Epidural
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23645
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Topic: Epidural
Posted By: Oxy
Subject: Epidural
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 1:32pm
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Hi just wanting to know what is an epidural and is it painful when they put it in your back and also what pain relief have other people tried beside the epidural and did it help with the pain
------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/250ed1" rel="nofollow">  TTC#1 Jan 2009 |
Replies:
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 1:43pm
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no it wasnt painful for me when they put it in.. honestly you dont notice because you are too busy wanting the baby to come out!:) they have to explain all about the risks and it was so funny as I was throwing up almost on him...lol..anyway it was brilliant for me except i had constant shaking that didnt go away for about 2 hours..(but i did have an extra top up due to emer c section)
i found gas helped a little but very hard for me to coordinate it with the contractions.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:08pm
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Did you try the pethidine Foxxy-One? I've heard lots of mixed views on that. I don't like the idea of a big ol' needle in my back but I'm pretty keen on an epi anyway. I'm a bit of an anxious type, and if I don't have to worry about the pain, then that's one less thing to stress about. I'd also like to know other peoples' views on what worked best for them and if they had an epi, what they thought of it. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:10pm
I was terrified of one and absolutely didn't want it but when the time came and I was in labour I asked for one and it was absoluely fine. I am the biggest whimp out and I honestly didn't find it sore at all. You get a local injection first - feels like a wee bee stink and after that you don't feel the epidural going in - just a bit of pressure. The people talk you through every step and I just kept concentrating on their voices. Once you have had it all the pain is taken away. For me it meant I wasn't scared anymore and I could just relax. I had no trouble pushing with it and felt so positive about the birth experience because of it. Everyone is different but I am not that great with pain so for me it was the best thing.
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:10pm
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I didnt find it painful either. the contractions that preceded my decision to have one were worse. I was worried about it and how I would stay still etc but it was easy and you feel human after its in. I managed to sleep for a while after mine.
I also tried gas but couldnt work it out either. Am going to try again though. I had pethidine after the birth as I was in serious pain due to a clot. Didnt like the pethidine much. |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:10pm
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I'm not keen on the pethadine as there are so many possible side effects but i'm not making any decisions yet as I have no idea what I will or will not want on the day. I told my MW that I would take my lead from her. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:12pm
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I also had some feeling left and could move my legs (but wouldnt have been able to walk and still needed help to roll over). I could feel pressure etc like my contractions but no pain....even when pushing. I knew that it would have bloody hurt without the epidural so I was aware of how much pressure there was.
The other funny thing I remember is that they put the scalp monitor on the baby so I obviusly had that sticking out "down there" and I could tell when bubs moved as it tickled...very funny. |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:14pm
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Sarah no...not one person i knew had a good experience with it so I didn't go for that..never got offered it either though..
I think it is good to have an idea what you want though as at the time you are just thinking(well i was) please take this pain away @$#@#! I was induced which is hear is worse so not sure I assume it's just about as painful and intense without induction ? but I was always going to have the epi and very glad I did !! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:25pm
never felt a thing but i was mid contatction at the time man i put breathing to good use then so no you cant relly feel it epes if they time it with a contraction  ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 3:06pm
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Compared to contractions .. its a breeze!
Pethadine did squat for the pain .. gas was ok(ish) but the epi was bliss ..  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 4:02pm
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I took it as a last resort, but only cos if they couldn't get DS out with 3 attempts of ventouse they were going to do an CS. The only other 'real' pain relief I had taken was 2 panadol about 20 hours earlier. I am a huge needle wuss, and am sure I was in tears the whole time ------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 4:05pm
I went straight to epidural as soon as I had syntocinin (to make the contractions happen). I loved it. I had it at 8.30am, and then slept till 12.30. I could move my legs a bit, and even managed to walk (well, DH doesn't call it walking  ) to the loo. My epidural had phentanyl in it, which made me quite itchy. For me, the epidural didn't take away the pressure of the baby moving down and that was what drove me somewhat insane and had me crying. Fab MW kept getting the anaesthetist back to review it, but they couldn't do anything. I couldn't feel any contractions and pushing was really weird (I kept cracking up laughing cos it seemed so unreal), but there was no way I would have had a VB if I hadn't had an epi. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 4:12pm
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I didn't have an epi, but thought I would add my comment on pethidine... I tried gas first and hated it - couldn't get the hang of sucking on it and it seemed like too much trouble. Then they gave me pethidine (which I was against before in labour) and I relaxed straight away and found the whole ordeal a bit easier. My DH said I was quite different after the jab - in a good way. ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids 
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 4:18pm
My epi didn't work just because it was too late and no one realised that I was ready to have a baby! They all thought I had at least 7 hours to go  .
But yes, it really is nothing at the time. You get a local so you don't feel the big needle at all. I was having a gas-induced high the time anyway so I didn't care what they did to me lol. I don't mind that it didn't work because I know I can go without it next time. Although it would have been VERY nice not to experience the 'ring of fire' feeling of pushing a 9lb 4oz child out of my vjj..... Maybe next time I will just request many local anesthetics 'down there'. ETA other pain relief was just panadol the night before when I got mild contractions after having the prosten gel (I was induced), then gas after I got to 6cms which didn't take the pain away at all but it made me concentrate on breathing/not panicking, and it made everything funny between contractions, like being really drunk. -------------   
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 4:24pm
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I had one with Maya after 36 hours of contractions and afterwards I couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't want one, it was brilliant! It took away the pain instantly, and having it put in wasn't a big deal as the anesthetist was really patient and talked me thru it. I also had a few puffs of gas but it made me vomit.
Then I had one inserted prior to labour with the gremlins to allow my OB to control the contractions once they started synto coz they needed to make sure both babies weren't getting distressed. It didn't work tho and I had no pain relief at all, I didn't want the gas after it made me sick with Maya and I'm allergic to pethadine. But afterwards I felt really empowered by the fact that I had delivered them with no pain relief, the pain wasn't that bad and I wished I hadn't let the OB talk me into it in the first place. With lil miss I had no pain relief at all, but then I didn't have time as the whole thing took less than 2 hours. I was screaming for an epi when I was in transition but I think if it hadn't been so fast it would have been less intense and I would have felt more in control. The only thing I would mention about the epi tho is that it's usual for your BP to drop when they first insert it which can make you feel a bit nauseous and dizzy. My midwife had me roll onto my left side both times and it came right within a few minutes. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 7:13pm
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ah that makes sense...cause another reason they wanted me to have it was the PE... yeah the gas does make you feel drunk and light headed which often makes people vomit.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 7:24pm
| It's quite interesting reading these stories because I only had gas and I absolutely loved it. Concentrating on sucking it in properly was a great distraction and I wanted to hit my MW over the head when she wanted to take it away from me lol |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:04pm
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I had gas with Conor and nothing with Nyah.
With Cooper I had a epi and to be honest I found it slightly over rated. I think that is because my mw never topped me up, so as a result I felt every contraction, much to my disappointment. I lost all feeling in my right leg and couldnt walk, it was hillarious (well DH thought so). I eventually got the feeling back by the next day. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:15pm
Me too!! I loved the gas, it made me feel very drunk and it made me giggle! I screamed at my M/W when the bottle ran out and made her hurry up and get me another full one! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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kebakat wrote:Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:44pm
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I barely felt the needle go in my back, the hardest thing was trying to sit still while having contractions! It's so nice to have an epidural but I actually found it impaired my ability to push baby out properly because I couldn't feel enough of what my body was trying to do.
Other things I have tried are gas (IMO good because you can control how much you get but bad because not enough pain relief on its own - I was sucking it so much that I made myself dizzy!) and fentynal (one of the ingredients of epidural, is delivered one dose at a time via IV in your arm/wrist, you are still mobile, can still have gas and/or shower etc) - I liked this one and it's going on my birth plan for this bub. ------------- |
Posted By: pikelets
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:44pm
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I had an epi and really liked it. I felt more "in control" as before I was beside myself and started to freak out a bit. I liked how it took the pain away so I could talk and felt less scared of what was happening. I could still feel contractions but only slightly painful.
I didn't like how they topped it up not too long before I had to push. I think they topped it up too much as that was the only time I couldn't feel a thing so I was a bit gutted as I was actually looking forward to pushing my baby out. I was really against having an epi - thinking I would get paralysed (worry wart) but after having one I would definately have another one if I had to. I ended up having a failed ventouse, then forceps with a 2nd degree tear  - so thank goodness for an epidural is all I can say
My advice is to research all the different options so if they talk to you about them you know all about it and then on the day, just go with the flow. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
3 Angels - Dec10 / Mar11 / Dec11
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Posted By: Oxy
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:45pm
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Hey Mel
we have something in common I too live in onehunga LOL ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/250ed1" rel="nofollow"> TTC#1 Jan 2009 |
Posted By: pomikiwi
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 3:16pm
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I got induced with gel and then finally with the syntocin as nothing was happening. That all kicked off at midday and I managed until 5pm with no pain relief, then I had gas which I found ok, then at 8pm my midwife suggested an epidural as I was shattered and not really progressing. I was a little bit scared, they missed the first time so I had two attempts of putting in the epidural and it didn't hurt, just pressure. Then all the pain was gone. Once I'd fully dilated though around midnight I had the urge to push majorly but bubs was too high so I couldn't. That was more annoying than anything as I couldnt really relax. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06 |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 3:18pm
I Onehunga I think there's a few of us around this area.------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3)
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 4:11pm
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Epidural **drools** I LOVED mine.
It didnt hurt going in at all the strength and [ain of my contractions were way owrse than having the epidural, they numb the area first them they put it in. If you get a good anthestist then your all good. Mine didnt work well down my left side but it took away SO much of my pain and I really needed it at that point as id been in labour 45 hours. The relief was almost instant. There is definitly a time and place for them! ------------- |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 5:43pm
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I was definitely NOT going to have an epi - was I scared of needles (still am) and a bit scared of hospitals too TBH and did hypnobirthing classes because I wanted to be able to deal with labour without the drugs.
It wasn't meant to be though! I ended up going into labour just before 32 weeks which was only 2 classes into my HB course so I didn't really get much from that at all. Long story short, after about 12 hours of contractions my Ob/Gyn suggested an epidural and I took it because I really did need the rest by that stage. I had a fantastic anaethetist who talked me through everything and took it very slowly because I was so nervous. The local anaesthetic hurts more than the epi going in
After I'd had it I felt sooo much better. My left side was more numb than my right because I'd been lying on my left for the insertion but although I couldn't feel my left leg at all I could feel the pressure of the baby movind down and definitely knew when I needed to push etc. I ended up having such a positive birth experience, despite Callum arriving so early, and I'm sure a lot of it is because I took my doc's advice, had the epi and managed to relax and get some sleep before Callum arrived. I loved that I could feel what I needed to do but couldn't feel pain and I was still very "with it" -- I had gas and air earlier on and although it was great it did make me feel very spaced out and high! So wouldn't have been much use at the business end of things I don't think. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 5:43pm
| I agree with Sheza....definately a time and place for them. Unfortunately antenatal classes scare the bejesus out of you about them. No need to be scared. i think a tetanus injection would be more painful. |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 8:26pm
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Good to read some many of you loved them, I have been turned off by sister whos didnt work properly so consequenty she didnt feel the contractions but felt everything in her vjj!
In my mind, I would rather it be the other way round... -------------   
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Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 8:34pm
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Didn't feel the needle at all and had almost instant pain relief..I loved my Epi!! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Oxy
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 8:40pm
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Thank you everyone for your comments I loved reading ever single one of them ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/250ed1" rel="nofollow"> TTC#1 Jan 2009 |
Posted By: ellen
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 9:26pm
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Have to agree with Busymum - didn't feel the epidural go in as was concentrating too hard on keeping still through contractions - couldn't feel where to push when it came time and was threatened with a C-section. The feeling of relief when it started working was amazing and hubby and i both got to get some sleep while I dilated away. I was a real wuss with needles and stuff but when I wasn't coping with the pain of contractions I think I might've chopped my own arm off if it would've helped.
I had trouble with using gas as I think I was taking it too late and getting the effect once the contraction had worn off. Pethidene didn't do anything for me (had two shots) and the second shot hurt like crazy but I think that was more about the bitchy midwife that administered it cause it felt like she fired it in from the other side of the room! You might be surprised at your inner strength and ability to cope with your labour - good luck. |
Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 12 January 2009 at 10:05pm
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I LOVED MY EPI
I also had pethadine only because I needed a rest, once it wore off I was alright. Luckly I had my epi topped up around an hour before I was pushing, since it did work on my left side and the pressure was just too much, that was worse than pushing her out. I didnt feel the epi going in they numbed the area, DH nearly fainted when he saw the blood squirt out of my back, yet he watched the whole birth strange. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Date Posted: 09 November 2020 at 7:46am
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