paralyzing epidural

I did not consent to a needle in my back for this reason. I went au naturel for both of mine. Would do again. was nice to get up right afterwards. I liked that.

renerian

I dont know how common it is. But, I did know someone who was nearly completely quadriplegic (1 arm and both legs motor loss, no significant sensory loss) after an epidural because of an inflammation that started to show up in her spinal cord a few days after the delivery. It was a real mystery how it happened (contaminated needle?) and the last time I saw her she had been like that for a couple of months. To this day, I'm not sure if she has recovered her functions or not.

But it scared me enough to decide never to let anyone give me anything in my spinal cord if I was going to have a baby.

...paralyzing the diaphragm is fairly short, and especially in short women the meds can migrate the distance in rare cases. Always watch your mom like a hawk during the initial dosing and subsequent boluses.

Ok, you just creeped me right the heck out! I'm VERY short...like under 5 feet tall kinda short...

That is why I went natural with no meds. Fast recovery and no needles coming from behind me. To scarey.

renerian

I had a similar experience to that of mjlrn97, and my surgery was in 1992. I was only asked if I wanted to be awake during my C section.. I said yes. I was given a spinal block, and not an epidural, and obviously I didn't get the brightest kid on the block administering it. He tried SEVEN times to get in the right spot, and finally my nurse called for someone else to do it. I remember that all too well, no only because of the pain of the many sticks into my spine, but the fact that on the seventh stick, he hit a nerve, and it felt like lightning ran down my left leg! On the 8th try, they got it. Once I got into the OR, I felt like I was going to suffocate. I couldn't feel my lungs expanding, and I thought I was gonna die right there! I could see the pulse ox reading, but I didn't care.. they gave me oxygen just to make me feel better! Once I figured out that I could breathe, I started telling them I was going to be sick.. "Impossible" they said.. uh huh.. Once I started gagging, they believed me. Eventually it was over... and no, I never used that hospital again. What is funny now, but certainly wasn't then, was the fact that when I was transferred from op table back to bed for recovery, someone didn't bother to pay close attention and my foot was twisted upside down, and held there by the bed rail. Once I finally came fully wake in recovery, I honestly thought I was paralyzed.. on the left side, no doubt. My doctor was more than a littled PO'd when the recovery nurse didn't bother to check anything out and called him away from his lunch, only for him to find my foot twisted . And, someone mentioned that it happens more often in shorter women.. possible, I guess.. I'm only about 5'1".. and that's on a good day!

I will NOT have another epidural. I'm a total pain chicken, but I'm just gonna have to get something else next time. I had stadol last time, and I didn't like the way it made me feel. I was all drunk, and it felt like my tongue weighed a ton.

I'd like to do a waterbirth next time around, and maybe even try hypnotherapy.

My best friend had her first baby natural (and quickly) and decided to go for the epi for #2. She is about 5'8" tall and had total respiratory paralysis and had to be intubated and have an emergeny c/s. She said that when it first started happening, she was telling them she couldn't breath and they were trying to get her to relax like she was having an anxiety attack, and she was trying to tell them "no, I really can't breathe!".... then she became unconscious. Her husband is a firefighter/paramedic and lifelight paramedic and he watched the whole thing unfold. If I remember correctly her BP bottomed way out, too. She was really, really not good for a couple of minutes.
Needless to say, she is not an advocate of epidurals.

I had epidurals with all of my deliveries, but I also have the utmost respect for each and every woman who chooses to deliver without it!!

The hospital I used to work PP, there was a pt who had a high spinal instead an epidural, and needless to say, crash section. Unfortunately, this was days before I delivered my second child! I knew before I went in I wanted the epidural, but there was no way on God's green earth was I going to let the third year anesthesia resident go near my back with a needle!! I told my OB staff only!! As luck would have it, good or bad, staff that was on that night wasn't the most successful either, so my friend, Lynn, also my L&D RN, said the 4th year resident was wonderful with epi's. I think he was a little put out with my questioning his success, but after I thanked him on a wonderful epidural, he was great!!

Once again, KUDOS! to all of you who did it without!

I was scared to get an epidural before, but this thread has made it worse, LOL! I'm also under 5 feet, grrrr! No kids in the near future, but maybe I should work on my pain tolerance and relaxation techniques in the meantime?

I had three children the old fashioned way and when I became preggers with my fourth, told the doc I wanted an epidural. I had been a nurse by then for two years and was familiar with the benefits. Plus, even though I did well with my other kids, I do not like the feeling of being out of control of what my body is doing. Not being able to stop the next contraction. My body having a mind of it's own, so to speak. It was weird.

My epidural did not hurt - you get numbed beforehand with lidocaine so I didn't feel the needle at all. Just blessed relief.

I applaud all women who make informed decisions about how they want their labor to progress. I have not come across any women who became paralyzed due to having an epidural.

steph