re: Epidural Information: pls read before getting one!

Quoting Cnderellachic66:“ ok you do realize that they give epidurals every day they hardly ever mess up, they have pretty much ... [snip!] ... much perfected them you don't really have that many side affects anymore, except in rare cases which can happen with anything.”

My mom works in a hospital. Its not that they mess up the epidural it just goes wrong. She has seen too many cases where the epidural numbs the upper half instead of the lower half of the body, cases where the patient passes out because their blood pressure drops so rapidly, etc.

Quoting Kat VonYe:“ My mom works in a hospital. Its not that they mess up the epidural it just goes wrong. She has seen ... [snip!] ... instead of the lower half of the body, cases where the patient passes out because their blood pressure drops so rapidly, etc.”

yes my BP dropped very fast with my son.... and the area does have nerve damage IMO... I  have "zaps" hard to explain the sensation.. in injection area. So, use with caution ladies... the risks are real.  

I'm not pregnant yet, I'm ttc, but this post seriously made up my mind for me and I am definitely NOT having an epi. I was on the fence before.

I didn't have a choice about an epidural since i was having twins and had a higher risk of needing a csection. I'm so glad that i got it though! I could not imagine doing it with no pain relief due to the pain of that i experienced afterwards.

I ended up having a pretty easy/quick labor with my twins and delivered them both vaginally. I never lost sensation in my legs and had complete control of my legs and movement and could feel ALOT.

By the time my seconds baby dropped down and i was pushing her out, my epidural had worn off. So i felt everything with her. Thank God, the first twin loosened everything up for her lol.

Quoting MindyW:“ I had zero problems from my epi and I would have probably thrown myself out of the window without it. ”

My induction, epi and labor went awesome.  No problems afterwards and my son nursed fine.  I also may have opted for the window without it!

all natural mommy here. no after pain.

Hmmm. I'm really going to try to not get an epidural this time. I had one with my son and younger daughter, and had my older girl all natural, with no drugs at all.
I had horrible back pains with my youngest for some time after. And now, (not that it's related) I have a degenerated disk with arthritis, and above that I have two herniated disks with spinal stenosisthat I was supposed to have surgery for last year, but ended up getting pregnant. My OB said it shouldn't affect my back, but I don't want to take that risk. I might try IV pain meds, but we'll see how it goes.

Well i still havent decided if i ask for epidural, but i hope i can manage myself , natural birth without medications, unless complications appeared ,is the best way to deliver. For sure we all try to relief the pain , but if you think of a baby who feels pretty much the same the mother does , trying topush herself out , noone holds her hand for support or cheers her , so for both of you it's better to take itnaturally i guess, it's faster and you are able to feel what it's like -the real delivery   
Thinking of my mom , who had complications and didnt hae any pain relief I'll try to do my best to get through it naturally , God help me!!! 

I wound up asking for one when I agreed to start the ptosin and might as well have not! It didn't work! The most it did was numb up my right leg and confused the doctor when she went to cut me and didn't numb me up seeing the epi pump!  

Quoting Tattooed~Mommy:“ i know. i think it's very sad that the statistics are now 1 in 3 laboring women at the hospital will ... [snip!] ... need surgery, but most do not. it is sad that a third of our children are not being born, they are being surgically removed.”

That is a very hurtful statement. An emergency c-section saved my daughters life and I am very thankful for that and do not appreciate having someone tell me I did not give birth shes alive and well, and I am a very good mother regardless of the method she was brought into this world. Alot of women go into a depression over feelings of being a failure because they were unable to have a vaginal birth please do not add to their sense of failure. If the child is alive and well thats all that matters!

Quoting Tattooed~Mommy:“ Just like any decision you make that directly affectsyou and your baby, it is important to be informed ... [snip!] ... http://www.birthingnaturally.net/ http://www.hip-chick-pregnancy-guide.com/”

I wish I would have known about this before having one done.
I have had most of the problems listed with myself and my daughter, she almost had to be delivered c-section because she was not progressing down further in the canal, and her BPM dropped down to 59.
I was very itchy for the first few minutes but I thought that was pretty funny.
I had to change birthing positions to raise her BPM back up to the 130s and use an oxygen mask.
After awhile of being in labor the epidural started to wear off.
According to family that was in the room and saw this, I had to have a episiotomy, they said that I was cut twice.
She was born with the help of vaccum and suctioning. They did not lay her on my chest the instant she was born due to having her first BM inside and they didn't want to risk her swallowing the fluid.

Next time I am probably try to hang out longer (if not have one at all) because this labor was just downright scary. (The baby was perfectly healthy and latching on went great)
I am in "wow" over the women here that did not use any pain meds at all, you have my respect.

I'd just like to say the epi was like heaven. Power to all those who hung in there with no pain meds but no way jose, that's not for me.

I had a little back pain but thats all...i would get it again in a second  

i had no problems either AND i did not need to sign a form.