I recently had my third child. Here is my epidural journey.

#1) 2017. With my first I had a successful epidural at approx 7cm. It may have worked a little too well as I couldn’t feel myself pushing. I ended up requesting a mirror so I could see myself making progress with the pushing. 30 minutes of pushing and my daughter was born.

#2) 2020. With my second I went in with an epidural in my birthing plan. However timing was not in my favor. Before I could get the epidural I had to wait for antibiotics to finish through my IV. Once those finished and I could get it the epidural, the anesthesiologist was with an emergency c-section. By the time they were available I was truly laboring through the contractions and the nurse didn’t feel the necessity to check how Diana Ted I was before the epidural. Half way through getting the epidural I felt the need to push. Once the anesthesiologist was finished I laid down and within 15 pushed my son was born. The epidural did not kick in until 30 minutes after he was born.

#3) 2021. Now for number three... With my experience from number two I knew I didn’t want to wait and get the epidural sooner than later. My labor nurse was fabulous and was in the same page and understood my previous epidural history. She checked my cervix and dilation frequently. I got an epidural at approx 6cm. I had a not so pleasant reaction. Ringing in my ears, tightness in my diaphragm, blurred vision, throat tightness, slurred speech... I got it all. All symptoms wore off and I continued with my contractions feeling everything. The anesthesiologist was called back in as I was feeling as normal. The epidural cath was removed and another one was placed. Second time around it was only the ringing in my ears but it died down quickly. As my contractions progressed I was pushing the button for my epidural but yet again nothing. I was getting no relief from the medicine. Anesthesiologist came in a third time and pushed litocane with epinephrine to ensure the epidural line was placed properly. It was as I felt my thighs get heavy but that feeling did not last and wore off rapidly. They made a final attempt in switching the meds out but no luck. The nurses and doctor ended up saying they were at a loss, it may be because I’m a redhead and didn’t know what to tell me.

I found some comfort laboring on my side with a peanut ball. At 8cm, simply rotating from my side to my back and two pushes baby number three was born.

I am thankful that my body was able to embrace labor and essentially deliver two babes without effective epidurals but this last time around is absolutely a mystery.

Let me know your epidural journey.