Birth plan - epidurals

PrairieMom wrote: the poll about giving birth got me wondering about birth plans and your individual approach to giving birth.
Did it go like you planned or wanted?
If you had an epidural, did you go into it knowing you would have one? Or did you change your mind in the middle of labor? Did you ever consider not having one?

When I was in having Charlie my nurse was surprised that I didn't want an epidural, apparently 93% of the births in my hospital are with an epidural. I was kind of surprised by that.
The actual epidural and potential side effects of it scared me more than the actual pain of labor.

Working in the hospital you see and hear all kinds of horror stories, so I know all the worst case scenarios. I had a friend who actually nearly died because of her epidural. They placed it in the wrong spot and paralyzed her to high up, taking away her ability to breath effectively on her own. Scary stuff.

In talking to my IRL mommy friends I am surprised at the number of them that never even considered not having one. Like it is a normal expected part of labor now. Wouldn't you want to experience the miracle of birth the natural way?

Danalana replied: With Kade, I was going to try and do it without an epidural. I did most of my laboring on a birthing ball. At 8 centimeters, I said I had to have the epidural right then or I was going to DIE. After the epidural, I wondered why the heck I wanted to be a hero to begin with. OMG, it was AMAZING. With Carter, I knew I would have one, it was just a matter of when. With the next baby, I will see how it goes. I will go back to the birthing ball (I had my epidural earlier with Carter, so I was in bed) and we'll go from there. I'm not against epidurals in the least; I just wanted to see if I could make it without one. I think I probably could with the next one, but I don't really see any reason to. My epidurals went beautifully and, really, why suffer if you don't have to? I don't feel like I was robbed of the birth experience at all. LOL, I pushed for 2 hours to get Kade out! It wasn't because of the epidural...I could still feel contractions and they said I was a great pusher. He was just hung up or something...had a bruise on the back of his head.
Anyway. To sum it up, I changed my mind toward the end with Kade. Never regretted it. I followed through with my plan to have it with Carter. Never regretted it. I might or might not have an epidural next time

MoonMama replied: I had wanted to try to go completely natural no drugs at all, but I also told myself if it didn't work out that way it was ok too, as long as I had a healthy baby thats all that mattered to me. But I was able to have a totally natural labor, no epi or drug of any kind. Like you Tara the actual epi and potential side effects scared me a whole LOT more then the pain of labor.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Planned an epidural, had an epidural. 7 hour labor, painfree delivery which I could enjoy and absolutely no side effects whatsoever. Seemed pretty natural to me, honestly. But then again, I get Novocaine to get my tooth filled, too.(which was way more painful than the epi) Have to tell you that most people I know IRL that have one have never had any complications. I had one friend that had a 3 day migraine and had to have a patch. That's the only complication I know of. I've heard horror stories from people online but it's not my real life experience. Our experience couldn't have been better. It's a memory I'll cherish always.

coasterqueen replied: With Kylie it was planned. With Megan it was not. Epidurals slow the birth process for me. I was in labor 30 hours with Kylie and I know that epidural caused it to take that long - because my water was broke for more than 24 hours and she was stuck on my pubic bone we had to do an unexpected c/s to get her out

With Megan I went in planning to not have an epidural, but it was such an emotional time because I had no clue I was in labor, especially a month early. Then the doctors had me all freaked out about her being early, especially since I had a rough pregnancy from the very start so once I heard them say they needed to prepare the nicu team and put an incubator in my room I FREAKED out and couldn't handle the contractions anymore so they gave me the epi. I wasn't supposed to take long, they thought she'd be out real quick - then that epi kicked in and slowed everything down and I was in labor for 20 hours with Megan. I did let the "bolus" (i think that was what it was called with the epi) wear off, but my contractions right before she came got out of control, the docs had me even more freaked out about her coming early and the doc said he wouldn't let me deliver until I had another bolus put in. I dunno, that's what I remember them telling me, I was confused and had gone mental at that point. I love how docs like to freak you out. So once the epi kicked in I pushed and she was out.

SO I should have NEVER had them with both and in the end I probably wouldn't have been in labor so long.

ETA: The only other issue I had with epis is now my knee cap areas are numb. When I shave my legs in that area I get this tingling numb feeling that I absolutely hate. Never had it until I got the epi, and afterwards was when I noticed having the issue.

PrairieMom replied:
Karen, that is really interesting about your numbness. i wonder if they damaged a nerve in there some how?

I was reading about how Epi's can slow down labor and increase the possibility for the need for c-sections, actually, not just epi's but any kind of labor med, because they can interfere with the natural flow of the labor, and affect the baby causing them to be in distress.





I went into all 3 of my labors knowing that I didn't want an epi, but keeping my options open.
Honestly, mine were all so fast that an epi wasn't needed. Anyone can labor for a few hours, but a 20 hour labor, now that is a different story. And really, the labors weren't that bad. the absolute worst part was just the end when they are really down there and about to crown. Even tho it was really hard, and it hurt, I wouldn't change the experience for anything.

Danalana replied: When we were having birthing classes at my hospital, the nurse there said the only complication she had EVER seen in 12 years there was an "epidural headache"...and that was in 2 patients. We have the top anesthesiologists in the state, so I felt confident. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

mummy2girls replied: I knew going into it i wanted an epidural if it got really bad!

Jordan... I had an epidural because i was having extremely painful back labour! Then after I had the epidural i was good to go... And the rest of the labour went just fine!

Jenna i had an epidural but it stopped my labour and by the time it picked up again it wore off so i felt EVERYTHING!!!!!!And my blood pressure dropped dangerously and i was given meds to control that. bled after birth so i was under observation in the delivery room for a while.

Breanna... epidural again. My blood pressure dropped dangerously and i almost passed out and actually threw up!!!!! GROSS!!!!! After i had her i bled more than with jenna. I was kept in teh hopsital an extra day but 1 week later went back in and almost died of a hemorage... Really scarey!

If i was having more kids I would go into it trying my hardest to not get an epidural. because it seems my pressure just cant handle it and it drops!!!! BUT because breanna was 10lbs 7 oz i woudl be afraid to have more kids...LOL I also was induced with all 3 because of blood pressure issues:(

MomToJade&Jordan replied: With Jade I planned on going without it as long as I could. Unfortunately I needed pitocin to have any sort of contractions and I labored with her for 16 hours. Took me hours to dilate without the epi so by the time I was dilated enough I wanted one. I was just so tired and the epi actually sped up the process for me. Not sure if it was the epi itself or the fact that I had some time to relax and my body finally decided to dilate enough to give birth.

With Jordan it was the same thing. I would labor as long as I could without it. I was induced with her because of her heart rate falling with contractions so again with the pitocin. I also had magnesium because of the pre-eclempsia. Jordan was a 12 hour labor so I opted for the epi again. I was okay with my choice, but was hospitalized again because of a spinal headache.

To be honest if both of the girls had been short labors I would have probably gone without the epi.

coasterqueen replied:
I have no clue. I just know it's very uncomfortable to shave my legs around that area of my knee. I can use my knees, so they aren't numb to that point, but you know how like when your leg or arm is asleep, that numb weird tingly feeling? That's how it feels when I try to shave that area of my leg/knee. I actually absolutely hate doing it because of the feeling.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I had an epidural with both of mine. With Madeleine, I didn't even consider going natural. The hospital where I delivered didn't offer anything such as a birthing ball, birthing tub, etc. And in a small town, there weren't options as far as birthing centers. It ended up being a really great birthing experience and was quick. After I had her I got bad blood clots and was in horrible pain. I blame that on the nurses not taking care of me. They had a lot of patients to tend to that night.

With Ethan, I wanted to go natural. I loved loved loved my doctor. But, Ethan was breech and we had to have an external version. He tried it without the epidural and I just couldn't take it. I wanted to go that route instead of a c-section because we didn't have insurance and recovery was shorter (less time in the hospital---less $$) It turned out to be a great experience as well. My doctor was camped out in my room most of the day, when it came time to push, they didn't transform it into a surgical room--I just pushed him out on the bed. They then brought the nursery team in and did everything else. I loved it. Very laid back and easy.

I did have epi headaches with both of mine, though. And I was pretty sick after having Ethan (throwing up.) But it was gone in the night after taking meds and getting some rest.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: With Andrew I went in thinking that I'd try to do it without anything for as long as possible, but was expecting that I'd need some kind of drug. I was hoping that I wouldn't end up with an epi, but I ended up getting one. They gave me nubane at first and that helped a little but after my dr broke my water I just couldn't handle it anymore. Or I didn't think I could.. I think I was just kind of shocked at how much it hurt. But I wish I hadn't gotten one... it didn't work the first time so they had to do it twice. I was already sick when I got it, probably from the nubane, but I think the epi made me stay sick and throwing up while pushing is NOT fun. My butt fell asleep and I was so miserable from the tingling feeling that the nurse had me roll on my side so she could massage my butt. That wasn't fun either. It didn't slow down my labor, but they didn't let it wear off, just turned it down... so I couldn't feel the contractions and didn't know when to push so I pushed for 2 1/2 hours. All that and it did NOTHING for the pain where he was coming out of. I think I'd rather have had the pain of the contractions and not had to be in such pain down there for so long. OH and the catheter sucked. It took the nurse like 4 or 5 tries to get it in, and she had to go get another nurse to help her. it was so humiliating!

With Allie I went in knowing I didn't want nubane because I didn't want to throw up. I knew I would NOT get an epi, but I was open to getting an intrathecal or something else, but it went so fast I didn't need it. It hurt like heck, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

My3LilMonkeys replied: With Brooke, I went into it undecided. I was induced and after a few hours of intense contractions I decided to have the epidural. It made the labor somewhat easier, but the recovery sucked - I was lethargic and didn't feel up to getting out of bed or anything for hours afterward.

With Madison, I was only in labor for 2 hours or so when the contractions started getting really bad - worse than I ever felt with Brooke - so I asked for an epidural thinking I would never last, only to find out they were so intense because I was dilated and almost ready to push! So there was no time for an epidural or anything. And even though the pain was bad, the difference in recovery was unbelievable - I was full of energy and asking to take a shower and get cleaned up 20 minutes after she was born. After that there was no way I wanted another epidural with Bobby - it wasn't even a consideration.

luvbug00 replied: there was NO way I was going to go natural. Planned epi and follow threw. I did vomit after having her but really until just this moment i never atributed it to the epi. If I have another I'd do the epi again in a heartbeat.

youngmomofone replied: I went in knowing I was going to have one. Truthfully though, I wish I would have tried longer/harder to make it without one. I got it literally within 30 min of getting admitted. I was young and scared.

grapfruit replied: I went in open minded, but would of perferred something other then an epi. Turns out I didn't need any of it. Isabelle came so fast! They stopped me to ask if I wanted one, and I looked at the nurse like she had 2 heads. I won't shut the door on it. But like you Tara, I've seen/heard scary stuff. I know I can ge through the labor. I'd just as soon go w/that.

Although I'm going to try not to get cut. My dr didn't make it to the delivery and the dr that made it (barely) didn't even ask, she just cut. I STILL have pain "there" 9 months later.

5littleladies replied: I've had 2 with an epi and 3 without.

I hated the epidural and would not have another one, but my reasoning is generally different from everyone else's-They do not work for me! They gave me some pain relief, but not much and the anesthesiologist who put mine in with Kate told me that they just don't work very well on some people. He told me to have an intrathecal (sp?) if I ever have another baby.

My hands down best birthing experience was with Megan. All I had was nubain and my labor was a breeze. I think that was because my water didn't break until the very end. Once my water breaks my labor breaks my pains become so much harder to handle. My goal after that was always to have a labor with my water intact-Never happened, hence the epidurals.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Casey I didn't know you were pg again! Congratulations! Do you know what you're having?