Effectiveness of Epidural

So as I am nearing my due date I've been asking a lot of BTDT moms about their experiences, specifically in terms of a vaginal delivery with an epidural. What's interesting is that for some people the epidural seems to have been a miracle worker, and they felt basically no pain (many describe as just pressure) whereas others say the epidural wasn't that effective at all and they felt a tremendous amount of pain.

My question is whether there is anything on the doctor/nurse/anesthesiologist end that you can do to make sure the epidural is working effectively - or anything you can tell them to make sure you're getting a dose that is effective? I would obviously rather be one of those people telling the "pressure" story a few weeks from now! Any thoughts?!

THANKS LADIES :)

Re: Effectiveness of Epidural

I think a lot of times it has to do with how the epi line goes "in" to your spine. If it doesn't hit the exact right spot, you could feel everything on one side but nothing on the other, or feel nothing at all and not be able to effectively push, or only feel pressure. I felt everything on my right side. I think the only way to fix it in a situation like that is to remove and reinsert the epi and hope for the best.

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I asked for an epi and I ended up feeling everything on one side...I told my doctor and he had the anesthesiologist come in and remove it and give me a new one. Again, I felt everything on one side.

My doctor came in to check me a bit later and I was crying and he asked if the epi was helping and I said not really. He got really agitated and went down and GOT the anesthesiologist himself and brought him up to me...3rd time in, the epidural was inserted and I felt complete relief.

I did feel when to push and I did feel pressure and the baby coming out...but it wasn't awful and I got to rest in the few hours leading up to push time.

So, I think if you feel your epi isn't working, you need to speak up!

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It depends on the placement. With my 1st dc I felt everything below my belly button. I got the epi late and they tried to correct it but by that time I was already 10cm and it was time to push. With dc #2 I was really worried that it would happen again. Luckily it didn't and it was a totally different experience.

Effectiveness of Epidural

I felt extreme pain in my vagina but nothing in my belly

Effectiveness of Epidural

When I got mine, it was instant relief. As soon as it was in I didn't feel another contraction. The anesthesiologist stayed to make sure it was working so I would just say make sure you talk to them about how it's working before the leave you. If it's not right, definitely speak up. One thing you can ask before hand is if you'll have control. I had the button that you press whenever you want. They told me to use it a lot and I did! In the end, I guess it worked too well bc when I was ready to push I couldn't feel my contractions and basically had to let it wear off while I was pushing and delivering. So while it was great that I could relax while I was laboring for several hours I felt everything for my 2 hours of pushing, delivery, and being stitched up.

Effectiveness of Epidural

Yes I def think you should speak up if it doesn't feel right. I had such a great experience. They laid me on my side to do it, and I barely felt anything. Then I could tell one side was working better than the other so they just tweaked it but didn't have to so I again. They put it in at 11pm and felt almost immediate relief and 10 mins later it was like I wasn't even in labor. No pain, no pressure, and I could still move my legs. I slept through the night except for checks and had him at 930am after only 20 mins of pushing. The only part I felt was the last part when he was coming out bc it doesn't numb the outer area.

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I had an issue where I felt everything in one quadrant. The anesthesiologist (who was a total d*ck) redid it but I still had that issue and when I mentioned it again he brushed it off like I was making it up. It was really horrible and looking back I should have spoken up more. I had a pretty good labor except for that issue!

This time I am going to speak to anesthesiologist before he even begins and explain my concerns. Hopefully it works for me 100% of the way!!

Message edited 2/26/2014 5:31:23 PM.

Effectiveness of Epidural

Mine worked and was wonderful!!!

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Mine worked better on one side. I was in labor so long that it wore off and I had to get another type of pain medication.

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For my first son, the epi only numbed my right thigh. I felt everything else. They had to re-position it 2-3 times and it just never worked effectively. With my second son I opted out of medication because of my horrible experience with the epi (hated the injection in my spine, iv, catheter, etc) and was really happy that I did.

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For me the epidural was instant relief, I could see the contractions on the monitor but didn't feel them at all for several hours. As I got toward the end though (7+ cm), the pain returned, maybe it was really just pressure but it was so uncomfortable. I asked for more & they increased the dose but it didn't help at that time. I was able to feel the pressure to push, but the episiotomy didn't hurt at all.

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Mine lessened the pain but I still felt pain. I ended up asking them to check/increase it because it got very painful at the end and they checked me and I was 10cm. They said increasing it could stall labor and I could end up with a C so I just kept going. I felt a lot.

Effectiveness of Epidural

Mine worked like a charm, I won't say I felt nothing with it but nothing compared to what I was feeling without it--iit took it from I cant take this I;m going to die to eh this okay lol

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With mine it was great the second he had it in.
I felt nothing after that. Huge contractions on the monitor and I was sitting there talking, laughing, texting, watching TV.

The problem for me came towards the end when I was fully dilated.

All of a sudden I started to feel some pressure down low and it quickly turned to pain.
I buzzed the nurse and she checked me and was like- OMG you are ready to push.

After that they wouldn't give me any more drugs in the epi- she said it wouldn't help anyway with the pain of pushing and crowing, but I have heard from SO many others that they pushed and had the baby crown etc with nothing but pressure thanks to the epi.

For me, the pushing and the tearing and crowning were God awful and I felt it all. I was screaming bloody murder.

I really think if I had to do it again I would speak to the doc and the anesthesiologist ahead of time and find out if I could continue the drugs during pushing. I know they don't like you to be numb because you can't push effectively, but I have heard so many others who did.

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had it twice with each of my kids. Will do it again for this one .

Was wonderful! I highly recommend it.

Message edited 2/27/2014 11:32:30 AM.

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Posted by ElizaRags35

Posted by NervousNell

With mine it was great the second he had it in.
I felt nothing after that. Huge contractions on the monitor and I was sitting there talking, laughing, texting, watching TV.

The problem for me came towards the end when I was fully dilated.

All of a sudden I started to feel some pressure down low and it quickly turned to pain.
I buzzed the nurse and she checked me and was like- OMG you are ready to push.

After that they wouldn't give me any more drugs in the epi- she said it wouldn't help anyway with the pain of pushing and crowing, but I have heard from SO many others that they pushed and had the baby crown etc with nothing but pressure thanks to the epi.


For me, the pushing and the tearing and crowning were God awful and I felt it all. I was screaming bloody murder.

I really think if I had to do it again I would speak to the doc and the anesthesiologist ahead of time and find out if I could continue the drugs during pushing. I know they don't like you to be numb because you can't push effectively, but I have heard so many others who did.

Anddddd now I'm terrified.

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Twice I felt virtually nothing and the other time I felt pressure, not pain. My third baby essentially delivered herself because I didn't feel anything until her head was already crowning. I didn't push even once! No complaints!