I'm irritated...with my past birth experience.

[AFWife]

So...I'm watching "Pregnant in America" and when they discuss the epidural risk the list is ridiculously long!

The list they gave me in the hospital? 10 risks, MAYBE.

I felt forced to stay on my back because of the stupid monitor...and no one helped me manage the pain...they just pushed drugs.

WHY WAS I NOT TOLD THE FULL RISK LIST???? I'm mad at the risks I placed on myself and my child. Ugh.


Sorry...rant over.

[Banana731]

yeah, they give you the most common. I'm sure that technically, there is a long list of possible side effects of vaginal birth in general (Though, I've only seen one OB actually give a list of vaginal birth side effects)

I think in Marsden Wagner's book, he says that something like 23% of women have some type of side effect from epidurals. That seems pretty high to me. Did they tell you that?

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Banana731

yeah, they give you the most common. I'm sure that technically, there is a long list of possible side effects of vaginal birth in general (Though, I've only seen one OB actually give a list of vaginal birth side effects)

I think in Marsden Wagner's book, he says that something like 23% of women have some type of side effect from epidurals. That seems pretty high to me. Did they tell you that?

Nope.

They didn't tell me that the violent shivers I got were a side effect...but a "common occurrence" and that wasn't until AFTER I was shaking.

[laughymama]

This is how it happened with me as well. No one informed me about the shivers part until after I was violently shaking and asked if something was wrong. I was terrified.

My BP also swooped way low, I lost total vision and I lost my hearing. Then I began vomiting and could not stop for half an hour. After I finally got my vision and hearing back the nurse cheerfully said, "Oh yeah, that just happens sometimes. Totally normal."

From others I've spoken to, no one lost their vision and hearing but whatever.

I was not told something was common until after it had happened and even then I had to flat out ask and practically demand a clear answer. They all assumed I should have felt totally safe in their hands even if I was completely ignorant.

One nurse even said, "It's better if we just don't mention the really bad side effects and let the mothers feel self and comfortable."

I was pretty irritated about the lack of information as well.

[kalamos23]

The losing your vision and hearing is part of passing out - at least whenever I have passed out with low blood pressure, I lose the ability to hear and see. That doesn't make it right, but that is probably what happened with regards to the vision/hearing.

[Climbergirl]

The violent shaking I got was due to the catheter after I go the epidural. Now I understand why they did not believe me and I MADE them take the thing out (which showed that was the problem). Interesting....

[Banana731]

I have also heard nurses say to post-op epidural moms that the shivering was due to hormones. I can believe that with the sudden extraction of the baby, that the normally slower release of birth hormones happens faster. But I also know that it's a common epi side effect. Maybe a birth pro with more experience with epi/c-section vs. only epi could weigh in on that? We need an L&D nurse in on this thread!

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Banana731

I have also heard nurses say to post-op epidural moms that the shivering was due to hormones. I can believe that with the sudden extraction of the baby, that the normally slower release of birth hormones happens faster. But I also know that it's a common epi side effect. Maybe a birth pro with more experience with epi/c-section vs. only epi could weigh in on that? We need an L&D nurse in on this thread!

I didn't have a section...but I shivered when they turned it on and when they turned it off...they said it was normal.

[Galatea]

IMO, the biggest "side effect" that they never discuss is how freaking hard it makes to push the baby out. That is the biggest problem!!! I had to wait 2 hours for the epidural to wear off with ds1 before I could do any effective pushing.