Epidural: pros & cons?

Question

Did you get an epidural? Why or why not? What are some of the benefits and/or risks associated with epidurals VS. natural birth?

Answer

Cons: literally nothing

Answer

I did not get an epidural, but I know the risks are very low. Some women complain of continued back pain after an epidural, but thats more rare. With an epidural you will most likely need a catheter, it will limit the positions you can push in (you cant move your legs) and it may take some time to wear off after labor. Both my sisters got one and had no lingering effects. One of my sisters did get IV meds with her first and she said never again. In the end, its personal choice. You dont know how long your labor will last or how you will react to it. Many women have no urge to go without an epidural. I do believe most women could go without if they wanted to. But its up to the individual. I chose not to and had no regrets, but thats just me. If you want an epidural during labor, dont feel bad for getting one. Whatever gets that baby out safely.

Answer

Getting an epidural was the single best decision I have ever made about anything in my life lol. I honestly cannot wrap my mind around the fact that people choose to go without. I went from being at my breaking point to being completely relaxed. I still progressed very quickly and did not have any side effects aside from some bladder pain from the catheter for about 2 days (felt like the beginning of a UTI). I am 100% getting an epidural this time too.

Answer

I wanted a natural and I tried so hard. But I was given Pitocin and the pain was unbearable. For my sanity, and for my poor SO who had to watch me scream out in pain for 4 hours, it was a choice we made together. I don’t regret it. I only regret not getting sooner. I was exhausted from labor so I took a nap and woke up to push time. It was the best nap of my life.

Answer

I made it to 5-6 cm before my epidural and after I got it my labor was HEAVEN. Before it, my contractions hurt so bad I didn’t know how I was going to make it through, after it I only knew I was contracting because I get my belly tighten up. I LOVED MY EPIDURAL!!! 
The only con, which didn’t bother me at all, would be you can’t get out of the bed until your legs “wake up” which took a few hours.

Answer

I got one and it was the best thing ever. Thank god too because when they put it in, I was dialated to a 4. I couldn't feel any contractions/completely pain free for an hour. I took a nap. When I woke up, I was dialated to a 10 and had to start pushing. 9 minutes later, my daughter was born. Idk how I would have handled it if I had gone from a 4 to a 10 in an hour like that with no epidural!

Answer

I didn't get it for either of my births. There was a high probability it wouldn't have worked for me and I already have back issues so I wasn't interested in the potential for back pain, no matter how low the chance was. I liked that I could move around, no catheter, and I never had to be told to push because I could feel what I was supposed to do. In general, I prefer to minimize medical intervention and for me an epidural wasn't necessary. I wouldn't even say birth was the worst pain I've ever felt. Probably top 5.

Answer

I’ve had 2 med free births and plan to do the same this time. The first time I wanted to experience labor and birth with no alterations and have the best chance for immediate breastfeeding and skin to skin. There are some things about epidurals that put me off, 1. The rare side effect of a spinal headache which meds don’t touch and can last weeks. It’s rare but scares me nonetheless. 2. Each intervention you have ups the odds of additional interventions. Your odds of needing a C-section go up with each thing you add whether it’s piticin, epidural, etc. I also just always felt like I could do without. I was in the room when my mom had my bro and sis when I was 10 & 13 and she did it med free without making a peep. I made plenty of peeps and screamed at times but never did want a needle in my back. After I had baby I was able to get my hep lock out (bc I didn’t have any meds I also didn’t have to have any fluids or anything else they just placed the hep lock in case of emergency) and got up, went to the bathroom, walked to my recovery room, was able to do whatever I wanted. Then with number 2 it was even better since I stayed home laboring in the tub till I was 7-8cm dilated and the bath was sooooo amazing. Wish I could stay in there lol. I was only at the hospital 1.5 hours with that one and while I was ready for baby to be out and it to be over bc obviously it is painful I once again had no desire for anyone to stick anything in my back. I also don’t want anything possibly altering my hormones at such an important time and that post birth high is just so good.

Answer

Got an epidural 3 out of 4 labors. I suck dealing with pain so I knew I needed to get it the first birth I had without it was traumatic enough because of the pain.
Never had back issues not once and it worked just fine for me. I will be getting it again for my 5 th birth.

Answer

I had complications with my epidural. It hurt badly going in, and this was after 27 hours of active labor with 5 of those hours on pitocin. Afterward, I had to get two spinal patches because the first one didn’t work, and my epidural site hurt for about a year afterward. It’s rare for that to happen, but I will not be getting it again that’s for sure.

Epidural: pros & cons?

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