epidural experiences please...

[sb786]

Hi ladies hope you are well!
Just wanted to ask if any of you have had an epidural before and what was your experience like? I've heard a lot of positive and negative stories.
What else is available as effective pain relief that has been tried and tested!
Thanks xxx

[penswriter]

i had an epidural with my twins and i don't feel like any less of a woman for it and i was as on top of the world after seeing my boys as any other mom.

i had horribly intense back labor. i couldn't even walk. the needle freaked me out a bit but when the doctor was doing the procedure i could barely feel the pinch of the needle. i must say it was the best decision i made. there was no way i would have been able to go through labor naturally. if i was to get pregnant again i would not hesitate to get it.

[armybratOK]

I had an epidural with my first. It was ok, I was scared of the whole process, and the guy who did it yelled at me. He did it incorrectly, and it wore off within an hour, but they were able to fix that. After that it was great. Had my daughter 8 hours later, which was fine because I couldn't feel a thing and was able to get some sleep. I did tear a little but that was because she came out with her hands on her face. I would get the epidural again knowing how it helped me. But I am still totally scared of the needle in back.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I have to comment on what Joy said about "feeling on top of the world" after.  I too felt that way after having my 3rd child natural.  You have this sense of tremendous accomplishment.  I was so proud of myself I wanted to tell the world LOL.  BTW out of 5 births so far....that was by far my quickest, easiest, most painless recovery.   I was up walking around right after and couldn't have felt better considering what my body had just gone through!!!!

[JoyRenee]

I had an epidural with my first two daughters. I chose not to have one with my third daughter and I wish I wouldn't have had epidurals with the first two.

The epidural inhibits a complex mix of hormones to be released in your body that help you bond to your baby. It can also slow labor down for the majority of women. Being able to walk and move around will be most effective in reducing your labor time.

I also loved that I could choose the position I wanted to birth in, instead of on my back or semi-sitting (both of which are the worst positions to birth in). If you DO get an epidural please know that they can lean the bed down in such a way that you're almost squatting but being supported by the bed still. You'll have gravity on your side and will reduce tearing by being in a squatting position.

I also felt like I could take on the world after I gave birth w/o the epidural. I was in awe of what I had done. It took me a few days to really grasp my feelings on the entire situation but it was amazing. I tore with my first two girls but I had no tearing or stitches with my epidural-free birth.

There are some drugs that can take the edge off but you'll still feel the pain. Birth is hard and it is incredibly painful. I wish you much luck in whatever you do choose!

[Kla1]

I cant tell you about my experience with one, but I have heard some really bad stories. Every person is different!!! I was too scared of them putting a needle next to my spine plus I dont like drugs! I had 3 babys drug free and will do it again with this one. My outlook on it is, I feel like the epidurals make your labor take longer cause you cant feel what is going on. My longest labor was 4 hrs and I was induced. My last one was a hr and half. I love it. But again everyone is diff. and every labor is diff. Good luck with whatever decision you make!!! I wish you the BEST!!!

[Sasha80]

I had an epidural with my first.  It only lasted 3 hours out of the 23 hours that I was in labour.  I was progressing okay until I had the epidural.  Doc said it slowed the process substantially (she was expecting the baby about 8 hours earlier).  The epidural had run out by the time I had to push so I was able to feel everything.  I pushed for 3 hours with my first.  Other than that, I had no side effects nor have had any back issues since having the epidural.

With my second, I chose fentynyl (spelling???).  It by no means, eliminates the pain but it does take the edge off.  If I chose to have more children I will use this method again rather than an epidural.  My labour was 5 hours start to finish with this one.