Epidural question

If I get the epidural like as soon as I start feeling uncomfortable from the contractions, when it wears off is that it? Or will I be able to get more? Because isn't it like an IV in your back that keeps getting the medicine? I just want to make sure that the epidural wont have wore off by the time I need to start pushing

I had mine topped up a lot, I had horrible back labour!

Yes, There is an IV into your pack and if it wears off the anesthesiologist can come and give you more.

Mine wore off, and they gave me more.

Actually, you want it to wear off by the time you start pushing. They can give you more but its better to not be numb while you're trying to push a human being out of your crotch. Pushing is not painful, laboring is.

<blockquote><b>Quoting LEGENDARY JAS ♥:</b>" Actually, you want it to wear off by the time you start pushing. They can give you more but its better ... [snip!] ... its better to not be numb while you're trying to push a human being out of your crotch. Pushing is not painful, laboring is."</blockquote>




Well, yeah but I don't want it to wear off completely

It's a good job I had it though, was pushing for an hour, and they made sure I was pushing and I knew I was but he got stuck and had to go for emergency c-section so was already numb and it happened quicker

Quoting Megan and Max:" I had mine topped up a lot, I had horrible back labour! "

This. I had horrible back labour too. I had a button i could push to top it up myself. But i only got a chance to top it up once before i went in for an emergancy c-section. (took about 4 hours to feel the need to push the button.)

<blockquote><b>Quoting LEGENDARY JAS ♥:</b>" Actually, you want it to wear off by the time you start pushing. They can give you more but its better ... [snip!] ... its better to not be numb while you're trying to push a human being out of your crotch. Pushing is not painful, laboring is."</blockquote>

This! Mine never did wear off & I didn't even feel my baby come out. I also had to have an episiotomy so I'm kinda glad I was numb. It only took 7 good pushes to get my son out but I didn't feel it

<blockquote><b>Quoting LEGENDARY JAS ♥:</b>" Actually, you want it to wear off by the time you start pushing. They can give you more but its better ... [snip!] ... its better to not be numb while you're trying to push a human being out of your crotch. Pushing is not painful, laboring is."</blockquote>


Pushing is definitely painful along w all of the pressure that comes with it. Mine wore off a lot when it was time to start pushing but I was fine.

Quoting Sweetheart...*:" <blockquote><b>Quoting LEGENDARY JAS ♥:</b>" Actually, you want it to wear off ... [snip!] ... painful along w all of the pressure that comes with it. Mine wore off a lot when it was time to start pushing but I was fine."

Pressure and pain...not the same. I've given birth with both an epidural and without one.

Does it make it any different if I get pitocin? Because if I'm scheduled to be induced Wednesday and I heard that pitocin makes contractions a lot more painful, so will they give me a higher dose of the epidural? I'm just really scared If I get it too soon that it'll wear off by the time I need to start pushing and I won't be able to get anymore because I know there's a cut off period

Quoting LEGENDARY JAS ♥:" Actually, you want it to wear off by the time you start pushing. They can give you more but its better ... [snip!] ... its better to not be numb while you're trying to push a human being out of your crotch. Pushing is not painful, laboring is."

LOL pushing is very very painful, you obviously haven't had a baby without an epidural!
They usually give you a button to push if it starts to wear off, but it does last a long time. If its your first baby it will probably take longer to labor so you might have to push the button, just depends on how long it takes to get you to 10cm and start pushing. Just remember when you push, whether you can feel anything or not you have to push really hard from the start and you push like your having a BM so your like pushing out your butt and you have more energy when you first start than you do if your like some people and push for an hour or more.
Don't worry it will all work out! Good luck!

Quoting Misty Tarlton:" LOL pushing is very very painful, you obviously haven't had a baby without an epidural! They usually ... [snip!] ... first start than you do if your like some people and push for an hour or more. Don't worry it will all work out! Good luck!"

Oh really?  

Quoting LEGENDARY JAS ♥:" Actually, you want it to wear off by the time you start pushing. They can give you more but its better ... [snip!] ... its better to not be numb while you're trying to push a human being out of your crotch. Pushing is not painful, laboring is."

This!

With my oldest I got a full numb epi... where I couldnt feel my feet... I couldnt even feel to push. But with my youngest I got a light epi where I could feel my feet but they were tingling and I could feel the pressure to push...