Bit early maybe but ... epidural or not?

Have you considrerd gas? Some hospitals offer like a laughing gas. a friend of mine had her midwife give her some and she said the poictures of her delivery are hilaroius, you can see huge contractions and she's giggling LOL

When I get pregnant I will not be having an epidural. My decision was pretty easy because I have really strange, off the wall reactions to medications. Since we can't test it ahead of time, there is no way that I will be allowing them to inject a medication into my spine. For me it's not about being brave, it's about staying alive! If I didn't have to worry about that, I would probably consider it, because I don't relish the idea of being in excruciating pain.

Its a hard choice to make ahead of time. I've known women who say they won'ty be able to handle the pain and then the baby pops out in minutes them barely feeling anything, and then some who are so tough they can handle a severed leg and still go to work, but bed for an epi upon the first stage of labor. You almost have to actually BE in labour and see how you handle the pain. I am the type who will be in inexplicable pain if I stub my toe, or feel pain watching osmeone else get a naeelde, but labor to me was actaully very bearble, and I don't really recall feeling the needles. I accepted my epi more to get some rest because I knew, when it came time to push, I'd need the energy. Well, I was wrong, the epi didn't take the pain incresed but by the time they said push, it gave whole new meaning to the phrase second wind LOL I hadn't just waited 9 months to get here, I'd waited 4 years. Nothing was gonna stop me baby!! LOL I'd say right now, leave yourself open to it, and if you need to make that choice toi make YOUR labour go the way YOU want, then go for it, if you're doing fine, keep going. It makes you no better a woman or no worse if you accept drugs or not. Whats important is that you can look back on your delivery and feel good. I feel excited when I look back on mine and yeah things didn't go all smoothly, but I was just so thrilled, it paled in comparison :)

I was lucky...had an epi with all 3 and all three were good except the third did end in a c section( she was breech).

So I was only able to read about the first 6 posts-- felt like I was going to pass out reading it! It sounds good, the less pain the better, but I HATE needles and one in my spine makes me feel about sick.

I am 24 weeks today and have stayed pretty firm in my desires so far. I would like to try to have a natural birth. I am going to take it minute by minute and hour by hour. I do not want to be induced as that brings more pain and then more possible complications if I wanted an epidural. If I finally choose to get some pain releif, I am not going to be mad at myself and I will probably get a walking epidural where they don't use as much medicine so you can still feel enough to push. For the lady who says she had to take a class to get an epidural, that is unusual. I have never known anyone to take a class to have an epidural, but you DO need to take classes if you are choosing an all natural birth. I have family members who work in labor and delivery and they say the women who have problems and do poorly with natural birth are the ones who haven't firmly made up their minds and prepared for it. If you learn some pain management techniques, they will help greatly and also having a supportive coach to tell you that you can do it will help. The women who are unprepared for natural birth and the pain that will come with it usually end up screaming and then demanding an epidural or something. The one thing I know for sure I will not be doing for pain management is narcotics. In IV or pill form, these go straight into your blood stream and directly affect the baby. No offense to anyone who has had them, but I can't believe Dr's. actually give this type of medication. Good luck to all you soon to be mommies out there and just remember that God gave us this ability and this gift and YOU CAN DO IT!!!! No one else can bring your baby into this world but you and no one else will "deliver" your baby but you. You are the one who will push and deliver your beautiful child and that is a wonderful miracle to be proud of! :)

I'm thinking not... I figure I managed to run through the pain of three marathons so I think I can handle childbirth! (Cue the sound of every woman who has already given birth laughing wildly at me... haha) Who knows how I'll feel on the actual day, though. I have one sis-in-law who gave birth to four kids naturally, another who gave birth to two with full meds, and both sets of nieces and nephews are beautiful and healthy! I won't judge myself or anyone else if I decide to go for an epidural once I know what birth pain is really like. :) I agree, though, I want to know that I can do it... I'm ok with being in pain so long as it's good, healthy pain, you know?

Maya

I'm hoping to have a home birth with a midife, so no epidural for me. Even if I end up at a hospital I'm hoping to go drug free. I know it'll hurt like hell (pardon my french), but I want to know that I can do it, if that makes sense. But we'll see how things go

The funniest thing a nurse ever told me was throwing up helps you dilate LOL It does but it's so unpleasent, there has to be a better way! LOL

I got an epidural. I still ended in an emergency c-section, so it didn't really matter. I don't regret my decision. It helped me get some sleep and I was in labor for days.

Mine first was an emergency c-section so I had no choice, but honestly, I would have had one anyway! I was in so much pain I was throwing up uncontrollably. I don't think I would have lasted much longer without it.

Having a build for labor doesn't always mean much. It has to be the perfect of your body to that baby. My first son was born by c-section because he wasn't coming downa nd was face up, they told me he wouldn't fit. He was born at 7lbs 15 oz. My second son, was born VBAC, and beleive me I had to demand the knife happy dr's to leave me alone. He was coming down at rapid speed, still the weirdest feeling I've ever had LOL I pushed him out really easily, I tore only because his hearet rate spiked at that last minue and I had to push hard, I couldn't give myself time to stretch. Well, I could have, but I didn't, thank you crunches LOL He was born at 8lbs 4oz. That is MUCH bigger than my first. My Dr told me techincally I shouldn't have been able to do that, but I did, and I'm SO happy for it. My body obviously was matched well for my first but my second went smoothly. He was also face up. I'm scared if I have another that one will be face up, some design flaw in mypelvis I guess LOL

I want to do a natural birth, but I am open to getting the meds(we'll see how I handle all the pre-birth appointments). My mom had 3 kids naturally. I just think that you have gone 9 months trying not to take meds because of the effect they may have on the baby...and then hurry and shoot yourself up ;) in the last hours of pregnancy. Sounds a little odd.

I had an epidural with my daughter and I loved it, lol. The got it in perfectly the first time and I barely felt a little pinch from the needle. Compared to the contractions, it was nothing. I did have a slight reaction to the epidural immediately after I got it. I started feeling dizzy, my blood pressure dropped and I puked. But a few minutes later I was fine (and pain free). I could feel some pressure when I was having a contraction, but no pain. I had no problems pushing. I pushed for less than 25 minutes before my daughter was born, and she was perfectly healthy.

Holmquistm - Your comment about not being too worked up over a birth plan made me giggle because my mom told me when she had me she was so pissed because her OB couldn't get there and the Dr. she hated had to deliver me. She said she was so mad through the whole thing, lol.

That's the best advice.
I never in a million years thought I'd seriously be considering an epidural (every woman in my family "toughs it out"), but after childbirth I realized that it was a little crazy to assume that the thought wouldn't even cross my mind.
Women are strong, and it's possible to do it either way - epidural or no - but it's probably going to cross your mind...a few times :)
I did end up getting through it without one, but I have respect for all mothers, regardless of their med choices during labor.

TIMSGIRL - Sounds like she had to get a spinal patch because of the spinal fluid leakage. If she did have to have a patch that's why she was supposed to lay flat for 24hrs to heal. That's not required for post-epidural recovery though.

I used to work as a secretary on the maternity floor of a hospital (post partum and newborn nursery units). I find it really interesting that so many of you guys don't want an epidural because at my former job it was very rare for a woman to not get an epidural during delivery. I never talked to the moms though so I don't know if that was their original plan or not.

Someone brought up the issue of doctors giving pitocin in order to speed things along for their own convenience. I don't know how common that was where I worked but I know there was at least one doc who got the reputation with the staff as one who would section a woman just because the doc was impatient. That's one thing that everyone should talk to their ob about early on in order to find out their opinions in such matters. Of course there are going to be times when c-sections are necessary... I just think it's important for the mom and the doc to be on the same page, so to speak.

As for me, I'd prefer a natural birth and I think I have the build for pushin' out some babies without too much trouble as long as my body does what it needs to do. However, if I feel like I need an epidural I won't have any problems requesting one. Really, when it comes to childbirth, you've got to roll with the punches.

Which makes me thing of women with birthplans... um, in all my years working in the maternity units usually the women with detailed birthplans are very uptight and end up disappointed because things rarely go as planned. Prepare as best you can but stay open minded for whatever happens!

I'm 36 weeks today and definitely NOT getting one. I am a little bit scared of the pain, but I have full trust in my body and in birth being a natural process that my body was meant to do naturally. Besides, I've been in horrible pain before and I know very well it's possible to live through it. You just take it one minute, one second at a time. :)

Anyway, in order to be able to get an epi, I'd have to ake classes and I didn't do that on purpose. So even if I'm in pain and would decide at the last minute I do want one, I don't have that choice. :)

Epidurals often go hand in hand with pitocin, because they slow down your labor. And just because you dont feel the contractions doesn't mena they're not there and the baby does feel them. So when they keep adding the pitocin, the contractions can become so bad that baby gets stressed and suddenly, you're rushed into a C-section. It's a simple fact that interventions increase with the use of an epidural.

Well that is really weird that they differ in how to make sure you are ok after something gone wrong. That is what they told her AFTER she was already puking and unable to stand. I believe she said something about they messed up and some of her spinal fluid leaked.. I am not a Dr and have no idea what any of it means, but I know she was in rough shape. I felt bad :(

I wish that was the case for me! My mom was 3 hours with me and 45 minutes with my sister, I was 16 hours then 24 hours! lol

I had a spinal and nother was said about me laying down for that long. In fact they had me hoisted up and moving like 8 hours later so clots didn't form in my legs. I never had a headache from it at all. I didn't have any issues with my epi thankfully but I do beleive it might have been nice to have SOME relief lol

ELFMAGE7 the same thing happened to my mom... she got to the hospital and I was out very shortly after... I can only hope I will be that lucky.

I have always said I don't want one because the thought of the needles makes me sick (don't worry that I have 2 tattoos that I Have NO IDEA how I got without falling over). Getting a simple shot makes me black out practically... so even the IV scares me. I had to get stitches and when they put the needle in my finger (IN the open wound) I nearly fell off the table. I didn't even watch.

Then in Dec my friend had a baby and was getting up to leave the hospital and got a spinal headache and starting throwing up bc of the complications with them giving her the epidural. They never told her she had to lay completely flat for it to heal for 24 hours.

I am going to try to keep saying no until it is finally too late and I don't have a choice. I hate pain, but I hate needles more.

I had an epidural with my first child and I don't regret it. I waited as much as I could (until I was dilated to 7) and I just could not stand the pain any longer. I knew the risk and honestly I put myself in god's hands. Fortunately nothing went wrong. I came out of delivery without any complication due to it and I have a healthy 4 year old. I'll tell you this, the moment I started feeling pain relief, exhausted on the hospital bed all I could say to the anesthesiologist was thank you, thank you, thank you. I really don't think I would of had the strength to endure the rest of my labor.

I have told my DH that I don't want one, but he told me, "No trust me, you will!" I just dont' think I like the idea of a needle in my spine. I guess it'll be a spur of the moment decision depending on how bad it gets. I might not even get the option because i might have to have a C-section anyway. My OB thinks I have a skin condition called lichen sclerosis, which thinks out the skin and makes it very susceptible to tears and bad ripping. So that makes me sad because I really want to do a natural birth, but on the other hand, I don't want to be left with shreds of skin down there afterwards.

I plan to not have one, but if I'm anything like my mom then there might not be enough time anyways. When she had me, she called the hospital and they said it probably wasn't labor. She went in anyways, which was a good decision on her part. She was in the hospital about 30 minutes and I was out. Very fast. Though who knows what will happen since I'm no where near that time yet.

I'm glad I'm not the only one having doubts and with questions. It just seemed to me that any way I could come up with to avoid the pain was a good option until I saw them doing it and I realised "hey, that's going in my spine!"

you wont' feel it if you choose to do it LOL I promise! They told me I was going to feel a pinch and it may hurt a little so I said ow and he goes did it hurt? I"m like no LOL I was just so tired! I don't even remember them taking it out actually....hmm where was I? LOL

Doctors seem very induction happy in my area. My friend (who had the malfunctioning epi) was induced because she was 24 hours past her due date.
One of my friends who lives in Missouri is currently two weeks past her due date, but baby X is very happy and still healthy so her doctor is letting nature run its course for a little bit longer.

I'm terrified of needles, but I figure (and this is completely guessing) when its time for one more needle to prick me (after the iv's, labor pains, etc) I won't be thinking "omg needle".

This is such a great topic!!! Thanks for starting it! I've always, always said I didn't want an epidural, because like you, once I saw one performed, I don't know if I can handle it. And I watch EVERY medical procedure show out there and the ONLY thing that gives me the heebie jeebies is watching an epidural. Nothing else gets me. But then last night I started to panic. I'm almost 19 weeks and even though I still have a little while before I really need to think about it, I was second guessing my plan. But, after reading your story Aubrey, makes me think my moment of panic last night was just a lapse and I definitely don't want one. Too many things can go wrong it seems.

I guess too what I'm also fearful for is being induced. I have never heard a positive induction story out there so I think that's the number one thing I want to avoid, with epidural being number two.

I have been back and forth on all of this and am still not sure. I know the more 'fit and healthy' you are the better your labor will be so that's my first aim. I would like an all natural birth with no meds but am scared that I won't be able to handle the pain. I guess if it becomes unbearable I will go from there. I have heard both positive and negative stories on both ends so it can be frustrating to decide. I just keep thinking "am I willing to take a chance on MY baby". It's definitely a tough decision.

Aubrey - I am SO with you on that one. My son was also delivered by vacuum extraction after his heart rate kept fluctuating with each push (due to induction by Cervidil, in my opinion). I was able to labor and deliver without any pain medication, and it felt so frustrating when I couldn't deliver him "naturally" as well.
This time, if all goes according to plan, we'll have #2 at home with a midwife.

I'm going to try and avoid it, not because I'm against it but because I personally have been warned against it. I have a condition that my sacroilliac joint slips out of position and that and the swelling put pressure on my sciatic nerve.

The concern is that if I'm not able to feel the bone slipping out of position it may cause permanent harm to the nerves.

That being said, I'm still not taking it completely off the table as it's not a huge risk, and it's possible for me to slip out my back just tensing for contractions. Hmmm, 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other. Let's wait and see, I'm hoping since I've suffered huge and chronic pain several times in my life that I'll be able to use my focusing techniques to get me through labor.

I had planned to do an all natural birth. Well, I managed to do the first 8 hours of labor without any pain meds but then my contractions went into my back and brought me to my knees in pain. I couldn't get off the floor because that was the only way I could handle the pain. It even made me throw up which I almost never do. So I gave in and ordered the epidural and it was the best thing I could have done. I was finally able to get some rest before it was time to push, especially since I had already been awake over 24 hrs. My husband was watching the contraction monitor and he said it was a good thing that I had the epidural because the contractions were going off the charts! I never really felt the urge to push but I was able to push pretty well. I did end up with a C-section because my sons head was turned the wrong way and would not squeeze through my pelvis...so it ended up being a good thing that I already had the epidural. With the next baby I believe we will try to do a v-back and will probably approach the epidural the same way. I will go as natural as possible until it becomes unbearable. I just want to give my body a chance to do what it needs to do...but I am not going to torture myself either. So I am for the epidural if it helps you.

I'm not sure which camp I'm in. I would love to do everything the natural way, but I don't know what my body will do at the time.
My sister-in-law swears by drugs. In her words "they created these drugs for a reason, and anyone who doesn't take advantage of them are crazy".
However I did read an article that said a large percentage of women who receive epidurals have c-sections because they can't feel enough to push.
Also one of my friends received one after being in labor for 20 hours and not being anywhere near the push phase. The person hooked it up wrong so she was not getting any of the medicine while they had the contraction machine making them harder and harder. By the time her daughter was born she was in so much pain she didn't even have the strength to cry or tell the nurse that the epidural wasn't working.

I'd have to see h ow m,y labor went again. With my first, I accepted a shot of nubane to ease the pain, and because we ended in a c-section I had a spinal. Make me puke but it does alot of people LOL I have a scar from that as they put a small tube in your back. Its 4 years old and still sometiems gets itchy LOL With my second, I accepted three shots of nubane and when my labor took a turn, slamming into my back, I said yeah sure, lets get one. The first time he went to high, had to go lower. After an hour I was STILL feeling pain, sometimes with back labor epis won't take. However, it had taken me 16 hours to get to 3cm, after the epi, it took me 8 hours to get to 10cm. BONUS lol The downside was I tore pretty significatly, needed 33 stitches, so I felt ALL of that, but you have such an endorphin rush with pushing, you don't even feel it. If I had back labor again, I probably wouldn't bother, because even though I had all feeling I still had heavy legs after and couldn't stand well. So avoiding that would be nice. For the con side, I liked that feeling of pressure hwen oyu knew you had to push, I don't think I'd want to dull that, but obviously I dilate slow, so if it helped speed that up, sure I'll go for it, but we'd be turning it off before I hit 10cm. I like having options, I'm not really opposed to anythign they can do to make my labor experience pleasent.

wow, aubrey- thats terrible. I am so sorry yours was so terrible. I certainly agree that some anesthesiologists and anesthetists are probably not skilled enough, like any profession. That is the kind of story that makes me re-consider. Thanks for sharing it. I am glad your second one went so much easier.

Put me in the "hated it" pile.
The guy who did mine was an IDIOT. He missed so many times, I finally screamed, "Do you even KNOW what you're doing!?!?!" I have scars on my spine from that and a "spinal headache". After her birth, I had fluid accumulation on my spine that felt as big as a baseball, and I couldn't stand upright for a few days. It still bothers me, a lot.
I am very small waisted, and my back bone was very visible, so I can't blame it on being "fat", at that time in my life.
I also got induced, which will never happen to me again. They keep cranking up the pitocin until you are begging for mercy. It is sanctioned torture so the doctor can deliver the baby on HIS time clock, IMO.
With my 2nd daughter, I planned on staying home until the labor pains were as bad as they were in the hospital. That way, I could avoid the pitocin & all that mess.
Well, they never even got 1/2 way as bad, and I wound up having her at home with hubby catching her.
If I am blessed enough to have more kids, I will have them at home, situation willing.
I FELT so much more, had so much more control of my body, and it was awesome. Yeah, it hurt, but not as bad as my induced labor. The induced labor felt like Freddy Kreuger had his fingers poking my belly. Sharp, and PAINFUL.
With my natural birth, the labor felt more like a rolling ocean wave... just when I thought it was too much, it'd ease up. I just kept imagining her coming down, and kept telling myself that that was one less that I'd have to feel.
Also, with #1, I had NO feeling, and no control. They almost sectioned me for failure to progress, but wound up vacuum extracting her out. And, let me tell you, I felt guilty for that one. Her poor head was a nightmare to look at.
I know there are a lot of people who'd disagree with me, but that's how *I* feel. I don't judge if you want an epidural... I just ain't game for one!

I was adamant that I didn't want one and thought I was doing great! Until they broke my water.....I changed my mind FAST and it was the best decision that I could have made. It took beautifully and I still had 16 hours of labor left since I was VERY slow to progress so I was able to rest for awhile before I had to start pushing. Even with a second degree tear recovery was great!

I am not sure what I am going to do but my husband is an anesthesiologist- in residency program right now and just finished 2 months of OB anesth. which was basically doing epidurals and managing C-sections.
He says its not nearly as dangerous and people think it is. Its hard to get right especially if the mother is overweight or has strange bone structure to back.

I am definitely considering it- I have a good friend who had one and she always talks about how her labor was great and peaceful.

Yet, another good reason to keep your weight down during pregnancy...

I definitely plan on having one. I can't handle even what most people consider a tiny amount of pain. No clue how I'll do with the whole pregnancy process!

Just seen my first epidural done on tv and it seemed really hit and miss and a bit scary. I was discussing it with a pregnant friend and I was adamant that I would have one but having seen it done I wonder whether it's a good idea. It seems like if they miss by even a milimetre it could be really dangerous! I'm sure I wouldn't care in the advance stages of labour but it's a worry having seen it done. I'm not even PG yet, I'm just a planner and a worrier!