[babieface85]

My mother is really stressing natural child birth. I do not think I want to go that route. However, I will if it is truly best for the baby. Has any one personally experienced (or known some one who has) a negative effect due to using an epidural?

[bekah876]

I have heard that some women experience backaches after the epidural. However, every woman I have talked to that has had an epidural said it was wonderful and they didn't have any side effects from it.

[crystalbivens]

I had one with both of my kids, with my daughter I was convinced I was going all natural and did for a while, then realized that there was no reason to have to endure this pain, if I didn't have to. So after many hours of pain I had the epidural and couldn't have been happier, my body was able to relax which made me dialate faster.
Both of my kids came out just fine. It's an amazing medicine and I recommend it to everyone.

[Myth]

The only negative that I have had personally from an epi is the headache, and a backache. Since the epi is put directly into your spinal column it does not affect the baby at all. I do know that if it isn't put in right it will only affect one side and not the other and if you get a anesthesiologist that isn't experienced in administering it then there is a chance of complications in the form of paralysis. I personally had the epi shot with my 4yr old and the cathiter with my almost 11 month twins. I had no problems with it at all. I would say that you need to try and get through it naturally but failing that... don't worry happens to a lot of people... Then do what your comfortable with. If that's an epi the that's what it is. Only you know how much pain you feel. Don't let your mom or the nurses or dr talk you into something that you don't want.

[alkalineangel]

The epidural will not effect the baby badly, and will make the birth a much more enjoyable experience for yourself. It doesn't make you less of a woman or mother to accept drugs rather than go natural. I agree with Myth. Don't let anyone tell you how you should do things, it is your body, and your birthing experience. I chose epidurals because the pain was tough for me, and I wanted to remember the birth as a good thing.

[babieface85]

Well my mom tells me things like I won't be able to push the baby out. I gets sort scary so it's nice to hear it worked for all of you.

[crystalbivens]

You will be able to push the baby out your body has a way of helping you along and if by chance the baby is to big or positioned a certain way then you will have to have an epidural for a c section

[alkalineangel]

You are only numb from the waist down. They will put you in stirrups and you will be able to push just fine. The doctor will help, and so will the contractions. Millions of women do it every day without any trouble.

[automansgirl]

A lot of times they will turn the meds down in your epi so you can push even more effectively. There are obviously possible side effects and complications that come along with an epi, but a lot of it has to do with the administering anesthesiologist. My sil had one and the administering doc who put it in left an air bubble in the line, giving here a severe headache during the entire rest of her labor and delivery. She was still able to push the baby out, and within 45 minutes of removing the cath she was fine. Some women will have a headache for a few days after, and others will have tenderness in their back around the injection site for up to two years. Personally, I am preparing myself for a drug free birth, but am not opposed to getting the epi. If it becomes too much I will definitely be asking for one! Just do your homework and ask your doc lots of questions. The decision is yours alone, and you shouldn't let anyone sway your decision. They aren't the one having to go through labor this time!

[alkalineangel]

The only side effect I can remember is having the shakes... not necessarily cold, but kind of like one of those toy poodles... LOL... and for a few weeks after the birth it was a little stiff bending my back, but overall, it was great. I will probably do it again... if I make it to the hospital in time.. LOL.

[nauticalstar420]

Well my mom tells me things like I won’t be able to push the baby out. I gets sort scary so it’s nice to hear it worked for all of you.

You will be able to push the baby out, but you won't be able to feel your contractions. Doctors have you push during your contractions, and it doesn't help you realize when to push if you can't feel them.

When I was in labor with my first son, it only numbed my right side. When I was in labor with my second son, it didn't even work at all. They pumped me so full of that junk, I'm surprised I can walk today.. lol.

[J_9]

I had the epi with my oldest two and completely natural with my youngest 2.

Personally I did have a hard time with the epi because it was harder for me to feel the contractions and I did have a hard time knowing when to push and even if I was pushing. But they came out just fine. Our body does a lot of the work for us.

They side effects I remember were a slight backache, minor headache and, oh yes, the SHAKES as the medication wore off. Just my legs, but they shook to no end, LOL. The epidural does have to potential to lower the baby's heart rate, so you will be monitored very well if you have it.

What you can do is sign the consent for the epidural and just decide when and if you feel you need it. You can always turn it down when offered if you are feeling up to natural delivery. However, a consent for must be signed as it is considered a minor surgical procedure.

If you don't need it, hey great!! But if you do it will be ready and waiting for you when you ask.

[nauticalstar420]

They side effects I remember were a slight backache, minor headache and, oh yes, the SHAKES as the medication wore off.

I second that! I remember that, headache! But mine wasn't minor, it was terrible! But I have a history of migraines anyway, so that probably didn't help matters. I also remember the shaking of the legs.

And for about a week or so after, I wouldn't say I had a backache, but that area of my back was tender, like a bruise. :)

[Emland]

I had a spinal block with my first - emergency c-section and didn't feel anything after it was administered through surgery. I had horrible back labor 8 hours prior to the block.

Had back labor with baby #2 and was given an epidural. I can't say that it diminished the pain at all, but have been told that epi's aren't that useful for back labor. Since I was blocked completely for the first one, I had nothing to compare it to.

Thousands of women have epidurals and their babies are fine. I don't see going through the pain if you don't have to.

[buggage]

With my first I got an epi, but there was only one anesthesiologist there at the time and was running from me to a surgery a couple flights down, and back again, so I didn't get the epi in time for it to completely work. This second time around, I got it in time and it was like heaven. It helped my muscles to relaxed, and I progressed along at a rapid pace. Towards the end the let the meds slow up a bit so that I could begin to feel how to push, but the pain was to bad to cause me to tense up again. I pushed my son out in two contractions. There are many sides to the epi, and how well it works. Just because it works perfect with one kid, doesn't mean it will work as well, or won't work better or the same with the next. It also depends on the person giving it, depends on how well they do it, how far along you are in your labor, how fast or slow it was proceeding before the epi, your over all health, position of the baby,etc. the downsides of an epi are the sometimes you get a head ache, you may be sore in the injection area for a week or so. It does often times slow down the progression of the labor, but most of the time not enough to cause problems.(they can always add pitocin to speed it up again)but there are also the up sides, less pain so you relax and labor can proceed faster and easier so there is less stress on you and baby, etc. in the end, don't let anyone tell you what to do. Back when you mom may have had epidurals, or experience with them, perhaps they weren't a good experience for her, or she heard things that made her worry. Talk to your doctor about it, research it on your own as well. Don't just take your moms advice, or even our advice. Find out for yourself, and then you can feel good with your decision and have no doubts. Good luck to you.

[kira_ramirez]

I had one almost 7 months ago and I feel just fine. I had a c-section and did not feel a thing

[NowWhat]

I went into the whole experience thinking that I could be superwoman and just push out the baby - no drugs. Boy was I WRONG! The pain was not what I expected. They gave me one epi. And it worked to numb my legs, but I guess the baby was laying on a nerve and I felt all that pain in one part of the my body - the underside of my belly. So, they took that one out and gave me another one. It was good. But then the baby got stuck - she was big and I was small - so we had to do a c-section. I had a panic attack on the table and they knocked me out. At the end of the day - I would do it all again.
I think the key is to be relaxed - if they have drugs waiting for you and you don't handle pain well - then take the drugs.
The only side effect that I have is back pain. From the injection site - down. It only bothers me during PMS. And it is getting better all the time.

Just remember that YOU are giving birth - no one else. If you want drugs or if you don't - IT IS UP TO YOU!
Educate yourself on what is available to you. Not just our stories or your mom's fears. Everyone has a story (if they have kids) and we love to share with expecting moms. So, do the research - talk to your doctor about the pros and cons.. That way YOU can make an informed decision for what is best for you and baby.
Good Luck!

[AYDINSMAMA06]

I had one when I had my son and it was the best thing ever! It numbs you from the waste down and you don't feel a thing.
When it starts to wear off, you get a huge urge to move your legs but you cant. Other than that and my back being a little sore at the injection site. IT WAS GREAT!

[Katie54]

I suffer every day from a botched epidural given to me in 1976. Unless you are certain that you can trust the doctor putting that needle into your spine, please do not have this done. I may be the only one who has trouble with this procedure but I know what was done to me and I know the doctor swore putting the needle into my back before the birth of my second baby...

If I could go back in time and change things I would. I live in constant pain on my lower left hip and down my leg.. Now my knee won't bend when I walk.. I have numbness on the outer thigh areas on both legs. I feel certain that a lot of my other circulation troubles have come about because of the damage done to the sciatic nerve in my back. Please do not put yourself through this agony. The pain does not diminish over time. I see a chiropractor every two weeks and have the current for 30 minutes each time. He never admits it was the epidural and my GP back in 76 wouldn't admit it either.. Neurologists just gave me iron pills and said the nerve would heal.. It has not. I cannot go down stairs straight on.. I have to turn sideways and go down with my bad leg first and then my good one. The bad leg is the left one. It has no power in it anymore.

I beg all women.. please do not have an epidural unless you are sure of the doctor performing it and you have done your homework. Don't go into the labour room without know all the facts.

[Katie54]

I had an epidural with my second baby back in 1976. I have no feeling even now on both outer sides of my upper legs. I have constant pain in my lower back and now the pain has extended down my leg. I cannot bend my knee when I walk. The chiropractor says it is inflammation. I have had constant trouble ever since the botched epidural. If you have a good anesthesiologist who is alert and knows what he is doing, maybe everything will be fine. I would give anything if I could go back in time and change my decision to have an epidural. Please, if you can have your baby without one, I highly recommend doing that. Don't end up like me, unable to walk without pain. I am now 62 years old and the numbness in my legs is still there. My back pain radiates now down my left leg. Chiropractor treatments are given every two weeks. I wish I had never had an epidural.