Anyone else out there have epidurals??

[Sydnee]

I feel like I'm the only one on MDC that has had epidurals. Seriously, I feel majorly wimpy that I couldn't do it naturally, and am just curious if I really am the only one here. With all 3 I waited until I couldn't do it anymore, and delivered very quickly after getting them, and with my last one, I was half way thru pushing her out before if kicked in, which frustrates me, because I wouldn't have needed it, but oh well...

[Hayes]

I had one with my first babe. After 14 hours of labor and a contx that lasted over 10 minutes, I was finished relaxing. I wanted relief. And I was very glad I had it.

However, I had 2 more in the hospital after that. With #2, I was begging for the epidural. I was afraid that the discomfort I was feeling would last another 6 hours, like it did with #1. But I had the urge to push while the nice man was putting in the test dose. I pushed for 20 minutes, and the epidural kicked in just after Lydia was born.

With #3, also in the hospital, I knew I could do it. So I had a longer labor, but didn't worry at all.

With #4, I was at home. No choice there. If I had had an epidural with im, I would have had serious complications, possibly a severly brain damaged child. He was seriously stuck, and only a very skilled MW and a non-drugged mama could have worked together to get him out.

The advantage of home is that you can't freak out and get an epidural at 9 cm because there isn't one there!

We are planning a homebirth with #5 this fall.

[Mama Dragon]

I had one with #2 and #3. #1 was mostly natural, #2 was induced and those were some nasty contractions. #3 was meant to by completely natural, but I had back labor and didn't know how to deal with it (among other stressors that day) so I had an epidural, which stalled labor, and had to have pit. Baby almost died, so I'll never have another epi, no matter how bad it hurts. That's a big reason why I'm aiming for a UC homebirth this time.

[Sydnee]

Thanks for replying, mamas! I feel a bit alone, and ashamed that I had epi's. I had back labor with all 3, and I was always able to manage it, until I would hit transition, and now I know that I got to that point, but just couldn't do it anymore.

[boscopup]

It sounds to me (and I'm not a birth expert ) like you were probably in transition when you asked for the epidural. Sounds like you *can* do it, but you just don't realize at what point in labor you are. I didn't have an epidural, but I was in the hospital and I do remember feeling like I couldn't do it anymore at one point... It was just a few minutes later that I was feeling an urge to push! So yes, I was in transition when I didn't think I could do it, and that's very normal to think that way during transition (from what I've read/heard).

Btw, at that point where I didn't feel like I could do it anymore, the nurse did ask me if I wanted pain medication (first time she asked - they didn't think I was in active labor until that point and baby's head was "right there"). I didn't answer, but my DH said "no" for me - he knew I was wanting to do this without meds. I was seriously tempted to say yes until my DH said no for me, and then I remembered what I'd read about birth and how I was probably in transition and it was almost over. Sure enough...

I'm hoping this next baby will be born out-of-hospital, so it won't even be an issue. But I at least know that if I do end up in the hospital again (I was very preterm), I *can* do it, and when I feel like I can't do it anymore, I know it's almost over and I'll be able to push soon. And while the ring of fire was incredibly painful, I was able to handle it because I knew I was about to see my baby if I just kept pushing him out.

[Hayes]

Syndee, I have never experienced back labor OR pitocin induced contractions. I can't say that I wouldn't head to the hospital if I had a posterior baby.

[Sydnee]

Originally Posted by boscopup

It sounds to me (and I'm not a birth expert ) like you were probably in transition when you asked for the epidural. Sounds like you *can* do it, but you just don't realize at what point in labor you are. I didn't have an epidural, but I was in the hospital and I do remember feeling like I couldn't do it anymore at one point... It was just a few minutes later that I was feeling an urge to push! So yes, I was in transition when I didn't think I could do it, and that's very normal to think that way during transition (from what I've read/heard).

Btw, at that point where I didn't feel like I could do it anymore, the nurse did ask me if I wanted pain medication (first time she asked - they didn't think I was in active labor until that point and baby's head was "right there"). I didn't answer, but my DH said "no" for me - he knew I was wanting to do this without meds. I was seriously tempted to say yes until my DH said no for me, and then I remembered what I'd read about birth and how I was probably in transition and it was almost over. Sure enough...

I'm hoping this next baby will be born out-of-hospital, so it won't even be an issue. But I at least know that if I do end up in the hospital again (I was very preterm), I *can* do it, and when I feel like I can't do it anymore, I know it's almost over and I'll be able to push soon. And while the ring of fire was incredibly painful, I was able to handle it because I knew I was about to see my baby if I just kept pushing him out.

Yep, NOW I know that I could have done it, but at the time, I knew I couldn't do it anymore. With #3, I got out of the tub after laboring hard for about 6 hours, and was only dilated to a 4.5, so I kept thinking, no way could I keep going if I was only at a 4.5. Oh well...

[AllyRae]

Yes, the first time I got an epidural after 43 hours of pitocin induced contractions--Brandon was born 10 hours later. When I got the epi, I was at 4 cm. The second, I got it after 24 hours of labor because they had forced me into pitocin at the 18 hour mark (my water had been broken for 18 hours and I was GBS+ and they kept pestering me and telling me I had to do it until I finally gave in). When I had the epi, I was at 6 cm.

So, both times, it was after the pitocin about did me in. With Brandon, it was really cranked up full blast when I finally gave in and got the epi.

[TurboClaudia]

i know of quite a few mamas here on mdc who had births assisted with epidurals. you are not the only one.

~claudia

[erin_brycesmom]

I got the Epi with my first birth. I went in for a Pit inducement at 18 days past my due date and at that time I was completely closed and thick. Maxed out Pit for hours and hours finally opened me enough for them to do AROM and I couldn't handle the pain anymore. There is a small chance I could have done it without the Epi but before resorting to the Epi I agreed to Stadol to "take the edge off" ad the nurse put it. I could smack her. Biggest mistake I've made. It just made me loose all ability to cope with anything.

I learned quite a bit from that birth but I think the main thing I learned was that I was very naive to think I could do it alone (with just me and my husband). I thought I had prepared myself for an NCB but looking back I really hadn't. Hiring a doula for my next birth was key in having an Epi/Drug free birth.

~Erin

[Mama2 '05'06]

I had an epi with dd. Labor was induced and I was still at 3 cm after 14 hrs. The pain from the contrax subsided between contrax but my back never stopped hurting: It took about 4 hrs after the epi to finish dialating but it took 3 1/2 hrs of pushing too since I couldn't feel anything. I want to try to avoid it this time but I don't know what will happen so we'll see.

[doula and mom]

I had an epi with my twins. I didn't know it at the time, but my body goes from 3cm to transition very quickly, so I asked to be checked and was told I was at 3cm while in excrutiating pain and scared out of my mind. I kept thinking, 7 MORE CMS?!?!?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!??!?!?! So I got it. Unfortunately I had a "window" where the epi didn't affect my pain at all, so all my pain was concentrated into a small spot on my leg -- was actually MORE painful than not having it.

I swore I would not have one with my daughter, because of that experience. I didn't have one with her, but again I went from 3cm to transition in about an hour and was in terrible pain. I did have a shot of Nubain, which -- in retrospect -- was actually worse because suddenly I was so groggy and stoned-like, it was terrible. I didn't really "wake up" until I felt the urge to push, and even then I was still sort of hazy. Ugh. At least with an epi, I had a clear brain!

We plan to have #4 someday, and I will do a homebirth.

Try NOT to feel bad about getting an epi. Some women cannot relax enough for their cervixes to dialate without it. I have a friend who had her first baby without any drugs, and she was just so tense she didn't enjoy it at all. With her second, she had an epidural and enjoyed the experience much more.

[geek_the_girl]

I got the epi while I was strapped down to the the bed with wires and such during some baaaaddd back labor and transition..
Im having a freakin homebirth next time

[mama_b]

I had one. My dd was posterior and I had torturous backlabor for over 24 hours. I am VERY anti C-section (except for dire emergency) and when I started thinking about asking for a section I knew it was time for the epi. Hopefully I can homebirth next time.

[GoldBerry]

No, you are not the only one. I had an epi with both of my kids birth. I don't feel bad about it at all. My girls are happy and healthy. Why worry about the past?

[katerkat]

I was induced and had back labor - I had an epidural. I actually really enjoyed it and would do it again. Wouldn't do the induction again, but in this case, it was the best option.

[boongirl]

I had one and I am not ashamed to admit it. I had to be induced and the natural ways did not work so they had to give me pitocin and there was no way I was going to handle contractions on pitocin without pain relief. And, I had back labor, too. Unfortunately, I did not respond well to it and it did not take on my right side, so I was in excrutiating pain anyway, but at least only on half of my body.

[Hippiemommie]

They said my son was between 11-12 pounds and the midwives said they wouldn't touch me. So I went to the hossy had pit and then they broke my water, 17 hours later they said I would have to have a section so they gave me an epi to get some rest before section and to see if that would relax me to dialate past 7.

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by boongirl

I had one and I am not ashamed to admit it.

I just want to say that I don't think anyone here should be ashamed of a choice they make if it's truly what they wanted! I especially don't blame someone for getting an epi when they're induced with pit, as I've heard it's just awful. My own labor was very typical belly ctx with no pit, so yes, I was able to handle it. But I can't say that I wouldn't do an epi if I was in a different situation. And how your body reacts to pit will vary from woman to woman. My best friend was induced with pit recently, but she says that her contractions didn't feel any different from the ones she had without pit in her last labor. Her sister had the same scenario when induced with her 2nd child. So both of those women were able to do a pit induction without pain meds, but apparently their bodies just don't react with the violent pain that most women get from pit! I guess it's a genetic thing with them? I dunno. But every woman is different, every labor is different, and you need to make choices based on your particular situation.

There *are* risks to epis, and women should be aware of those (especially not letting them give you one too early - I know of one woman whose child has long term issues due to being given one too early). But if you're informed and are making an educated decision, you do what you need to do.

[eclipse]

I had an epidural with all three of mine. With my first, I wasn't sure when I went in if I wanted one or not, and they pretty much called the anesthesiologist in right away. When you're in the middle of a horrid cxn and they offer to make it all go away, especially when you aren't educated about it, it's hard to say no. With #2, I was planning an unmedicated hospital birth, but they made me lay down for monitoring in the middle of back labor with a posterior baby. Their rule was 10 minutes of monitoring every hour. It was too much for me the second time, and I got an epi. As soon as it kicked in, she rotated a bit and was born not long later. With #3, I planned an unmedicated birth center birth, but the baby came early and I had to go to the hospital (BC wouldn't deliver me before 37 weeks). It was early in the morning and I couldn't get in touch with my mom to take the kids, and my 2 year old would cry and scream everytime I moaned with a cxn - dh was torn between helping me and helping her, and my cxn pain would spike everytime she cried. So I got one, for both our sakes. I'd rather not have, but I'm not ashamed of it.