What does the epidural feel like?

If its done right you are frozen from your tummy to the bottom of your thighs. THey used to freeze all your bottom half but not anymore as far as i know.

Mine didnt work, it froze my left leg and my butt! LOL!

I have heard wonderful things about it tho, a friend of mine took a nap after getting hers in..... sounds nice!!

You dont really feel the needle going in cuz you are in the middle of a contraction too.

I didnt have one wiht my daughter cuz it was easier slower labor and progression but with my son they broke my water so contractions came fast and hard... but that silly thing didnt work so i guess i didnt have one with my son either lol!

Ok........here is my experience. So take it however...I know everyone is different.

I had mine put in at 6-7cm dilated and contractions 3-5 min apart! So I was in pretty intense pain. The doc who put it in talked to me the whole time telling what was going on and so on. They had me sign a release form and started. I believe it was just like a light pinch. You just have to be very very still. My dh sat in front of me and kept me calm. So in between contractions they put in the needle. I really don't remember it hurting and if it did it wasn't much. I was just super happy to be taking away the pain! Then they placed me on my side b/c the needle has to stay in. They have you switch every 15-20 min from side to side. Within 15 min I could feel nothing at all. My left leg was tingling like it was asleep but the right didn't feel any different. But I couldn't feel the contraction pain anywhere! It was great. I had no problems and it went really well. It did slow down my contractions just b/c I was relaxed all of the sudden and therefore had to up my pitocin. BUt I never felt anything after it kicked in. Once I reached 10cm I started to feel pressure at my bottom like I had to go poo. That is when they knew I was ready to push. It really was a good experience and I wouldn't do it any other way.

Any other questions about this or l & d let me know!! hugs!

Oh, and wanted to add that i have never heard of anyone having a bad exp or one that didnt work like mine so its not normal. Very safe thing to have done and why not do what helps, right?!?!?!

The release form kinda freaked me out tho... lol!

Thank you ladies!!

chels- you are STRONG! i can't imagine doing it without, it just looks so scary to me.

Fran- do they allow you to get up and walk around after an epi? or do you have to lay in bed afterwards? i'm sorry if the question sounds stupid, i'm so clueless about birth and delivery. :-(

chels- i'm with you, i want one, but the minute they start telling me about the risks, i know i'm going to freak out and have second thoughts. i need to just chill and get it and not think about it. :-) easier said than done about me not freaking out. LOL

Don't feel bad........I think info is the key! Then you aren't overwhelmed! No....you can't walk after b/c your legs are numb. So you are confined to the bed. That is why I was glad I didn't get it until I was so far along. It was only 4 1/2 hrs after I got that caden came. Otherwise I'm sure I would have been going crazy being confined to a bed. So it may be better to hold off of you can, but everyone is different and can handle different amounts of pain. I wasn't even at the hospital until I was 6cm dilated and 5 min contractions! :) Yes.....I was an idiot!

cant move once you have the needle in your back... its all bed then. They dont normally do it til you are farther along or contractions are right on top of eachother cuz they want you to progress more.

My daughter came in 12 hours and it was so gradual that i didnt even think til it was too late that i wanted some pain meds. I took a shower and was in there for like an hour thru my contractions and it was the BEST feeling ever to have the warm water beating on my belly.... :)

that's awesome information. i really wanted to wait as long as i could to get the epi. i like to think i have high pain tolerance, i have killer af cramps due to endometriosis, have had a tooth implant, lump from breast removed, and surgery for an ectopic pregnancy... so i know what pain feels like, but when i see the ladies moan on the birth shows... i just wonder if it's like an out of this world kind of pain that i just can't deal with. whenever i ask someone to explain it to me they say, "you just can't explain, it's like no other pain you've ever felt" or they'll say "it's like menstrual cramps multiplied by 1,000). so it sounds pretty bad. my only worry is the pain of bones stretching.

like right now, my pelvic bone and tail bone is SO painful. getting out of bed... i moan and cry for a good 30 seconds and then am able to straighten my back out... it is excruciating, feels like my bones are stretching apart.

ugghhh... i'm SO SCARED. what a little chicken i am. LOL

they are right when they say you cant explain it. Its painful, no doubt about that but honestly, the second you hold that baby you 4get about all the pain. Its like a feeling that you not explain when you are holding that baby of yours. Its amazing thats for sure!

I didnt moan or scream when i had the kids, i cried cuz i was in pain but my doc kept me cool and calm. You know that you can get thru anyting since you have such a great prize at the end..... try the shower, it was a wonderful labor break! :)

Well I hated my epidural becuase it didn't take, the only thing that went numb was my left leg I felt everything, this time around I am going natural because of feeling everything the first time, when they put it in it just felt like a shot not anything to bad but once again I don't think mine it one to really follow

I'd like to contribute a very different experience... I have two daughters, (almost 6 and almost 10) and both were born completely natural at 7 and 9.5 pounds. Let me start with saying I'm a complete wuss and don't deal with pain well. However, I'm a firm believer in natural childbirth. Meds, and even IV's, limit a mom's ability to move around. An epidural takes away the help of gravity since mom's can no longer walk around to help move the baby down. I don't judge mother's who need the help of meds to get through labor, especially really long labors that leave mom too exhausted to push. However, I do wish more mom's would go into labor believing they can do it without meds. Every woman is different, so you can't anticipate your birth experience based on what you see on the Discovery channel. Water is wonderful in hospitals were they allow it. Walking, birthing balls or slings, and trying different positions can totally change they way labor feels and ease the baby's passage through the birth canal. If you plan to use meds, make sure you do your research... not just on the benefits, but also on the risks to you and your baby. It is your choice to make, but make an educated one at least.

Good luck.

PS- I am a non-vaccinating, natural birth, all-natural mommy, but I understand that my beliefs and lifestyle are not for everyone. I do not judge, but encourage others to educate themselves and make the choice that they are comfortable with. =D

Oli..

It's good to get all opinions and stories. It's nice to hear Tess's experience as well as people who have used the drugs. Whatever works for you is what you need to do. Don't let anyone sway your decision. My mom tried to make me feel bad about the drugs b/c she had 3 kids naturally and so on, but once she saw me having a happy and pain free delivery she felt a little differently. Everyone deserves to make the choice but it is true that you need to consider all the factors!

As always hugs to you and your little one!

tess, thats a great way to put your opinions. I have the same thoughts on circumsisum and vacines..... do your homework and find out what is best for your child and your family before just taking or doing something because your doctor "says" its ok.

:)

Tess, thanks for sharing your experience. i honestly, don't have a "philosophy" on how to give birth, just want it to go as smoothly as possible... and if holding off on the meds will help speed up the actual birthing process, i will try to do it.

the epi scares me b/c of the needle thing, but i do see how the women are so relieved after they get it... i just fear it slowing down the baby coming out. :-(

BOY... it is hard being a woman.

but seriously, thank you ladies so much for sharing your stories with me b/c it really gives me something to think about as the day approaches. don't want to go in there blind and just have people "tell" me what to do instead of having some input or at least some knowledge of what's going on.

Love you ladies!!! so helpful!