https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:53:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1883586 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:54:15 +0000 fancyfunction 1883586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Getting it placed was fine but my bp did drop for a bit which was a bit scary. It definitely helped with the contraction pain but I felt ALL of the pushing - so I'm not 100% sure I'd do it again, but probably would even if it just helped with the contractions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882865 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 13:04:26 +0000 Boheme 1882865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine didn't work at all. I felt a weird, hot, sloshy feeling on my right side but that's it. I don't know if it's because I got it after I was complete or what. I won't bother if we have another.<br /> It sucked. I kept telling the anesthesiologist "You lied! You lied! You're a liar!" lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882770 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:25:17 +0000 ShootingStar 1882770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had some issues with the epidural but nothing that really traumatized me. First, getting it placed was pretty bad. The whole experience was really painful and I really just wanted to be left alone to cry afterwards. DH was pretty upset by the whole thing and was crying afterwards himself. The doctor was also a jerk while he was doing it - basically he was like wtf is your problem, just sit still. AND he didn't connect things right so at one point the connections came apart and the epidural meds started dripping onto the floor and not getting in me.</p> <p>Another anesthesiologist came and first told me they'd have to redo the placement and I almost cried. It turned out they were able to reconnect everything and I didn't need to have it done again. Though she was really nice and gentle (she stayed with me through my c-section) and I think if she had placed it it might not have been as bad.</p> <p>I'm a *little* nervous for when I have #2, I know that I want do a scheduled c-section and I'll have to get a spinal for that and I hope it's a better experience than the epi was. But the epidural was one more painful thing after an awful foley cath placement and pitocin contractions, so I think I just wasn't up for something even more painful at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882763 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:21:17 +0000 pinkb 1882763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They overdosed me with my epidural causing my BP to drop way too low and kind of put everything on hold until they could get it back up. It was very scary and has me very scared for another. I made it to 8cm on my own. The worst part of my experience was the epidural and I plan to try natural this time around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882743 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:10:46 +0000 Mrs. M 1882743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They couldn't get mine in after several attempts both times! I had hoped the first time was just a weird thing, but it happened with the second baby too! My favorite part with baby #2 was when she made a third attempt, I yelled out in pain, and she urgently said, "you can feel that" and quickly called the head doctor. Plus, with my first the epidural wore off and no one told me I could ask for more. I felt everything delivering her and was not planning on that. When they told me I could ask for more with #2 I was shocked. Such a better experience since I couldn't feel a thing! </p> <p>So funny about the doctor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882624 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:09:41 +0000 Mommy Finger 1882624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine just kept failing. I was redosed 2x and they said that they would have to redo it if the last redosing didn't stick. And of course it failed but right before I started pushing. So it was almost like I never had the epidural at all. If I have a 2nd, I'll still get an epidural and pray it works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882442 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:45:45 +0000 MrsRcCar 1882442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had epidural trouble with both boys. My epidural with N took with tries to place and I had a minor spinal leak, plus bruising for months! My epidural with E placed simple enough but I had the worst spinal headache resulting in going back to the hospital for a blood path. All these things considered I will get one again with addition kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882430 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:41:38 +0000 mrs. wagon 1882430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first epidural failed 3 times, the third time was while I was in transition. I was seriously traumatized by that whole experience. Then my second went too far and turned into a spinal catheter, which gave me a spinal headache 48 hours later, and I had to get a blood patch which is basically another epidural. THAT became my most traumatic experience ever. Alls well that ends well, but I am seriously traumatized by epidurals. Still pro epidural though! I just don't think I could ever have another baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882394 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:31:17 +0000 jedeve 1882394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine failed and didn't numb the pain but I still couldn't move. It made me too nervous to get one a second time. I went med free the second time and was much happier with the experience. Although that might have been due to the fact labor was much easier the second time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882380 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:23:44 +0000 autumnlove 1882380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved my epidural but I had a spinal failure for my first C-section. I was traumatized in some way until delivery day for LO 2. No anesthesia issues for baby 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882350 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:05:06 +0000 Lilbear 1882350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: me too! I think next time I'll be a lot more vocal &amp; resistant to some of the unnecessary things that happened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882342 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:02:04 +0000 twodoghouse 1882342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My epidural just kept failing. I'm not really that traumatized (5 months later it's hard to remember the pain) but I am very resentful of other things that happened after delivery in the name of hospital policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882339 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:01:35 +0000 Lilbear 1882339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not still traumatized, but I'm on the fence about getting another epidural with baby #2. I had a spinal headache from the epidural, which really sucked. However, I was in labor for 24 hours before the epidural and I only dilated 1.5 cm in that time. Two hours after the epidural, I was at an 8, so I clearly was able to relax &amp; dilate with the epidural. I guess I'll try to go epidural free again next time and if it hurts too much or takes forever to dilate, I'll cave and hope I don't have another spinal headache. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882337 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:59:12 +0000 Orchid 1882337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: I planned to avoid an epidural, so when I started to demand one my doula and husband (but especially my doula) kept trying to convince me not to have it. I wished she would just leave at that point. The epidural was awesome, but someone ripped some tape from my back and removed a 2" squarish bit of skin. It hurt a lot and while I avoided stretch marks, I'll always have that scar on my back . Totally worth it though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-a-bad-epidural-experience#post-1882323 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:52:34 +0000 swurlygurl 1882323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your epidural went awry somehow, are you still traumatized?</p> <p>My epidural for L went as fine as it can go. For K it was a complete disaster getting it in. Apparently my interstitial spinal spacing is small and thick (?!) and the epidural guy couldn't get it in. Three attempts with lots of digging around and he had to call in the head of epidurals to come do mine. It was a 30 minute process of non-stop poking! So. Much. Pain. Now that it's over, if I focus enough I can find the nerve and actually feel it - it creeps me out!</p> <p>Plus, the first Dr was one of the hottest men I have actually seen in real life. Awkward for my sweaty crying pregnant mess of a self :silly: </p> <p>Knowing how bad it was though, I would still get it again in a heartbeat. Once it was finally in I felt great and had a fun labor/delivery :)</p> <p>I'd love to hear other disaster stories if you can stand to talk about it! </p>