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mom2befeff
LIF Infant
Member since 11/11 276 total posts
Name:
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epidural or not?
I know epidural will stop the pain but I don't know if I want to be numb for that long. I won't be able to get out of bed. I'll need help switching positions. U am having anxiety as it is. Will being numb for that long cause me even more anxiety? Comments anyone?
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Posted 4/20/12 6:23 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
ArmyOfBabies
Growing older but not up
Member since 7/07 4427 total posts
Name:
Jeri
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Re: epidural or not?
I'm shooting for a VBAC. If I get to do it I will not be getting an epidural.
I don't do well under any kind of anesthetic. I'd rather deal with the pain for hours than take my chances of a complication half-way through labor.
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| Posted 4/20/12 6:28 PM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: epidural or not?
If you get the epi you are numb from the waist down - there won't be any moving around or changing positions, you'll just be laying there waiting 
I don't know how far into labor I would have made it without the epi. I had horrific back labor. If you really want to go naturally, check out the Bradley Method, I know a lot of women swear by it. If you're not dead-set on a natural birth, go with an open mind - the epi is always there for you (well most of the time!) if you need it.
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| Posted 4/20/12 6:36 PM |
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Lara&Aidansmommy
For mom i miss u ETC ILOVEU
Member since 3/07 13921 total posts
Name:
ETC I LOVE YOU
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Re: epidural or not?
I always knew I WANTED the epi. And when those contractions started I knew I NEEDED the epi.
I applaud and am totally in awe of ladies that go totally natural I call you all Superwomen!!!!
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| Posted 4/20/12 7:03 PM |
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imyself
Member since 10/06 2938 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: epidural or not?
Maybe the epi didn't work right on me but I was able to move and change positions myself with both kids. I was not able to get up but it was worth it lol After the kids were born i moved myself from bed to bed. I was always able to move my feet and never had a numb feeling. I felt pressure but not pain (until the end)
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| Posted 4/20/12 7:13 PM |
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springsandra
Baby girl has a baby brother!
Member since 11/09 7155 total posts
Name:
Sandra
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Re: epidural or not?
I did it without the epidural and had a REALLY fast labor and delivery (especially for a first baby). You can read my birth story in my profile for DD... I wrote it just a few days after she was born and I talk about how much it hurt. But I still was THRILLED I made it through without the epidural. Even when he had to cut me and I tore -- sewing me back up hurt, but he used a local numbing for that which did help eventually.
I just didn't want to slow anything down and I really didn't want a catheter. So, for me, drugs free was what worked. I took a L&D class at the hospital and it went over a lot of different methods of labor and I found it very helpful. The nurse at the hospital was also amazing!
Good luck to you! Sometimes you don't get to choose so try not to be disappointed if things don't go the way you originally plan. The best plan is to be VERY flexible.
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| Posted 4/20/12 7:30 PM |
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hopingforbaby
We made a wish & you came true
Member since 2/10 2695 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by imyself
Maybe the epi didn't work right on me but I was able to move and change positions myself with both kids. I was not able to get up but it was worth it lol After the kids were born i moved myself from bed to bed. I was always able to move my feet and never had a numb feeling. I felt pressure but not pain (until the end)
Same here. I was able to move my legs and felt pressure with each contraction. In fact, when it was time to push they turned it down so much that I felt pain with each contraction. I wound up needing a csection and they left the epi in for 48 hours after (although I'm sure it wasn't as strong). I was able to walk around and everything with it in.
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| Posted 4/20/12 7:31 PM |
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Lucky2008
LIF Adult
Member since 5/08 1005 total posts
Name:
Chris
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Re: epidural or not?
I had the epi and I felt zero pain but was able to move my legs. I didn't feel numb per se but knew I had no pain and was able to nap the rest of my labor, when it came time to push they turned it off so I could feel the contractions in order to push, for me it only took about 15 minutes for me to start to feel the contractions to start pushing, it was not that bad at all and I would have married the anesthesiologist if I wasn't already married LOL!!
It's a personal choice and I admire any woman who can deliver with no epidural, I know I needed it!
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| Posted 4/20/12 7:56 PM |
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beanie571
:-P
Member since 5/07 2509 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by Lucky2008
I had the epi and I felt zero pain but was able to move my legs. I didn't feel numb per se but knew I had no pain and was able to nap the rest of my labor, when it came time to push they turned it off so I could feel the contractions in order to push, for me it only took about 15 minutes for me to start to feel the contractions to start pushing, it was not that bad at all and I would have married the anesthesiologist if I wasn't already married LOL!!
It's a personal choice and I admire any woman who can deliver with no epidural, I know I needed it!
This exactly!
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| Posted 4/20/12 9:36 PM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by Lucky2008
I had the epi and I felt zero pain but was able to move my legs. I didn't feel numb per se but knew I had no pain and was able to nap the rest of my labor, when it came time to push they turned it off so I could feel the contractions in order to push, for me it only took about 15 minutes for me to start to feel the contractions to start pushing, it was not that bad at all and I would have married the anesthesiologist if I wasn't already married LOL!!
It's a personal choice and I admire any woman who can deliver with no epidural, I know I needed it!
Same here except #1 was born after 45 min of pushing. I will not deny myself the epi with #2. I'm too scared of what I'll actually be able to feel without it.
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| Posted 4/20/12 10:37 PM |
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MrsPenthouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 924 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not? Y
I birthed my ds without any drugs...I'm here to tell you that it was amazing. There was pain but it's pain with a purpose. Our bodies are MADE PERFECTLY for birth. Believe that! My advice would be to educate yourself- I recommend Bradley. Don't go in thinking "I'll give natural birth a try", you will likely fail.
Get educated, get your partner educated and consider hiring a doula! Good luck to you and wishing you a beautiful birth.
My reasons for not having a epi-
- I didn't want any drugs which might affect my.baby
- epi can set off a cascade of interventions, namely, slowing labor, which then requires pitocin...ect
- pain is necessary to release hormones that make active labor more efficient.
I could go on! Good luck again!
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| Posted 4/21/12 5:59 AM |
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cutie
LIF Adult
Member since 2/06 1893 total posts
Name:
Janine
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by MrsPenthouse
Our bodies are MADE PERFECTLY for birth.
Just wanted to comment that this isn't always necessarily true. I never progressed past 4 cm. When DD was finally born via c-section, her head was pointy to one side and really black and blue from being stuck on my pelvic bone. There is no way I would have delivered her vaginally - either with or without the epidural.
I think its a really personal decision and there is no right or wrong way to go about it - it's the first of MANY decisions you will have to make about what works best for YOU and your child.
While it's true that many women don't have a problem delivering, I don't want any first time mom's to think something is wrong with them if things don't go perfectly - everyone is different 
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| Posted 4/21/12 8:21 AM |
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Linda1003
love my 2 boys
Member since 8/08 10923 total posts
Name:
Linda
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by cutie
Posted by MrsPenthouse
Our bodies are MADE PERFECTLY for birth.
Just wanted to comment that this isn't always necessarily true. I never progressed past 4 cm. When DD was finally born via c-section, her head was pointy to one side and really black and blue from being stuck on my pelvic bone. There is no way I would have delivered her vaginally - either with or without the epidural.
I think its a really personal decision and there is no right or wrong way to go about it - it's the first of MANY decisions you will have to make about what works best for YOU and your child.
While it's true that many women don't have a problem delivering, I don't want any first time mom's to think something is wrong with them if things don't go perfectly - everyone is different
I agree with above. Never went past 2cm...he was face up and I couldn't push him out.. Had or horrible back labor..needed c section.
Def educate yourself on all methods before u make ur decision. Good luck...
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| Posted 4/21/12 8:36 AM |
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MrsPenthouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 924 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by cutie
Posted by MrsPenthouse
Our bodies are MADE PERFECTLY for birth.
Just wanted to comment that this isn't always necessarily true. I never progressed past 4 cm. When DD was finally born via c-section, her head was pointy to one side and really black and blue from being stuck on my pelvic bone. There is no way I would have delivered her vaginally - either with or without the epidural.
I think its a really personal decision and there is no right or wrong way to go about it - it's the first of MANY decisions you will have to make about what works best for YOU and your child.
While it's true that many women don't have a problem delivering, I don't want any first time mom's to think something is wrong with them if things don't go perfectly - everyone is different
Thank you for pointing this out! I didn't mean to imply that interventions are always unnecessary, We are fortunate to have talented doctors around when we need them! I'm glad you baby is safe!
I keep harping on childbirth education because you houldnt arrive at the hospital too early if you hope to avoid interventions...you can learn all about why in Bradley or Lamaze. Good luck again!
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| Posted 4/21/12 8:40 AM |
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mylovesX3
LIF Infant
Member since 3/09 132 total posts
Name:
k
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Re: epidural or not?
I had epis with all 3 kids. I pushed for 7 minutes with DC 1, 8 minutes DC2, and less than 5 minutes DC3. I was able to shift my body and could still feel, it just wasn't as bad. And I was able to walk from the delivery bed to the wheel chair no problem.
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| Posted 4/21/12 10:05 AM |
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mom2befeff
LIF Infant
Member since 11/11 276 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not?
Thank you ladies for your input. I feel much better now that if the pain is just too intesne I will be okay with the epidural. I thought that I wouldn't be able to move at all and that scared me. Knowing that I will still be able to move my legs on my own makes me feel much better. The woman who runs my birthing class told us that even with an epi we should shift in the bed but that we might need help moving from side to side.
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| Posted 4/21/12 10:30 AM |
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Teach723
Have faith. Believe. Dream.
Member since 8/10 2356 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not?
Looking back I wish I didn't get it. I moved really fast and the woman who did mine messed up and I felt numb on my right and still felt contractions on my left. She then upped the dose so much that I was completely numb and couldn't feel my legs or pushing. Half an hour after epi I was 10cm and it took 2 hours for it to wear off so I could push. Almost ended up with a c-section bc of it. My blood pressure went dangerously low and they kept having a hard time finding baby's heartbeat. Plus I was so extremely swollen after it. Next time I'm going to try without. I think I was so scared of the pain this time around.
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| Posted 4/21/12 12:21 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: epidural or not?
I didn't want an epi with my children, but at about 4 cm when I hit active labor it was so painful that I got it. Best decision for me ever.
I was able to shift from side to side, but couldn't walk.
Why not go into it with the mindset that you want to try without it, but if you need it, it's there for you?
There are so many variables in giving birth.
Message edited 4/21/2012 3:51:30 PM.
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| Posted 4/21/12 3:50 PM |
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azoodie
Member since 8/05 8377 total posts
Name:
Team SEXY BACK
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by neener1211
I didn't want an epi with my children, but at about 4 cm when I hit active labor it was so painful that I got it. Best decision for me ever.
I was able to shift from side to side, but couldn't walk.
Why not go into it with the mindset that you want to try without it, but if you need it, it's there for you?
There are so many variables in giving birth.
I did not want an epi the first time around either. Like pp said there are so many variables that I didn't even plan for! After two rounds of cervadil and a catheter to mechanically force my cervix open, I was in a world of pain before they even began giving me the pitocin! I made it through about 8 hours of active labor before giving in and it was the best decision I could have made in that situation. In the end, I got to 9 cm and had an emergency C, so I am even MORE glad I got the epi because it was easy for them to just top it off before the section.
All that being said, there were many reasons as to why I did not want the epi. One big reason was that I did not want to be confined. I was confined anyway and had to be hooked up to a monitor and IVs during the induction. The other reason was that I wanted to bond with the baby and have an easier time nursing and I thought an epi would make this more difficult. Instead, I fell instantly in love and DS nursed like a champ.
This time around I am keeping an open mind. I have no idea what the future will hold. If I can make it through without an epi and am progressing well then great. If not, I have absolutely no problem getting one again.
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| Posted 4/22/12 12:39 PM |
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bpmom
Feeling Blessed
Member since 6/07 2963 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by MrsPenthouse
I birthed my ds without any drugs...I'm here to tell you that it was amazing. There was pain but it's pain with a purpose. Our bodies are MADE PERFECTLY for birth. Believe that! My advice would be to educate yourself- I recommend Bradley. Don't go in thinking "I'll give natural birth a try", you will likely fail.
Get educated, get your partner educated and consider hiring a doula! Good luck to you and wishing you a beautiful birth.
My reasons for not having a epi-
- I didn't want any drugs which might affect my.baby
- epi can set off a cascade of interventions, namely, slowing labor, which then requires pitocin...ect
- pain is necessary to release hormones that make active labor more efficient.
I could go on! Good luck again!
ITA. A woman's body IS made for this and natural childbirth can be done. Yes, of course there are other situations that can prevent it and in those cases, a C-section is absolutely necessary -- but in general, I viewed childbirth as a privilege and I wanted to truly experience it.
I did it three times and I have to say this last time was even more amazing than the first two. I say amazing because once I reached 10cm I didn't feel the urge to push -- I felt the need to use the bathroom. Everyone in the room thought I needed to push but I listened to my body, excused myself to the labor room bathroom, peed, walked back to my bed and took a 30min nap!!!  No one in the room except my midwife and DH could believe I was 10cm dilated -- DH even took video of it because he said it was surreal. I just didn't feel the urge to push yet and I wanted to rest. So I ate a granola bar, drank some apple juice and snoozed until I felt the urge to push. I was a little uncomfortable but because my cervix was already dilated, I wasn't in pain. Sounds so weird to write that but I listened to my body and it went well.
I started pushing at 8:25, three pushes later DS was born -- at 8:28!!
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| Posted 4/23/12 10:39 AM |
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LoveMyHubby605
Our April Baby is here!
Member since 4/11 2418 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: epidural or not?
I applaud ladies who are able to deliver naturally. I was in so much pain I was begging for the epidural.
I LOVED IT. It felt like my legs were asleep but I was still able to move them.
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| Posted 4/23/12 10:44 AM |
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Lina
My angel is finally here
Member since 5/10 2559 total posts
Name:
Lindsay
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Re: epidural or not?
I am planning on going drug free but its not for reasons of not wanting to feel numb. I have done a ton of research on Epi's and the effects on myself and the baby. For me, the risks and complications outweigh the benefits. When the time comes you will do what is best for you, don't worry too much.
Message edited 4/23/2012 10:53:48 AM.
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| Posted 4/23/12 10:47 AM |
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Bella01
LIF Adult
Member since 5/11 3708 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: epidural or not?
I want to kiss the person who invented the epidural right on the lips..what a relief it was!
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| Posted 4/23/12 10:54 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: epidural or not?
When I got my epi I wasn't "numb"
I felt no pain from contractions. None.
However, I still felt my legs. I still was able to move them around- but they felt a little heavy.
I thought I'd be kind of like paralyzed but I was not.
It's hard to describe but it reminded me of when you get novacaine at the dentist...you can still move your mouth- but if you tap your cheek it kind of feels heavy and odd
And it wore off before I had to push- so I felt all of that.
And I got up and walked shortly after she was born.
Walked right to the bathroom with no issues
ETA- and it did NOT slow my labor. Not at all. I had my epi at 10 am and had her at 4 pm- with no pitocin, no interventions. The Dr said my contractions were coming right as they should and I progressed just fine with no interventions.
Neither me nor my baby had one ill effect from it.
I think it all depends on the person and the birth- each labor and birth is different.
Message edited 4/23/2012 11:17:34 AM.
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| Posted 4/23/12 11:14 AM |
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Kmarie36
LIF Adult
Member since 9/10 1449 total posts
Name:
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Re: epidural or not?
Posted by Bella01
I want to kiss the person who invented the epidural right on the lips..what a relief it was!
I had an EPI when I was fully dilated...it set in ten minutes before I started to push. It did not slow down the labor process, and I was still able to feel my legs. I was up walking around shortly after.
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| Posted 4/23/12 1:06 PM |
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