Pregnancy Info HOME

Personally I see nothing wrong with getting the epi...some choose natural and others do not. I feel like it is safe and available so why torture yourself? I would rather be comfortable, somewhat rested and be able to enjoy the first few moments of my baby's life instead of being exhausted and in terrible pain. I know that "pain" goes away the second you see your baby but that initial "rush" has to end and the pain will be there. Even some women who chose to go natural end up choosing the epi...If I were you I would see what my body could handle and make sure to have the nurses tell you when you are getting to the time where they are unable to give you the epi...that is when the decision should be made (unless you know earlier that it is needed). But make sure they tell you in time as I have a friend who was unable to get it b/c by the time she really wanted it the time had pa__sed and she was too far along in her labor for it. Good luck in whatever you choose:)

Yeah, timing is a big thing, my first labor was a total of 4 hours and I dialated 6 cm's in like 15 minutes. When I finally screamed for the epi, the nurse did an internal and said I was ready to push! I was SO glad I did it without one but now due in Sept, I'm wondering if I should get one though I'd like to go without one again, it's just hard to think about it again! Part of me wants to be more comfortable and not have the pain and the other part is wary of them like you are as I've heard bad stories too and that's what's in my head! Though I know for the most part, they're done ALL the time and generally very safe. I'm saying that myself even though I prefer to get through it again without one. See how the labor progresses and if it seems like it's going slowly, you might want to get it. I had my first last November so this one will more than likely be even quicker which makes me think I won't be able to get one even if I want one!

I was 27 when DD was born and I didn't have an epi. Your body can still handle it if you choose to go with out.

I'm not trying to sway you either way b/c i personally believe either choice is ok as long as you are comfortable with your decision, but i had to have one b/c my baby was breech and i needed a c-section. I was nervous but the epidural went very smoothly. The anesthesiagolist was very good, he got it in on the first try. Except for the little shot he used to numb my back it didn't didn't hurt at all. I was a little shakey during the procedure but i think nerves played a part in that too. My dh says i complained of a headache the next day, but it must not have been too bad b/c i don't remember having one. And i know some people say it can cause back pain and affect your b___stfeeding but i had no back pain and I b___stfeed for almost a year. So that is my epidural story but i didn't go through labor so i'm not sure if it is what you are looking for.

I see no problem with either way either. I had planned on doing it natural and it turned out i couldnt. I sat in labor for 17 hours before getting mine, and come to find out i needed a c section to begin with. I dont want to scare you but when they did my epi the dr punctured my sac in my spine causing me to have migranes all the time now....its not common but its something to be aware of. You just have to evaluate the situation and the outcomes, and most importantly your feelings towards either side.

See, Angela, I'm sorry to hear that but those are the reasons (whether rare or not), that I'm so afraid to have an epi and would like to get through my 2nd without one as well. Oh, and JNF, I'm 31 years old and did it without one last year at 30. I'm due Sept. 30th with my 2nd and they'll be just 10 months apart. I guess if I did it without one not so long ago, I can certainly do it again, right? 28 is very young and since your body did it once already, though a long time ago, you can most certainly do it again with flying colors.

I had originally planned to have my baby without an epi, but was having bad back labour so chose to have na epi which hepled me quite alot as i was in alot of pain, i didnt feel the epi whilst it was being done but know 15 months on im really suffering alot of back pain and having to go physio but it all depends on how your feeling at the time have it if you can cope but try an avoid it if you can.good luck.

I had an epidural for a C-section. I found mine to be patchy and not very effective...however..that was 17 years ago! They have gotten better. I chose not to get one for my next two children and went natural. There is nothing wrong with pain relief if you need it, but keep an open mind. If you did it once, you can most likely do it again. This labor will most likely be shorter and easier than the first. The epidural is not harmful to the baby so if you need it, take it. Whatever makes your experience good for you.

THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH GETTING AN EPIDURAL TO ME. I HAD MY FIRST AT 17 GOT IT LOVED IT. IT WAS AMAZING. HAD MY SECOND 6 WEEKS AGO AT 19 GOT IT AGAIN. ITS GOOD IF YOU DONT WANT TO FEEL THE PAIN. BUT YOUR BODY CAN HANDLE NOT HAVING AN EPIDURAL IF YOU PREPARE YOURSELF AND STAY CALM THRU IT

hi ev1 i was 18 when i had my 1st son and i got the epi. b/c i was induced after being in hosp. for 2 wks when my water broke. but with my 2nd son i literaly did not have time from the time i made it to the hospital he was born 20 mins. later. i am 36 wks w/ son #3 and i am going to doit w/o just b/c i like being able to feel my legs and move around and it not take 4 hrs. to get any feeling. i am getting my tubes tied after he is born so my dr. said that if i do natural labor that afterwards i will still have to get an epi. or general but i am fine w/ that b/c i believe it or not want to feel everything just to prove to myself that my body can handle it again and know that the pain is brief and that it is all worth it again. but it is all YOUR choice not anyone elses, when my sis had her son the nurses pretty much forced her into it and when they amazingly turned it way down after 8 hrs of labor my nephew was born 30 mins. later b/c the epi slowed everything down. okie dokie thats enough of me lol. like i said it is your decision and do not let anyone make it for you or force you into it b/c no one knows you like you do.

Ok I am neither for or against the epi - I gave birth a month ago and after about 6 hours of contractions pretty full on and finding out i was only 4 cms I went with the epi. I was really lucky cause the guy was there straight away - be aware that sometimes you may have to wait - the actual epi procedure was basically painless which I was really suprised about! :) After about 3 minutes I could still feel the pressure of contractions but not the pain - it was awesome and I refer to the epi guy as my angel haha. I then was able to SLEEP during labour for 4 hours and when I woke up I was 9 cms!! The midwife said that it was a good choice for me because I caused me to relax so it allowed me to dilate further. I did end up having to have a vacuum delivery which is probably partly due to epi and also the fact that I was buggared cause i had a long labour. ANYWAY long story short it really helped me but I did get nausea and itching as a side effect but that was nothing really. I had to have a catheter which was fine also and came out the next morning. I had no ill effects the next day and actually could move my legs with a__sistance during the whole labour. So if you want an epi I say go for it but if you feel you dont need one - more power to you!!!

i think you will know what is right for you at the time. i had an epidural and i'm glad i did (funnily enough after having the epidural i felt more comfortable than i had for months lol) considering how your labour is going, if it takes a while, you may ge a chance to get some sleep in! i think your body will handle it, you have done it before and your body is designed for chil birth! good luck, i think you will make the right decision for you.

Thanks to all of you that have responded & given me some real life insight to epi's- it is so much better than reading the boring books & internet articles on them. I think I'm gonna try to go w/ out it again, but I am more comfortable now knowing what I know, that if I really feel like I can't take the labor I will ask for one. In about 4 more weeks it will be time!!!! So, after it happens I will definatly post & let you all know how it went. I am almost 35 weeks (wednesday is the 35 week mark) & so ready to have my little girl- I feel like I have been prego forever (doesn't help that I had to go through the whole summer!). Another quick question for you all- since my son's head was so big, the drs. want to induce me w/ this pregnancy early at 39 weeks- is labor from induction worse than naturally going into labor? I have heard that it is alot more painful & intense.

i was induced when i had my daughter and personally i would not want to be induced with my next one. i was induced because i was 2 weeks past my due date. i went in on a tuesday and they applied the gel (very painful for me) on the wednesday morning and it had no effect on dialation but i did start having mild contractions, they applied a second gel in the afternoon and i remained 1cm dilated. that night i had awful contractions and no sleep. the continually had me hooked up to a machine to monitor her movements and on thursday morning they applied more gel. once again it did nothing and they started considering a c section (which i refused unless she was in danger). they then decided to break my water (which left scratches on her head when she was born.) anyways, the put me on a drip at about 7 that evening and by 11pm i was fully dilated. i had gas and air for couple hours but then decided on an epi. dd started to get a bit umpy lol and they put electrodes on her head while she was still inside me to monitor her more closely (she still has a small scar on her head). by the time i started to push i was totally exhausted and she got stuck at the top of my cervix so they took me into an operaing room and used forceps to get her out, i also had an episiotomy which i didnt feel until after the epi wore off. had to stay in thestre till i was st_tched up! not the greatest birth experience,im sure, but it was worth it when i hear her call me mummy or see her smile x