Ok, so we've all heard the horror stories of bad outcomes from epidurals, and the fact that "natural" childbirth is much healthier for mom and baby has probably been drilled into every nurse (maybe not, but this has been my experience). Then there are those occassions when an epidural is a necessity.
So, I'm just curious: what is your personal opinion of epidurals? Whether you work with laboring moms, or have had a baby yourself, or both. What are some personal opinions about and experiences with epidurals...
I'm all about respecting the wishes of a laboring mother, whether that's natural or non.
For me personally, the pain was so much more intense then what I could have anticipated it would be that the epidural was wonderful and allowed me to enjoy my birthing experiences where I definitely was not enjoying prior to the epidural.
Two babies, two epidurals. Loved my birth experiences, both were very, very different. Did have major itching after the second one, but a little benadryl fixed that right up.
I don't plan on #3, but if it happens, I'll ask for the epidural at roughly 36 weeks gestation.
Yes, I too am tired of so many interventions, one leading to another. Birth has turned into a medical circus because of the litigious society we live in. I never would have dreamed that we would be doing so many inductions, augmentations, high epidural rates and even elective c-sections. Our stories of having babies with no drugs or epidurals are like the old stories of walking 10 miles to school..........no one wants to hear them. I used to love my job as a labor nurse. Occasionally we have a patient who comes in and gives birth with no intervention whatever and I get to feel the awe and joy I used to.
I had an epidural & loved it. I think they are wonderful & help moms relax & let their uterus work for them. Often times when I have pts that req to go without meds I tell them up front that I respect their wishes & will not offer them anything. I let them know what options are available and to just ask if/when they feel they need something. There is nothing worse than having a goal & having the nurses force their beliefs/opinions on the pt. I admit, I work with nurses whose goal is to force an epidural on every woman that walks thru the door. Every time they walk in the room they offer that epidural....I think that's just wrong!
I had an epidural & loved it. I think they are wonderful & help moms relax & let their uterus work for them. Often times when I have pts that req to go without meds I tell them up front that I respect their wishes & will not offer them anything. I let them know what options are available and to just ask if/when they feel they need something. There is nothing worse than having a goal & having the nurses for their beliefs/opinions on the pt. I admit, I work with nurses whose goal is to force an epidural on every woman that walks thru the door. Every time they walk in the room they offer that epidural....I think that's just wrong!
Ick, I had a nurse like that. "You don't have to be a hero you know" and "When do you want the meds?". Of course, I threw up all over her shoes a few hours later. OOOPS:rotfl: I felt just terrible. My CNM ended up getting me a different nurse somehow.
So, thus far the opinions seems split almost evenly. I understand the point that epidurals can make the pain of labor tolerable and the experience more enjoyable.
But I also can't help but think about the millions of women who've squatted in a field or hut alone and endured labor pains with no help from any drug or person (just finished reading the Good Earth), and I wonder, "is it the fact that we know that we do not have to endure any pain during labor what makes the pain itself unbearable?" Because, clearly, unmedicated labor pain is tolerable if there are no options.
I also wonder, "what makes the experience of labor pain so empowering?" Is it the fact that it denies the modern concept that pregnancy and labor are medical conditions? Rather they are natural and not requiring "medical" intervention.
I have not yet experienced labor. Can someone explain to me: what did labor pain feel like to you? What made it unbearable? Or, OTOH, what got you through it unmedicated?
Thank you for all of your responses! They're so valuable for not only the work I do with pregnant women, but for my own personal knowledge!
I had 2 babies and 2 epidurals. I had no problems with either and thank goodness they were available to me. I know some people though who have had some adverse effects such as the spinal headaches. I am glad that things went so well for me.
So, thus far the opinions seems split almost evenly. I understand the point that epidurals can make the pain of labor tolerable and the experience more enjoyable.
But I also can't help but think about the millions of women who've squatted in a field or hut alone and endured labor pains with no help from any drug or person (just finished reading the Good Earth), and I wonder, "is it the fact that we know that we do not have to endure any pain during labor what makes the pain itself unbearable?" Because, clearly, unmedicated labor pain is tolerable if there are no options.
I also wonder, "what makes the experience of labor pain so empowering?" Is it the fact that it denies the modern concept that pregnancy and labor are medical conditions? Rather they are natural and not requiring "medical" intervention.
I have not yet experienced labor. Can someone explain to me: what did labor pain feel like to you? What made it unbearable? Or, OTOH, what got you through it unmedicated?
Thank you for all of your responses! They're so valuable for not only the work I do with pregnant women, but for my own personal knowledge!
I don't think there is any way to describe labor pains. For me the PRESSURE was sometimes worse than the pain. I labored for 12 hours with my daughter before I opted for the epidural. When I had my son and I knew that I wanted an epi they gave it to me as soon as I was admitted and didn't have much pain at all until the very end.
I really appreciate all the responses so far! Each of us has a different idea of what labor entails and means.
I tell my clients that there are risks involved in crossing the street. One learns all the possible ways it can be done and then picks the best way for them. The same can be said for labor. For some it is "work", for some it is a joyful day with or without pain medication, for some it is a dreaded event no matter how prepared or how much medication is available. Risks and benefits of each intervention are carefully discussed. The patient then can make fully informed decisions about her labor and birth.
I think it is a cultural (or sub-cultural) thing depending on how and where we were brought up and how we discussed things like our first period, labor, menopause, aging, and all those other transitions in our lives.
I had a wonderful birth this week with a lady whose mom was delivered by the famous Dr. Bradley. She thought of labor as work, with a wonderfully positive outcome. She was also insightful enough to realize that not all life changing events turn out as planned. She has a beautiful baby daughter and her C-Section could not have been more pleasant. Her choices were supported all the way. Her epidural was not a measure for "pain relief" but for therapeutic relaxation of her pelvis so her baby would descend. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how one views it) it just wasn't meant to be.
Epidurals can be wonderful or can be horrible depending on how the patient sees it. And it is really all about the patient, isn't it?
I have not yet experienced labor. Can someone explain to me: what did labor pain feel like to you? What made it unbearable? Or, OTOH, what got you through it unmedicated?
I have had 3 babies, first one a very routine, no complications epidural, the next 2 at-home waterbirths.
I did alot of reading after the first one, the Bradley birth book by Susan McCutcheon had alot of useful info in it and I learned alot about the process of labor from it.
the first labor of course I expected it to hurt and I also expected to have an epidural. It felt like really bad/intense menstrual cramps. When they came in to give me the epidural and I had to sit up on the edge of the bed, I felt "pushy". Of course I did not tell the nurse as I did not want to lose my chance at this epidural and pain relief. It took a couple hours of pushing and I know in my case it took so long because I could not feel how to push effectively. Later when I had my babies at home there was no question I was going to push those babies out. I could feel my body go into "push' mode and boy did I want to get it over with! 4 pushes or so with #2 and (about less than 2 hours active labor and a few pushes) and with #3, by the time I kicked into active labor, he was born in 30 min. good thing I planned it at home because it would have happened in the car!
I would go natural just to be at home and not go through the mess of different nurses every 8 or 12 hours, vital signs, tests, routines, packing up and going then packing up and coming home, where to send the other kids while I am in the hospital, hospital bed, IV, restrictions.....at home we could just hang out, and enjoy the new baby, wear my own jammies, it was night and day experience even though the hosp. experience with #1 was probably one of the most routine experiences out there! Plus, at home you are surrounded by familiar germs, don't have to expose your new baby to the novel bacteria that floats around a hospital!
with #2 and #3 I enjoyed feeling the braxton-hicks contractions as they were good practice for the real thing, the tightening and releasing was reassuring and when they got uncomfortable or crampy in labor, that is when I would go float in the warm water and the relaxation helped make them feel less intense.
I know everyone's labors are different, and if I have another one, maybe it would be different. For now, maybe my experiences can be encouraging to other women and help dampen the negative effects of the horror stories more commonly heard. I also enjoyed reading the old book Spiritual Midwifery, very eye opening and entertaining at times birth stories!
also look up http://www.waterbirth.org - the internet makes lots of info and stories so easy to find!
I enjoyed early labor. Even with pitocin! BUt as I progressed, the contractions became mean and scary. Like someone taking a vice grip to the lower part of my uterus and squeezing! Even that was bearable when I had time to recover between contractions but when they got really close together, too hard to keep up with! With my first, I'd also had no sleep for 36 hours and I was exhausted! I always thought adrenaline would kick in but it didn't and I really didn't think I had the energy to get babe out.
I had no fear of labor-I hear this used by some as a reason for feeling pain (isn't that a Bradley concept?) As a nurse (and mom to be) I was and am fairly educated about the birth process. I was excited for it like BRING IT ON! I was very humbled by the pain. I'd love to see what a pit-less labor is like! Better yet, a short, pit-less labor as mine weren't.
But I have no regrets. I didn't want pain anymore. No need for it. I still pushed my fairly large girls out by my own power. I'm still an amazing, powerful being for doing it.
I can't really give too much of an opinion because the OB unit I work on does not offer epidurals. But i do know that a large number of women choose to drive 90 miles to the next nearest hospital to birth their babies because they offer epidurals. In fact I chose to have my 2 babies at the hospital 90 miles away also, even though i work as an RN at the OB unit right in town here, but my choice was made because i wanted to have a CNM and the OPTION of having an epidural if i needed it - neither time I did - I went au-natural with both kiddos, labored in a jacuzzi tub. But it was nice to have the piece of mind that if i experienced back labor or needed to have Pit i could opt for the Epi. As an RN i truely wish we would start offering Epidurals at the OB unit where i work. I see alot of primary c/s because women can't tolerate labor, or they can't relax, or i think if we could just let women rest in comfort for a bit and labor-down maybe they could push those stubborn kiddos out. For our hospital it is an anethesia problem - they don't want to be in-hospital 24/7 to offer labor pt's comfort. Messed up i know. We do offer narc (mostly stadol and some nubain) and intrathecals (which work OK for some people).
mandana
347 Posts
I'm all about respecting the wishes of a laboring mother, whether that's natural or non.
For me personally, the pain was so much more intense then what I could have anticipated it would be that the epidural was wonderful and allowed me to enjoy my birthing experiences where I definitely was not enjoying prior to the epidural.
Two babies, two epidurals. Loved my birth experiences, both were very, very different. Did have major itching after the second one, but a little benadryl fixed that right up.
I don't plan on #3, but if it happens, I'll ask for the epidural at roughly 36 weeks gestation.
Amanda