The Epidural

I am not exactly sure of the statistics but I just had a baby in June and the risk is so minimal that they hardly mention it anymore. I will pray for you, that he can accept that you NEED it, and for him, to gain the understanding that his friends were in the minority. Good Luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a wonderful Christmas gift.

Here is a different website that shows you a picture and tells you the side effects. It doesn't even mention paralysis. http://www.mjbovo.com/Epidural.htm This site is good too. http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmepidural.htm Again no mention of it. The most common side effect is a drop in your blood pressure, but the nurses are aware and know what to do.

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There are risks with any procedure, including child birth itself, with or without drugs. This may sound harsh, but what it comes down to is that it's your body, and you need to do what's right for you. I had an epidural, and everything turned out just fine.
Does he know how much it HURTS?!!

Prior to the epidural you have chances to ask the anesthesiologist any questions about it and what risks are involved. This is the perfect chance for your husband to get all the facts. I have had it with all 6 of the babies I delivered. They were all single births, so I had it 6 times. I am still up and walking around.
M. S.

webMD.com is a great web site and also talk with your doctor about it. The main thing, though, to remind him is that there is a risk with everything in life, including getting pregnant in the first place. If we are going to be afraid of everything, then nothing can get done. Right? I had epidurals with 2 of my kids and never had a problem with them. I didnt with my third one only because I hate needles and couldnt do it a third time. If that doesnt help, then grab his bottom lip and pull it over the top of his head. I am told this is a great way of explain how pain childbirth is. LOL

First off...good luck and congratulations!!
I have had two epidurals...two c-sections. I was soooo scared the first time. But it is scary and no one should ever go into something without research. I was lucky enough to know my anastisalogist (family friend) He explained everything and walked me thru it all. I was so thankful to him. Meet your's and have your husband talk to him. Millions of people have this done daily... how many people do you know who have been injured from it? And keep in mind it is easy for people to say don't do it..when they don't have to.
Best wishes- H.

Theresa,

I am a Nurse Anesthetist and place epidurals regularly (Unfortunately I do not do OB due to my schedule). However the risk of paralysis is lower than 0.1% because the placement of the needle is below the level of the spinal cord and the catheter is outside the spinal canal. There are risks of nerve injury, still below 1% that usually resolve within 4-6 months (pregnancy/labor itself can actually have a higher risk of nerve injury due to positioning during long labors). Risks to the baby are minimal at worst because the local anesthesia cannot cross the placenta due to it's molecular size. Narcotics will have some scant cross but the doses used these days are so low that one would not be able to subjectively tell a baby born to a mother with or without an epidural.

You are at risk of getting a headache if during placement, the needle punctures the dura (outer layer of the spinal canal where the spinal fluid bathes the cord) but that risk is less than 5% (and even lower in the hands of a 'seasoned' provider). They are a nuisance to a new mother, but not life threatening and relatively easy to treat.

Recent research has shown that the risk of prolonging labor is false and patients actually have shortened labors when an epidural is placed. Now OB's often don't require women to reach a certain dilitation (usually 4cm historically) before they will allow patients to receive an epidural. Not all epidurals work perfectly, but most work well and patients are grateful for the pain relief. Unfortunately, its the ones that didn't work well that everyone talks about.

I just wanted you to have the facts from a person who actually knows and places epidurals. Ask your husband whether he would be willing to have a tooth pulled without anesthesia. In my book, labor is no different than surgery. We wouldn't think of performing some procedure on someone without trying to make them as comfortable as possible. Natural is fine if that is your wish, but if not the TRUE risks are so low for labor epidurals so why should labor be treated any different?

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I had epidural myself when i had my baby girl, never had any problems nor heard anyone being paralized from it.

I am pretty sure that it is you that is going to give birth and you going throught the pain!! So unless your husband is feeling the pain then there is no reason that he should have a say!!
On the other hand I know that it is scary!! So have the dr come in early in labor so your husband can ask the questions that he needs to ask to feel better.
Good luck and Congrats

I had an epidural with my oldest and I was just fine. There should be no problem. Good Luck and congratulations.

All I can say is the epidural is HEAVEN!!! I had it with my first and third child. I could not with my second child and I really wanted to pull my husband's bottom lip over his head!!! LOL
If only men understood the pain that we go through having a child. I understand his concern too but I personally wouldn't want to do it again without it.
God bless you Monday!! God will be with you and sustain you!!
T.

Ummm... I would simply tell him that unless he chooses to give birth to the baby, then it's YOUR decision :o)

Make sure you listen to all of his fears and concerns. My husband wasn't concerned for me, but he was concerned for the baby. For this reason, (and this probably won't be the popular opinion here) I feel he had an equal (or near equal) say in whether or not I had an epidural during childbirth. His older sister bragged ad nauseum about how she had a lazy baby after her epidural and how easy he was and how he slept through the night the first night, never cried, etc. She even admitted that they said it was from the epidural and its timing during her childbirth. Sorry, but for us, having an alert, happy baby far outweighs a day of pain for Mom.

Not to mention that an epidural wouldn't have been a good option for me. We found that out AFTER my first child. I have naturally low blood pressure during pregnancy and an epidural tends to lower blood pressure even more. And my labors are already slow. With my first, I stalled at 7cm for 4 hours, then stalled again at 9cm for another 2 hours before finally concluding that I was gonna push her out regardless of how "ready" she was. My first labor took 13 hours, my second took 14. Normally, the second baby comes faster, but she was very nearly 10 pounds and stubborn. Both of my childbirths were natural.

Now, for your advice...other than listening to your husband and validating his feelings, even if you ultimately make the final decision yourself. Why not tell him that you'll try the natural route, but tell him you're going to go ahead and get everything for the epidural set up so that you can get it at the last-minute if you feel you need it. Then give it a shot, but you have the epidural as a convenient backup. Every childbirth is different. This one might just slip right out within a couple hours. Or it could be excrutiating pain that lasts more than a day. I say keep all options open, and thus reach a compromise.

I didn't have an epidural with either of my two and I am very glad that I didn't. I had back labor with both, but I only had to push for 15 minutes the first time and then 5 minutes with the second birth. I attended the Bradley Method classes and they really help me understand the risks and complications associated with interventions. Congratulations, and I hope everything goes well for you!

I would say to you to try going the natural way as much as you are able to and if he gets to be too much for you, then get the epidural. I have heard of some cases where someone couldn't feel most of their bottom part of their body afterwards for quite a while. With me, my back hurt for many days after I had my child due to the epidural. There are other pain medications that you can get through an IV instead of getting the epidural. Try the natural way.

I have REALLY BIIG issues when it comes to what others have to say about what one can and can not do when it comes to your own body. I think that as a couple you can discuss the issue but ultimately its YOUR body. I had 2 epidurals when i was in labor unfortunately neither took except to my right leg.. I could have had it severed off and I would have felt NO pain. Too bad for the rest of my body..I ended up having a c section becuase the I freaked out becuase of the pain I was in and the realization of my first child wanting into the world.. almost 24 hours and a c section later My son was born.. they gave me a spinal tap which numbed everything from the neck down I HIGHLY recommend that you let your soon-to-be husband voice his opinion.. but dont let it be the end all Becuase you are the one who is having the child.. you are the one who has HAD a child and allready KNOW what to expect.. The likely hood of paralysis is remote becuase of the training and knowledge of these professionals. Though mistakes may happen You can always ask for somone with a proven reputation of successful epidurals to help aleviate some of the stress for your Stbhusand. BOTTOM LINE.. YOUR BODY, YOUR RIGHT..

I'm confused, who is going through labor & delivery ?? you or your hsband. I have been through 2 pregnacies: one single birth and one having twins, I have had no problems with either epidural. If having a spinal block thn there is some risk for problem but not with an epidural. If your husband has a problem with you having an epidural then tell him that if he needs surgery that you prefer that he is not put under as there is more of him having problems with the anesthesia and no pain medicine after the surgery. Tell him that you are going to have an epidural! If he does want to allow to be in little to no pain then he doesn't have to be in the delivery room and he will miss the birth. You have the final decision to be going through the least amount of pain. THIS IS YOUR DECISION NOT HIS!!!! Also, have him talk with your doctor about your decision and hope he feels better after talking with doctor. Stand your ground THIS IS YOUR DECISION NOT HIS !!!!!!!