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Question for all moms! Did you get an epidural, and did it work?

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This is our first baby, I am planning on getting one just as soon as I can! Just wanted to know what your experiences were, I've heard a lot of horror stories about women who were numb only from their knees down, etc.

Most epidurals actually help laboring women with pain....right?

Thanks to all and congratulations to all you new moms.

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  1. Don't listen to the horror stories!!  The epidural is a GOD SEND!!!  The contractions beforehand were terrible, but once I got it I was happy!!  I wouldn't TALK to anyone before I got it!  I was induced, they broke my water at 6:30am and then they put me on pitocin.  At 3cm I got my epidural.  Honestly, I don't know how people do it without one!  I was in soooo much pain!

    I sat on the edge of my bed and held kind of crouched over and held the nurses hands while I got my epi.  It didn't really hurt (I don't remember to be honest).  All I know is that I really wanted it!  My husband was there and he doesn't remember me looking like it hurt.  Also, I have no back pain at the site where it went in (I was on a pump).  GET THE EPI AND GET IT AS SOON AS THEY'LL GIVE IT TO YOU!!!  Oh, and it did NOT slow down my labor!

    GOOD LUCK!!!  :)


  2. i was in so much pain before my epidural.  i was crying like a baby and beggiing for mercy.   afterwards i couldn't even feel my contractions.  i would definately do it again.  the only thing that makes me remorseful is that i was so drowsy during my c-section that i could hardly stay awake during her birth.  i don't remember much after seeing her after her birth and my husband holding her after i was stitched up.  i would have liked to remember those moments but i think i made the right decision when i chose to forego the pain.

  3. I had an epidural and my labor was not slowed down but then again i  had what ever they give you to enduce labor as well since my water was almost all gone because it broke the night before..and I had hardly no pain at all.

  4. I got an epidural after my water broke.  About 2 hours after I got it, it stopped working on the left side of my body. That was a unique experience, but the dr came in and added more to it so after that I was fine.  I wasn't completely numb, I had that "have to push" feeling, but didn't have pain.  It was very worth it for me and I'll be having another one if I get preggers again.  Didn't slow anything down for me.  

    I'm terrified of needles and wanted to try without having an epidural, but that didn't last very long.  :)

  5. I tried my hardest not to get one but because I had an internal monitor, I couldn't walk off the pain so I decided to get one. (I was induced so the labor was long) It wore off TWICE. It was pretty great when it worked, though it was VERY hard to turn onto my side because I couldn't feel anything and couldn't move my legs. By the time it wore off the 2nd time, I had already decided to do a C-section because I wouldn't progress past 3 cm after 12 hours. So, waiting in the room for them to take me and going to the operating room was very hard for me because it was so painful. They didn't give me more of the epidural because they decided to give me a spinal for the c-section because they didn't want the epidural to ware off during surgery.

    I don't believe it slowed my labor, I believe the antibiotics I had to be on because I tested positive for Group B Strep slowed my labor (when they stopped the antibiotics because I was doing the c-section my contractions came more regularly). If I had the choice and I wasn't stuck in bed, no, I would NOT get it again. Sometimes when I bend over now, it hurts in the exact spot that I had the epidural.

    Good Luck!!

  6. I got the epidural after not wanting to get one, but the baby was sunny side up and when the back labor hit, I would have rather died. I progressed to 6cm before the back labor and then I suffered through 1.5 hours of back labor and no further dilation.

    I had a doula with me who told me I might be too tense from the back labor and the epidural might help me to relax to continue dilating. She knew I was not anti-epidural and wanted one only as a last resort, so she mentioned that if I wanted to go for it, it might be a good time.

    I opted for the epidural when I hit a wall with the back labor and no further dilation. The epidural went in easily and I felt no pain or discomfort from the procedure itself. I could no longer feel the back labor and I was able to relax and take a catnap. Two hours after the epi had been put into place, I started feeling back labor again. I called a nurse to see if something was wrong with the epi and she checked me and I had relaxed enough to finish dilating to 10. The epi had worn off and I felt every last little bit of pushing, but the pushing was a piece of cake compared to the back labor.

    So, I believe my epi sped up my labor as it helped me to relax to continue progressing. I would only get one again as a last resort for back labor....only because I hate medicating for anything, but I am not anti-medicating.  

  7. I had to get an epidural because i had back labor and threw up every 1-2 minutes, they had to settle me down or else I wouldnt have any energy to push, and it did work and I had my baby within 2 hours of the epidural, it didnt slow it down for me! They take you off it about 20 minutes before you push so you can feel the contractions for when you should be pushing. It does take away the pain but I still feel my contractions, and it stopped me from throwing up. CONGRATS!!

  8. I got the epidural with all 3 of my children and have never regretted it..I am now pregnant with my 4th and definitely getting it with this one...

    With all 3 the results were pretty much the same..with my first I only got half an epidural so it took the edge off the pain but i could still feel contractions just not as bad as without the drug...

    With my second, I got the full thing at 5 centimeters and about 10 minutes after they administered the epidural I couldnt feel a thing from my waist down...It was just like being paralyzed but not scary because i knew it was only temporary.I was able to talk to my husband, watch t.v and had a nice time without ANY pain. I didnt even feel my water break, doc came in and said wow you are soaken wet down there and checked me and i was 10 =), didnt even feel it...labor went by pretty quickly, only 6 hours total and only 3 pushed to get him out.

    With my 3rd baby, My doc said i could get the epidural as soon as i wanted it, so i got it at 2 centimeters...Numb from waist down but this time i couldnt feel any contractions and absolutely no pain but i did feel the pressure from babys head and knew my baby was coming and yep his head was right there but didnt feel any discomfort...But that time my labor slowed down a bit after getting the epidural..i was in labor for 16 hours...not what i hoped for but still easy labor.

    I highly recommend the epidural...It worked wonders for me and other mommies i know...U wont regret getting one...Good Luck and congrats!!!

  9. I had an epidural. It worked in that it took care of the pain.  In my situation (a very long, slow moving labor) I think it may have also helped get things moving. (I was exhausted after 18 hours of labor, and was too tense and tired to relax/breathe.)  On the negative side, baby was born with a fever.  This is a pretty common adverse affect, and isn't harmful in itself, but because a fever in a newborn can mean sepsis, she ended up having to spend 3 days in the NICU while they ruled out more serious causes for her fever.

    If I was to have another baby (not going to happen) I would try very hard to avoid an epidural. Since 2nd labors are usually faster, and I would have had a better idea of what to expect, I am confident that I would have managed without one for any future babies.

    Do your research so you undertand the risks and benefits of your choices.  The potential risks of epidurals extend far beyond the occassional situation of 'it didnt' work.' It can have lasting effects on you AND your baby. Epidurals are acceptably safe, and most women have no real issues -- but please consider getting one only if YOU really need one, not because someone told you they 'don't get to the baby' or 'you don't have to be a martyr' or 'you'll be screaming for one by the time you get to the hospital.'  All labors are different.

  10. i got an epidural and it was the best choice of my life! I literally slept through my labor and when i woke up in the morning i was ready to push and 16 minutes later out came my daughter.  I was the BEST thing ever! I went in not wanting to get one and changed my mine after i was induced. I really suggest getting one it will make it alot easier especailly if you have a long labor

    EDIT!...i went into my OBGYN 5 cms dialted and not even in labor yet but i still had time to get one, 2 days later

  11. I had 2 and neither worked, they gave me something that pretty much paralyzed me after that and I had a csection, but Im fine and baby is fine

  12. Yes to both.  I was in so much pain and as soon as they stuck that needle in my back it was great!  I give props to all the mothers that gave birth naturally.

  13. I was absolutely dead-set against an epidural for my entire pregnancy. In the end I had to be induced, first by having my waters broken and then after a few hours they put me on the syntocinon drip (IV). I went from bearable contractions every 20 minutes to unbearable contractions of 60 seconds long every 90 seconds pretty much instantly and could barely handle it. After 2 hours of that I was still only 4cm and I totally lost all hope as I had thought that I *must* be ready to push soon with the strength of the contractions.  I begged for the epidural then!!  

    Mind took completely, perhaps too well - I was totally numb form abdomen down, to the point that even when I was a bit uncomfortable and wanted my leg moved an inch my husband had to do it.  Also, I was SO ITCHY!  THe itching was under the surface of my skin and unscratchable - I would say this was the worst thing, but it was faaaar better than the pain I had been in prior!

    I was given a button to push every 20 minutes to top-up the epidural and I was vigilant about pushing it -- it gave me something to focus on!  There is no way I could have slept through though, as much as I wasn't in pain, I was numb, and that was a strange feeling.  

    Also, as soon as they put the epi catheter in, I had to lie flat on my back  to make sure that it spread adequately through my body.  I found that uncomfortable with the weight of the baby pushing on me.  After about an hour they rolled me onto my left side.

    In the end I had a section - I wasn't able to dilate fully.  Some people may say that it was the epidural that slowed me down, but I had been stuck at 4cm for hours before the epidural, and so I doubt that was the reason.   I had a spinal block added to the epidural for the section.

    Would I get one again -- YES!   I am glad that I attempted to go through it without though, so I at least know what the contractions feel like and I gave it a good go without!

  14. I had a son 4 months ago and I got an epidural.  It did not hurt getting it, but the first one I got didn't work so I had to wait about 2 hours and then the doc came back in and redid it and then it was great.  Knowing what the contractions felt like in those 2 hours I would not want to go without.  Once I had to start pushing though the epi completely wore off, but then I could get up and walk around right away.  I recommend it!!!  More power to the moms who give birth naturally...you are amazing!

  15. I got the epidural and I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT!!

    It blocks the pain and only allows you to feel pressure so that you still know when you're contracting and when to push, etc.  It did not slow my labor down.  I got the epidural and sadol.  The combination actually sped my labor up because it allowed me to relax, rather than to fight against the contractions.  After I had the epidural and sadol, I was only had to push for 30 min.

  16. I got mine right when I went in the hospital at 4cm dilated.  The guy came in and gave it to me. Well he messed the first one up..he didnt like how he put it in. so he did it again. well like 6 hours later i was still uncomfortable feeling pain. so then a new guy came in and did it right. so i had to get it 3 times and it was very uncomforable. i didnt like it at all. it helped with the contractions...i couldnt feel them at all...but when i was pushing and the baby was coming out...i still felt everything. it doesnt help with that. hurt so bad. but it numbs your legs.make sure you have two people holding you legs. i only had one and that was the hardest thing for me was having to hold one of my legs. my arms hurt the worse out of everything after i had the baby. but the epidural def. helps with the pain from the contractions. and not sure if it slowed my labor down. i was in labor for 17 hours pushed an hour n half. yes i would get one again. contraction pain HURTS!

  17. I had an epidural with my first child but it only worked down one side and the anesthetist had to come back and do it again. However when it worked on both sides it was great.

    I wanted an epidural with my second and third but unfortunately I didn't have time. Needless to say it hurt like h**l.

    I'm all for mother's who rave about natural childbirth if that's what works for them, but personally I'd take the epidural every time.

  18. yes, it worked but now i wish i would have tried it natural. i did end up getting a c-section so natural wasnt in the plans for my daughter.  with my next one, Id really like to try VBAC. totally natural, no drugs!

  19. Watch this video!   Yes I recommend a Epi!  I slept they woke me and said PUSH. It was great!

  20. worked great the 1st time, loved it.  The rest of the times, it only worked on half of my body which is worse to me than feeling pain on both sides.  I am pregnant again with #5 and still plan on getting one and praying it works right.  try to get one before your water breaks if they'll allow you (most times they want you to be 4cm).  Once your water breaks, contractions get faster and stronger and it's harder to sit still and let them give you the epidural.

    They never slowed down my labor.  With the 1st they did have to turn it off so I could feel myself pushing.

  21. With my first (my son) I got the epidural, did not feel labor at all, not even the contractions, no lie, my doctor had to tell me when to push, it took awhile for the epidural to wear off.

    With my second (my daughter) I did not get to the hospital in time to get the epidural since I was already dialated 6 cm.
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