Epidural Nerves,

I think I defiantly want one if at all possible and i know that "my birth plan" may not go the way I hope for. Just wondering if some of you ladies who have had one can tell me if it helped you?? I have been told that you can still feel tearing and the stretching when baby crowns. Is this true? Maybe it's different for everyone? At what number were you dilated to when you received yours and did it last? How long does it take until you can walk after having one and baby has already arrived? Thanks for any stories or advice and I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

I was not happy with my epidural experience.  I had demerol with my first and opted for an epidural at 8 cm with my daughter because I I was going to die.  The problem I had with the epidural was that I got a spinal headache.  I researched it a bit after the fact and they are not common but I got it and it was horrible.  I do think that I would still get an epidural if I could go back and do it again but earlier and left the catheter in so that they could have given me the blodd patch without having to go back in.  Once it was all said and done I had to get 2 blood patches and they went in a total of 6 times. 

Mine went well.  I was in the hospital for 3 days being induced.  On the final day, I had clearly made up my mind :)  I had no side effects and no complications getting it.  I was able to rest a bit before the real work needed to happen. 

Yes, I still felt the crowning and stretching.  It hurt, but it was fairly quick for me.  They turn down the meds just before the actual birth so you can feel the contractions and push effectively.  

DS was taken to the NICU for a few minutes to check on his breathing.  He was back in my room about 20 minutes later.  I held him and then they washed him.  They wouldn't let me move to the recovery floor until I got up and went to the bathroom.  I think, in total, it was about 90 minutes and I was up walking.  

I will always opt for the epidural. I know I need it I was able to walk within about 30 minutes to an hour with my last one and I could actually move my legs by myself which was a change from my previous one. Took about an hour and a half but that was 12 years ago so I hear they have switched it a little on how much you get and all. All I felt was pressure with my daughter last year. Did not have pain and I tore with her and needed 3 stitches but did not feel any of that either.

I had an epidural before I had my c-section.  I was completely numb on my right side, and in excruciating pain on my left.  Even when I hit the pump it still killed.  They almost had to put me out for the c-section because my left side wasn't numbing,  but it finally did.

I had one with my first and like PP, I was only numb on my right side and the left side was excruciating! It then wore off before baby was born. It did help to push the baby out faster though to get through the pain (mentally). I also had the headache after. With my second I opted not to have one, and I feel the labor was rough painful, but at least it was all over and not just one side :-\ The recovery and everything was easier!

Mine was a breeze - the numbing agent that the injected first was far worse then the actual epidural (I guess that's the point! lol) I felt a tiny pop and then 15 minutes later total relief. I could still feel the contractions and I did feel her crowning. I got 2 "bolsters" while I was pushing because I was having horrible back labor. It was wearing off by the time that they were doing the stitching up but I didn't feel the episiotomy at all.

I had lost a lot of blood but they let me stand up and get in the wheel chair to go to my room about an hour after she was born. I was able to move my legs on my own the entire time, they just kind of had that tingly, right before they fall asleep feeling.

Good luck!

I had an epi it was a nothing! It was amazing while it lasted. I got it at 4 cm and by 9 it came out of my back. The had me flipping from side to side b/c Bella's heart rate. I have very low bp issues and the epi tanked my bp. But it was worth it while it lasted!!!

i got mine at 6i**** never took... after the stiched me up and all that need to do stuff.. i got up and peed.. and went on with my life... next time i wont be getting one.. so i didnt get one with my first.. with my 2nd it didnt work.. wont be getting one with my third

I don't remember how far dialated I was when I got mine but I know that I will never do it again.  I will not have one with this baby.  I was induced and that is something I will try to avoid too but I went 8 hours without anything but I had such painful back labor that I couldn't stand it anymore.  They had a hard time puting it in, and it made me feel like crap.  I still felt some stuff but not much.