Good experience...
- I had an epidural with my daughter who is now 4 and I'm planning to get one with the baby due. It was great for me specially after being in labor for over 12 hours. I slept until my sister woke me up and said it's time.
- —JBAEZ1980
No thank you
- There is comfort, for me, in knowing that labor will end and the pain will be over for good, as opposed to an epidural that could cause pain long after.
- —Guest Kelly
Good and bad
- I had my first son no problem the same with my second but when it came to my third the epidural wore off and I felt everything my legs stay numb for hours and I have the worst back pain.
- —Guest Amanda
Very Late Epidural
- I went into labor thinking I was going to have a natural birth. When I was induced (low levels of amniotic fluid) I was already 3cm dilated and 70% effaced. They started pitocin and I had contractions for 2 hours, but didn't feel any of them. They had to break my water, in order to put in internal monitoring, and then I started feeling the contractions. I had painful contractions non-stop for 3 hours before deciding I needed an epidural. At that point, I wasn't breathing deep enough for my baby to get enough oxygen. It was really hard to hold still, because of the pain, but once I got it, I felt good. They checked me after the epidural had kicked in and I was 9 1/2cm dilated! Normally they turn you side to side, in order for both sides to be equally numb- for me this wasn't possible. My babies heart rate fell drastically whenever they tried to put me on my right side. I was numb the way I was supposed to be, but my left leg remained numb a lot longer than my right leg.
- —Guest Emily
Epidural, the painful truth
- My wife had the worst experience, the epidural went down the left leg only the right leg and area was awake the entire time. The anesthesiologist knew this and they did a C-section with her able to feel everything. My question is was the Doctor able to move the epidural after knowing it went to just one side? Someone please give me the correct answer for I am not getting one from hospital or anyone!
- —Guest Scott
Forced to have an epidural now Disabled
- Basically the hospital had no staff, I was left with a trainee, after 36 hrs I was only 3cm they gave me all sorts of drugs that did not work, they said I would have to have an epidural as the contractions would be severely increased by the drugs, so although I did not really want one I agreed. They kept topping it up and by the time they realised my son was in distress, they had not attached the monitor properly, and needed an emergency c-section I was numb from the neck down, I could only move my head!! My mum had to help me sign the consent form, then I had convulsions and had to be taken to recovery, my son took 3 minutes to start breathing, but I was unaware. When I came too was still paralysed on my left side. I was in hospital for 2 weeks having physio, my mum had to move in with me for the next couple of weeks to help me. Now years later I am disabled with essential tremor, fibromyalgia, a huge numb patch my left thigh that burns/hurts and oesteo-arthritis in my spine thanks NHS.
- —Guest Lisa Matthews
Worst decision to take
- I was 8cm when the midwife decide to give me the epidural. I had my baby in France & there is nothing called natural here. I was unable to push, weak & fatigue. The baby was had an infection after birth & I couldn't walk for more than a week. When I started to get back my self I had lots of back pains & shocks in my back & the doctors told me that it came from the pregnancy & not the epidural. I am having my second child in February & I don't plan to have another epidural, natural is the key. The pain will go away after the baby is born but the epidural while give you more pains in the end as your uterus continue contracting for days. My experience will rate epidurals as 20%. For me it was hurtful it takes away the exciting moment of bearing a child.
- —Guest Princess
It doesn't work for everyone
- The epidural was great - until it stopped working. The last 2 1/2 hours of labor I felt everything. It was pretty bad, but I am glad I had taken childbirth classes because you never know! And I am not the only one I've talked to who has had this happen.
- —Guest disappointed
Epidurals Rock!
- 12 hours hard labour, could not dilate, they broke my water, still could not dilate more than one cm. They finally gave me an epidural and it was amazing! No more pain! My husband & I were laughing and joking as our son came into the world. Now having our second baby & this one's coming into the world the same way!
- —Guest Sheri
My epidural was horrible
- I had the worse headache ever after they removed my epidural. The doctor said it will go away in 24 hrs but it didn't. I went 3 days till the point that I almost dropped my baby and started freakin' out that I went back to the hospital and they took a lot of blood from my arm and injected it into my spine which felt like a ton of bricks just falling on my legs. I then had to lay still on my back and couldn't get up for several hrs.
- —Guest Gina
The only way to go!!!
- I had an epidural with my first two and plan to with this delivery. I remember hearing women screaming and seeing women with their blood vessels in their eyes burst from pushing with natural labor. No way, not for me, I had the epidural, fell asleep actually then when they checked me I was ready to go 3 pushes later I delivered one of my boys was 9lb the other 8 1/2 lb. I didn't feel the rush to push so I think you have more control and I didn't tear because of it!
- —Guest preggo with my 3rd
Best thing since sliced bread!
- When I had my daughter, I decided to get induced. In my case, It was a very SLOW labor. I know people who had their child within 3 hours of getting induced, but NOT me... It took me a day and a half to have my daughter. The final day, I started having contractions around 4 pm, and they were excruciating. The doctors however wanted to wait until I was 4 cm, which I was only one. By the time 11 pm came around, the contractions were more and more frequent and more painful. They were so bad I was begging them to give me a c-section, so they finally gave me the epidural! If it is pain that you are worried about, you MORE than likely wont feel anything. After having contractions, and Epidural is NO PAIN in comparison. After my epidural, I was pain free within 20 minutes, and even able to sleep for 3 hours. When I woke up, it was because it was time to PUSH! I am now pregnant again, and WILL get an epidural again.
- —Guest kelli
Scary, but needed!!!!
- I had an epidural after a hormone drip made my contractions very violent. After being in labour 28 hours at 34 weeks I was tired. When the needle went in I felt nothing but a electric shock in one leg, and cramp like sensation. 1 hour later my legs were numb except a painful spot in my tummy (typical) after lots more given the pain went but I was rushed for emergency section after my baby got into distress (not from epidural tho he was just facing to the sky and didn't like hormone drip!!) was given something else in delivery room that I was told "is strong" after birth I was completely paralyzed all over and couldn't breathe or swallow properly or move. A very scary experience but needed to save my baby's life- they got him out in 5 minutes flat!!!!! I felt nothing. 6 hours later the feeling came back and I was relieved. not something I'd want to repeat but there you go. To top it all off I had PUPPPs rash too!!!!
- —Guest littlemom
Partial - Good and Bad
- I planned to have a drug free birth, but I experienced horrible back labour. After so long and finding out I was only 2 cm dilated, I asked for an epidural. I was told to wait until I was 4 cm, but the pain was too much for me, I made it to 3 cm a couple hours later and was begging them for it, finally they gave it to me. It made my belly numb but I could still feel my crotch and bum, and move my legs. At first I was happy because although I could still feel the contractions they were much more bearable, and I could still urinate. I had the uncontrollable urge to push for a couple hours. Finally I was at 9cm and they let me start pushing. It was still very painful - it felt like the baby was trying to come out my tailbone. He was face up instead of face down, but was born healthy. I was also given an episiotomy. Side effects of the epidural: It made me really cold, before this I had been hot. Afterward I was itchy where I had been numb.
- —Guest Kay
No problems
- I have two boys. I had an epidural with my first because labor was slow (as expected). I had one with my second because I thought it might be slow. Had the epidural at 8cm (found out I was 8 cm after I had the epidural!) With my first I was numb for awhile afterward - likely because I was on the epidural for 10 hours. With my second, no numbness at all, likely because I was only medicated for 2 hours. Both times contractions were pain free, but I could still feel pressure and the urge to push. Pushing was still painful (very) with both of my children. If I had known I'd only be in labor another hour or so with my second boy, I probably wouldn't have gotten the epidural. I think they're great for long labors . . . . after all that pain it might be difficult to muster the energy and pain tolerance to push.
- —Guest mo
