Epidurals

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2014 13:30:50 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Yeah, a heavy period cramp would have been awesome.

It was the only good part of my pregnancy.  I didn't even know I was in labour until the nurse told me.  THey kept saying "oh you'll know!" but it turns out they were wrong.

I felt I was owed that though.  I spent my entire pregnancy feeling AT LEAST nauseous and on diclectin which made me drowsy.  I hated being pregnant more than labour, being pregnant is what's actually causing me to think we should stick with one.

[chickadee77]

Oct 20, 2014 10:52:17 GMT -5 sawyerthedestroyer said:

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.

Exactly this. 

I think I did most of labor without - I felt the urge to push right as they showed up to give the epidural, but I didn't say anything for fear they wouldn't give it to me if they realized I was that far along. The first check I got afterwards, they confirmed I was complete. Before the epidural hurt like hell, but I had done a minimal amount of research and made it through. But it was only a couple of hours - had it been a long labor, yeah, no. 

[speckledfrog]

I felt totally unprepared to deal with the pain. If you think you may want to go med free you need to start researching and practicing pain management techniques right now, you only have a few weeks left. That or stay home long enough that you don't have time for an epidural.

[stealthmom]

I think it's a good idea for all women to learn some pain management techniques just in case you don't make it to the hospital in time for an epidural.

[beefcheeks]

I don't remember having to sign anything (I may have, I just don't recall) so the only "planning" was that I needed to be in communication with the nurses so that they could get it ordered. As PP mentioned, it takes time. For my second child, I arrived at the hospital too late and did not have time to wait for the epi. The nurse told me the baby would be here before the anesthesiologist...and she was right!

Also, I found this book helpful:
www.amazon.com/Easy-Labor-Womans-Choosing-Childbirth/dp/0345476638/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413830850&sr=8-1&keywords=Easy+labor

Good luck! You'll do great! It sounds like you have an open mind about it all, and that is good IMO.

[stealthmom]

Oct 20, 2014 13:52:12 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Oct 20, 2014 13:48:24 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

I think it's a good idea for all women to learn some pain management techniques just in case you don't make it to the hospital in time for an epidural.

But you most likely will, Astrid! Especially since this is your first labor.

Just trying not to freak you out. The fear of not making it to the hospital in time (for the birth, but still) really screwed with my ability to employ any pain management techniques.

better safe than sorry. My sister just had her first and barely made it to the hospital in time period, much less in time for an epi. Her entire labor lasted less than 4 hours. Same thing happened to her SIL.

[iamgrace]

Heavy period cramp. Huh.

LOL.

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2014 13:57:29 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

Heavy period cramp. Huh.

LOL.

I wish.

[weelass24]

My only advice would be to not be adamantly against it. I was. I told everyone who would listen I didn't want one. DH, friends, family, nurses, doctors, the MW student. EVERYONE. Then, the back labor hit. I tried to work through it for hours. I got IV painkillers. Finally, I asked for the epi, but I was really out of it. The L&D nurse, DH and my sister had a conference to determine if I was actually serious. They decided to wait and see if I asked for it again. forty five minutes later, I asked where the fuck my epi was. I got it about 30-40 minutes after that.

LSS: Don't make any decisions right now, but tell them, if/when you ask, you want the fucking thing ASAP.

[VeryViolet]

Oct 20, 2014 13:57:29 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

Heavy period cramp. Huh.

LOL.

I recently had a heavy period cramp that gave me a labor flashback and made me question future children.

Everyone who had to decide beforehand on the epi if you decided in the middle you wanted one were they just, "too bad so sad"?! I would have given birth handcuffed to the bed after strangling the person who told me no. That just seems like such a bad policy. I am also LOLing at a class beforehand on the epi. Maybe it is because I was high on ambien and pain but I remembered exactly nothing from the class I did take. I just sat there and screamed while not moving and prayed for it to work soon.

[captainmal]

If I have another baby, I'm not even hesitating to get the epidural again. I wasn't even sure what the epidural was really doing for me until it started to wear off while my doctor was sewing me back up from my episiotomy. Downside, I had sharp pains at the epidural site for months afterwards, but still worth it to me.

[angelaa73]

Am I the only one who never ever gave thought to going pain med free? Because guess what suckahs, I dont get dental work without painkillers either. Fuck pain!

[speckledfrog]

Oct 20, 2014 16:55:54 GMT -5 angelaa73 said:

Am I the only one who never ever gave thought to going pain med free? Because guess what suckahs, I dont get dental work without painkillers either. Fuck pain!

I wavered back and forth with the first, half-heartedly  looking to techniques and asked for an epi before out I was out of triage.

I absolutely wanted one with the second and asked for it before I was even in my room, but my labor was super fast and by the time the anesthesiologist got to the room 15 minutes later it was too late.

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2014 18:06:54 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

I ended up getting one. I wish I could feel guilty or disappointed about it, but I don't. 

Why do you wish you could feel guilty or disappointed?

[lilles]

The book Birthing from Within has great pain management techniques.

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2014 16:55:54 GMT -5 angelaa73 said:

Am I the only one who never ever gave thought to going pain med free? Because guess what suckahs, I dont get dental work without painkillers either. Fuck pain!

Me this yes.

Although I made it to 8 before I asked for the epi, and at that point I pulled the trigger because we hit now or never. I am also in the heavy period cramp camp. I was at 5 before I even realized I was in labor (was 4 days past due so went in for check up and surprise! Was in labor).

Not an AW, by the way. Just want the OP to know it doesn't HAVE to be terrible. I found the aftermath, if you will, to be much worse than labor.

[escrow]

I was induced due to elevated blood pressure. First with cytotec, that was a nightmare! I asked for epidural shortly afterwards. However the epidural wore off after about an hour. And continued to do so after telling the nurses I was feeling way too much and they had the anesthesiologist come back in. By the time I started pushing it had all worn off.

[kristie]

I am really not understanding the sign up for an epidural in advance or "sorry, you're screwed" policy. No way that actually works. I can poke a million holes in that policy. Not to mention the possibility of needing a spinal or even general.... No

I have posted long posts about this before. I am pretty anti IV meds and rarely offer them to my patients. I didn't know my first time,but they were an absolutely no my second time around.

Ironically, the ones I have seen go med free more often than not are the ones that aren't completely committed to it. I am going to go find my old post, because it made more sense. I am too tired. Lol

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2014 19:43:40 GMT -5 kristie said:

I am really not understanding the sign up for an epidural in advance or "sorry, you're screwed" policy. No way that actually works. I can poke a million holes in that policy. Not to mention the possibility of needing a spinal or even general.... No

I have posted long posts about this before. I am pretty anti IV meds and rarely offer them to my patients. I didn't know my first time,but they were an absolutely no my second time around.

Ironically, the ones I have seen go med free more often than not are the ones that aren't completely committed to it. I am going to go find my old post, because it made more sense. I am too tired. Lol

I think I must've missed the posts, why are you anti IV meds?

[cheeseandcrackers]

I have no doubt I want an epidural when I give birth and I don't feel guilty or disappointed about it to be honest. I want it pain free as possible, ha.

[pagas]

Oct 20, 2014 16:55:54 GMT -5 angelaa73 said:

Am I the only one who never ever gave thought to going pain med free? Because guess what suckahs, I dont get dental work without painkillers either. Fuck pain!

I didn't have a choice, it really wasn't that bad (at least that I can remember.)

I also had a filling done last week without painkillers, so maybe I am a freak.

[revolution]

If you are on the fence, tell them as soon as you get admitted you are thinking about one but not positive and if you try to go without, make sure they give you the "last call" for the epidural so you can decide.

My first, they told me I was too late getting there to get one and then I stalled out during labor and after 5 hours, me asking every time the nurse came in, her telling me the dr said I can't have one and me telling her 'fuck you', (they didn't hold it against me, thankfully) and then I FINALLY GOT ONE AND OH SWEEt HEAVEN.

My second, they were walking me back to the room and I wasn't even checked in and I told them to call because I wanted on.  ha!  I was almost too late.  I was at 8 cm when they checked and since I was so adamant, they held off as long as possible with anyone touching me and had the anesthesiologist up there asap.    I loved that guy.

[kristie]

Oct 20, 2014 19:50:59 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Oct 20, 2014 19:43:40 GMT -5 kristie said:

I am really not understanding the sign up for an epidural in advance or "sorry, you're screwed" policy. No way that actually works. I can poke a million holes in that policy. Not to mention the possibility of needing a spinal or even general.... No

I have posted long posts about this before. I am pretty anti IV meds and rarely offer them to my patients. I didn't know my first time,but they were an absolutely no my second time around.

Ironically, the ones I have seen go med free more often than not are the ones that aren't completely committed to it. I am going to go find my old post, because it made more sense. I am too tired. Lol

I think I must've missed the posts, why are you anti IV meds?

Because it typically doesn't touch the pain, if the baby is born within a few hours after admin you need narcan and an nnp at delivery, it makes moms feel drunk, and gives them fuzzy memories of the whole experience. I have done it, I am just not a fan and prefer to avoid. I will drug the hell out of an IUFD at request, I just think most moms prefer to have some memories of the experience. Then it doesn't even work to take the pain away, and it's too late to undo. For labor, it just isn't the best pain management option.

[revolution]

Oct 20, 2014 16:55:54 GMT -5 angelaa73 said:

Am I the only one who never ever gave thought to going pain med free? Because guess what suckahs, I dont get dental work without painkillers either. Fuck pain!

Ha.  I thought about it for a hot second.  Mentioned something to my favorite OB.  She asked me why.  I had no reason.  She looked at me and said that I wouldn't get a medal for going med free.  It took about .5 seconds for me to agree with her and tell her to sign me up for all the drugs.

[revolution]

Oct 20, 2014 20:00:42 GMT -5 kristie said:

Oct 20, 2014 19:50:59 GMT -5 @wandering said:

I think I must've missed the posts, why are you anti IV meds?

Because it typically doesn't touch the pain, if the baby is born within a few hours after admin you need narcan and an nnp at delivery, it makes moms feel drunk, and gives them fuzzy memories of the whole experience. I have done it, I am just not a fan and prefer to avoid. I will drug the hell out of an IUFD at request, I just think most moms prefer to have some memories of the experience. Then it doesn't even work to take the pain away, and it's too late to undo. For labor, it just isn't the best pain management option.

mmhmmmm.... with my first, before my epi, they gave me stadol (??)  that shit did NOTHING.  nada.  zilch.  

[sunny]

With the first, I wasn't sure whether I wanted it. I made it to 8 cm and requested one. but it slowed down the labor. With my second, I specifically chose a birth center so I wouldn't be tempted it was a neat experience.

[ohiowan]

Oct 20, 2014 11:13:17 GMT -5 Bree Van de Kamp said:

Oct 20, 2014 10:52:24 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

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.

This, on all counts. I winged my med-free birth and it was fucking terrifying. I'm hoping I'm a bit more prepared this time around. 

I winged it too, but it was no big deal. I didn't do any reading about it, everything worked out okay. I plan to do the same this time.

[roo54]

With DD, I was induced at 8am because of high blood pressure. I wanted to go as long as I could with an epi, and I made it until noon (after they broke my water). The epi worked for an hour or so, and then stopped. I had a cold, so I couldn't breathe through my nose. It was awful. Once they finally agreed to replace the epi, it was too close to me being ready to push. I enjoyed being able to move after birth though. I was able to move my legs and stand.