Epidural? a no go or THE way to go??

Question

i know that its up to me but i just wanted opinions from experienced women, i am 32 weeks pregnant and i still can't make my mind about a birth plan!! if u have had an epidural could u please tell me :

-did it hurt?

-when u were 'pushing' did u feel any pain at all??

-how would u rate ur experience with the Epi?

IF you had a natural birth/water birth:

-was the pain managable?

-which part was the worse?

-if u had to do it again would u choose an epidural or go natural again?

Thanks a lot for ur answers

Answer 1

I'm debating this myself.

I always told people I would get an epidural because I just want to be lazy and not deal with the pain at all haha, but for my sister it didn't even work because she had a curve in her spine from the pregnancy. Both my sister and my mom dilated very quickly which is what they said caused the most pain, and they also said it will never get to the point where you can't handle the pain - and when you get to the point where you feel like if it gets any worse you can't handle it, that's when it's just about time to push and you only have 15 minutes to go.

So in a way I think I can handle the pain, but since I've never given birth I still am not sure if I'll be able to take it!  

Answer 2

I did not get an epideral.  I'm glad I chose not to.  I did feel the pain, and yes it was painful. But I kept my mind on other things. My mother was with me and just kept talking to me, gossiping, saying whatever she could. I concentrated on that. My husband spent his time rubbing my back or wherever else I pointed to. It took me 10 minutes to push the baby out and I immediately felt better. I wasn't tired, worn out or sore.  I was just excited and happy.  I was able to get up and walk around almost immediately.  I got stitches also and never felt the doctor cutting.  The stitches hurt a bit though.  I'm pregnant again and going to do it the same way again.

Answer 3

Epidural is the way too go, The pain of just contractions hurt so bad you would do any thing to make them stop.. With an Epidural all you feel is pressure no pain.

Answer 4

I have had two water births.  They have been really good.  I had another birth (my first birth,) without drugs as well, but not in the tub and it was extremely painful.  I cannot bare the thought of having a needle stuck in my back.  I will be having another water birth with my fourth baby.  Maybe your could plan a water birth, and if it is too painful go with the epidural.  I have seen the epidural work well for people and not well for others. My friend had the epidural inserted 25 times before they got it placed properly.  Congrats on your baby.

Answer 5

I had no choice.  I had c-sections for both of my births and an epidural was required.  It hurt, but not as much as labor pains (which I endured for 36 hours the first delivery)... and most importantly, my kids are totally healthy.  

Answer 6

the best thing to do is keep an open mind to anything. i started at home just in the bath, after 7 hours i went to hospital, and was in agony but told i was only 2 cm dilated so made to go home. i went back after another 6 hours and by then i was 4cm. then i had the gas and air which is great, but then at 7cm i had my waters broke and it hurt a lot more. then my baby was in distress and i needed an epidural because i had to have forceps and an episiotamy (cut). i found my birth absolutely traumatising, and to top it off my baby was in intensive care for a week due to being in distress for so long and develpoing a chest infection. all i can say is dont plan anything just go with it, you may have a brilliant easy birth or complications like me but it is all worth it in the end. the pain is manageable with gas and air i only had epidural because it was absolutley nesseccary. my labour was 36 hours long and horrible but many of my friends have had their baby within 9 hours with just gas and air. good luck ....xxxx

Answer 7

I had a water birth with no pain relief, I managed to cope (somehow) with the pain and was in labour for 9hours with my first baby. My friend who had an epidural was in labour for about 23hours!! they said that the epidural had slowed down her labour by 12 hours!! and it didn't work at first then just at the end when she was pushing she felt the epidural start to work!! The worst bit of pain, when I asked for pethidine was just before you start pushing, the contractions get closer and stronger and just when it feels like you can't do it anymore you feel the urge to push, which I found as a relief, it was like pushing the pain away. I hope the 2 birth experiences helped and didn't scare you in anyway. Hope this helps

Answer 8

It really depends on your pain threshold.  With my first pregnancy i got the epidural after being in labor for 2 hours.  I felt very little pain, mostly pressure.  But in saying that my recovery time was alot longer.  Because with the epidural you don't know how hard you are pushing,  So i was very sore and needed stitches.  With my 2nd pregnancy i was induced and progressed very fast so there wasn't any time for an epidural.  The pain was unreal but i felt i had more control over my body so to speak.  My recovery time was real fast.  I was walking around shortly after I had him.  So the question is do u want to be comfortable during or after?  Do what is best for you...You will know!  Best of luck! and congratulations!!

Answer 9

I will probably be the only one who says this but its my honest truth and I will tell you it even though I know there will be loads of people giving me the 'thumbs down' for it.....I remember being in the situation you are in now and being so nervous and worried;

I had my first baby 17 months ago and I really found labour hard it kept stopping and starting until eventually I was put on a drip to keep the contractions coming, after 28 hours I had the epidural and it was really effective. I felt no pain whatsoever from the second I had it in, I didn't feel any pain when my daughter came out although I could feel and enjoy the sensation.  I actually enjoyed the experience rather than rolling around in pain throughout it as I was doing previous to the epidural.

The was I look at it is, that when my daughter finally arrived (by forcep delivery might I add) I was better able to care for her than if I had gone through hours and hours of more pain - I was relaxed and happy and able to care for her on my own immediately while having several stitches 'down there' which I didn't feel having done either.

I am not 16 weeks pregnant with my second child and will go for the epidural again definitely if it is offered to me.

I know that many people promote a natural labour and I can completely understand why, however my personal recommendation would be to have the epidural - why go through the pain when there are medications available to take it away ??

Answer 10

I had an epidural with my 1st son and wouldn't have one again. It made my labour longer and i was going for 24 hours before my son arrived, it caused his heart rate to drop and i almost needed ventouse delivery. It didn't hurt going in but i suffered 18 months of back pain after it. I did still feel pain from the labour despite 3 doses of the epidural and it made me feel really sick.

I also tried using water for pain relief, with my 2nd son, i found it didnt help at all, instead it just sped the contractions up and they got stronger very quickly. In the end with him i went natural, breathing through the contractions and trying to just stay calm, the pain was manageble and i felt more in control then with other pain relief i've had in my other labours, i also wasn't sick or dizzy afterwards which was a huge bonus.

I wouldn't use an epidural again unless i was having a very prolonged labour, i would never ever use pethidine again as it caused severe sickness and dizzyness ( labour for my daughter) and i always found gas and air totally useless!  

Answer 11

For me, an epidural was THE way to go.  With the exception of the nurse not able to hit me right the first time with the needle, the epidural was a lifesaver for me.  I did not feel anything but pressure during the birth.  It was aggravating because I was unable to walk for a couple of hours after the birth because of the numbness, but the pain was so incredible for me that I was in HEAVEN once I got that epidural.  Good luck with everything and congrats on your little one!

Answer 12

I had Epidural with both mine, to be honest the contractions are so painful you'll give anything for a few seconds of discomfort when the needle is inserted.

When you start to feel like pushing they won't top up the epidural so that you can feel when to push. It wasn't that painful.

I couldn't have coped without an epidural as with my first I was in labour for 26 hours and with my second it was 18 hours.