None
Full Member
Posts: 453
Sept 17, 2017 13:10:30 GMT
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Post by None on Feb 28, 2023 13:46:41 GMT
I sure did. I told my Dr. As soon as I found out I was pregnant that I wanted pain killers. No regret at all. And for the record, I consider that natural child birth because she came out of my vagina.
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Post by tyra on Feb 28, 2023 13:56:36 GMT
I did not with my first. My 2nd I did have one, though I don't know why I bothered. I had tremendous back labor and the epidural did nothing for it. Felt like he was trying to come out through my lower spine.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,594
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Feb 28, 2023 14:04:45 GMT
I did. I had a very uneventful birth. No wild stories of hours of pain. I went to the hospital, got an epidural, rested a little, and had a baby. Most boring birth story ever. Kinda the same. The only interesting thing in my 4 was that with number 3, a student nurse was left with me when my OB said "you've got a while to go. I'll be back" and walked out. Not 10 minutes later, I said to the student nurse: "I think the baby's coming" - she looked, turned as white as a ghost and said "I'll get your doctor!!!!!" Baby was crowning by the time he got back in the room and he didn't even get a chance to put on scrubs. I haven't read this whole thread but it sorta feels like it may have taken a turn into making people feel badly for their choices (either way.) I really thought we were all past that. Ick. There's no prize either way - other than a healthy baby and healthy mama.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Feb 28, 2023 14:11:06 GMT
Yes and I knew exactly when it kicked in, DH did also. He still laughs at my reaction to it. I had a midwife and she explained every thing so nicely and let it be totally my decision. She was not there when I gave birth but I felt comfortable letting the staff there know what I wanted. They did say, at some point even an epidural will not make much difference. It worked well enough for me.
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Post by jenb72 on Feb 28, 2023 14:46:09 GMT
My first child (DD31) was born in 1991. Yes, I had an epidural with her. My doc and I talked about it several times before I went in to have her and I was told to make sure if I wanted it to let them know beforehand so they could have it ready to give because if I asked during labor, they may not be able to get it for me based on where I was in the process and not having an anesthesiologist at the ready. So I erred on the side of caution and told them I wanted it, which is great because her labor was really hard and two-days long. In the end I had to have a c-section because I failed to go past 4 cm and they didn't know until they went in that she had the cord wrapped around her neck 4 TIMES. My doc said it looked like a pearl choker. She was never in distress from it, so they had no idea. She just couldn't get down far enough to push against the birth canal and keep things moving.
I had an epi with my 2nd DD, too (1999). I tried VBAC with her but never got past 1. I got the epi just before going in for my 2nd c-section. With DS (2001) I had a spinal block because we knew going in he would be a c-section baby. I much prefer that over the epi. It was much faster, I had way less nausea, and I recovered faster.
Jen
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Post by cme37 on Feb 28, 2023 15:04:56 GMT
First 2 I had a birthing center with midwives, 3rd I had in hospital but nothing with any. Only reason I had him in hospital is because it worked better for us to be able to do tubal the following day. Otherwise I'd have had to wait until post 6 weeks and husband would've had to miss work etc. But I have Harrington rods in my spine so I can't have a epidural anyway. With the 3rd I had to sign papers that I understood if something happened I'd be totally put under vs an epidural and awake. I have harrington rods too and was able to have an epidural with both my kids. It took longer to do because there is a lot of scar tissue to work around, but they did it.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 28, 2023 15:24:59 GMT
I did. I had a very uneventful birth. No wild stories of hours of pain. I went to the hospital, got an epidural, rested a little, and had a baby. Most boring birth story ever. Kinda the same. The only interesting thing in my 4 was that with number 3, a student nurse was left with me when my OB said "you've got a while to go. I'll be back" and walked out. Not 10 minutes later, I said to the student nurse: "I think the baby's coming" - she looked, turned as white as a ghost and said "I'll get your doctor!!!!!" Baby was crowning by the time he got back in the room and he didn't even get a chance to put on scrubs. I haven't read this whole thread but it sorta feels like it may have taken a turn into making people feel badly for their choices (either way.) I really thought we were all past that. Ick. There's no prize either way - other than a healthy baby and healthy mama. Speaking of choices, I had this whole birth plan thing written out RE: what I preferred. About the only things that went my way was that DH was with me and that other unnecessary people were not, and that I didn’t have to see or touch anything bloody or disgusting. Literally every other thing in that plan went straight out the window, the biggest ones being I didn’t get the doctor I preferred and I ended up having a c-section after over three hours of fruitless pushing just to get the whole ordeal over with. I had been in active labor for close to 36 hours at that point with no sleep, with nothing to eat or drink and I was utterly exhausted and defeated. It was a horrible experience that I was happy to never have to repeat. I went in there with no expectation whatsoever of having a c-section but that was my reality. I guess my point is that even though you might desperately want things to go a certain way, there are no guarantees that they actually will go that way. I would have really loved not getting cut open from stem to stern, but there was absolutely no way that kid was coming out the usual way even after I was fully dilated and pushing until I thought my own head was going to pop off.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,594
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Feb 28, 2023 15:30:41 GMT
Kinda the same. The only interesting thing in my 4 was that with number 3, a student nurse was left with me when my OB said "you've got a while to go. I'll be back" and walked out. Not 10 minutes later, I said to the student nurse: "I think the baby's coming" - she looked, turned as white as a ghost and said "I'll get your doctor!!!!!" Baby was crowning by the time he got back in the room and he didn't even get a chance to put on scrubs. I haven't read this whole thread but it sorta feels like it may have taken a turn into making people feel badly for their choices (either way.) I really thought we were all past that. Ick. There's no prize either way - other than a healthy baby and healthy mama. Speaking of choices, I had this whole birth plan thing written out RE: what I preferred. About the only things that went my way was that DH was with me and that other unnecessary people were not, and that I didn’t have to see or touch anything bloody or disgusting. Literally every other thing in that plan went straight out the window, the biggest ones being I didn’t get the doctor I preferred and I ended up having a c-section after over three hours of fruitless pushing just to get the whole ordeal over with. I had been in active labor for close to 36 hours at that point with no sleep, with nothing to eat or drink and I was utterly exhausted and defeated. It was a horrible experience that I was happy to never have to repeat. I went in there with no expectation whatsoever of having a c-section but that was my reality. I guess my point is that even though you might desperately want things to go a certain way, there are no guarantees that they actually will go that way. I would have really loved not getting cut open from stem to stern, but there was absolutely no way that kid was coming out the usual way even after I was fully dilated and pushing until I thought my own head was going to pop off. My OB had to stifle a giggle when she asked what was in one of the bags we brought with us when I went into labor with dd#1 and it was all the tennis balls and brown paper lunch bags and other things recommended by the million books we read and the prenatal class we took. That bag was never opened.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 29, 2024 14:48:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2023 15:32:06 GMT
Both of mine were emergency C sections, so I did not have an option, but I would have still gotten one even if they were normal births. No shame here. LOL
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 28, 2023 15:46:12 GMT
Speaking of choices, I had this whole birth plan thing written out RE: what I preferred. About the only things that went my way was that DH was with me and that other unnecessary people were not, and that I didn’t have to see or touch anything bloody or disgusting. Literally every other thing in that plan went straight out the window, the biggest ones being I didn’t get the doctor I preferred and I ended up having a c-section after over three hours of fruitless pushing just to get the whole ordeal over with. I had been in active labor for close to 36 hours at that point with no sleep, with nothing to eat or drink and I was utterly exhausted and defeated. It was a horrible experience that I was happy to never have to repeat. I went in there with no expectation whatsoever of having a c-section but that was my reality. I guess my point is that even though you might desperately want things to go a certain way, there are no guarantees that they actually will go that way. I would have really loved not getting cut open from stem to stern, but there was absolutely no way that kid was coming out the usual way even after I was fully dilated and pushing until I thought my own head was going to pop off. My OB had to stifle a giggle when she asked what was in one of the bags we brought with us when I went into labor with dd#1 and it was all the tennis balls and brown paper lunch bags and other things recommended by the million books we read and the prenatal class we took. That bag was never opened. The prenatal classes was another whole ball of wax. We attended all of them dutifully except the last and most important one which was the “what to expect while in labor and delivery” class. I had signed up for it two months out, it was cancelled at the last minute. Registered for the next one (it was only offered once a month) a month out from my due date and it too was cancelled. 🤬 The next one offered wouldn’t happen until well after my due date, so there was no point. What really sucked is that as a first time mom I had NO clue what to expect in those last days and hours before delivery. I was totally flying blind and my DH was doubly clueless. That really sucked.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Feb 28, 2023 16:00:24 GMT
First 2 I had a birthing center with midwives, 3rd I had in hospital but nothing with any. Only reason I had him in hospital is because it worked better for us to be able to do tubal the following day. Otherwise I'd have had to wait until post 6 weeks and husband would've had to miss work etc. But I have Harrington rods in my spine so I can't have a epidural anyway. With the 3rd I had to sign papers that I understood if something happened I'd be totally put under vs an epidural and awake. I have harrington rods too and was able to have an epidural with both my kids. It took longer to do because there is a lot of scar tissue to work around, but they did it. Interesting. My OB wasn't interested in that being an option. Maybe because it was 1998 in a teeny tiny rural hospital, and I mean teeny tiny. Doesn't matter I basically didn't even have to push him out, easiest delivery ever.
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Post by aprilfay21 on Feb 28, 2023 16:00:54 GMT
I was induced with all 4 of mine for various reasons, so had an epidural with all 4. I'm no hero. With #4 I was grateful for the epidural, because it saved me from being put under with the emergency c-section.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 29, 2024 14:48:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2023 16:05:33 GMT
I did both times. I almost missed the window for it to be effective the second time. I don't think there would've been a second kid if I didn't have an epidural the first time.
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,123
Jul 1, 2014 20:20:18 GMT
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Post by rickmer on Feb 28, 2023 16:06:39 GMT
indeed i did, for all 3 (c-sections!)
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Feb 28, 2023 16:10:17 GMT
Epidurals aren't anything new. My children are adults, and I was offered for both. I declined, though accepted other pain meds to 'take the edge off'. To be honest, if I were to do it again (which I of course will not), I'd take the epidural.
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Post by Zee on Feb 28, 2023 16:15:13 GMT
No. I was robbed twice. Natural childbirth with back labor for 12 hours is bullshit. She was 7lbs 2 oz of misery. But, healthy!
At least the 9 lb baby had the decency to face the proper way (face down instead of face up).
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Post by grammadee on Feb 28, 2023 16:20:24 GMT
indeed i did, for all 3 (c-sections!) My kids born in the 1970's and 80's. First two natural childbirth, no epidural. The pain med they DID give me shut down labour for a full twelve hours for the second one. Last two were C-sections, for which I was put completely under.
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Post by cmhs on Feb 28, 2023 17:10:39 GMT
No. I had three unmedicated deliveries.
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,980
Jun 25, 2014 20:22:13 GMT
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Post by huskergal on Feb 28, 2023 18:21:21 GMT
I didn't with the first 2. I did with the 2nd 2. I was induced with pitocin for #2. It was excruciatingly painful.
My water broke with #3. They wanted to speed up things with pitocin so I had an epidural.
With #4 I was not in labor, but I was leaking fluid. After walking etc. with no luck, the doctor started pitocin. I had an epidural
I much preferred no epidural. I was in the shower 30 minutes after having the baby. But after going from 2 cm to 10 cm in 30 minutes, I didn't want to experience that pain again.
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Post by ~summer~ on Feb 28, 2023 18:42:51 GMT
No.
Well technically yes lol. My first was an emergency c-section after a long labor including an attempt to deliver via vacuum and forceps…so yes had an epidural with the c-section.
The next two were VBACs (vaginal birth after caesarean section) - epidurals were not recommended with this type of birth so I didn’t.
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inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
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Post by inkedup on Feb 28, 2023 19:51:21 GMT
I have two boys. Both were born without epidurals.
My mom, who gave birth to 7 childre, always told me, "mija, get the epidural. They don't charge less and you don't get anything extra if you refuse it." Smart lady.
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Post by katiejane on Feb 28, 2023 21:25:13 GMT
I had to have one with my first as I was very ill and had lots of medical intervention. Regretted it as it was so painful and i was badly bruised afterward. For my second child, I had a spinal block rather than an epidural for my c section. Third child was a vbac with gas and air.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Feb 28, 2023 21:37:05 GMT
DS wasn't due until St Pat's day, 1986. On February 21st I went in for a check-up and my OB/GYN felt feet. He said DS would probably turn since I was still over 3 weeks out. The next day, a Saturday, my water broke and off we went to the hospital. The on call OB/GYN attended to me and scheduled a C-section. It was pretty funny as they wheeled me into the operating room and were having to turn on the lights as we went. No one else was on the floor! They gave me a spinal which scared me because I had heard horror stories of horrific headaches one got from spinals. The anesthesiologist assured me that I would have no problems and he was true to his word. I was lucky in that DH got to be with me during the C-section. He was worried because he didn't know how to coach me to breath yet. ETA: We only made it to 2 Lamaze classes before he was born. The instructor invited us to the last class to show DS off. Since he was a C-section baby, he was beautiful and everyone was oohing and ahhing. He slept through the whole thing and we were so glad we had already been through it because a lot of the attendees looked scared!
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Post by birukitty on Feb 28, 2023 21:49:11 GMT
I had my only child in 1989. I'd planned not to have an epidural, but they gave me Pitocin because I wasn't progressing fast enough and once that kicked in the pain got really bad and I asked for an epidural. Looking back if I were to do it again I'd make sure of these things: no Pitocin, let labor progress naturally as longer as there is no harm to the baby-fuck the doctor's schedule, and access to a big, warm bath to labor in.
DS was delivered vaginally but he hesitated on the way out. They told me if he doesn't come out soon we'll have to switch to an emergency C-section. The nurse pushed down so hard on my middle and I pushed with all of my might and out he came.
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Post by stargazer on Feb 28, 2023 21:55:08 GMT
With DS25 labour stalled at about 5-6cm so I had one to give me a rest. It had pretty much worn off by the time I needed to push. DD21 no epidural, but labour went faster so no need.
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Feb 28, 2023 22:32:50 GMT
My brother and I were born in 1986/87 and I know my mom had an epidural for both of us.
Fun fact: When I had Little Pancakes, I got an epidural but it didn’t work — and I felt it going in the whole time (like someone digging around in your spine). They re-did it/upped the dosage and my legs were so dead that I couldn’t move them myself.
And then I still felt every labor pain. Thanks for nothing but misery, anesthesiologist.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,696
Location: Houston, TX
Jun 25, 2014 22:47:49 GMT
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Post by smartypants71 on Mar 1, 2023 13:06:45 GMT
First one, no bc I didn't have enough time. It was very traumatizing. Second one, heck yeah!
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Post by sawwhet on Mar 1, 2023 13:27:44 GMT
I have 3 adult children and had an epidural for all three. The first one did not take and it was bloody hell.
Be careful not to guilt a young mother/mother-to-be for the choices that they make. People were telling me that I had to have a natural childbirth. I had to breastfeed for the entire first year. Don't let your child sleep in your bed. Don't give them formula. Every decision was critiqued by the females around me.
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Post by eventhinker on Mar 1, 2023 21:13:30 GMT
First son, 1993. Epidural, but the first time they put it in, it numbed from waist up….had to fix that one before it paralyzed my lungs. Ended up with a c section for which I was awake.
Second son, 1995. Labor wasn’t progressing, and doctor and I decided on a second c section, I was given epidural in the OR.
I wouldn’t encourage anyone to go without if you don’t want that pain.
I joked with my friends that laboring moms have pain first, then their child. I had my child first, then the pain.
Also, members of my husbands family still mention how his sister had 2 children with NOTHING, NOTHING! I guess she gets to wear the Superman cape?
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Post by tampascrapper on Mar 2, 2023 0:15:11 GMT
No I didn’t but only because I went into labor prematurely and there wasn’t time. Otherwise I definitely would’ve had one
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