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What was your epidural experience like?

  1. yellowbird

    honeydew / 7303 posts

    With number one they threatened not to let me have it because my white cell count was high but they did it anyway around 5cm and it was heaven. Worked like a charm and I never felt a thing after it was placed.

    #2 came extremely fast and I was screaming bloody murder that I wanted an epidural. I got it after I was 10cm and already pushing (not voluntarily!) it was amazing and I don't regret it a bit.

  2. MrsADS

    nectarine / 2262 posts

    I didn't want to get one but I was pleasantly surprised. I had a very fast labor (well, for a 1st baby - woke up with mild ctx at 6:30, at hospital at 8:30am, baby born 1pm) and my contractions were on top of each other with no break and I gave in. I was worried my BP would get low, I would feel crappy, my legs would be numb and I couldn't push, etc.

    I had to have a bag of fluid before they would give it, that was fine. The actual getting it was fine, maybe like a bee sting. My butt got really warm, lol. But it was stronger on one side than the other, the nurses kept having me roll to try to get the medicine to "spread" more to the other side. And I had a spot by my left hip where it didn't really work and that kept hurting pretty bad.

    Overall I had a "weaker" epidural which I was happy with. My legs were not numb at all, I could move them. But I definitely still had some discomfort and could definitely feel my contractions but it was manageable. Felt a LOT of pressure and some pain with pushing, no worries about not being able to feel anything! I remember crying "I need him out, I need him out" because it was still hurting. BUT I cannot imagine how much worse it would have been without!

    I had a huge episiotomy that I didn't feel and I didn't feel being stitched up afterward, so that was awesome.

    Overall I was super happy and would get it again!

  3. Mrs. D

    pear / 1852 posts

    I did NOT want one. But after 25 hours of labour I gave in and accepted one. It was uncomfortable, but I had no complications. Our daughter was born at 27 hours.

  4. Ms. RV

    pear / 1930 posts

    Oh the epidural was soooo wonderful. I had been having timeable contractions for 20 hours before I got it and it allowed me to rest before time to push. However, LO was sunny side up once she descended and was hitting a nerve in my hip. The epidural did not touch that so I was still at a 10 pain level. I didn't feel any pain from contractions or my 2nd degree tear, though.

  5. elljay

    apricot / 262 posts

    Mine was fantastic. I was induced and they let me get it really early on because the pitocin contractions were brutal and all in my back. I felt nothing until I was about 9cm, then started feeling pressure during contractions. I tried to up my dose with the little button, but it didn't do anything. I definitely felt a strong urge to push when I hit 10cm, and then felt intense pressure while pushing, but luckily he was out in 20 minutes. I did feel them stitching me up, which kind of sucked - they were not gentle about it.

  6. FaithFertility

    eggplant / 11861 posts

    I got sadol sp?!? Before because the anestegiologist was in surgery and I needed something bad at that point!
    That took the edge off of getting that needle in my back!
    The epidural worked great it did feel as if it was wearing off closer to pushing, but my midwife assured me it was OK!
    I could feel the contractions and could definitely feel the pushing, but it helped I am sure!

  7. HLK208

    pineapple / 12234 posts

    No issues all three times! It was heavenly

  8. lamariniere

    pineapple / 12566 posts

    Compared to my unmedicated it was wonderful!

  9. simplyfelicity

    cantaloupe / 6634 posts

    Maybe it's the amount of pitocin I was on but I felt like my epidural kept wearing off after a couple of hours and I would be begging for more. The cycle repeated itself over and over during my 32 hour labor. I still feel like I felt everything...especially at the end. Not sure if it was placed badly or what. I know the nurses were being conservative with it because they wanted me to be able to feel enough to know when to push but I was stalled at an 8 for at least 8 hours and then stalled at a 9. I definitely felt "enough." I was expecting the epidural to be this magical thing and it just wasnt.

  10. alphagam84

    persimmon / 1095 posts

    I just gave birth on Tuesday night with an epi and the experience was great. I used an IV narcotic drug as long as I could and then we switched to the epi. I was terrified about how much it would hurt but it didn't hurt that much at all-maybe the IV drugs helped some? I felt no pain and had a button to push to receive an extra dose to the epi when I felt the need in addition to the constant flow I was already receiving. I delivered at a hospital with a dedicated L&D anesthesiologist so they had more pain relief options available to use and I think a more experienced staff with epi's. My left leg was more numb than my right one and I had one small spot on my right side on the belly that hurt some but it was bearable. Would definitely get one again!

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