[jgreene]

I have had two epidurals, one for the birth of each of my children, and I feel like they were almost more trouble than they were worth! I didn't get the headache and there was no problem with them working (I was really too numb), but both times I had extreme shaking and low blood pressure reactions. The second time I almost passed out and vomited; I had this sensation that something was really, really wrong. It was so different from the (excrutiating) labor pains. I just hated it! I felt so nauseated and ill that after the birth of my baby I couldn't even hold him for quite some time. They had to flip the bed down (so my head was lowered), squeeze fluids super fast into my I.V. and give me epinephrine in the I.V. as well.

It's great that science has given us anesthesia options, but it seems there are a lot of side effects that don't get talked about too much.

Has anyone else had similar experiences? I think I'm going to go natural next time just to avoid these problems...

[babydawn]

I had a very similar experience with my last baby. I did however have three with an epidural without those scary side effects. Even with the blood pressure drop and the epinephrine I still feel like it was worth it. I don't have a very high pain tolerence.

[jgreene]

I hear you...those labor pains are really impossible to endure! That's interesting that you only had the side effects with one baby. I wonder if they used different medication in your epidural that time? I'm still hoping they come up with some different options by the time I have another one...

[breharb25]

When I had my son I was seriously thanking god for the epidural and as far as I was concerned it didnt come fast enough . I was really scared about having it though because I had read about all the scary side effects and I did consider going without. However, once the pain started I knew there was no way I could do it without the epidural! I did have an excruciating headache for about three days afterwards but it slowly went away, thankfully. I too hope they come up with something better before I have my next one. Has anyone tried the meditation exercises or the natural methods instead or the drugs? How well does that work I wonder?

[jgreene]

I tried some of the Bradley Method techniques during my second labor experience, and they did help, but of course the pain still seemed excrutiating and eventually I had the epidural because I was afraid of the transition phase and the actual birth pain. I had a masseuse who was very into yoga and the Bradley Method, and she claimed that she felt no pain during her natural childbirth, only pressure, and that she would do it all again just for the labor experience!!! What???? Well, I think that labor is just different for everyone. It was probably easier on her body, and I doubt she had back labor or a prolonged labor, for instance. I will say that I also tried the I.V. pain meds (are they narcotics?) before I tried the epidural, and they did absolutely nothing for the pain. They just made me feel loopy in a very unpleasant way.

[breharb25]

I know one of my biggest mistakes was not attending the birthing classes, unfortunately my doctor didnt suggest it until it was too late to sign up for them and I had no idea when I should have started them. Luckily once I had the epidural I was able to sleep for about three hours and then my labor started and my son was born in 25 minutes ( everyone thinks I should pay for this!). However, I dont think it would have been so quick without the epidural.

[jgreene]

That's very interesting, because often the epidural actually stalls labor! I know they usually give pitocin (a drug to stimulate contractions) along with an epidural so that labor keeps going. Labor is so individual, though. Even if one does attend birth classes, it seems real labor never does what is expected! (Besides the baby part! ) I think doctors don't stress birthing classes anymore because so many women routinely get the epidural. Epidurals can be more convenient for doctors, too, because they can deliver the babies on their schedule (if you are at 10 cm with an epidural, you can wait to push; not so if you have no meds!), and they don't have to offer as much support during the labor process (with breathing coaching, natural pain management, etc.).

[ACard]

With my first two girls I didn't want an epidural. I can tolerate pan farely well and both labors were approximately 4 hours long. I was induced with the first and the second my water broke on its own. The third and final my doctor swept my membranes with. He did that on a Wednesday and my labor began that night and started and stopped unto Friday when I finally went in at 2:00 in the afternoon. I was at 4cm and my water was bulging. I was so exhausted and couldn't take much more so when I heard the docter wouldn't get there until later to break it I asked for an epidural.

I loved it . I had a little bit of the chills but other than that I had the biggest smile on my face. Then the drawbacks came. I couldn't tell when I was having a contraction so I had to depend on the monitor and feeling my stomach. I pushed so hard and long due to not being able to feel it that I tore in many places (dumb docter didn't believe in cutting). I has so many stitches and it still doesn't look righ, skin on the labia was not sewn together correctly. Some tears weren't even mended. Then the horror began. No, no headaches or feeling sick....I had the stint left in for my tubal. They had put so much stuff in the epidural because it wasn't numbing enough for the procedure that it took over 3 hours for me to come out of recovery. I went into shock and was shaking so bad they had to get the blankets out where they put the hoses into it to blow in hot air. I couldn't feel anything from my throat down so I had a hard time swallowing. It was very scary. If I had it to do over again I would not have had the epidural. I finally went back to my room barely able to pick up my legs.

[ACard]

Originally Posted by jgreene

I tried some of the Bradley Method techniques during my second labor experience, and they did help, but of course the pain still seemed excrutiating and eventually I had the epidural because I was afraid of the transition phase and the actual birth pain. I had a masseuse who was very into yoga and the Bradley Method, and she claimed that she felt no pain during her natural childbirth, only pressure, and that she would do it all again just for the labor experience!!! What???? Well, I think that labor is just different for everyone. It was probably easier on her body, and I doubt she had back labor or a prolonged labor, for instance. I will say that I also tried the I.V. pain meds (are they narcotics?) before I tried the epidural, and they did absolutely nothing for the pain. They just made me feel loopy in a very unpleasant way.

I though the pain meds were just enough to help me relax in between contractions but that was about it. I had back labor with each of mine. That is the worst pain ever!!! I would love to know what a regular non-back labor is like. After these I would think I could handle that. I did go natural with the first two and I felt like someone was trying to rip my spine out.

[pattiewrites]

I had epidurals with all three of my babies, but it only worked right with the first. The second time the line broke in my back and the medication wore off. The third time, the idiot doctor put it in wrong and I felt nothing on my right side and everything on the left. Draw an imaginary line down the middle of your stomach and imagine pain on one side and numbness on the other. It was enough to drive me crazy. I am pregnant with my fourth and am planning to take Bradley classes. I figure it didn't work right the last 2 times anyway, so why bother this time? Also it does slow down labor, it did all three times with me. Labor stalled each time and I had to be given pitocin. My labor stalled so much with the second baby that they needed to eventually use vacuum to get her out. In my case, the epidural just started a long line of interventions that I want to avoid this time. Also, since my labors are long, I'm planning to wait a long time before I go to the hospital to avoid all the interventions. (this makes my husband nervous) It feels like once I'm there, they just want to get it over with and the interventions begin.