Tell me about epidural

[All Girls]

I have had two births with no pain relief.

Loved the first although got a bit frightened at the sensation of the baby pushing down before birth and the sensation it is stuck. Pushing stage was 4 minutes.

Second, freaked out at pushing stage. Again thinking i was going to burst and the baby would be stuck. I really hate the sensation. Pushing stage lasted 3 minutes.

So there are only a few minutes i get really scared. But the thought of that sensation again is scaring me.

Is it harder to push with an epidural. What do you feel. Do you still feel that sensation anyway. It is not pain, it is just the sensation of oh my god this baby is going to get stuck and i can't do this and the shouting GET IT OUT OF ME!!!!!!!!

I don't mind any of the rest of the labour except that.

Tell me about epidural pro's and cons

 

[ourturnnext]

I've only got the one baby so can only speak for one birth but I LOVED my epidural and if I have a second baby I definitely want another one.

As it turned out my baby was stuck and needed ventouse delivery but I felt nothing at all. I wasn't even sure if I was pushing right as I couldn't feel my bum to push into but apparently I was a good pusher! Didn't feel the episiotomy, didn't feel the ventouse and was actually quite relaxed after being really panicky and distressed pre-epi.

Only downside was it took ages to wear off afterwards. Gave birth at 7am but was still numb and unable to walk by 3pm. Never heard of that happen to anyone else though, think I was just unlucky.

Hats off to you for going through two labours without pain relief, you sound amazing! x

 

[All Girls]

I am worried if i have the epidural i won't push right and end up with stitches or something. I was walking 5 minutes after DDs were born back to my room pushing their cots.

I don't know if the epidural is worth it for hating a sensation for 4 minutes?? Plus my last labour was 20 minutes from 3cm to born so would it have time to take effect. I don't want another fast labour, it was terrifying and wicked painful but pain i can manage, pushing sensation i cannot lol

Not amazing at all. My first was very easy and i had no idea what to expect so just went with the flow. If i had a long time pushing i'd not cope at all. I was just lucky.

God love you your baby getting stuck. That is what it feels like to me and what scares me, the sensation it is there but the OMG it's going to get stuck fear. I panic

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

I loved my epidural and it definitely helped give me a positive birth experience. It took away all of the pain and discomfort after only about 10 minutes. I only felt a small amount of pressure during the pushing stage, but mainly relied on the nurse to tell me when another contraction was starting. I didn't even feel her crown; they had to tell me at what stage she was in as she was making her way out! Pushing for me was like trying to have one really, really big bowel movement - it worked for me, since she arrived after an hour of light pushing (which made both the OB staff and me very happy!). I did end up with a third degree tear, but that was from her deciding to come out sideways and me not listening to the OB when he told me to slow down. I had to stay in bed for about 45 minutes afterwards while the OB stitched me up, but the epidural never took away my ability to move my lower body. I was up walking on my own once the OB was done and I had had my skin to skin cuddle with my daughter. I never felt like she would get stuck or not come out. In fact after I got the epidural I was able to relax and enjoy the experience (including getting several hours of sleep so I would have the energy to push)!

Have you tried talking to your medical provider to see if there are other options that can be done instead of an epidural if you really don't want one? I hope this birth goes smoothly for you as well.

 

[jenniferttc1]

I loved having one with my son. My induction was rough and so painful and long! I actually stopped the epidural a few hours before pushing to where I was comfortable at first, but had control at the end. I didn't feel "pain" but I felt pressure and actually had to get the nurse to run to get the doctor cause I HAD to push then. I moved my legs around, I felt when I needed to push and barely had a graze that had a few stitches. I literally walked and took a pee, and then walked to my recovery room moments later after my son nursed real quick. It was amazing.

 

[All Girls]

So basically you still feel the pressure sensation. I didn't feel any pain when the baby was crowing and no stitches. I just don't like the sensation of baby pushing down. No point having an epidural so thanks ladies.

I would not fancy pushing for an hour. 4 minutes was long enough.

 

[ClairAye]

I only have cons sorry!

I decided to get one and it didn't even work, I also got it topped up in theatre and it still didn't work. All it did was give me months of daily, constant back pain I'm sure it works fab for others but I will never have another, they're not always good!

 

[All Girls]

Thanks. I had spd on both mine, was in a wheelchair on my second from 33 weeks and i was afraid with the epidural i would do more damage with no feeling.

I have SPD bad again this time.

I am going to talk to the obs about it next week and see what her opinion is.

 

[Dream.dream]

I have a con one ill never get it again. I had it for my pushing as well.

My epidural failed , only numbed my left leg and over did the anesthetic , I felt everything else , my leg was numbed for an entire day after I couldn't go to the bathroom alone or take my son out of the bassinet , I had back pain for weeks ( still happens ) and a head ache .

It's not worth it

 

[Nikkilewis14]

With my epi i felt contractions they just werent crazy painful...i didnt yell, scream, nothing, i felt lots of pressure though... If it wore off they just upped the meds and took the edge off...id get another in a heart beat.

 

[preg_pilot]

My epidural failed. Left me paralyzed with intense pain on my right side. Got a spinal ache afterwards that required a blood "band-aid" into my spine.
The theory is that my spine is really shallow.

This is a really rare thing though. Most of the time they're a wonderful thing.

 

[Nikkilewis14]

oh man that sounds awful!

 

[preg_pilot]

oh man that sounds awful!

It was at the time. Took 38 hours too, but that´s another story entirely

Point being, all labor and delivery stories are different, some are fairy tales, others are horror stories, but almost all of them end the same way. A healthy baby, and a happy mommy. I know mine did