Anybody planning and getting an epidural?

Question

Don't know if I should get one, I am a first time mom

Answer

Get an epidural if you feel like you need one. It's not a big deal and doesn't make you any less of a woman if you get one. Remember, there isn't an award to the woman that can endure the most paint during child birth. 💁🏻

Answer

Just go in with an open mind. No need to plan it. (Birth plans almost never go the way you want anyways) You'll know if you need/want one or if you don't.

Answer

I have given birth twice. Once with an epidural, and once without any pain medication. The all natural birth was a lot easier but i think a lot of factors contributed to that. It was my second time around, everything progressed very fast (within 4 hours vs 16 hours with my first), my body responded like it should (with my first, i wasnt progressing so they used pitocin) and i did a few things to prepare for labor (raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, yoga ball and squats). 
With all of that said, i think i would have ended up with an emergency csection if i hadnt gotten the epidural with my first baby. Pitocin made everything so much worse and my body couldnt relax enough to dilate. 
Best advice i can give you is to keep an open mind and decide whats best for you at the time depending on the circumstances.

Answer

2 births and no epidural it hurts like a b***h but it's worth it

Answer

It's up to you and what you want from your birth experience. I personally choose not to have one unless it's needed. Epidurals are known to slow and possibly stall labor if started too early, so I suggest waiting until at least 6cm. It's also been noted that baby is a little less alert if mom's had an epidural.  Once you get one you are confined to the bed, so it's a little harder to labor down and you're pretty much restricted to pushing on your back or on your side.  Pushing is also known to last longer if mom is on an epidural and interventions like pitocin are much more likely.

That said, if you tend towards low blood pressure it can help stabilize your blood pressure and avoid further complications or added stress to baby. It can also allow a mom who's been in labor for a really long time to rest if she's become exhausted, allowing her to get to the finish line.  Not all labors are the same and some can be unbearably painful while others easy and an epidural can be a huge factor in preventing further interventions sometimes.

I got one with my first because I was subconsciously pushing and had caused cervical swelling going from 7.5cm to 6.5cm. The low dose epidural took the edge off just enough that I still felt every contraction, but I didn't feel the need to push or really care that I was having contractions anymore until it was time to push some 6 hours later. Had I refused the midwife's recommendation of an epidural, I would have ended up with a cesarean. I did notice that my eldest was too tired to nurse for the first hour or two, vs instantly nursing with my second when I didn't have an epidural. That said, my first was a 36 week preterm baby and instantly rushed to the other side of the room for the neonatologist to evaluate lung function and my second was 39+4 and got to hang out on my belly and chest right out of the womb and go through evaluations with a full belly after 30min-1hour.

Answer

I'm just going to see. If I feel like I need one I'll get one, if I think I can do without, I'll do without. But I won't know until that day comes :)

Anybody planning and getting an epidural?

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