I need happy epidural birth stories....

orlaith55

We had our birthing class all day this past Sat.  The woman teaching it was very good, but focused on the cons of the epidural.  I'm the biggest wimp, and I actually walked out of there wondering if I should go natural!  So I think if she can talk me into it, she could talk just about anyone into it!  I've received some wonderful, inspiring stories from my friends and relatives, so now it's your turn! 

Tell me how wonderful an epidural is!

DuffOliver

I loved my epi. I didn't feel the birth at all.

The hardest part for me was staying still during a contraction while it was being administered. But the anaesthesiologist and my nurse were awesome. They helped me get in and stay in the zone. Honestly, the epi didn't hurt. The contractions it was going to get rid of did, period.

I suggest bringing a ultrasound picture for inspiration. You'd be amazed how helpful that is.

Melany928

Well I have a good one and a bad one so I will share the good one With DS#1 I was 8 cm before I got the epidural and was in so much pain I couldn't even talk. I finally got the epidural and felt GREAT! I felt NO pain at all. I pushed for 2 hours and didn't feel a thing an enjoyed the whole experience. If I have a 3rd I really don't think I will get one though.

Lucknow

My birthing class instructor also focused on the cons of an epidural...I thought I was going to go natural because of this...but I was open to the epi if I felt like I needed it....and I DEFINITELY did. I've never broken a bone or had anything super painful before, so I really didn't know pain until I was in labor. I ended up laboring for 21 hours and pushing for 3, so I was really glad to have had the few hours of rest the epi provided me...or else I don't know if I could have pushed that long. I had horrendous back labor too...so although the epi wore off before pushing, I didn't have to writhe in pain all night beforehand...which was certainly nice:)

august282005

I went into labor thinking I'd only use some stadol.   It made me loopy but didn't take away the pain - each time a contraction hit I felt like I was going down this pitch black tunnel - I couldn't breath at all, let alone do the relaxation breathing I was taught.  According to DH I just curled up as much as I could and whimpered no, no, no, no, no until that contraction was over.  Plus I had too much to drink that morning not knowing I was in labor and due to the position DS was in, I had to pee every 10 minutes, which required getting unhooked from everything, waddling to the bathroom, waddling back, getting resituated, only to have to go again. 

After the epidural: I watched the price is right, took a nap, only knew I was having a contraction because more amniotic fluid would gush out, got a catheter (which was I totally freaked out about) so I didn't have to get up to go to the bathroom anymore, and hung out with DH until I felt pressure and was told it was time to push.  DS showed up about 1/2 hour after I started pushing.
Next time I'm skipping the stadol and going right for the epidural as soon as they'll give it to me.  I might even request one from week 36 on.  I've had nightmares about being in labor with #2, not getting to the hospital in time, and being told I was too close to delivery to get one. 

DuffOliver

Ladies, I've had a baby and all, but your pre-epi experiences are scaring me. Orlaith, I may be different and quite fortunate, but I got a late epi and while I didn't love contrax, they weren't what I expected from reading posts like some of the above.

Now that I said that, I'm sure I'll have more of the movie experience next time around.

GMFAug1404

I had an epi and loved it. I would def get it next time. I was in labor all night and went to the hospital at 3cm and walked around for a while. I had really bad back back labor and couldn't take it any longer with every contraction I was in the worst pain. you can't even describe it. once I got the epi I didn't fell a thing and could relax. It hurt a little going in. the only down side is you can't walk and feel anything from your waist down. when I delivered I didn't feel a thing either so it was wonderful. I just couldn't get out of bed for a while after which was annoying.

I have heard horror stories with the epi too where it wears off but I would get it again.

carrieongrove

Yes, yes, yes, epi, epi, epi!

Started contractions at 4 a.m. (one week before EDD).  Two visits to the OB and 18 hours later (I was a slow dilator and stayed at home as long as I could), I was in the hospital getting my epi.  It's AMAZING what a difference it made! 

I did have an issue with the epi coming out and so had to get a second one put in several hours later, but even with that uncommon occurrence, I would get it all over again.

I was anxious about it, but having felt contractions *and* having had some issues with my first epi, I can say without question that I would do the same again.

Like PP, I was also glad that the epi gave me time to rest up before pushing.  I pushed like my life depended on it and got DD out in 15 minutes.

jdn1226

God bless the epidural.  It was like night and day after I had it done.  I couldn't have cared less that a big needle was going in my back, I just wanted the pain to go away. 

Unlike some other people, I did feel pain when I pushed.  My theory is that it wore off early (I got it at 3 cm) but I don't know that for sure.

Mrs*Piggy0214

The good news is (for me), that I didn't feel it going in AT ALL.   They inserted it in the middle of a contraction, so I didn't feel it going in.

harch123

My instructor was scaring me too!! But when push came to shove (ha ha the pun!!) I decided to go with one pretty early on.  I was only 1 cm dilated and after they gave it to me I slept in and out during the night.  Woke up at 7am, fully dilated, pushed for 45 minutes and that was that.  I am so thankful that I was able to rest comfortable during the night.  I would definitely go for one again!!

sue_bride

I knew that I would never make it without the epi.  I hoped I could go to 5-7 cm, but after 6 hours of heavy contractions and no progress, epi and potcin was order.  It took the guy two trys, but I had my ipod on and focused on the music.  Once it was in, I didn't feel a thing.   And when they shut it off, I had feelings in my legs shortly after.  It was perfect as far as epi's go.  

Mrs.Backpack

I got my epi at 7cm when I started to feel uncomfortable (contractions really didn't bother me until that point).  It was no big deal while they were putting it in.  The hardest part was when the doctor was asking me questions, taking blood pressure and having contractions all at the same time.  That was torture.

After I got it, contractions felt just like pressure (like needing to go #2) and I never felt a thing when I pushed. 

Epi is great!!!

HeatherSEPT17

Ok, I am a WIMP!!  I hate needles and always cry...I was more scared of the IV than anything else, and that was a breeze and I didn't even feel it once they taped it up.  On to the epi, it was AWESOME!  I almost named my daughter Epi!  I was really scared, the good thing is that it's in your back, so you don't see anything!  I told myself to be brave and I prepared for the worst, honestly, it wasn't that bad.  The contractions are 10000 times worse!  Believe me you will want the epidural, and it's a slow flow, not a one time thing, so you want to get it as soon as you arrive.  They will need to take blood and test your allergies first, then contact the anastialogist and all this takes time while your contractions get stronger and closer together.  Request the epidural as soon as you arrive to the hospital.  You won't feel anything once you get it.  I was still able to push, it's the weirdest feeling to describe, you can feel to push but it's not painful.  You can ease up the epi if you want to feel the pushing more, but no thanks ! They told me I was pushing and I really didn't even know it ! It was great.  definately the way to go!  Once you have the epidural, the rest of it is virtually pain free, till the epi wears off! 

HeatherSEPT17

oh, one more side note...I slept through my contractions and only knew I was having them because DH kept telling me they were happening !

teach1

Loved my epi - I didn't feel the birth at all. It did make me very, very, itchy - but I'll take that over the excruciating pain I was in prior to the epi any day of the week. Makes me laugh actually, I had multiple people tell me before giving birth that labor wasn't that bad, focus on the breathing, etc. I even had one woman tell me she drove from Wilton to Greenwich by herself at 6 cm dilated. When I was actually in labor, I kept flashing back to these women's stories and saying - what the hell were they talking about? I couldn't get the epi fast enough.

somethingblue06

Loved my epi so much I had two!  J/K well, kinda but really I had 2.  The first one didn't take so they did a second, when they told me they were going to do a 2nd, I had no problem with that.  The only side effect I had was some shaking but that stopped after about an hour and few blankets & kisses from DH and the need to push.  You'll be fine with an epi. I plan on getting more!

Sandy09579

I'm not giving you my birth story b/c it's hell.

However, the epidural was heaven and easier to recieve then my IV...so if  you want one Go for it!  

They tried to scare me out of it at my birthing class too.  Seriously- if you're a wimp and hate pain- they are a godsend.

 

Kyle

I got 2 wonderful epi's!  Wouldn't give birth w/o one!

happygirl277

I had a very good experience with mine, it DID NOT hurt one single bit and I am the BIGGEST wimp!!