Problems Understanding the Epidural

I agree with the other response. It can vary from person to person - I believe that it does help you progress through labor and save your energy for the really hard work the pushing!! I also had a great experiece with my epidural and would definatly do it again!!

V.,
The epidural is a method of pain relief/anesthesia that comes with many benefits as well as many risks. You should find out that information and make an educated choice. Can it be painful? Sometimes. Can you get the shakes? Sometimes. Can it be a godsend? Sometimes!
The article "Weighing the Pros and Cons of the Epidural" by Penny Simkin can be found on the following site: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/birth/epidura...
This will give you adequate info to make a good decision. Informed choice means that you understand the benefits and risks, understand the alternative choices and then make a decision based on how you feel about those things.
Blessings,
H. L. Rau, Doula & Childbirth Educator

this is my personal opinion other people think the epidural is great i did not like it i had it with my 1st one but not with my other 2. i would rather deal with the pain than have the back problems i had after the epidural.now with the twins i had to have a c-section and they gave me a spinal block or something like that and it was great.but every body is different and my cousin had it and she did not like it either.it did not work on her.

HI V.;
LIKE YOUR FRIENDS AN EPIDURAL IS A GODSEND. GETTING EPIDURAL IS NOT PAINFUL. WHEN IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO PREP YOU FOR THE EPIDURAL THEY WILL GIVE YOU SOME PAPERS TO SIGN THAT WILL TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND TELL YOU ABOUT THE SIDE AFFECTS IF ANY. THEN THEY WILL GIVE YOU SOME NASTY STUFF TO DRINK, AND IT IS MADE TO NEUTRALIZE WHATEVER IS IN YOUR STOMACH SUCH AS FOOD. THE DOCTOR WILL THEN PUT SOME COVERING ON YOUR BACK LEAVING A SMALL CIRCLE AREA OPEN THAT HE WILL PUT THE EPI.CLEAN THE AREA WHERE HE IS PUT THE EPI. START THE EPIDURAL. HE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT HE WILL DO SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME NEXT. HE WILL THEN STICK YOUR BACK WITH A NEEDLE AND THAT MEDICINE IS GOING TO NUMB THAT AREA. THEN HE WILL STICK YOU WITH ANOTHER NEEDLE WHICH WILL BE BIGGER. DON'T WORRY YOU DIFINTELY WON'T FEEL THAT NEEDLE. YOU WILL THOUGH FEEL SOME PRESSURE FROM THAT NEEDLE. ONCE THAT NEEDLE IN I BELIEVE HE WILL TAKE PART SOME OF THE NEEDLE AND ONLY LEAVING THE NEEDLE IN YOUR BACK. THEN HE WILL INSERT A TINY LITTLE TUBE THROUGH THAT PART OF THE NEEDLE THAT HE LEFT IN YOUR BACK. IT WILL FEEL PRETTY WEIRD. ONCE THAT IS IN HE WILL TAKE THE NEEDLE OUT LEAVING THE TUBE IN YOUR BACK, AND HE WILL TAPE THE TUBE TO YOUR BACK MAKING SURE THAT IT WON'T COME OUT, AND THEN HE WILL START THE EPIDURAL. A FEW MINUTES LATER YOU WILL GET THE SHAKES. THAT IS AS CLOSE THAT I COULD GET YOU TO KNOWING WHAT WILL GO ON WHENIT IS TIME FOR YOU TO DELIVER YOUR NEW BABY. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING BIRTH. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

Whatever you do, don't get induced! Labor as long as you can without the epidural, but if there is even a question that you will need a c-section, don't push for 2 hours and then have to get one(like me), do it right away, so that way you both won't be in distress. I labored without any upidural until 5 1/2 centimeters (being induced from a Wednesday night at 10 pm, untilThursday night at 7:30pm--crazy I tell you)and I have a low pain threshold, but now I hear if you make it that far, you just as well do it cold turkey. I had back labor which wasn't fun, but you amy be able to do it . Try Lamase! I wish we had, but it was too late after we returned after the storm, it think that I would have been drug free then.

Just like any major medication side effects will vary from person to person. The best I can tell you is my personal experience... I had the epidural....the actual shot is somewhat uncomfortable but I wouldn't define it as painful (especially not compared the the labor pains!!) and for me it worked immediately...never felt a full contraction. Afterwards it took a couple of hours to wear off completely but once it did I felt just fine. I had one of the easiest childbirths I could have imagined. No pain, big, healthy baby, and not 48 hours after giving birth I was walking up stairs, and living day to day life. I do know people that have had complications as well as people that it never worked on them at all. It all depends on your body's reaction to medication. I know that probably doesn't help much but it is really a choice you need to make for yourself.
I wish you all the best and remember that epidural or not the most important thing is that you have a safe delivery and a healthy baby girl!! Good luck!