Does the epidural help pain when you are pushing???

Question

Im not worried about everything else just wanna kno!

Answer 1

I had an epidural with my 2nd baby. I felt nothing at all but some pressure when I was pushing. It was kind of strange.

Answer 2

I had one epidural, with my first, just before pushing because the nurse thought I wasn't really ready to push and tried to put me off. This was the longest I pushed, the only episiotomy I had, the worst recovery, the groggiest baby, the worst breastfeeding establishment. Let's just say I would never do it again. I've even had my last one have shoulder dystocia and still wouldn't do the epidural again. The pushing in my others was so much more controlled. I knew what I was doing. I could sense what my body was doing and help with it. I had pain despite the epidural, but I didn't have the sensations of what was going on otherwise.

My answer...No. I'd rather not have it.

Answer 3

Pushing itself is not painful anyway. For women who don't have pain meds or an epidural, most would tell you that it actually feels GOOD to push with the contractions.

Epidurals have varying degrees of effectiveness during the pushing stage. You will naturally feel more pressure and more sensation and you might feel like the epidural "wore off". It's a common occurrance.

But the one thing that you usually will not feel with the epidural is the "ring of fire", the burning of the baby's head crowning. Honestly, I think that pain is worse than contraction pain. But with the epidural, you won't notice.

Answer 4

I had the epidural and it sure did help the contractions I was able to sleep to get enough energy to push but by the time I had to push it wore off and it hurt like no other. Even if it makes it harder to pusk like some say I would still get the epidural all over again, just because I was able to talk and be in a good mood with my family during the contractions. Either way it's your decision and there is no wrong decision! Good luck and congrats!!

Answer 5

Actually, an epidural makes pushing difficult. I've had 4 children, the last 2 by cesarean. But the first one, I did not use an epidural and the pain wasn't as bad during pushing as the labor prior to that. For my second, I had an epidural, but it didn't totally take and I progressed too fast before they had administered all of it, but the pushing was more difficult even though it only partially took.

Answer 6

Doc says that an epidural can actually not help while you push.. since it numbs you, you are not able to feel the urge to push.
However with my first baby i had an epidural and could still feel the pressure, just not a whole lot of pain. And only pushed for about 20-25 minutes,
My second was completely different!

Answer 7

Everyone is different, but I found the most difficult/painful part was the contractions. I had no idea my girl was even down so low when they told me to start pushing, and for me pushing was the easy part. Once I started pushing, the pain was gone. I pushed three times, and she came out all at once on the last push. I had no epidural, just a shot of demerol.

Answer 8

Yes, once I started pushing it was only a short time before my doctor handed me my baby and it wasn't painful at all.. It's not an easy process, but it certainly makes things a lot less painful.

Answer 9

i loved my epidural. it was the greatest thing that man has ever made. the only down fall was that it felt weird when they were putting it in so i cried, it made me shake and i was cold, but i loved it because when it weared off i was in so much pain.

Answer 10

Yes its helps alot..you wont be able to feel the contractions but you can tell by the monitor you are hooked up to when they start. I jus had a baby 1 month ago adn i had theepidural and it was the easiest