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 remember how strong I am, don't need meds or lack of meds to do that. FWIW, I had three kids, three epidurals and none of them worked other than to speed me up big time.
As a nurse, I always made sure my pts understood the advantages and disadvantages.
Just because women before us were able to have babies without medication doesn't mean I have to. Although I did in the end.
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...
Thanks!
I have a VERY LOW pain tolerance. I even have to get something different at the dentist for fillings.
I've had 3 kids, all with epidurals. My first 2 weighed over 9 lbs., very big, and the epidurals actually didn't work very well, even after reinserting one!
My 3rd baby was the easiest. The epidural was patient-controlled, so I could get more when I needed it and not have to wait for a nurse or MD. The 3rd time the epidural was inserted at 2cm dilation. Worked like a charm!
My babies were all fine, no bad effects from the epidural. I am ALL FOR pain control. There is no need to go through that pain without help...unless you can handle the pain...everyone has a right to labor how they want to!
I posted earlier in this thread about how I had four babies without any type of pain control. I was never given the option, except for the last one, and I thought since I had done it three times before and lived through it, I could do it again. I don't feel like I did anything special. Things just were the way they were. I'm wondering why this is such a big issue, though?
Back in the day, women had babies in their homes, on their farms, in their boarding houses, on the fields, in caves, or wherever, without pain medication. People also had their teeth ripped from their skulls with pliers and nothing more than a swig of whisky to help make them feel better. People had their limbs amputated, when necessary, with a hand saw and they had to bite a bullet, for whatever reason. I don't know. To keep them from screaming too loud, I guess. Today, no one is expected to have their teeth worked on without Novacaine and I don't know how amputations are done, but I would guess they're done under general anesthesia. If no one is expected to endure those types of pains, because they did it back in the day, why would anyone expect a woman to endure the pain of labor, if she didn't have to?
This is a rhetorical question, but I would be interested in hearing arguments against it.
Someone asked what labor felt like. I had always heard that it felt like "really bad menstrual cramps". OK, fine. I've got endometriosis - no sweat. Menstrual cramps have me in bed for three days every month, I'll be able to handle labor. For me, the pain was nothing like menstrual cramps. It was a visceral pain that started somewhere low and worked up to the base of my stomach every three minutes for a solid minute for 5 hours - and that was just to get to the required 4cm for the epi. I was exhausted. I was completely unprepared (mentally) for the pain, despite several prepared childbirth classes. Even after the epidural, labor lasted another 20 hours and I delivered a 9 pound child with an operative lady partsl birth.
With the second baby, I was so apprehensive about a repeat going in that the MD offered me the epi on arrival - 2cm. I delivered my child without pain and in 5 hours from arrival. I'm totally convinced that #1 was so hard on me because I was in so much pain for so long. I was so uptight he just couldn't move down. Baby #2 was an ideal birth experience and I loved sitting in bed, joking, smiling, relaxed up until the moment she made her appearance.
For me, there's no question but to have an epidural, although I certainly respect those who choose not to.
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...
Thanks!
My personal experience with epidurals was certainly something! I gave birth to my beautiful daughter 15 mos. ago. I was induced at 39 weeks, because the baby was just getting too big for me. So, they began the Pitocin around 5 or 6 in the morning, and I had an epidural around 10 or 11 (I was experiencing some awful back labor from the pit, and have a very low tolerance for pain). My epidural wore off after about an hour or so, so they gave me another one. The second one lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours, so they just gave me more medicine in the epidural iv. Finally, I was pain-free for the last three of hours of labor and all through the delivery (which lasted roughly 30 minutes). So, yes, the epidural was wonderful once the medicine kicked in! Haha.. :w00t:
I had to be admitted to the hosp. at 27 weeks because my kidney's were shutting down (lupus). My daughter was an early bird, born at 30. Because I had been in so long before her birth, I had plenty of time to think. My doctor made it clear I'd be a cesarean, and cesarean means drugs. That was ok. I even got signed papers for them to do a tubal while they were in there. (I was 23)
So, I'm on the dialysis machine, baby monitor going crazy, and ooh, it was starting to hurt! So dialysis nurses give me my blood back (obviously with heparin) and I go down to L&D. My heparin levels were too high for them to attempt to give an epidural. Another doctor in the same practice was on call that night, and she ended up thinking it would be better to go natural. The funny thing is, I was happy not to be cut open! I labored 12 hours, then actively for only 15 minutes.
The nurses kept coming back, saying "we'll get you pain medication, just as soon as your heparin levels go down." I think your body anesthestizes itself to a certain degree. The big kicker was the huge demerol shot afterward! It wasn't hurting after she came out, but they had given me pitocin before and after to minimize bleeding. I definately won't have more children, but not because of childbirth pain, mostly because my kidney couldn't take it. I eventually had a transplant from my identical twin 1 year later.
Unless I explain all that, anyone I tell I had natural childbirth think I'm nuts. I'm glad I did, my husband was very supportive, wiping my sweat and holding my hair out of the way so I could vomit. Plus I was up out of bed 15 minutes later. I think I would still do it naturally but minus all the complications.
My first two babies were with epidurals. The first was perfect, it stopped the pain but I could still feel contractions and could feel to push. The second was good but started to wear off so I started to hurt pretty good for a few minutes before I got bolused back up, but no biggie, still good.
My third was unmedicated & it is how I would chose to do it again. My first two deliveries were good, but by the third I just didn't want the restrictions, potential side effects, or potential snowball of interventions associated with epidurals.
I won't lie, it was very painful (I was definitely NOT like the unmedicated patient that I had the other day - who, I am not kidding you, was asleep and SNORING at 9 centimeters), but what worked for me was having a "bag of tricks"... basically I did one technique until it didn't work any more, then moved to the next, and so on and so forth. Walking, hanging on dh's neck during ctx, music, breathing, bath, birth ball, back rub/counterpressure, moaning, etc.
I did not feel like a failure in any way, shape or form when I had the epidural births, but at the same time I did feel accomplishment for achieving my goal to go unmedicated with #3. Sort of like finishing a marathon - there is accomplishment but obviously it doesn't mean that people who don't do marathons are any less, does that make sense?
Hi, still a PN student so I don't work, but I have had a baby. During my pregnancy all I wanted to do was have a nice natural birth at our neighborhood birthing center in a beautiful room with a HUGE tub for a waterbirth, the hospital didn't quite have the environment I wanted. After the hour of waiting for the contractions to get to 5 minutes apart, my husband and I went straight to the hospital! The contractions were so hard and fast, I couldn't even catch my breath and I was vomiting. All I have to say is Praise God for epidurals!! I would have followed the anesthetist to the hospital basement to deliver in a cardboard box like a cat for that epidural! Anyway, I went to sleep and an hour later I was at 10 and ready, 2 pushes later, DD was here. I wouldn't deliver w/out an epidural, but also respect the wishes of others.
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 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!
Since I had an epidural my only time giving birth, the only thing I can say is for me if I were to have another child, to not have an epidural would be like driving a car without air conditioning on a 100 dgree day after driving with A/C for 10 years. Can I do it, yes, but not if I don't have to. Same with epi, I can do it, IF I had to, but don't really want to. The contractions in the belly area would have been tolerable if not for the horrid back labor. Felt like the muscles in my lower back had a charlie horse X 50.
I've had 3 babies. I was pretty naive going in for the first delivery. I had no preconceived plan for pain control. I thought I had a high pain threshold and would probably be okay without meds, but I would see how it went and keep an open mind. My membranes ruptured at 41 1/2 weeks. I got pitocin, monitors, etc. It was too much trouble to move around with all of that, so I stayed in the bed. It started to really hurt more than I had ever imagined! They gave me stadol to "take the edge off". What a load of crap! All it did was knock me out between contractions, make me dopey and fuzzy, but still awake with full pain during contractions. Never again! I wanted the epidural.....now! I swear it was about an hour from the time I asked for it until the time I received it. Being naive, I didn't really know just how well it was supposed to work. I had large "hot spots" on one side where the pain was still felt full force. I told the crna, but they must have blown me off because they didn't do anything about it, at least nothing that worked. Anyway, very PAINFULL delivery.
But the pain didn't end there. The placenta was in pieces and I hemorhaged (sp?). BP was dropping like a rock and the doc had to go in and manually extract the pieces. Try that with doc's large hands and no working pain meds! They had to hold me down on the table with a half dozen people and I just wanted to die to escape the pain! I had VERY vivid memories of that horrid pain for a full year after the fact.
2nd baby was pretty much the same story minus the stadol and hemorhage. Ruptured membranes, pitocin, monitors, non-working epidural...again! PAINFULL, but normal delivery.
3rd baby ruptured membranes again, pitocin, etc. But this time, I had an OB that was very pro anesthesia (perhaps because his wife was the anesthesiologist?) that allowed the epidural very early and it went like clockwork. The nurse turned out my lights and told me to take a nap during my labor! I woke up when I was feeling an urge to push. It was FABULOUS!!! Again had problem with placenta not delivering (this time it was still whole) and doc had to go in and get it. With the wonderfully working epidural, this was a bit uncomfortable but not painfull at all.
I have to say that for all of the pain I felt during my deliveries, I just don't understand how that is supposed to be "empowering" and "in control" to others. It hurt so bad that I was completely OUT of control of anything. Not that I doubt others feel that way, I just don't get it.
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?
I think that is a large part of it, for me at least. I've had 4 babies, 4 different experiences. The first, I labored unmedicated for most of it. 14 hours in, I opted for pain meds but didn't like how they made me feel loopy. The second, I opted for the epidural at 5 cm, remembering the pain of the first delivery, but didn't like the way it made me feel as if labor was happening to me, rather than me being an active participant. (Despite being pain free). The third, a very mild unmedicated labor, with a Jacuzzi birth. Loved it! Only an hour or so was intense, yet tolerable. Number four was a short, intense, empowering beyond belief, unassisted homebirth.
For me, it was like really bad menstrual cramps. All of my pain was cramping in my low abdomen. I never had back labor, or other pain. What got me through it was knowing it was purposeful pain that would not last forever. Knowing that contractions would come every 2-3 minutes. I took them as they came, and let them go as soon as they were gone. Make sense? I didn't focus on the contractions that just passed, I took the time between to relax and recover. Understanding the phases of labor, I knew that when I hit transition, I was very close to the end, and that it would only be really intense for a short period. Once you feel the pressure of the baby's head, you know you're in the home stretch.
I know that some women choose natural childbirth, and I support them through it. I know that some choose an epidural, and indeed, need an epidural to have a good experience. I support them in that because I know it is the best choice for them.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
My opinion? Like anything, epidurals can be a double-edged sword. They can be very instrumental and good for people who need them and can't or won't do natural labor. But potential complications are many. I have seen plenty of them.
I see both sides. Therefore, I never encourage or discourage them; I had one with my son. After 14 hours on pitocin, got stuck at 8 cm and it was horrible. I was glad I got it cause I progressed to 10 rapidly afterward (about 30 min) BUT then had to push 3 hours and have forceps as he was OP--I had a 3rd degree lac due to this difficulty. The pain would have been unbearable if I had not had one at that point. But I do sometimes wish I had experienced natural labor "all the way". Failure? HECK NO. TO me, having a healthy baby was and always should be my personal goal.
Now, with my daughter, no choice...she was a stubborn breech, so I had an elective csection. No regret there, as version would likely have failed. She was already 9lb at 38 weeks.
I think patients should educate themselves and be wise consumers of health care. Epidurals are no different; many caveats apply. If after truly informed consent, a person elects to have one, I will support her 100% on her choice. If she elects natural labor, I am with her 100% on that, too. I will do all I can to make it happen and be a joyous occasion for her and her family. Hope this helps.
before and after to minimize bleeding. I definately won't have more children, but not because of childbirth pain, mostly because my kidney couldn't take it. I eventually had a transplant from my identical twin 1 year later.
Plus I was up out of bed 15 minutes later. I think I would still do it naturally but minus all the complications.
clemmm78, RN
440 Posts
I remember how strong I am, don't need meds or lack of meds to do that. FWIW, I had three kids, three epidurals and none of them worked other than to speed me up big time.
As a nurse, I always made sure my pts understood the advantages and disadvantages.
Just because women before us were able to have babies without medication doesn't mean I have to. Although I did in the end.