O.k., why am I not using an epidural? (sorry long) - Page 2

[DoomaYula]

I had twins with TTTS vaginally. Second baby was breech, and he was born that way. In a hospital. With an Ob, perinate, MFM, and a zillion other people in the room.

I agree with all the pp's about epidural risks. They are REAL. I can give you anecdotal evidence that nearly 4 years after the birth of my twins, I STILL have back pain from an epidural that gave me a window -- all the pain concentrated into one spot on my leg. It was awful.

Recently a woman died from a bacterial infection she contacted at her epidural site while in the hospital.

Also recently, another woman became a quadruple amputee for the same reason.

It is too risky. I am grateful that I survived my epidural experienced and came out relatively unscathed.

[Individuation]

Here's my take:

Don't have one if you don't want one. You have good reasons for avoiding it. I'm pregnant, and plan to have a homebirth, so obviously I've made the decision that an epidural isn't for me. It's really not that neccessary, even with twins. I know other mothers who've birthed twins med-free.

That said: In my experience, they aren't that bad. I had an epi with my first baby, turned down pretty low (I think a "walking" epidural)? It REALLY helped me get a bit of sleep during a 40-hour labor, and then it was turned down more so I could push. I'd say I was about half-numb for the pushing, I could TOTALLY feel that I was pushing something enormous out, and felt stretched, but no real "ring of fire."

There were no averse effects to mom or baby. I had no episiotomy, no tearing, no trouble with nursing, and had almost an ideal post-partum experience (kept the baby with me at all times). Without the epidural, meaning without that bit of sleep, I think I might have been too tired to birth effectively during the second stage, or to manage myself and the baby post-partum. Who knows--it might have meant a C-section--they wanted to give me one.

Look, obviously I have thought it over and decided against getting an epidural again, so I'm really not shilling for the anaesthesiologist here, but I don't like to think of any mother feeling like a failure if she does have one. Don't let the OB pressure you into something you don't want, but don't let the "natural-at-all-costs" mindset terrify you. An epi is MUCH better than general anasthesia, especially as far as nursing post-partum goes.

[Oana]

One of my biggest reasons, after having dealt with infertility for a while, was simply that I wanted to feel what birth is meant to be like.

On top of all the more factual reasons the other posters listed.

Good luck!
Oana