epidural

stumblina

what is the cut off point for an epidural??

lalalulu

Hi
I'm nearly sure the midwife told me 4 centimeters...

foxy06

I was waiting to have an epidural (five women in delivery at the same time) and was waiting so long I was practically holding the baby in! He then prepped me but I had such overwhelming urges to push the midwife told me to just have it without. I did and it was brilliant. Within half hour of delivery I was up and about. Took about six hours after the first with epidural. Going to try and go without again this time.

lalalulu

foxy06 wrote: »

I was waiting to have an epidural (five women in delivery at the same time) and was waiting so long I was practically holding the baby in! He then prepped me but I had such overwhelming urges to push the midwife told me to just have it without. I did and it was brilliant. Within half hour of delivery I was up and about. Took about six hours after the first with epidural. Going to try and go without again this time.

Wow! I really wish i han't needed the epi but they do say it's a little easier to give birth the second time round?
After my epidural i insisted i get up and walk around about half an hour after i had my daughter. I had been laying in same position for 10 hours! Nothing was going to keep me in that bed

KittenCaboodle

I was actually wondering, do you get the push sensation when you're under the epidural. I'm going to do my best to avoid an episiotomy, and I read that the push sensation is very important in that.

lalalulu

KittenCaboodle wrote: »

I was actually wondering, do you get the push sensation when you're under the epidural. I'm going to do my best to avoid an episiotomy, and I read that the push sensation is very important in that.

I know of women who did get the pushing sensation but i didn't. I had to have vaccum assistance and an episotomy. Although i know you might still need to be cut even if you do feel the push.
Afterward's (though it wasn't much help) a nurse told me rubbing vitamin E around the perenium can help cut your chance's of needing one.

KittenCaboodle

I actually have had surgery on the area before so there's not too much left of my perineum.

I suppose I'll decide on the day what to do with regard the epidural. Long way off yet!

Thanks lalalulu

lalalulu

KittenCaboodle wrote: »

I actually have had surgery on the area before so there's not too much left of my perineum.

I suppose I'll decide on the day what to do with regard the epidural. Long way off yet!

Thanks lalalulu

That is probably the best thing to do, just wait and see what your contractions are like on the day. I hope on my next baby i won't go for the epi. I felt it slowed my labour and it took me a few weeks to recover from a natural birth. Sometime's in the hospital they just presume you'll want pain relief and nearly push it on you. I got myself to worked up. I hadn't slept for four days and so thought i couldn't handle the pain. Once your babs is handed to you it makes it all worthwhile

duploelabs

If you are getting an epidural, make sure you are rotated on to both sides as the anaesthetic kicks in i.e. if you’re lying on your left as you get it, that you are given equal time lying on your right. This is because the spinal fluid is not circulatory and the anaesthetic will all drain to one side of your nervous system and hence you'll only be numbed on one side, as is what happened to my partner 10 weeks ago!

foxy06

lalalulu wrote: »

Wow! I really wish i han't needed the epi but they do say it's a little easier to give birth the second time round?
After my epidural i insisted i get up and walk around about half an hour after i had my daughter. I had been laying in same position for 10 hours! Nothing was going to keep me in that bed

I did want it but he just came so quick. It obviously hurt a helluva lot more than the first time around but I felt a lot better post delivery after having no pain relief.

I didn't feel any pushing urges the first time with the epidural but the midwife can feel your contractions so she just told me when to push.

beth-lou

I had an epidural on both of mine and both times I was 5 cm by the time I got to the hospital. It does take a few hours to recover feeling in your legs, but I didn't mind as I enjoyed the birth the first time.
The second time, the epidural didn't seem to work fully, and while it gave me relief, I could still feel every contraction and had a really strong urge to push when the time came.

The first time I had an episiotomy, but I probably would have teared anyway if I hadn't as the baby was almost 9lbs. The second time I had no episiotomy, and no tears even though the baby was biggger. Not sure if that is down to it being my second delivery or the fact that I could still feel the urge to push. But I definitely think that my brilliant midwife had a lot to do with it as she was so on the ball and was just fantastic.

I would advise to keep an open mind and see how you feel on the day.

janbaby

Are the stitches really painful after an episiotomy? :eek: There are so many scary things about labour its hard to believe so many give birth everyday. Maybe I'm just scaring myself by reading things online and in the baby books.

KittenCaboodle

Having had stitches in that area before I can report that they're not too painful, especially inside the vagina, slightly more painful near the opening as they stretch when you walk.

The problems that can happen with episiotomies is that they can cut in to the urethra by accident sometimes giving you gip with incontenence (quite rare), and oftentimes the repair job they do after birth isn't exactly top notch and can leave you with lingering pain or the inability to tighten your vaginal walls like you used to.

When I had my surgery I was told that I probably won't need an episiotomy when I give birth, but after suffering for 6 years with vulval pain I sure as heck don't want to go back to square one with that. So anything I can do to lessen the chances of cutting or tearing I will be doing.

janbaby

God sounds painful. So how can you avoid having one done? Do you generally need to get it done when you have an epidural cos you can't push?

Oryx

Ive never had an epidural, but I just wanted to mention that I had a vacuum delivery without episiotomy. Mind you, I had to insist -strongly- that they did not cut me. I had my reasons.

I healed just fine, it did hurt, but no worse than labour itself.

beth-lou

I didn't mind the episiotomy, and because of the epidural I didn't feel the stitches. A friend of mine didn't have an episiotomy but she did have a big tear and she needed stitches. A lot more than I needed. Try not to worry about it. If you need one, it's not the end of the world. My first baby had a big head and I think I probably would have torn had I not had the episiotomy. The stitches didn't really hurt at all, they were just kind of annoying after a while as I started to heal and took a while to disolve. But honestly, in the grand scheme of things, the episiotomy is the most insignificant detail of my first labour. And I didn't need one on my second.

I know quite a few people who had no epidural and still required stitches. Don't get hung up on these things. The main thing is a successful delivery which is safe for you and baby. If you would rather not have an episiotomy tell them that, but if they insist maybe listen to them. My last midwife was delighted I had no episiotomy, so they are not all gung ho on making you have one. Get the information so you are informed, but honestly, don't worry about it. I loved the birth of both my daughters, and before I got pregnant the first time I said I'd never have kids because my fear of labour and birth was so strong. Well, now I can't wait for the birth of my third baby, it is honestly one of the best experiences of my life, even though it can be tough, it is manageable and thoroughly rewarding.

sachamama

I don't know, I've had 3 babies and am due my 4th in December and its the thoughts of having to go through labor that are the only thing getting in the way of my enjoying the pregnancy. Whatever anyone says, its called labor because its bloody hard work. and not pleasant work at that.

lalalulu

sachamama wrote: »

I don't know, I've had 3 babies and am due my 4th in December and its the thoughts of having to go through labor that are the only thing getting in the way of my enjoying the pregnancy. Whatever anyone says, its called labor because its bloody hard work. and not pleasant work at that.

I'm so glad somebody said it! It is bloody hard work and very painful i don't want to scare any of the women who are expecting but i wish people had been more up front and honest about what actually happen's. Saying that no amount of book reading and other people's experiences prepare you for your own experience. I know everyone has their own pain threshold so for some it's not a big deal. I found the recovery afterwards the hardest thing to cope with (i had what the hospital called a natural labour) along with the tears from mammy and sleepless nights. My daughter is the best thing to happen to me though:)

stumblina

KittenCaboodle wrote: »

I was actually wondering, do you get the push sensation when you're under the epidural. I'm going to do my best to avoid an episiotomy, and I read that the push sensation is very important in that.

yes i had the epidural and i definitely got a sensation to push!!:)