ready to push. But couldn't feel a thing. So it made my labor longer. Everyone handles pain differently. I didn't want one for my first child. And the way it worked out, probably could have went with out it, but I did plan one for my second, and it went allot better. Both children were healthy. No problems with the epidural. If you think you can handle it, try it. But if not, definitely schedule one so you don't have to wait forever!!! Hope it helps you out. Good luck!
2007-09-17 08:38:57 · answer #6 · answered by princess-one 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got an epidural with both my kids. With my son I was 6cm before I got it but due to a back injury it did not work and I was givin some other medicine in my IV without asking me that knocked me out. Grrr! Not what I wanted!
My second child was induced and I got an epidural right away, that took forever to get in (due to the injury) then wore off half way through, they came in and fixed it but if wore off again before my baby was born so I felt all the pain.
If I have another baby I will not get an epidural. It's not worth the pain of getting it for me, but I heard others love it.
2007-09-17 08:35:03 · answer #7 · answered by honeybear 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I knew that I wanted an epidural. I had to be induced and they gave me Pitocin which makes your contractions like way worse so I was sooooo glad that I got my epidural! I don't regret it, I didn't feel the needle going in or anything and I was able to relax and enjoy my birthing experience. Until...I had to be wheeled in for a c-section! So yes, get an epidural if you are in any way unsure you may want to consider it.
2007-09-17 08:50:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES and I was so dissapointed in myself!! But I had a very very hard labor! 10 hours straight of contractions...no stop! The doc basically forced me to because My babies heart rate kept dropping to 23!!!! I was so scared. The I couldn't move around because once I got on one side, his heart rate stabalized...but I only numbed 1/2 of my body....which was REALLY wierd. 5 minutes after my epidural I went in for a c-section...If I hadn't gotten it they would have had to put me out completely...But thank God now I have a healthy little BOY...So in the end it never even mattered!! But next time to tell you the truth!! I WILL BE GETTING THE EPIDURAL IMMEDIATELY LOL
2007-09-17 08:36:30 · answer #9 · answered by Chrys 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I did. I wanted everything to be natural no pain meds so I waited until I was 5cm dilated to go to the hospital and when I got there the doctor said the contractions are sending the baby into distress and they had to do an emergency c-section. By the time I was prep-ed I was eight cm but everything was ok. I have a high tolerance for pain but when the nurse popped my water bag the contractions started coming back to back...then I did not care how they got the baby out. I didn't care if the drew a circle on my back and pulled her out it was crazy. So keep your options open and make sure you give your nurse your birth plan and ask them to follow it as much as possible. Good Luck.
2007-09-17 08:38:26 · answer #10 · answered by Gabby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋