In my first birth the epidural (got it at 7 cm so I waited to get it too) definitely slowed down labor. The came pitocin, which I want to avoid. So, planning for birth number 2, I'm not against an epidural in theory, but having already had my body react against it, I'm nervous about getting one, but also nervous to go without!
I read some things from the natural birth community stating that it usually slows down birth and then other things that say the effect is minimal. Your experience?
72 votes
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
Neither. I continued to dilate at the same rate, I was just able to rest (well, why they were working, anyway).
And honestly? First contraction to birth my labor was 31 hours long, 2 of which were pushing. I was *exhausted*, and so immensely grateful to be able to rest. I *needed* to rest--I don't think I could have found the energy to push had I not. I would gladly have made that labor even longer if I meant I had the energy to cross the finish line myself (as opposed to getting a c-section, which I was heading towards...not against c-secs in general, but I wouldn't want one just because I was too tired to push!)
persimmon / 1198 posts
I'm not sure. I think it might have, but my son was having heart rate issues during contractions and it kinda seemed like my body slowed them down to protect him. Even with contractions coming only 5-6 minutes apart I was able to make it to 6 come before my c section. I ended up getting my epidural at 3-4 cms (earlier than I wanted to) because they started me on pitocin at that time. DS couldn't handle the pitocin though so it was stopped soon after.
kiwi / 637 posts
I'm not sure. I was 6 cm when I was admitted after labouring all night at home. Laboured all day in the hospital only to get to 8cm. Got the epidural around 5pm, slept for 2 hrs and woke up at 10cm... Who knows whether it sped things up or not.
Next time, if I'm not awake the whole night before, I will probably try to skip the epidural.
grapefruit / 4988 posts
I voted Unclear although it may have sped mine up. I was having contractions 1-3 minutes apart for several hours but was only 4 cm. Got the epidural and the next time they checked (I think 2 hrs later), they told me it was time to push.
cantaloupe / 6017 posts
After 50 hours I was at 4 cm. got the epi, and was at 10 within 4 hours.
kiwi / 566 posts
Mine sped it up for sure! The doc checked me and I was 6.5 when I requested the epidural. Took about half an hour for the doc to get there from the time I requested it, then maybe 45 minutes to put it in? They checked me about 15 minutes after the epidural was in and I was already 9 cm!! I spent the next hour intensely wanting to push until finally the doctor came in and she was out in 3 pushes. My only regret is not getting the epidural earlier: though I'm not actually sure if it REALLY sped things up or was just luck. I didn't get any time to actually have any relief from the epidural because as soon as it was in I was having all sorts of pressure-feelings from wanting to push!
pomegranate / 3225 posts
@Silva: @ILoveLettie: This is what i hear, over and over, from friends... that the epi sped up labor. I hope this can be the case for me!
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
Not sure. I was at 5 for a while before they got it and then stayed there for awhile till they started pitocin.
honeydew / 7230 posts
I was induced and barely progressed at all over the course of 20 hours until I got the epidural. My epidural was in around midnight and I went from 3-10 in 4 hours. I actually went from 5-10 in an hour.
persimmon / 1096 posts
I think it sped it up. I had 12 or 13 hours of labor before I got the epidural at 5 cm, and only 3 hours of labor after that (much of which was spent dozing off and on, the epidural was a beautiful thing). Once they checked me at 10 cm and said it was time to push, I actually asked to wait a bit longer because I still didn't feel pressure and wanted my body to labor down to make the pushing as short as possible. I got my wish - 30 minutes later, I felt pressure, and 10 minutes (3 pushes) after that, my LO arrived. My doctor said afterward that for some women who sort of "fight through the pain" of natural contractions, the epidural helps them relax so much that it speeds things way up. I definitely plan on getting it again!
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
Unsure. Labor proceeded at a steady pace the entire time, both before and after the epidural. I was induced. I progressed about half a centimeter every hour
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I had pitocin first so....I'm gonna say no. I was able to progress quickly
bananas / 9973 posts
I only had an epi. Got it at 8cm dilated. Went from 1cm to 8cm in the span of 2 hrs. After the epidural, I think they let me sleep about 6-7 hours before waking me up to push. I'm pretty sure I would have had DD within another 1-2 hours if I didn't get the epi.
coconut / 8498 posts
I got my epi at 10 (labor was really fast, I couldn't stop pushing but needed to so I wouldn't rupture my cervix), and my contractions pretty much stopped. That's the main reason that I hope #2 comes fast enough that I don't have time to think about it.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
Sped it up for sure. 20 hours pre-epi and I couldn't get past a 3. After the epi, I slept, relaxed and was fully dilated just 4 hours later!
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
I'm guessing neither. I got to the hospital at a 5. Got my epi an hour later at a 7. I was a 10 in another 45 minutes.
pear / 1698 posts
I was induced (without pictocin) and got the epi at the first sign of pain. The nurse checked me and told my husband to go get some food because it would be awhile, 15-20 minutes later I was frantically calling his cell to get him to come back because the baby was coming!
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
It definitely sped it up for me. It allowed my body to relax so that my contraction would do their job. I had been fighting them for 30 hours before and labor had been crawling.
coconut / 8861 posts
Not sure. It helped labor. I got mine at 5 plus cm not long after breaking my water. It relaxed me to get to 10 cm by 7:30 am or so. Soon after, I pushed and had LO. It made my 14 hours of labor more comfortable.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
with charlie it greatly slowed it down, but they also gave me something else to slow labor down.
with olive i don't think it affected my labor. i was only 3cm? when I got the epidural and I had her a couple hours later!
clementine / 828 posts
It stalled my labor, and I needed pitocin. I was 6 cm, but was not really in pain. I got it then because I was progressing so quickly the OB thought I would not be able to get it if I waited. Everything turned out well in the end, though, so I can't say I regret it.
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
Def sped it up! I'd been on pit 12 hours and cervidil 12 hours before that and was still at a 3. I took a nap and was fully dilated within 5 hours after the epi
grapefruit / 4442 posts
totally slowed it down. I was progressing quickly and asked for the epi, then everything stopped. My doctor said if things did not start again then I would have to get a dose of pitocin. Well nothing happened and I got the pitocin.
pomegranate / 3438 posts
I got my epidural and when they checked me right after I was at 7cm. 90 minutes later I was fully dilated. It allowed me to labor down for awhile and rest which was great since I pushed for 3 hours (ended up needing a forceps delivery due to the cord being wrapped around his neck and having 2 knots in it).
GOLD / squash / 13576 posts
The epidural didn't affect my labor, I was at a 9 when I got it.
papaya / 10343 posts
I don't think so? But I was induced and had all sorts of interventions so it is unclear.
10am- got 1st cervidil to start things, "almost 1 cm"
2pm- got 2nd cervidil, 1-2cm
4pm- water broke
6pm- got epidural
6:30pm- foley bulb placed, 2cm, amped up pitocin (they'd started it sometime before this but I don't remember when)
8:30pm - foley bulb fell out (which means I was 4cm)
10:30pm- 8cm
Unfortunately by midnight LO had moved down at a crooked angle, putting pressure on my cervix unevenly and caused me to swell back to a 7, which I ultimately stayed at for the next 3 hours until they determined I was going to have to have a c-section for failure to progress, fetal distress, and my spiking a fever. But I don't think the epidural is to blame for that, everyone said it was LO's position.
kiwi / 661 posts
There is no way to truly know. My baby was stuck at negative 2 for a long time. I dilated pretty good I think (I was induced with cytotec and went from "maybe 1cm" to baby in 18 hours). I got the epidural around 5cm at 5am and things did lull for a while, but that could have been the normal course of labor for me. I did need pitocin eventually as well.
I think if I have a second baby I would like to make it until 6 or 7cm before getting it. I have read that the epidural shouldn't affect the course of labor after 3 to 4cm but who knows!
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
It sped labor up for me because I was able to relax so my body could take care of business and progress without needing pitocin. For me labor started at 9pm, when I checked into the hospital at 12 I was only 1cm. When they finally admitted me and got me prepped for the epidural it was 4am and I was a 3. By 8am I was fully dilated.
watermelon / 14206 posts
I needed an epi so they could up my pitocin, so my labor went faster after I had it.
nectarine / 2834 posts
I voted unclear, but I don't think it had any effect on my labor. I didn't get an epi until I was in transition, probably around 8-9cm. 20 minutes later I was checked and I was fully dilated.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
Sped mine up for sure. I had swelled up and couldn't stay laying down to let the swelling go down, so the epidural helped with that. I was less than an hour from the epidural to pushing.
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