epidural - pros and cons

[clare076]

I had an a la naturale birth with Shelby and hated it. I didn't feel like I was in control of anything, especially considering I dilated from 2cm to 10cm in just under 3 hours. I know it's still very early but am looking for the pros and cons of using an epidural next time.

[Snacks]

I didn't have one because I wanted to feel the whole experience. Also, my labour was much slower and I was really well supported so I didn't need it.
I've spoken to women in my mothers' group who had it and had a brilliant birthing experience - they felt comfortable and were able to push but felt no pain.
I'd agree with Fletch - do your research and go with what you're comfortable with.

[debbie]

Due to medical reasons I was induced and my contractions started at 40 seconds apart. I lasted for 1.5 hours and after being told i was 4cm dilated and had hours to go i opted for the pain relief. It took 45 minutes for the epidural to arrive and in that time i dilated another 4cm, though we did not know this until after the epidural was administered. In that time I was in complete agony and felt absolutely no control at all. I could not breathe and no amount of reassurance from my dh or great midwife could help me. I was so thankful for the epidural as it meant I could finally relax and 'enjoy' my daughters entry into the world. I did not feel her grand entrance and yes I did push for 2 hours more than likely due to the epidural but i honestly would not change a thing. Even though I was prepared for an epidural i did feel like a failure at the time because my labour was only 6 hours in total but in hindsight I was relaxed for her actual birth and have wonderful memories of this special moment. It is entirely a personal decision but if you think it will give you more control then it may be the best thing for you.

[BellyBelly]

Here are the risks, by Dr. Sarah Buckley, well researched: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...als-real-risks

[KarlaO]

I had an epidural with the births of the twins, only because one was breech, and it was going to be VERY painful when he was born. I had no feeling in my left leg for ages afterwards, so I had to wait 5 hours before I could have a shower, and after that I had tingling on & off for about 2 weeks.
Then you have a catheter for your wee which can't be taken out for at least 12 hours, so you have to be really careful when you walk or have a shower so that you don't pull it out.
Sorry to sound negative, but I really wouldn't go through that again.
I've had 2 previous births before that without epi's, and that would be my preference.

[Visitor7]

I had an epidural with Nina, and don't regret it at all. An hour after it went in, I had her, and was walking around an hour later. I only needed the catheter in for an hour.

[DiannaQ]

Hi there

My waters broke at 37w1day and given that I was Strep B positive from a much earlier swab (22weeks with a UTI) I was given little choice but to try and have the baby that day, hence I was given antibiotics and syntocin to speed the process up (this was my choice as I'm a pretty impatient person and I wasn't really given any alternatives and at the time just wanted a happy, healthy baby they led me to believe that given that i was early I would proabably be labour for a long time....who knows really but scare tactics do work)

The contractions were pretty full on and the gas didn't suit me (trust me I don't think they were going to offer it back to me anyway lol) and the thought of the Pethidine worried me - so i opted for an epidural - it took 2 goes to get in and it gave me 20mins of kind of relief and my left side went completely num - but having said that - the 20mins I got gve me the strength to continue - i would probably do it again if the circumstances were the same - however next time I'm hoping they will be different and I won't be FORCED into having my baby in such a tight time frame.

I was fortunate enough to be able to stand and walk not to long after and in all honesty I can't remember much about the catheter other than it KILLED going in but my bladder was full and Brodie was pushing on it - so OUCH all round.

Good luck with your decision - I'm sure you make the right one

PS - My friend pretty much arrived at hopsital and asked for the Epidural straight away - she thinks it was the best decision she ever made - so who know's who's right??

[Mother Goose]

I had one and my only regret is I didn't ask for it sooner. I was induced and had a heck of a time but once the epi was in I was finally able to relax and enjoy my experience (except I promptly fell asleep! ). I had held off asking for the epidural because of the stigma people tend to associate with it and I didn't want to be judge - but it was what I needed to get through and it was what was needed to give me a chance at a vaginal delivery. In the end, I ended up with a c-sect and it saved us precious time!

The anethetist had a very difficult time inserting my epidural and despite this, I had no complications as a result of the epidural. I did have bruising on my back for about two weeks but no headaches or lasting pain. I was able to move my legs in recovery and had full movement by the time I was back on the ward.

[sushee]

I had an epi for Charlie's birth but not my first three kids and the pros are obvious in that there was no pain for the most part.

The cons (for me) was that my blood pressure kept dipping to the point of me starting to lose conciousness a few times. My pressure throughout my pg was around 110/60 so the epi really pushed it down to around 92/50. Scarey stuff - not for me but for my DH and the widwife! The other con was that despite having a light epi (no catheter, I could walk etc) I didn't feel like pushing when I was finally completely dilated. In fact we had to wait about 15 mins for my top up to wear off before I felt like pushing, and the pain was intense after having had nearly no pain up til then.

[Lukesmum]

My story is exactly the same as Mother Goose. I wish I had of had it sooner than I did. I had no problems at all with having it.

[Julie Doula]

Hi Clare,
I wonder if there might be other factors that might help you feel more centered and in control, other than an epidural - which does have side effects? Your first birth sound like was pretty quick for a first time - that must have been pretty intense! Were you induced at all, or was it that fast naturally? Second labours tend to be quite different from first labours - often they're even quicker (gasp!) - but every labour is different and I have heard of subsequent labours being longer than previous labours! Maybe your next labour won't be as intense as the first - sounds like your body works really well and efficently - perhaps there are other ways to help you feel more comfortable and focussed & less overwhelmed, other than spinal pain relief?
Whatever you decide is right for you in the end, I really hope that your next birth experience will be heaps better for you.

[sethys_mummy]

hi,

I had an epidural after i was in labour for about 19 or 20 hours, (i can't believe i lasted so long without it), but after that long, i was only 6 or so cm dialated and basically just exhausted.

I was happy with my decission then, because i dialated the extra 4 cm because i was relaxed, but after an hour and a half it had completly warn off, and now i find that i get back pain around that area when i hadn't had back pain before hand..

I don't regret having the epidural one little bit, otherwise my labour might of never ended. lol.

Good luck with your decission.

Eryn xoxo

[clare076]

Thanks for your replies.
To tell you the truth, I really dont know what I want anymore.

Julie Doula - With Shelby, I went to the hospital pretty much as soon as the contractions started (natural no induction) because they were very strong and only 4 mins apart. Hospital drive took 30mins, contractions were less than 3 minutes apart by the time I got there. They checked me out and said I was 2 cm dilated and told me to either go home or try get some sleep. Neither happened as less than 3 hours later I was pushing her out. I think the main reason why I hated it was because I was left to my own devices in an observation room, as they didn't think I would deliver until the next afternoon and it was intense from the very first contraction.

What other options are available? Has anyone used a TENS? I assume this cant be used in the shower though.

[paradise lost]

hey Clare076,

Your labour sounds very like mine. I had DD at home but it was an intense time. My waters broke at 3am. I had regular but pretty mild contractions until midday, when it started to hurt a little. I was finally examined at 2pm and was 25% effaced, 2cm dilated (which i had been for MONTHS). About 30 minutes later i wanted to push and was told by a laughing midwife (who thought i was just starting and hadn't realised what i let myself in for having a home birth) "for goodness sake don't push!". SHe then went off to the hospital and said she'd be back later on. SHe returned at 4.20pm, by which time i was yelling long and low through contractions to prevent myself from pushing (it was SO hard not to push, but i was genuinely scared i'd rupture my insides) and gave me gas and air. I went on yelling and sucking on the gas until 6pm when she asked if i could pee. When i sat on the loo DD started to crown. I pushed once to deliver her. My actual labour in terms of what they "count" (4cm-delivery) was estimated at less than 3 hours.

I really think being at home made a big difference to me and though the physical sensations of such a quick labour were demanding and extreme, i wouldn't have wanted to miss them. Maybe there are different strategies you could use to retain your sanity while your pelvis does its thing? One thing to bear in mind is that even though it's emotionally hard to deal with, physically a fast labour and a spontaneous birth are signs that your body is extremely good at having babies and your risk of complications is low. Slowing a labour down artificially might change that, is it worth getting more time to think and integrate if you have so much more TO integrate if labour goes wrong? Worth thinking about anyway.

I really think my feeling "in control" was down to being in my own home where i was in charge, being paralysed would have made me feel even less in control. THe midwives were my guests and though this is a very subtle difference in interpersonal hierarchy, it makes a huge difference. They ASKED what i wanted, rather than TELLING me what i was getting. Perhaps getting a doula or your own midwife for pregnancy would help when the time comes? Or going to a less "medical" setting? It's not for everyone, i know, but being at home just provided me with automatic reassurance when i felt i was coming apart at the seams....

HTH

Hana

[DoulaRelle]

I personally did not have a very good experience with an epidural. I was in strong labour for 12 hours before having it, then it slowed my labour down, I hated the feeling of being stuck on the bed, then after 2 and a half hours of pushing I was exhausted and ended up with a high forcep delivery, for which the epidural was not working so no pain relief during the forcep delivery even though a top up had been administered.

I do have alot of friends that have had epidurals and loved it, so I think it really does come down to research and figuring out what is the best option for you.

[Julie Doula]

Hi Clare,
It really sounds like you have the Mercedes Benz model of a birthing body! First time labours often take a good 24 hours or longer, and hospital staff are used to that - but I've had friends who've had their first bubs in less that 4 hours (mind-boggling to me - mine took the text-book 24) and your story is a good example of LISTEN TO THE WOMAN! SHE KNOWS HER BODY BEST! It is a shame they did not trust you to know your own body - that tends to happen with institutionalization unfortunately.

To be left alone during your first & very intense labour I think is just 'cruel & unusual punishment', no woman should have to go through that. I think that if you had had compassionate and continuous support it would've made a huge difference to your sense of being able to cope with the huge thing that was happening to you. You can see where I'm leading with this, right? Right! Maybe what you need is not an epidural but a doula! Someone you know and trust and feel comfortable with and who will be focussed totally on you and determined to really LISTEN to you - as you listen to your body. You have a fantastic birthing body - it just needs the right fan club.

Yes, TENS is a do-able option, and submerging in warm water works a treat. You can't do both at the same time - but you might find that being in a deep pool of water, plus massage and encouragement with relaxation & breathing, might actually work better for you than TENS - or even an epidural - because you get the comfort but you don't have to lose your mobility, gravity and freedom as a trade-off for relief.

I've also noticed that during the kind of labour that is short & intense (my 2nd & 3rd were like that) many women seem to like to stay on the move, kind of a restless pacing, even if it's only from one foot to the other - they just don't seem to like to hold still mcuh, I think the moving, stepping, rocking, swaying etc helps them through the intense peaks.

Hope all goes wonderfully well for you.