Did you have an epidural?

[Tink-aholic]

Those nurses are definitely in the wrong profession then. The last time I checked there were no *medals* being given out for those that were able (or just wanted to) have their babies with no anesthesia. Some mothers act like you're a wimp to need something for pain - well, I know that some have much easier deliveries than others. I had one SIL that had 4 children, and they just literally slipped out. Someone like that can in no way understand what a *very* painful hard delivery is like.

It's a *choice* - no right or wrong. Everyone should be able to do what they feel is best for them, with no judging on either side. My three babies all had high Apgar scores. The epidural didn't affect that with them. We were all happy and healthy and that's all that matters.

Are you a delivery nurse? How would you have seen/heard that? I would love to know when a nurse would say something like that - would definitely have a word with her supervisor!

So nurses can't have opinions? They have seen far more deliveries than the average person, and I relayed their thoughts. I also respected the doctor, midwife, and pediatrician who advised me against it.

Why are you taking it so personally?

 

[diznygirl]

Everybody's pain level is different and every labor is different. My friend who had two children had to ask me what contractions felt like. My contractions with my first were through the roof! That epidural couldn't come fast enough. My second was different and they gave me pitocin and epidural to speed things along.

Each mom needs to make the decision that makes the most sense for their situation. There isn't one right way of doing it.

 

[North of Mouse]

I've seen the nurses tell the patients that it is fine and normal and okay to have a drugs...and then call them selfish behind their backs.

So nurses can't have opinions? They have seen far more deliveries than the average person, and I relayed their thoughts. I also respected the doctor, midwife, and pediatrician who advised me against it.

Why are you taking it so personally?

It didn't sound like, from the way you posted, that it was an opinion later, after the fact (or even in general). Sounded like it was a direct slam at certain person at the time of the delivery. Also, because you said you *saw/heard* this that maybe you are a nurse, and was near she/him there at the time. This would have been totally out of line, not like an opinion later among friends/whoever.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but no one should presume to know what types pain meds others may need for any type delivery. Our bodies/delivery situations are all different, and we should all be respectful of others needs. I also hold delivery room nurses to a higher standard in that regard, or they shouldn't be there.

So, yes, I take it personally, for myself and others that may have had a rough time, because it's a common misconception among some women that have had easy natural deliveries, to look on those that take meds as wimps (this last is NOT directed at you - but I've heard this many times in general).

 

[Feralpeg]

After 18 hours of labor, my daughter would not move down the birth canal. My blood pressure was very high. The doctor decided to do a c-section. They put in an epidural rather than use general anesthesia. I was wonderful. Instant relief for me and I was able to be awake for my daughter's birth.

 

[7165red]

I had 3 for back pain.

 

[Jaime4004]

Everybody's pain level is different and every labor is different. My friend who had two children had to ask me what contractions felt like. My contractions with my first were through the roof! That epidural couldn't come fast enough. My second was different and they gave me pitocin and epidural to speed things along.

Each mom needs to make the decision that makes the most sense for their situation. There isn't one right way of doing it.

exactly! My first was "sunnyside up." The contractions were extremely painful. I went into the hospital at 5cm and 12 hrs of horrible contractions later, I was still at 5cm. So I caved and got the epidural. (Originally thinking I would not, had labored at home for a day and 12 hrs in hospital with nothing, so thought I could last). It finally allowed my body to relax enough to fully dilate within a few hours.
So for my 2nd I decided to be proactive and get the epidural right away. Unfortunately, it didn't work, only numbed my right leg and I felt every contraction. I was offered a spinal instead but these contractions, while not pleasant, were way more manageable, so I just pushed that puppy out instead.
Figured the non-working epidural was a fluke that last time so tried it again with #3 but same problem (different anesthesiologist), completely numbed my right leg and nothing else. It took quite a lot of lidocaine in my back before even inserting it, that should have been my first clue. Again, I didn't have a fraction of that pain that I had with #1 pressing on my spine, so it went just fine.
So there is little likelihood of a #4, but if there were, I would skip the epidural unless it was another sunnyside baby, then I'd take everything they could throw at me, hoping something would work.

 

[mjkacmom]

I also hold delivery room nurses to a higher standard in that regard, or they shouldn't be there.
.

Really? You wouldn't expect a physician to ask a nurse about the patients and get:

"Well, the selfish wuss in room one is asking for an epidural, the fatty mcbutterpants in room two wants lunch, and the unwed "ho" in room three keeps asking if her baby-daddy is here yet." Really, you expect these people who see you at your weakest, most naked moments to have a degree of professionalism outside of your room? I think you are asking too much.

All of my doctors and pediatricians had absolutely no problem with patients getting any medication for pain during labor and delivery that they wanted. Not once was it even suggested that it might not be a good idea.

 

[J3nn78]

No x 3
My labors were intense and painful, but I was not willing to pump unnecessary drugs into my body or my childrens' bodies. Our bodies are fully capable of handling labor and delivery naturally and it is safer to avoid interfering unless absolutely medically necessary. I have nothing but fond memories of laboring and delivering my children naturally. I am with the PP who said she loved it. It is truly an amazing and miraculous experience. I am glad that I did it the way nature intended it to be.

 

[Ceila]

So nurses can't have opinions? They have seen far more deliveries than the average person, and I relayed their thoughts. I also respected the doctor, midwife, and pediatrician who advised me against it.

Why are you taking it so personally?

Perhaps because what you posted here:

I've seen the nurses tell the patients that it is fine and normal and okay to have a drugs...and then call them selfish behind their backs.

is completely unprofessional.

 

[Golden Amik]

No. It wasn't an option for me as I was turned away from the hospital (was told I was not in labour...) and wound up doing all my work at home. When I went back to the hospital, it was too late.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

This discussion is similar to the c-section discussion. What is right for some isn't right for others. Decide what is right for you and go for it.

 

[nathalee81]

After twelve hours of labor and absolutely no progress (in fact, my ob-gyn said that my baby girl had climbed up FARTHER in the birth canal than two hours before), I had the epidural and then, finally, a C-section. And, I had a pretty good dose of Pitocin, too.

The C-section was needed (her heart rate was dipping with the contractions, and her freakishly large head was causing problems coming down the birth canal ), and what my doctor recommended.

What I didn't really expect with labor (and I guess might have been affected by the Pitocin), was that I didn't really have a break from the contractions. It was wave after wave of intense pain with NO BREAK in between. After a couple of hours on the Pitocin, I was exhausted. And, I hadn't even dilated past a couple of centimeters and, as I said, she was farther up the birth canal.

I don't think it is anyone's business to judge who gets and epidural or when. My doctor (whom I trusted completely, after all she was bringing my child into the world) said it was okay to get an epidural and said I needed a C-section.

More power to you if you had a natural childbirth, but I don't love my child any less because I had an epidural.

 

[diznygirl]

After twelve hours of labor and absolutely no progress (in fact, my ob-gyn said that my baby girl had climbed up FARTHER in the birth canal than two hours before), I had the epidural and then, finally, a C-section. And, I had a pretty good dose of Pitocin, too.

The C-section was needed (her heart rate was dipping with the contractions, and her freakishly large head was causing problems coming down the birth canal ), and what my doctor recommended.

What I didn't really expect with labor (and I guess might have been affected by the Pitocin), was that I didn't really have a break from the contractions. It was wave after wave of intense pain with NO BREAK in between. After a couple of hours on the Pitocin, I was exhausted. And, I hadn't even dilated past a couple of centimeters and, as I said, she was farther up the birth canal.

I don't think it is anyone's business to judge who gets and epidural or when. My doctor (whom I trusted completely, after all she was bringing my child into the world) said it was okay to get an epidural and said I needed a C-section.

More power to you if you had a natural childbirth, but I don't love my child any less because I had an epidural.

Omg - that was me - no break between contractions. The classes talked about "peaks and valleys" and all I had we're peaks and bigger peaks. I couldn't breathe. The epidural wasn't just a welcome relief - it was a necessity.

Nature sure works differently on different people. I sure would have loved to have that sublime experience where my body did what nature intended. Except in my case nature was ripping my guts out! Once I had the epidural I rejoined earth and had a baby.

 

[PebblesMom]

1st son = yes
2nd son = no

Labor and recovery was so different with both of my sons it is hard to compare. I am glad that I experienced both and knowing what I know now I would still make the decision with my first son to have one and I would still make the decision with my second son to not have one.

 

[jodifla]

No x 3
My labors were intense and painful, but I was not willing to pump unnecessary drugs into my body or my childrens' bodies. Our bodies are fully capable of handling labor and delivery naturally and it is safer to avoid interfering unless absolutely medically necessary. I have nothing but fond memories of laboring and delivering my children naturally. I am with the PP who said she loved it. It is truly an amazing and miraculous experience. I am glad that I did it the way nature intended it to be.

Oh, puh-lease!

Ever visit an old-time graveyard? They are littered with the gravestones of infants and their mothers who died in childbirth.

 

[stargazer2892]

Yes but wish they hadn't numbed me as much since I couldn't feel anything ( I know that's the point ) but I couldn't even feel the "pressure" that I was supposed to be able to in order to know when to push. Next time I will be asking for a "walking epidural" so the edge is taken off but I can still feel something.

 

[jodifla]

Yes but wish they hadn't numbed me as much since I couldn't feel anything ( I know that's the point ) but I couldn't even feel the "pressure" that I was supposed to be able to in order to know when to push. Next time I will be asking for a "walking epidural" so the edge is taken off but I can still feel something.

I couldn't feel anything either, but there was a monitor so I could see when to push, and the doctor was also coaching me.

 

[disykat]

Omg - that was me - no break between contractions. The classes talked about "peaks and valleys" and all I had we're peaks and bigger peaks. I couldn't breathe. The epidural wasn't just a welcome relief - it was a necessity.

Nature sure works differently on different people. I sure would have loved to have that sublime experience where my body did what nature intended. Except in my case nature was ripping my guts out! Once I had the epidural I rejoined earth and had a baby.

I always marvel when I hear about contractions coming every so many minutes. That wasn't my experience either. Yes a sublime earth mother experience would have been great, but some of us would have probably died trying, and some of us almost did!

My biggest regret with my firstborn was not getting pain meds sooner and not agreeing to a c-section earlier. We put too much pressure on moms.

I notice that most of the moms who post about their wonderful experiences aren't the ones talking about their 24 hour + labors.

 

[Planogirl]

I did and I'm fully happy with it many years later. I'm with those who compare it to getting pain killers for other reasons so why not with childbirth? I don't see where the rule is that says that childbirth has to be 'natural'.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Our labor and delivery nurses love it when the patients get epidurals. A calm, medicated well rested patient makes for a better delivery for NURSE. I don't I understand how getting one is considered selfish, but I also don't understand how some people wear unmedicated births like a badge of honor.