https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:15:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it/page/2#post-2908076 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 14:49:34 +0000 crazydoglady 2908076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: I didn't have an epidural with my second because the anesthesiologist was tied up and baby girl was coming too fast, and it's totally doable. And I have low pain tolerance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it/page/2#post-2908067 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 14:23:51 +0000 codeitall 2908067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Little late to this thread but I had two epidurals. Very similar labors except that with my second, I had to wait at home till the babysitter came and by the time we got to the hospital I was at an 8. I was very worried I wouldn't have time for an epidural, but they pulled the anesthesiologist out of a c-section prep to give me one real fast. Baby was there about half an hour later.</p> <p>With #3 I'm wondering if I could go unmedicated, but my recovery was really fast with both and I never had any complications, so I'll try to get to the hospital earlier so the epidural isn't so rushed :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it/page/2#post-2908061 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 13:21:33 +0000 bhbee 2908061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: I had a great third baby induction after the other were two spontaneous labors! I think it’s pretty easy to get you moving for a third - I only needed my water broken (they tried cytotec too but didn’t do anything). It was SO nice not to worry about childcare issues esp since the second labor was fast and had me worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908059 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:36:48 +0000 LCTBQE 2908059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: yes to modern technology! good luck and keep us posted :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908058 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:24:11 +0000 graceandjoy 2908058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Now I'm DEF asking my OB how early can I schedule an induction lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908057 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:21:01 +0000 LCTBQE 2908057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: yeah, I'd be interested to see a thread about inductions comparing baby #1 and subsequent babies. my anecdotal impression is that first-time inductions hardly ever go that great but second and third baby inductions almost always do, but I could be wildly off base with that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908055 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:08:12 +0000 graceandjoy 2908055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: My 1st was induced and I didn't have the best experience (mainly it took forever, from the time I was admitted to baby in arm took like 20 hours). But I do think if I were to get induced again things would go a lot quicker seeing it's my 3rd. There is def a real possibility anyway, since I have GD I would think I'd want to get induced by 39 weeks!</p> <p>With LO2 it probably was the "best" scenario; labor started by itself at 37 weeks, but didn't progress so fast that I didn't have time for epidural. Took probably 6-8 hours total which was very ideal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908051 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 11:02:45 +0000 LCTBQE 2908051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes both times, second time baby was an elective induction which I *highly* recommend if you and your OB are open to it. Whole childbirth I literally felt no pain whatsoever except for placing the spinal tap, from start of the process to baby in arms (6 hours later). It was a dream. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908050 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 10:37:04 +0000 annem1990 2908050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Yup. My first sign of labor with the first was my water breaking immediately followed by contractions. They didn’t break my water until I was 7-8cm and after my epidural the second time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908046 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 10:19:06 +0000 DesertDreams88 2908046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: just curious, was your water broken with your first and not with your second, or it broke later? I have a vague theory that labor with the water broken hurts a lot more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908039 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 09:35:55 +0000 annem1990 2908039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Oh totally! And I had zero interest in even attempting to push without an epidural. But just the fact that the contractions were so vastly different made me realize that the pain (at least for certain parts) can be different every time. I remember reading about women who had some peaceful labors and thinking they must be lying after I had my first. But after my second labor, I could kind of understand. It was just so much more manageable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908036 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 09:27:50 +0000 Anagram 2908036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: Since my 2nd came so fast, I felt like the pain was more manageable--I arrived at the hospital fully dilated and ready to push. That is, it was "easier" until the end/pushing. That was so, so, so excrutiatingly painful. 1000% worse than my first birth when I had a (poorly placed and not fully effective) epidural. I was holding the nurse's hand and literally screaming through pushes and at one point, I crushed her hand and she had to leave! It was pretty....I don't know, similar to a train wreck that you can't stop and are watching in slow motion.</p> <p>So I don't know that you would have continued to have an easier experience through the end, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908027 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 06:56:41 +0000 charm55 2908027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted one for both... i had one no problem with my oldest. My youngest came way too fast and there was no time. Honestly the scariest part was that I hadn’t prepared for the possibility of no Epi. I was really frightened. I remember crying through the pushes saying I was so scared to feel any stitches afterwards. The nurse was really good and talked me through it. By some sweet miracle I didn’t need any stitches at all even with a 9.5 lb Baby that came in 45 minutes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908022 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 00:45:52 +0000 Phillybaby2013 2908022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 31weeks with LO3 and am thinking alot too about what might happen this time in L&amp;D. LO1 was a horrible induction turned horrible csection. I did get an epidural but only after hours of maxed out pitocin and no progress. I'm pretty sure the Dr did a csection so he could go home and not hand my care off to the next shift. The whole experience was very traumatic. </p> <p>LO2 I changed Drs and hospitals and went into another induction wanting as little intervention as possible trying for a VBAC. I wasn't making much progress again but more than with LO1. My Dr mentioned the possibility of csection and even with all my mental prep I was feeling discouraged and got the epi. Just prior to the epi they had given me some IV pain meds and I did a spinning babies maneuver to try to engage the baby. I'm convinced it worked and within an hour I went from 4 to 10 and had him out in a few pushes. I was super numb tho and couldn't feel anything including my contractions. They ended up cutting me and had a 3rd degree tear. I was happy that I had a successful VBAC but regretted the epi after everything happened so quickly.</p> <p>Time will tell with this one but I'm going to try to roll with it as best I can. I'm slightly fearful that if this baby does actually engage and I go into labor on my own that it will be quick. I live 40 min from our hospital and am working up until I deliver. As far as an epi this time my hospital is now offering nitrous so I'm going to try to utilize that instead if I'm able to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908019 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 23:47:03 +0000 MommySLP 2908019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: first two were long labors and had plenty of time for epidural.</p> <p>Of course I figured #3 would be the same. But labor was just over 3 hours from first contraction to her being born. I got to the hospital dilated to 8 &amp; she was born within 20 minutes so no time for one. I was crying for it because I never really imagined doing it without one after my first 2 experiences. But I pulled it together and actually felt waaaay better afterwards. Had a really easy recovery too, and I thought my first 2 were easy recoveries but this was so different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908017 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 23:30:54 +0000 crazydoglady 2908017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mostly, no. I got an epidural with my first, but it only partially worked. With my second, I really wanted a fully functional epidural, but the anesthesiologist got held up and by the time he came and got everything ready, baby girl was crowning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908016 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 23:08:53 +0000 annem1990 2908016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into labor naturally both times and got the epidural for both which is what I wanted. However, the labors were completely different. My first was just so horrifically painful I was like a psychopath screaming until the epidural was placed. My second labor was just nowhere near as painful. I even labored longer and was further dilated than the first time. It was absolutely painful, but just nothing in comparison. I even had the thought of: “Ok, I can see how women could do this naturally.” I doubt my “pain tolerance” has changed in the past 2 years so it really just showed me that no 2 labors are the same! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908012 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 21:52:28 +0000 Anagram 2908012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes for my first. But there was no time with my second! She was out just 20 minutes after I arrived at the hospital. It was a wild ride. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2908008 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 21:11:12 +0000 PinkElephant 2908008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: it was outside of the US :silly: I don't think I ever would have been allowed to have it here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907969 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:26:21 +0000 agold 2907969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With #2, my epidural wore off moments before I was going to start pushing. It was a calm but seriously crazy few moments and I got it working again just before starting to push. I had a 4th degree tear the first time around, so I was expecting that to occur again and wanted that epidural big time to block out that inevitable immense pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907967 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:18:13 +0000 MrsSCB 2907967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had both kids about six hours after arriving at the hospital, and got an epidural both times. THANK GOD. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907962 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:02:50 +0000 DesertDreams88 2907962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't have it for LO, and it was a sh!tshow of pain for 18 hours (plus another 6 hours that were manageable). I had a complication that was only discovered at 5cm / Hour 5 so I couldn't get it. Literally the worst day of my life besides my miscarriage.</p> <p>With LO2 I got it and EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING and I only have blissful, happy memories of L&amp;D with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907960 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:59:41 +0000 graceandjoy 2907960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: Oh no! I'm sorry you had a stubborn nurse! I'm the pesky patient who pretty much asks about epidural from the moment I step into the hospital and every 20 min interval after :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907959 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:54:45 +0000 shabang 2907959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I almost didn't get it with my third because I had a nurse who really didn't want me to have it. I honestly think she just wanted the baby to arrive before her shift was over. Anyway, I learned that you have to have a bag of fluid prior to getting an epidural, and at my other hospital (for #1 and #2), they would just give you that in the IV if you said you wanted an epidural so you were ready when the time came. But I didn't realize that one thing depended on another, so even though I asserted multiple times that I wanted an epidural, the nurse did not get me the fluid. She just kept cranking up the pitocin (also learned that pitocin is out of your system in 10 min, so when it got really painful, she could have given me a break but didn't...). When I absolutely demanded the epidural to the doctor, the nurse finally got the bag of fluid ready - that was miserable as well because she gave it to me as fast as possible, I could feel it going through my body, leaving me shivering - and called the anesthesiologist. Of course, he couldn't be there for about an hour. Finally, got the epidural, instant relief, started pushing right after. It was definitely worth having. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907955 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:44:14 +0000 graceandjoy 2907955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: @muffinsmuffins: Thanks! I am totally an overthinker and need to have every scenario covered haha. Tho with DD1 I almost had an emergency c-section and was not prepared for that, just glad I didn't end up needing it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907953 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:36:59 +0000 mamabolt 2907953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With LO1 there was plenty of time. With LO2 he was born 9 minutes after we got to the hospital, so not so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907952 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:22:34 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2907952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: super good point about preparing mentally in case. It didn’t cross my mind or DW that there wouldn’t be time but then there all of a sudden wasn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907951 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:20:21 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2907951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DW wanted one for both but only ended up getting it with DS1 which was induction after PPROM. It was great according to her! </p> <p>DS2 went overdue and super fast. Went from 2-3cm to fully dilated in like 1.5 hrs. We went to the hospital at 10:30 pm, walked the halls until 11:30, got to a room at 12. In that half hour, somehow, she went from 6/7 to barely making it into the birthing suite to pushing and he was born before 1 am. I knew it was going super fast but the triage nurse wasn’t helpful and left us alone for that half hour in triage. I was panicking. She made her walk down the hall even though she could barely stand up due to the intense and fast contractions. The moment we got to the birthing room, a nurse ran in having heard DW from the nursing station and asked if she needed to push. She yelled yes and everything moved super fast from there and there wasn’t any time. It was definitely more traumatic for her and she is still upset she didn’t get her Epi. Same amount of tearing with both kids and similar recovery though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907950 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:17:44 +0000 petitenoisette 2907950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Got an epidural both times. First one after many hours of back labor which didn’t progress me so much. I’m soooo thankful for that epidural (esp since I ended up w a c-section, was so glad that at the very least the last 12 hrs of labor weren’t painful). Second time I arrived at hospital at 10 cm and they told me to push. I really wasn’t mentally ready for an unmedicated birth and I also don’t think my body was ready for me to push - she didn’t come out and I sort of gave up and asked for an epidural which they gave me. I believe this made my body go a bit haywire and I ended up w another c section. It’s good you’re asking this question bc I really wish I had) mentally prepared for a possible unmedicated birth! I think things may have gone differently if that were the case. My situation was different of course bc I had already had one c section for failure to progress, I think after one successful vaginal birth most second babies will come out more easily! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-wanted-epidural-did-you-get-it#post-2907947 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 12:49:39 +0000 MamaBear87 2907947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: I gave birth in water so I didn't really feel it that much. Just felt like intense pressure. It is your body's way of telling you to slow down so you can stretch though, so I had my hands on babies head and could feel him crown so I automatically paused and waited a beat before pushing again. I only had a minor tear. </p> <p>My biggest advice to mom's for delivery now is put your hands on baby and tell everyone in the room to be quiet so you can push as you want. You're way less likely to tear that way. Even with an epi unless it's made you crazy numb you should still be able to feel to push </p>