I had an epid. With my son - and I plan to have another one with my second. I did not have any pain in my spine, and personally had no problems pushing - only two pushes and I had a big baby(8lbs. 12oz).

So I would personally recommend it, but everyone is different, and an epid. May effect others differently.

Michelle

Thanx for responding. Doesnt look like anyone else will tho. -.-

I had injected pain meds with first son(36 1/2 hours) and by the time I had him pain meds wore off and I was too groggy to experience the situation much.

I had my daughter with no meds, induced from the start, 26 hours labor, and I loved it. Wanted to have my third son the same way. I was alert, I felt everything and I loved it. Every second.

My third son went into fetal distress they took him c/section

i did not believe in epidurals and I still dont!!

I was 19 first son, 22 my daughter

I went natural with elisa, although I didnt get to spend time with her after cause I hemmoraged and started to panic so they gave me stuff to contract uterus as well as etonox after I had her.

I totally hated being out of the picture and felt that I was somehow deprived of expierencing that bond with baby and ended up not liking her for a few days as well as hubby (baby blues)

its your choice except I wont get and epidural myself even if I have to get c-section they're going to have to knock me out im not really afraid of needle just dont like them. There are other meds available, like I said in another post I may just get drugged if I cant handle the pain but I did really well from what nurse and my mom told me although my mom had bruised arms lol!!

Wish you luck on your decision it is a hard one to make and everyone has different reactions to epidural....

I had an epidural with my first and now with my second I plan on the same. I had only minor problems with my first and I am willing to go through that again.

When placing the cathider it took her like forever and hurt like crazy but it was much better than the contraction pain. Then only the left side of my body went dumb. I was still feeling most everything on my right side. It took them until about 20 min before I had her to get numb on the one side. The pain was dulled I could just feel the contractions and new they were bad but was much more able to handle it.

I pushed her out is 12 min and 20 min after I had her I was up and wlking around. The only pain I had after was a pain in my back. And a giant bruise. But my back pain wasn't all that bad but the hospital beds didn't make it any better.

Well, good luck.
Lindsay

Get the epidural. It is the safest form of anesthesia and you can also have pain meds to help deal with pain. You don't just have to be numb.

They gave my wife the regular epidural with local anesthetic as the epidural med and also added fentanyl to the epidural to help with pain.

Fentanyl is an extreemly good medicine for dealing with pain and in the tiny amounts necessary to help with pain because the medicine is put directly into the spinal canal so very small doses are all that is necessary to combat pain.

Iv pain meds are not bad but like others have stated, it will make you and the baby tired and it is not necessary.

Remember when you get the epidural, it is not a simple procedure because you cannot have the cathetar placed in by using x-ray/floroscopy for obvious reasons. The md has to use the old method of finding the right landmarks. Also make sure that when you believe your pain level is approaching really bad, get the procedure done because you have to be in the sitting/slouching position to have placeement.

Has anyone had long-term back pain after having the epidural?

I know pple who have had permanent back pain after, I also heard of stories of being paralized both temporary, and permanent.

I myself had a leak in my spinal cord, my cerebral fluid was running into my body and head was 1/2 empty. I was downing 64 oz of water constanly for 5 dyas. Headache 10 times worse than migraines. Vomiting from the pain. true story

but this was after I have thought they were bad all my life.

O_o;

Any long term effects from an epidural are very very rare.

As far as headaches from csf leakage, it happens, it is simply repaired by having a blood patch procedure done.

Permanant damage is almost impossible with the technology used today, the cath is so small that the doc would have to be jamming the needle all over the place intentionally trying to do damge for there to be damage.

More often than not, when you ask about "pros/cons" you will only hear from the folks that have bad stories. I have had spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia, and tons of other injections. No problems from them and you should not have problems either.

Unless you have some need to be "natural", it is smart to use the pain medicine, it will allow you to have a much more enjoyable experience.

I just wanted to add that although I didnt get one most of my friends did during their labor and they said it was awesome.....

I am not against an epidural im just one of the ppl who rather suffer lol.....Contractions are different for everyon and in the end you may just want something to take the edge off I just want you to know that an epidural isnt necessary so dont feel obliged.

I had the nurses harrassing me to get an epidural when I told them no pain meds unless something happened that was lifew threatnening like after my daughters birth I hemorraged so I had no choice to get like 3-4needles an iv and gas.