Post by sawyerthedestroyer on Oct 20, 2014 10:52:17 GMT -5
I took the class and signed the hospital paperwork just in case I decided to have one. I don't think it hurts to prepare, just in case.
ETA: I'm sure all hospitals are different, but ours required a class and paperwork prior to labor. I have no idea what would have happened if I'd not taken the class then decided during labor that I wanted an epidural. I just did what I was told to do.
I'd just see what you feel like when you're in the moment. I didn't have a "birth plan". Or I did, it was, "to get the baby out of me as quickly and painlessly as possible and us all be in good health". It worked!
You don't really need to do any planning for an epidural. Just ask for one when/if you feel like you need it.
At our hospital you have to sign the paperwork for it at admission because they won't let you sign once you're in active labor, so go ahead and sign even if you're not sure you'll want it.
I think it takes a lot more planning and prep to not get one than to get it, honestly.
Well, imo, more planning needs to be done if you don't want one. I wish I had prepped more for my epidural free labour- I just kind of winged it.
What did you feel ill prepared for?
the pain. Lol. My labour was super quick, and I didn't know I was in transition when I was in transition. I thought there was no way I was that close. Anyway. It fucking hurts.
I wish I had done some more reading or taken a class or something.
Post by CajunShrimp on Oct 20, 2014 10:58:45 GMT -5
You just can't plan for one. You may request one the moment you arrive, but you may be one of the poor moms whose epi doesn't 'work', or you are progressing too fast for one. Of you may not want one, but discover at the time the pain is too much and ask for one. Just try to go with the flow. If you able to move around, your labor may progress quicker, so if that is what you want, just try to wait as long as you can. You may wind up waiting if the anesthesiologist is busy with another patient, but you will be okay.
Post by thebuddhagouda on Oct 20, 2014 10:59:00 GMT -5
It fucking hurts is really the best way to describe it. I totally hit that stereotypical "I don't think I can do this anymore" point right at 9.5 cm too, and the chipper nurse was all "too late, suckah. You gotta push now", and then I yelled at my doctor because she sat down right as he crowned, and in my head "doctor in my business == excruciating pain".
I think if you're undecided either way, you put everything in place for an epidural (all the signatures blah blah) and then you read up on when the last possible moment is when you can get one. I can't remember, but I know I was super close with L.
Then you read up on pain management techniques so you have some ideas how to cope.
Then you wing it, knowing that if your pain management techniques aren't cutting it, you know when your window to switch over to (sweet, sweet) drugs is closing.
And I am going to stare down HARD anyone who comes in here all "if you don't plan NOT to get an epidural and take 17 classes in pain management, you are definitely going to get one and also a c-section and you probably won't be able to breastfeed your bedrugged newborn, congratulations on your upcoming lobotomized hospital birth of disengagement." I, personally, enjoyed the sweet, sweet drugs, but I know of two people who had a wing it plan and went med free. SUCK IT, HATERS.
Post by katiescarlett on Oct 20, 2014 11:02:16 GMT -5
I would prepare for pain managing techniques . You may be in a lot of pain earlier than you can get an epidural. You may decide to get an epidural and have it not work fully or at all. You may decide in the moment that you want to go without meds. I hope you have an awesome labor and delivery regardless of meds!
Make sure to do a hospital tour or class so you know how your hospital operates in regards to pain management and drugs. I found it very helpful for my first labour. I had the epi (and loved every second of it) for my first time.
I would be prepared to go without if you're on the fence. I was like 2 cm and wanted to make it longer before I requested one, so I waited another 1.5 hours of agony, then BOOM. Time to have a baby, no time for an epi.
ETA: meaning, be prepared with a few breathing techniques/non-med pain management. We took the classes, but everything was kind of a blur and I remembered exactly 0 things.
Post by thebuddhagouda on Oct 20, 2014 11:14:35 GMT -5
My husband read some stuff too and did the hospital birth class with me, and he was trying to be so supportive and helpful and offering ice and to massage my back and various things, and all I wanted was silence. I kept telling him no and thinking in my head "Leave me the fuck alone and let me focus on getting through this. Even the energy of talking to you and saying no is too much. SHUT UP."
I don't know that it's really possible at all to adequately prepare. I don't mean that in an alarmist way because you should absolutely go in as informed as you can. It's just not something that any amount of reading can truly describe to you.
I would play it by ear and see how you are doing. LEt them know to ask you a last time before it would be too late. My friend went med free both times because she found she was just able to get into this zone and get through it.
My epic's were fine, they did not hurt going in or anything.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Oct 20, 2014 12:07:44 GMT -5
Not your question... but my big regret was not understanding more about C/S and recovery.
Now I know it's a tough 1-2 weeks, but it gets better every day. At the time, it felt like a huge obstacle and I was so sad about it.
I thought I would see how long I could go without the epi, but I was also induced, so that makes the contrax so strong. No regrets, except the part where my son's head was stuck 2" from the exit.
Post by VeryViolet on Oct 20, 2014 12:13:59 GMT -5
So I always knew I wanted an epidural and didn't do much planning as far as pain management other than the class I took at the hospital. My only thought is that you aren't really prepared for how much it fucking hurts. We talk about it and you have this concept but when the contractions really start (for me it was after my water broke) holy shit it hurts. I feel like you need to do a lot of planning to cope with that if you have your heart set on going med free. As long as you won't be disappointed if you end up with an epidural though I think you will be fine to just see how it goes and take it from there.
My old hospital I could sign consent during labor, but with my new one I had to sign paperwork 30 days before my due date. If I hadn't had an epi before I would've had to take a class as well.
For me, the other drugs they tell you will "take the edge off" don't do jack shit. I resisted the epi so long and progressed so quickly that I was fully dilated by the time they got it in. I will not be making that mistake again. I had complications from the epi and I will still get one again.
I really wish I'd prepared to go med free. I had an epi with my first before it got painful and decided to wait longer to get the epi with my second to see if I could go med free. I delivered an hour from my water breaking and it HURT. I'm lucky it went fast because I had no idea how to cope.
My advice to my friends now is to have coping methods just in case. You can always get the epi anyway, but you can't learn how to deal with the pain while you're in it.
My old hospital I could sign consent during labor, but with my new one I had to sign paperwork 30 days before my due date. If I hadn't had an epi before I would've had to take a class as well.
What? Why?
All these obstacles are irritating. If you're in a hospital and you are in pain, they're supposed to make your pain better, dammit.
Because, Florida? Lol, Idk. I had separate paperwork that I had to take directly to the anesthesiology company. It was strange to me but I just wanted to make sure I got it turned in on time.
I didn't want an epi, but wasn't opposed to them. I still left the option on the table, per se.
I'm thankful I was open to anything, because in the moment I wanted an epi. I was 7cm upon my first check at the hospital, so I felt justified.
I think going into the experience as well versed as possible, and not allowing yourself to experience guilt if you "give in" and get one (it's not giving in!) is the best route to take.
Just cover your bases, everything in place to get it if you want it, and read up on pain coping techniques or pay attention during that part of your birth class. Be ready for either.
I wanted the epi with DD, and so didn't really pay much attention to the coping stuff. Epi worked perfectly. With DS, I made the mistake of assuming that the epi would work perfectly again, and didn't do another birth class. That time labor went so fast that I was already in transition when they were putting it in so I couldn't hold still for long enough, and it ended up only numbing my right leg. I REALLY wished that I remembered more about med-free L&D at that point!
Post by stacyb1983 on Oct 20, 2014 12:30:48 GMT -5
I did it both ways.
1st baby was born in a birth center, delivered by a midwife, no meds. I would not do that again.
2nd baby was born in a hospital, delivered by an OBGYN, with an epidural. I would do it again. I had a couple of days of back labor, by the time I was admitted to the hospital, I was worn out from the pain. It was equally as much pain as my 1st delivery.
You might ask when you get there what the wait time is for an epidural. Depending on how busy they are, there could be some delay in getting you epidural. I know for me, once I wanted one, I wanted it that hot second.
At my hospital if you wanted an epi, you had to sign on in advance. I have had one epi and one non-epi birth. My opinion is that unless you feel pretty strongly about a med free birth than it is pretty freaking hard to turn down the pain relief in the moment. I have had friends who have been non committal and not ended up getting the epi, but only those who had super fast labors. It hurts. If you are at all interested in med free you have to prepare for it IMO. I absolutely did not want any meds besides the epi. I was adamant but when I found out I couldn't get an epi with my second I was begging for whatever they would give me, even a csection so i could just have some relief. had labor had gone on one minute longer I don't know what I would have done! If you are excited about a med free birth and that is what you want, I think it makes it easier.
At both the hospitals where I delivered, I asked for one at the time I needed it, no advance notice required. It took about 30 minutes to an hour for them to get everything ready and the anesthesiologist to my room. Longest minutes of my life, lol!
A lot of women have told me the med-free birth made them feel powerful. For me, though, I tried to hold out but both times labor dragged on and on. I felt a lot better about giving birth once the brunt of the pain was taken away. I could focus on what was happening instead of just surviving the pain.
Just to answer one of your earlier questions, reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth helped me a lot. There are some really good strategies for dealing with the pain and transition in there that I found very beneficial. I have a few friends who swear by hypnobirthing.
I think with the epidural - like everything else - just read up on it so you're prepared for whatever. I know people who were very taken aback by epi-related headaches and backaches after the fact. These side effects are pretty rare I think, but it's just good to know.
There isn't much planning that goes into an epi except to remember that sometimes it can take a while to get. Also, mine failed, so I think there is definitely value in reading up on pain management techniques even if planning for an epidural.
I kind of think that unless you're set on NOT having one, you'll end up with one. I was deadset against it and there were a few times when I started to consider it. THe biggest thing stopping me was the fact that the baby was early, I had read there is evidence (or possible evidence?) that the epidural makes babies more sluggish when they are born and if she needed help breathing (she did) I didn't want to be wondering if I should have stuck with no.
Honestly, it wasn't THAT bad. Uncomfortable mostly, by the time I was thinking I couldn't do it she was ready to be born. I was more tired then anything, they had to keep waking me up to push.
After I was really glad I went drug free because my recovery compared to women around me seemed to go much easier. And I had no tearing because I was able to to feel what was happening and respond (i.e. stop pushing)
If you want to know more I'm happy to share. Although probably the hardest part is it's so different for everyone. Like I never had back contractions or felt the abdominal contractions as pain, I just had what felt like a heavy period cramp right until the end. So that wasn't too hard to breathe through.
If I wished anything, it would have been that we'd practiced the breathing for relaxation more. Because I kept forgetting and tensing up. But I thought I still had a month so I didn't worry about it until too late.