Epidural...how much does it really help?

Question

My DH and I are just starting TTC and I am not pregnant (yet) but I'm just wondering about the effectiveness of the epidural. I'm a complete wimp with pain so I'm 99% sure I'm going to go with an epi, but I wanted to know just how effective it is. Can I ask the anasthesiologist to basically numb me completely? I'm actually most concerned about the crowning since I've heard it wears off...I don't want that!!

I'd love any feedback - have any of you had an epi and did (or didn't) feel the crowning/"ring of fire"? Thanks!!

Answer

Oh man. It helps! I couldn't feel a thing. Then it kinda wore off really fast. So a different person came in and upped it. A lot. And I was feelin GREAT. I didn't feel myself tear at all. I felt her crown. This is kinda gross...but all it felt like was when you take a poo and the poo is really big. It didn't hurt at all. I was scared to get an epidural because I was scared of a needle going in my back. But it was soooo worth it.

Answer

With my epidural, I literally forgot that I had legs for a full 22 hours of labor. I felt nothing below my waist.

Answer

The epidural was absolutely amazing!! My pain level before was so bad and I was only 4cm, after getting it I felt amazing!!! I pushed abut 6 times and only felt some pressure and out my baby girl came, the doctor even cut me and stitched me up and I had no idea! Definitely recommend it, tools a few hours to completely ware off but it was great

Answer

I couldn't feel a thing I was in heaven lol enjoyed every minute of labor and delivery... I never thought I would say that! Definitely will have another with my next baby.

Answer

I didn't want an epidural but had a very long labor and finally couldn't stand it anymore and I honestly can't imagine giving birth without it!! (I know our bodies are "made for this") but everyone's pain tolerance is different!! I will say I felt all the crowing/ring of fire and it HURT but the pain went away right after he was out!! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Answer

I wouldn't have made it through labor without it I don't think. I was in so much pain before the epidural that I was just constantly crying & there was no way I could sit still (I had all back labor) & when I finally got the epidural I was able to nap for a bit & rest up.

Answer

I requested an epidural. It hurt while putting it in but I couldn't feel a thing from waist below. Legs felt numb like pudding. Definitely eased my labor pains, I finally stopped barfing/and diahrea from the constant pain. Oh the memories are flooding back! Will def get another one with this babe! No shame!lol

Answer

It's wild how good the epidural works. My labor was really fast so I still felt all of my contractions, but my pelvis down was numb ...so much that I couldn't move my legs or feet and the nurse had to fully carry me from the bed to the wheelchair and back into bed after labor when we moved to my room. 
There was no pain in the lady part region, and I had a third degree tear with an unknown amount of stitches (Doctor wouldn't tell me).

Answer

Yes it does.   Number one I had beyond horid back labor and once it finally kicked in I couldn't feel anything, except pressure when I was pushing.

Answer

I literally went to sleep for 10 hours of my labour. It definitely helps.
Both my sister and I had issues with the epidural though.. My sister it numbed everything BUT where it counted.. And with me it only froze 1 side of my body, I was feeling everything on the other. Super weird feeling. They had to move the needle and dose me again so I was superrrrr frozen!

Epidural...how much does it really help?

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