Are you getting the epidural?

Question

I know I won’t be able to handle the pain alone, but am so terrified of getting paralyzed or something just going wrong.

Answer

Education is key! You are strong enough to handle the pain. Think about it - your body is producing the pain so it can't possibly be stronger than you! The more you learn about the process, the easier it is. Yes, it is painful, but I refuse to get unnnessary medical procedures (ESPECIALLY WITH MY SPINAL CORD!) that could have life long implications just for temporary comfort measures. There are a lot of possible side effects and issues, so it wasn't worth it to me. Whatever you choose, just education yourself about natural pain relief options during labor and the benefits and cons of an epidural and choose what's best for you. Good luck!

Answer

I felt no pain getting it. ZERO pain. I was mid contraction and all I felt was the contraction. no pain during the numbing shot, no pain during the ACTUAL epidural. no pain during delivery.  no pain after and no long term pain after it. I would rather be given 50 epidural shots back to back, than EVER go through 41 weeks of high risk pregnancy ever again. epidural,  labor and delivery was NOTHING. . 41 weeks of high risk pregnancy,  was fucking crazy.. 20 plus ultrasounds,  6 visits a month. an ob office. a specialist office 45 minutes away from home. . bed rest. puking the entire time.  given fluids via IV, often. epidural,  labor and delivery?  piece of cake. after Ur baby is here, u will realize that labor and delivery is a lot easier than Ur entire pregnancy

Answer

I absolutely believed my body could do it, and honestly, I would’ve been able too. But my labor was SO long. I didn’t get the epidural until I was already 24 hours into labor, and dilated to a 7. I was in (a painless, thanks to the epidural) labor for another 7 hours. My epidural had already almost worn off by that point though.
I suggest anyone who doesn’t want to have an epidural, don’t get one. And if you decide to get one, wait until you’re dilated passed a 5, and absolutely believe you can not do it anymore. The reason I got it is because after laboring so long already, I was so stressed and so SO weak, there was no way I would’ve been able to push had I not gotten that little bit of sleep the epidural allowed me to get.

Answer

Never again. Sure the pain went away, but the numbness left me feeling restrained and useless. It took HOURS after stopping it to even be able to move my legs again. It wasn’t worth it for me. 
My next two were natural and I so wish I could go back and redo my first.

Answer

Yeah, in this instance I do t have a choice. It's either scheduled c-section or epidural. I am having fraternal twins only 12 months after an emergency c-section and Doc will let me try to go naturally but wants to be prepared to operate if necessary.

Answer

I had one with my first and will have one with my second 😇

Are you getting the epidural?

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