Epidural Poll!

[TennisGirl80]

With my first DD, I had to have 3!!! The first lady had no idea what she was doing, was chatting with her "helper" the whole time, and it just didn't work. They kept coming in and "tapping it off" but it didn't work, because the needle or whatever wasn't going to the right place. Finally someone new came in and re did it right before I started pushing. So I felt everything the whole time just before I started pushing, then there was no pain, just a MAJOR feeling to push.
With my second, it worked right away, but stopped as I started to push.... so I had the exact opposite. I figure if I have another, the darn thing will probally just not work at all - so I'm stayin on the pill!!!!!

 

[cruiserkaren]

I did not have one with my 1st dd. I progressed too fast and then it was too late. I was TERRIFIED! I had never even considered NOT having one. Anyway the birth was extremely quick (5 hours beginning to end) I did it and things were fine.

On our 2nd one I had decided I wanted one if I could. So I got it. It was horrible. I swear it hurt worse than childbirth. It made me sick, vomiting sick. I could only lay a certain way. My labor was 12 hours long. If I had it to do over again I'd have skipped the epidural.

If I have anymore children in the future I will not be getting an epidural.

 

[TennisGirl80]

OMG - Some of these are worse than old war stories!!!!

 

[golfgal]

I wanted one with my first after oh, about 20 hours of labor but they weren't available at the hospital so I didn't have the option. After 36 hour and not getting past 4 cm's we opted for a C-Section-once that epi went in it was like heaven!

The twins were a planned C-Section because I was 38 weeks, the size of a whale and DONE being pregnant. The epi for that was easy too.

I guess I never considered myself a fake woman for wanting drugs in labor .

 

[Tasmen]

I guess I never considered myself a fake woman for wanting drugs in labor .

My delivery nurse said this to me: We don't give our special prizes to women that go the natural route. Everyone gets the same prize at the end -- a baby.

 

[NMAmy]

I can't stand the thought of a needle in my spine,

This is exactly the reason I would not even consider getting an epidural. The thought of the needle in my spine freaked me out way more than the pain of childbirth. I had an easy and fast labor and a complicated delivery but everything turned out fine and I'm glad I did it the way I did.

Oh, yeah, the pain was all gone after the birth but that was only because they immediately shot me up with Demerol.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I wanted one..begged for one, but the anesthesiologist was late and by the time he got there, it was too late

It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be

 

[Val]

My first three were all natural- two induced (yes induced AND natural in the same sentence). DS13 came SO fast that he broke 2 vertebrae in my back and caused some interesting damage. When D11 was coming out 21 mos later, the Doc forbid natural- it was just too dangerous with the potential for complications from my back. Had an epidural. It was a breeze- MUCH easier than the IV. I wasn't worn out, I didn't hurt as much, and they 'turned it off" and I walked from delivery to my after-care room. DD11 was in PERFECT shape.....makes me wonder WHAT I was thinking with the first 3.....my advice to my 3 daughters- one little word: EPIDURAL!

Why did my mom have 10 naturally- because there WASN'T epidural available!!!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

I requested one at my six month OB appointment and made sure it was written, in Magic Marker, in LARGE red letters at the top of my chart.

I had one after I got to 4 cm. After 26 hours I had a C section anyway.

I had a planned section with my second daughter and enjoyed my little drug cocktail very much, thank you.

 

[party-five]

four epidurals and NO complaints!!! I never considered it any other way. I liked being able to rest, relax and ENJOY and not be screaming and saying things I would regret to my husband (lol - I've seen a lot of birthing shows on TLC )

I always compare it to having a root canal with no drugs . . . why would I do that to myself???

The first time I was numb for an hour or two, but all the others wore off really quickly and I was up and around within the hour after delivery -

The needle was nothing and compared to the pain of my induced contractions - piece of cake

 

[phorsenuf]

I have 4 kids. Never had any drugs. Each and every one I had natural. Wasn't bad at all.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

no, I didn't want one. 22 hours of back labor. I could have done without the back labor, but I would do it again without the epidural.

pushing wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

you have to do what you are comfortable with - I wasn't comforatble having one!

 

[rparmfamily]

The hospital I gave birth in up in Maine didn't even OFFER epidurals, only interthecals,etc. Not sure why, maybe the risk is less or less drugs cross the placenta barrier to the baby?

Most women get them, so not sure the epidural moms feel so defensive LMAO.

 

[Barb D]

Had epidurals all three times. The first two times I went in sure I could manage without. The third time I went in KNOWING I'd get it ASAP. Why be in excruciating pain if you don't have to? I bet if they'd been available to our female ancestors they would have gone for them too.

 

[okeydokey]

I had natural childbirth for both my children and do not regret the decision at all. I was afraid that one intervention would lead to another and it was important to me to go natural. It worked out well. I was active during labor, walking and using the birth ball.

 

[kristilew]

So glad I did not have one. As pp said, I felt almost high after, and easily got up and walked around. It was a great feeling.

OP, if you don't get one, the worst part of the pain is mental: not knowing how much worse it will get before it stops. You think "I can handle this, but I don't know if I can handle this times ten." For me, the contracting was way worse than the pushing, and the last couple of cm were the worst, but I didn't know they were the last. Get status reports on where you are and it will make it easier to manage. (And I assume most women do get status reports, we had kind of a surreal experience in an Army hospital on a full moon night. But that's another post )

 

[mrsltg]

I have had one epidural and three spinals. The epidural left some long-lasting negative effects. If I had it to do over again I would have skipped the epidural.

 

[tinker&belle]

I wasn't sure about the epidural either, but my labor was induced (high bp) and they had to break my water, and the pain was too much.

In retrospect from talking to the doctors, the epidural was the best thing I could have done, it allowed me to avoid a C-Section. I tried to relax through contractions, visualize, etc., but I would tense with each one. Once I had the epidural I slept and the baby came 8 hours later (when they broke my water they estimated 24 and probable C-Section.

So an epidural can be a handy tool, but wait to see how it goes for you to decide.

 

[binny]

My delivery nurse said this to me: We don't give our special prizes to women that go the natural route. Everyone gets the same prize at the end -- a baby.

Mine said almost the exact same thing!

 

[MomToARedhead]

I did not want the epidural, but was not opposed to it either. I was very worried it would stall my labor.

When I went into labor, my daughter was sunny side up and I had awful back labor. I progressed quickly once I started dilating, but then I seemed to be stuck dilated to 6 once I got there and thought it might be because I was too tense from the pain. So I did end up asking for the epidural and my labor then started progressing quickly again once I was able to relax. About 2 hours after I got the epi, it started to wear off and I started feeling intense contractions so I called the nurse in to check me. I was fully dilated and ready to go! I think the epidural helped my labor progress instead of stalling my labor as I previously believed. The epi had completely worn off by the time I got set up to push, which I was fine with, since I didn't particularly want the epi to begin with and wanted to be able to feel it when I pushed. So I think my labor went perfect for me. I got pain management help when I needed it and it wore off when I needed it to.