Your experiences with epidurals

Question

i'm thinking i'll be putting my hand up for an epidural. this is my first pregnancy and i have a very low pain threshold.

Headaches, cramps, kicking my toe on furniture etc make me vomit from the pain, i don't want to be vomiting for the entire time i'm in labour.

what are your experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly?

Answer 1

I gave birth natural my first baby, and I had an epidural for my most recent one. I can tell you that there are pros and cons for both--my first baby was small, and I had a quick labor. I managed just fine without the epidural. I labored in the tub and just concentrated through every contraction. I did have an episiotomy, and it hurt worse than the contractions.  I do have to tell you that I was a complete wimp when it came to needles or anything like that--I would seriously cry when getting my blood taken. After the labor, I was so out of it and exhausted after laboring--plus being a first time mom just overwhelmed me. I healed pretty quickly, despite the cut, and I thought I was going to go natural this time as well.

Well, this time was MUCH different, because my baby was HUGE. I just kept on thinking that I didn't want to have to go through the pain again and that I deserved a pain free birth--I wanted to enjoy it this time around. I decided on an epidural, and I am glad I got one--I had a nine pound baby who got tuck halfway through pushing. The pain was so much, that I felt it despite the epidural--The doctor said if I didn't have the pain meds, I would have ended up having a c-section.

In the end my baby was fine, I was up and walking within a few hours, and I didn't tear, didn't have to be cut and no hemorrhoids :)

Both experiences were special to me--I knew I could go without, but I don't feel guilty for having an epi. Every birth is different, and must be treated that way!!

Answer 2

i decided to see how long i could last, and didn't rule out having the epidural. had the epidural, and never so glad i did. i was scared to have it  and was actually considering not getting it. eventually i got brave and got one and felt much better. however i was told that it would not get rid of the pressure, only the pain and when i was pushing to get the baby out i felt a lot more than i thought that i would. just my experience. good luck

Answer 3

Oh, Lord ,it is awesome! I have what I consider a high tolerance for pain, but I think I would have died if I had to give birth naturally. The pain was so awful. I made it about three hours before asking for an epidural, and within 15 minutes I was asleep. I slept from that point until I was fully dilated, and then I started pushing. I felt nothing at all (which made it hard to push, but once I got the hang of it it was fine). I was actually making phone calls to relatives to tell them I was starting to push---that's how little pain I was in.

Now, I ended up having an emergency C-section, so I can't say what it was like to actually deliver the baby. My c-section had nothing to do with the epidural, though.

Finally, a lot of people told me the epidural can make people sick, but I was fine.

As far as getting the thing put in, compared to the contractions I didn't feel a thing!  

Answer 4

Mine was awesome!

It feels pretty awkward when they put it in, but I didn't care at that point.  My contractions had gotten pretty painful.  And about 10 minutes after they put it in, I couldn't feel a d**n thing!

Answer 5

ive heard bad things about epidurals but i had to have an emergancy c-section and as to as they put in my back i felt sudden releif it was awsome?

Answer 6

i got one and i wont the next time. i walked in the hospital at 6 cm dilated and laid there 19 more hours in labor because i wasnt able to walk aroundd from the epidural. i dont really like the memory of the birth in bed the whole time either. i want to be able to walk around. get up to pee and everything else next time so i wont be getting it. i also notice babies tend to be more tired afterwards

i still felt like vomiting while i was in labor and it didnt have anything to do with the pain. it was more like being nrevous and i was shivering too

Answer 7

Epidural is my friend!  I love it! I have 4 children, my first was a cervical birth and I opted for an epidural and it made it much easier for me.  My next 3 kids were cesarean so I needed to have an epidural.  It relaxes you and it will help you calm down if you are anxious.  The only thing bad that happened with me was about a month or so later I had back pains and sharp shooting pains in my spine area if I moved certain ways.  The pain only lasted for a while but it's all good. I say do it!

Answer 8

omg, its a gift from the gods! ive had 4 babies and the first three were all natural, im not very good with pain either, but labour is completely different to any other pain in the world, ( not in a bad way). with my last pregnancy i was massive, i had a 10 pound 6 baby and the pain was much, much worse than the other times, i asked 4 an eppi and the dr told me it was too late, i DEMANDED to have one as i knew i couldn't take anymore and they eventually gave in and gave me one. it was the best thing i could have done, i got to relax and calm down, i got my breath back and my partner could enjoy the labour with me, you dont necassarily have to have a catheter, the anestesiologist that gave me mine was excellent and i was up and walking around within 20 mins of my baby being delivered, they do need to make sure you can wee properly after and its also good incase you have any cuts or tears, as you dont need to have more local to be fixed up. if you do elect to have one its a good idea to let the dr/midwife know before hand, ie have it on your birth plan, as there was no anestesiologist on hand at my hospital and i had to wait 35 mins for him to arrive. you may also have to sign something just releasing themfrom any legal action should anything go wrong. and you may also have a migrane after bubs is born if they dont remove the tube correctly. also, ive never thrown up with any of my labours. hope this helped somewhat, just remember to relax and that its all worth it in the end.

p.s yes i know i probably didn't spell anestesiologist properly but i think you all get what i mean. lol

Answer 9

I have done it with an epidural and without...

PROS (for me): Allowed me to sleep after being in labor for two days, allowed my husband and doula to rest, lowered my blood pressure which got pretty high after being in labor

CONS: Started running a fever at the end of delivery, had TERRIBLE shakes to the point that I could barely hold my baby once she was delivered, could not push in a great position (but I still didn't tear, which was fortunate), had to have a more intervention-filled (which I was hoping to avoid)

I think one of the most important questions a woman should ask herself when considering an epidural is how comfortable she is with having a very medically-managed birth. If you don't want a lot of interventions, and if you want the freedom to move around a lot, then you might regret getting one. On the other hand, if you don't mind giving up some control (which is how some wome might perceive it), then it might be a good option for you. There are other other ways of managing pain during labor - doulas, hypnobirthing, Bradley, etc... - and you could always check those out. Epidurals do have some risks, but for the most part, they are a safe form of pain management for those women who choose them. Just be prepared for the fact that it may change the course of an otherwise normal labor/delivery.

Answer 10

My epidural was bad. But, I had been laboring 12 hours and was really worked up by then. I was mad, confrontational and about to have a c-section. It hurt, but only for a minute, and the relief was worth it. They put a freezing needle in first to numb the skin somewhat.

I also had a spinal with my second and it was the tiniest pinch and heaven afterwards. You will need a catheter which you can request they put in after the epidural and they take it out about 8 hours after birth. Although you may be worried about the embarrassment factor, that will be the least of your worries by that point:)

They can also give you gravol during labor so you don't vomit.

Best of luck with your pregnancy!

Answer 11

Yes labor pain is hard,.. but know your risks as well.

Epidurals will increase your risk of tearing, and a C-sec.

I have had neither, but labor is so short and you have to deal with those for days after labor.

To cope with pain take a birth class to get some good ideas, hire a doula, birth in a position that lets gravity help[squatting for example]

Good Luck.

Answer 12

I personally liked "natural" childbirth more. Actually, I had an epidural for both of my baby's, only the second one didn't do anything. I guess the epidural experience would have been much better if I wasn't scared out of my mind. I was scared to death to push when it was time and it didn't help that with the epidural I felt no urge to push. The second time, although the pain was intense, it was bareable, and much more rewarding...and I felt a huge urge to push and get the baby out asap. Considering what a low pain tolerance you have you would be a great canidate for one. Just a couple words of advise: STAY CALM and don't worry, it's really not that bad. Good luck.

Answer 13

I knew going into being overdue and with a low threshold to pain I would be needing some help.  The nurses and doctors talked me into getting is sooner than later, because there is a less chance of a mistake occurring if you are actually able to hold still longer.

I loved having it.  I had Braxton Hicks for 3 months prior, everyday, and it finally took away all that pain.  Towards the end, though, the baby was not in the right position and the nurses would not let me move around and try to get him into the natural position and I had to have asectionn.  The extra meds they game me for that made me shake terribly.  I was so groggy for the delivery I don't remember much.  I was okay in a short while though.

I don't regret it.  My child is a health, happy, grunter, who is learning and growing well.  I was better able to prepare my body for process by resting.  I had no idea that was the last good rest I was going to get for the rest of my life!!

I would have an epidural again in a heartbeat!

Answer 14

I thought i wanted one with my first pregnancy but due to progressing too quickly i was unable to have one. i was scared the pain would be unbearable even though i have a high pain threshold but it wasnt. it was actually pretty easy for me. so i opted not to have one my second pregnancy either and i did just fine without it that time also. dont plan to have one next time either. for me its mind over matter. just dont think about the pain.

Answer 15

I waited until I was dilated to a 7 before I had my epidural.  I was on a Pitocin drip to speed up dialation, so that ended up being about 15 hours in to my labor, about 2 hours before active labor.  I knew I wanted an epidural, but I also didn't want to be stuck in bed unable to move for so long, so I waited as long as I possibly could to get one.  I was given a local pain killer a few hours before my epidural.  Even though I was tethered to an IV it was great to be able to get up and walk around (and use the bathroom!).  

Actually getting the epidural wasn't too bad, except for my contractions.  I needed to sign a release before they would give it, which was difficult since my contractions were so close together.  The anesthesiologist had me sit up and lean forward, and stay still.  He used some numbing wipes first, then told me that he wanted me to practice holding still a couple of times before he actually put in the needle.  That was really hard because my contractions hurt so bad, but he was also putting the needle in then when I thought we were just "practicing".  It was barely noticeable.  

Epidurals are great, in my opinion, if you're having a good labor.  If you're having a difficult labor I think it's best to be able to lay in any position you choose, get up, walk around, and all of that fun stuff.  Laying flat on your back is one of the most difficult positions for a mom to give birth in period (but easier for docs), and being in that position for hours before birth isn't great.  

Answer 16

I originally planned on going without one however things changed and after 18 hours off contractions i finally got one and I wish I would have gotten it earlier. I went 27 hours of labor!

Answer 17

I was in the same situation as yourself 11 months ago when i was due to give birth to my first child, i had already said i was having everything going as i have no pain threshold myself, i was given an epidural 12 hours into my labour as the pain was so bad it really helped but i think it slowed my contractions down, another 12 hours went by and i ended up having an emergency c section which i had to be knocked out as i could still feel them, if i was to have another baby i would have an elected c section as i couldn't go through another 24 hours in labour.

Answer 18

having the epidural made my labor enjoyable!  I didn't feel a thing.  I also have a low threshold for pain.

Just to warn (sorry to freak you out) some women throw up right before they deliver their baby but it has nothing to do with the epidural.  I got sick about an hour before my son was born.  So many other things are going on around you, it's not that bad.

Good luck and congrats!

Answer 19

it went great i had nothing go wrong it worked great i couldnt move my legs but i still felt the contractions an pressure but no pain at all i loved it