Patsy he is the cutest! Congratulations! Sorry you had to labor so long, and practically for nothing. I bet you wish you could have been cut a lot earlier and saved yourself a lot of exhaustion! The oxygen mask is a fear of mine, I must admit! And the major fear is the epidural wearing off! Yikes-- you can support me though when my time comes and let me know that you overcame all of that and Lucas is still a doll! Glad everyone is safe and healthy! What a big boy you have! Congrats, Congrats!!
The funny thing was that whenever the epidural wore off and the full blunt of the pain hit me... around the time I hyperventilated... I told my labor nurse to get my OB in there, put me under and do a c-section. She kept telling me I didn't want a c-section, I could do it, etc.. she pushed me until I gave in and said I'd try to do it naturally.
She popped in this morning to see me and went "So you still ended up with a c-section?" like she was disappointed. I almost wanted to smack her and be like "My DR made that call after an hour of pushing did NOTHING... " Stupid twit.
Sorry. I'm just a bit bitter looking back...
I needed the oxygen mask, I really did. I probably would have passed out if they hadn't given it to me- the pain was just too crazy. Epidural didn't help the gallbladder pain but to add the contractions to it.. it was excruciating and I was already exhausted from everything. Everything I had was back labor- probably because of his size?... so it was all this pain concentrated in my back with the occasional bit of contraction pain in my tummy, too (that was tolerable, though!)
I didn't fight it while I was laboring but I fought the oxygen mask in the c-section. I felt like I couldn't get enough air and so they took it off for me as long as I took even breaths. Just remember that-- even, deep, breaths. Not quick ones like I did when the epidural wore off (but in my defense, I went from gallbladder pain and no contraction pain to WHAM both of them all at once.. it freaked me out and I lost it a bit...
)
And question...an epidural can wear off?!!? I thought it was a continuous thing!
...My epidural experience involving it wearing off (numerous times)...
I got the epidural earlier than I really needed it. I wasn't in much pain at that point but they were hoping to head everything off, especially because of my gallbladder, so that I wouldn't get too tired too quickly from extra pain.
It took about 45 minutes to an hour before it kicked in, but like I said- I didn't really need it when they gave it to me so it wasn't a big deal. However I should have kept how long it took to work in mind whenever I could feel the contractions getting stronger later that night.
I, stupidly, assumed that they hurt more because they were getting stronger and I was getting closer. I just thought that was how it worked so I didn't say anything. Then the difference between one contraction and the other was like someone stabbing a knife in my back and my nurse told me it wore out. She called the anesthesiologist and he took 45 minutes to get there (something else to keep in mind! those people are never timely in their arrival)...
The type of epidural I had pushed so much through per hour, I didn't get to control it- a machine that resembled an IV next to my bed controlled it. Only the anesthesiologist was allowed to make the call to slow down or speed up the flow. There was a tube that hung from my shoulder (taped there) that flowed to the area where the epidural entered my spine area and that is where the hard core numbing medicine came from-- it was injected into that tube. The hard core numbing stuff is what wore off, not the stuff that flowed continuously (though that ran out later, but it beeped and they knew to replace it!) ....
So when the nurse made the call to get him there, he gave me 5cc of whatever medicine through the tube thing [for those that had epidurals, this was the stuff that feels like cold water running down your back]... A half hour later I felt worse than I had before (because the contractions were stronger and, I'm sure, because I was exhausted so the pain just seemed worse..) and the nurse called him to come back. He hadn't showed up in 25 minutes, I was crying and begging for a c-section and the nurse called him and basically threatened bodily harm if he didn't get there. I think my OB was in on it, too. He walks in and goes "Oh, you're not feeling better?" and the nurse goes "I told you before that her epidural took almost an hour to kick in this morning" and he goes "Oh, well, I only gave her half of what I normally would because I thought she was close to delivering"
I think fire could have shot through my eyes, DH's eyes, the nurse's eyes... and he hightailed it out of there and came back with lots and lots of wonderful drugs that when they kicked in were like heaven on earth.
After the first round still hadn't kicked in after 20 minutes (he waited in the room at the nurse's demand) he went and got something else. That stuff kicked in about 15 minutes later and I swear... it was magic. It was love. I no longer hated Mr. Anesthesiologist man for only giving me a half dose earlier.
So everyone is happy and all is good... I'm getting through the contractions, calming down and they let me loose the oxygen mask.
....go figure the epidural started wearing off AGAIN in the middle of prep for the c-section and I freaked myself out imagining all that pain coming back (this was when I started crying and thoroughly freaked DH out). Luckily Mr. Anesthesiologist man was still around (from the girl who had just had a c-section) and he popped in and gave me the surgical level numbing meds for the c-section early, thinking they would need longer to kick in like everything else did. They checked me before they took me in, hadn't kicked in yet. I think I frustrated this fellow.
So they decided to go ahead and take me in and start prep (taping, putting up the sheets, etc.) while waiting on it and the next time he checked me, I was ready to do.
..then the tears started again because I heard a baby cry...
Congrats Piecey!
I think there must be different ways to do the epi? I got a port that stayed in my back with all 3, and they just added meds to it.
Thanks! I did have the port-- it was connected to the IV looking thing with the continuous meds and also the catheter thing that hung off my shoulder, which is where they injected the hardcore stuff.
Well after reading from Maggie's very helpful link, it seems that sometimes the meds will run out and then wear off. But you should be able to get more meds...? Also at a certain point a lot of drs stop the meds so you have some sensation to push.
Pretty much what happened to me exactly.. except they never stopped the meds here, they just told me when to push... which is weird, I'll admit.
Wow...this is like the first fact that I regret ever finding out! lol
But at least I can keep the whole not too early thing in my brain.
I didn't read Maggie's link but... I think every hospital has very, very different policies. When I asked when I should/could get mine (still wasn't sure yet I wanted it, until the gallbladder pain hit) she told me whenever I wanted up to 8cm. After that, they don't let you get one because there really isn't a point.
So I got mine at 4cm.. (given I had gallbladder pain, I jumped the gun a bit) but... I think it also depends on how your body responds to pain meds. Have you been put under before? Taken vicodin/percocet/ anything narcotic like that? How does it affect you? All things to think about-- and listen to your body. If it feels like they're getting stronger, even a little bit, ASK YOUR NURSE! Don't wait, like I did, thinking it was normal.. It's not a bad thing to go ahead and have them get the anesthesiologist in there to take a look at things!
A close friend of mine wont have anymore kids (she only had one) because her epidural wore off... and she literally cannot get passed the thought of the pain she was in.... That is why you don't want to get the epidural too soon.... or too late either!
I don't know that it'll keep me from having another kid... i'll just be more vocal next time around. Well, actually, I'll probably have another c-section... as I think that is the norm, isn't it? Anyway.... just keep an eye on it. Try to "listen to your body" (only way I can think to put it!) and if it feels like the contractions are getting stronger or more painful OPEN THY MOUTH AND SAY SOMETHING!
Now I know to watch my epi drip closely.
If that thing gets below half, I'm asking for a refill!
definitely! If you think it's starting to hurt more-- say something!!!!!!!
Also keep in mind that everyone perceives pain differently. And of course Patsy had not only labor pain, but also gallbladder pain to cope with.
Exactly-- I have a very, very high tolerance for pain in general BUT contraction pains in my back, mixed with gallbladder pain, mixed with how exhausted and frustrated I was... it was too much. It's a lot of the reason that I hyperventilated so don't let my story scare anyone... my situation was quite unique and in the end, my baby was too big (which someone at some point said might be part of the reason that I had back labor so strong) to do things naturally... he wasn't going past my pubic bones and so the pushing just made the pain worse.. He wasn't going anywhere!
Are you bf'ing? If so how is that going?
No, I had a breast reduction when I was 18 (4.5lbs taken out) and so I anticipated not being able to and just decided to bottle feed. Good thing, too, because [as i figured] no milk came in.
You are quite a woman! How are you feeling post c-section? Is it as bad as they say it is?
Thank you for all the super nice things you said about me and my boy!
It's not bad at all. I have to remember to hold my tummy tight when I lean forward and try to get out of this hospital bed-- it really relieves any of the pain if I hold it tight. It's so weird to not have a belly anymore!!
I'm grateful somewhat because I don't have sitz baths or those witch hazel pads other ladies on here were talking about...
Ugh! Wow that would have been something!
She considers the induction at 39 weeks... because based off of LMP my due date was 6/9... and clearly, the ultrasound that dated him dated him bigger than that because he IS bigger than that. Just a week, but still- she's saying he's 39 weeks and 9lbs5oz! I can't imagine if she'd waited until I went into labor on my own....
What a cutie. I hope you enjoy every minute of being a new mom. Congrats.
