those that DIDNT get an epidural

ok so im DEATHLY afraid of the epidural....sooooooooo i need to hear from the women that didnt have the epidural and their experiences in detail please, did u regret it or did u know it was the right thing for u?

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

actually, I'm afraid of it too! no needles in my spine, please!!(although a huge unrelenting pain may change my mind )

yes, please share!

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Posted by wannabemom

actually, I'm afraid of it too! no needles in my spine, please!!(although a huge unrelenting pain may change my mind )

yes, please share!

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

yeah, I will say though, that millions of women receive an epidural, and there seldom are any complications.... we're just being whimpy worrying about it

the idea of a needle going into my central nervous system is seriously though. I'm sort of hoping my labor progresses at a rocket's pace, and there is no time for an epidural, so I don't have to make that decision... once again, whimpy

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Posted by wannabemom

yeah, I will say though, that millions of women receive an epidural, and there seldom are any complications.... we're just being whimpy worrying about it

the idea of a needle going into my central nervous system is seriously though. I'm sort of hoping my labor progresses at a rocket's pace, and there is no time for an epidural, so I don't have to make that decision... once again, whimpy

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

this may be a question better suited on parenting.

i know that I am planning on not getting the epi as well.... God willing I can tolerate the pain.

I have my own issues with my back - I've got a broken bone in my lower back, and I don't want to take the chance of upsetting my back in any way shape or form. I have heard of many women having residual back pain after epi's, and I don't want to run that risk since I already have back pains.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

i would post on parenting since we already have had our child or children. i did get the epidural and was deathly afraid of a needle in my spine but i have to tell you the iv in the arm hurt much more. it felt like a slight pinch for about 2 seconds and that was it. good luck to you.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

I did not get an epidural with my DS. I didn't really go in set on a yes or no. You really don't know until you are in the moment how you will feel or how the labor will go.

I survived and was happy that I didn't get the epidural but many of my friends did get the epidural and they are all fine. None of my friends had any problems and they have no side effects. I was afraid of the spinal - still am.

I'm not sure what I'll do this time either - it all depends on what I can handle.

Since everyone's experience is different and obvoiusly you have not had a labor yet - I will leave out the details. Labor hurts and it's intense - I will tell you that and with no pain meds - you will feel the pain. But, no matter what you decide - as soon as the baby is born you feel so much better.

I also suggest that you post this on the Parenting Board to get other opinions. Not eveyone here has been through childbirth yet - you might get more responses there.

Good luck and may you have a wonderful experience whatever you choose.

Message edited 1/27/2008 1:28:14 PM.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

I did eventually have an epidural because I ended up having a c-section, but I went 18+ hours in labor before that.

I was terrified of the epidural too. I refused to have one the entire time I was in labor, which was over 18 hours. Honestly, I was fine. I would've much rathered go several more hours epidural free than have had the c-section. I didn't regret it at all. With my next child, I plan to once again go without an epidural.

If you do end up having one, it's not as bad as I feared. It did hurt a little & I was shaking so hard the entire time, but I've never had any bad side effects from it. I did have a bad experice during the c-section though where there was one part of my lower abdomen where I had feeling & it really, really hurt.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

I didn't get one either time, and I don't regret it at all. I am not going to get one this time eitther.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Just an FYI for those that are not planning on getting an epidural: labor at home as long as possible. Once you get admitted to the hospital you won't have the freedom to move about as you please and it will become harder to deal with the pain.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

no epidural, basically bc i am SO against any medical intervention when it comes to having a baby....(statistics and all that.....) and also i wanted to feel every contraction when it came to giving birth to my child...i felt everything, and loved it....

that being said, i, and WE, arent going to lie....contractions hurt....in the moment, u think this is the worst thing ever....but when i look back, im like, hell, that wasnt bad at ALL!!! my sprained ankle and torn ligaments hurt worse... i just think that the pain that comes with having a baby is minor compared with what you get after...it is so short lived- whether u have a long labor, like 40 hours, or a short one, like 6 hours...

and contractions are good....you get a break...its almost like God made it that wway to make it bearable...and so what- its pain for 2 minutes...?? big deal...you get a break after and get to brace yourself....

thats all i got...and i am actually EXCITED to get to feel labor again in may...i gave birth june 06 and honestly, forgot what it felt like, so i am wicked excited!

i know, i am CRACKED out!

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

I didn't get an epidural with DS. It was painful, but it wasn't totally unbearable. I'm not getting an epi this time either.

My advice would be to labor at home as long as possible. Make sure your DH tells the nurses not to offer pain relief. Its much harder to keep going if they constantly ask you if you want the epi.

Don't let them make you stay in the bed. Move around, get into whatever positions you need to feel comfortable. Ask for a hep-lock and intermittent fetal monitoring so you're not tied down.

Also, pitocin makes contractions a lot harder to deal with, so try to avoid it.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

No epidural here. All Natural and wouldn't have changed a thing

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

All my girlfriends tell me that the epidural was the best thing that ever happened to them...so I think I will take the wait and see approach...I have a high tolerance for pain so if I feel I can do it..then I'll go epi free...If I cant take it, I will request it..

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

I was against epidural also. But I did wind up getting it and I didnt feel a thing when they put it in at all. All if felt was GOOD after the medication kicked in.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

I did get an epi and I have to agree that the IV hurt WAY way WAY more, especially since I have horrible veins and they finally got me on the 6th attempt. I was unusually nervous about the epi, and I'm not afraid of needles, so I understand where you're coming from but I never saw a thing and it felt like the teensy-tiniest pinch and that was it. Believe me, you might want to just go with the flow, labor pain has a way of making you just wish for any form of relief, fear or no fear of needles.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Message edited 1/28/2008 1:33:52 PM.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

i just have to say that i was more worried about getting an epidural than the actual labor itself, but the epidural really wasn't bad at all and SOOOOOOOO worth it!

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Hey Jen!!!

I know how you feel. I am not a big fan of pain or needles!!! BUT I also know that we have the technology to make the labor and delivery much less traumatic by having an epidural, so I am going to take full advantage of it.

I have been present for a few deliveries (being a nurse) and 2 were with out epidurals, they all got through it, but the ones with the epidural were more comfortable. but you also have to keep in mind that not all epidurals work... SO in summation, go with your gut, listen to your doctor, i think if you are having quickly progressing labor, then you probably can go the full way epidural free...but if you are like me and have no tolerance for pain, go for the gold standard and get an epi, lol!!!!!

One Thing I know for sure, you will certainly do the best possible thing for you and your baby

ETA: just promise me on thing...You wont be haing a silent birth, GIRL YOU NEED TO SCREAM!!! it is so good for the soul to make noise! J-lo is crazy!!!

Message edited 1/28/2008 3:21:38 PM.

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

i really dont want to get one. My sister has 2 kids and has 2 bad experiences with the epidural.

Her first child was too big to deliver anyway , she should have had a c section but she didnt. The epidural didnt work at all. So here she is expexcting to be relieved and still had horrible pain. On top of that m her insurance comp didnt cover the doctor who did the epi so she got billed like $2k for the balance. Ya - bc its her fault that he was te only doctor on call!

Her second child , they gave her too much. She couldnt walk for hours after ( I wouldnt like that feeling) and for days after she was getting severe headaches , very, very severe. She had to go back to the ER so they can put some of her blood in her spine to "patch up" the hole the epi left to relive the pressure. yikes

Re: those that DIDNT get an epidural

Posted by MommyMcg

Hey Jen!!!

I know how you feel. I am not a big fan of pain or needles!!! BUT I also know that we have the technology to make the labor and delivery much less traumatic by having an epidural, so I am going to take full advantage of it.

I have been present for a few deliveries (being a nurse) and 2 were with out epidurals, they all got through it, but the ones with the epidural were more comfortable. but you also have to keep in mind that not all epidurals work... SO in summation, go with your gut, listen to your doctor, i think if you are having quickly progressing labor, then you probably can go the full way epidural free...but if you are like me and have no tolerance for pain, go for the gold standard and get an epi, lol!!!!!

One Thing I know for sure, you will certainly do the best possible thing for you and your baby

ETA: just promise me on thing...You wont be haing a silent birth, GIRL YOU NEED TO SCREAM!!! it is so good for the soul to make noise! J-lo is crazy!!!