I think it depends on you, an epidural will react differently for everyone. It may not have any side affects for one person, while another person may have many. I didn't have any problems at all with my epidural. I haven't heard it slows down labor tho. I don't know how far I was dialated, but once I asked for the epidural they gave it to me. In the end I had to have a c-section, but because of the epidural, it was other reasons. But I think I would have died if I didn't have and epidural! And as for taking a shower after the baby is born, I don't see why you couldn't. Once the epidural wears off you shouldn't be too limited. Tho right after you give birth you may be too exhausted to take a shower right away, so there is plenty of time to let the epidural wear off.

My sister and my mom both had them and nothing happened to either one of them. There were no after affects or anything. A shower can be taken soon after delivery as soon as the effects of the epidural wears off. You will not be able to get up right away and take a shower anyway. As soon as the nurses get you up and walking around and you are ok to be on your own thereshouldn't be anyreason you can't take a shower.

Each person reacts differently to medication, epidurals included. I have had two with both of my births. They both affected me differently.

With my first born I didn't feel a thing after the epidural. I started out with very severe back labor, and they gave me the epidural right away. After the epi I slept through all my contractions, couldn't feel a thing below my waist. No contractions, no pressure, no baby. Nothing. The only way I knew what was happening was because the nurses and doctor told me it was time to push. I didn't have any lasting effects with that one.

With my second child my contractions were not that bad, and I was dilated to 4. I was doing well, but the nurses told me that it was the optimal time to get the epidural. With this epidural I still felt a lot of pressure. I still felt my contractions, could feel the pressure from the baby on her way out, etc. No severe pain, just a lot of pressure. I think that the doctor botched his first try with it. I felt a lot of pressure and some pain when he tried to put it in. However, on the second try I didn't feel it at all. Due to the first attempt I have been left with some minor back pain at the injection site. It is gradually going away, though.

Even with the difficult second epidural, I am glad that I got it in both cases. After feeling the pressure with my second birth I would hate to think what it might have felt like without it. I am not one for tolerating pain well.

I had one. I got it when I was 6 cms just because I wanted to wait. I had no side effects and took a shower immediately afterward.

It depends on your hospital as to when you can get it. My hospital lets you get it anytime you want, from 1-10. Some hospitals only give them before 8 cms or only after 4-6 or something like that. You'll have to ask your hospital.

I didn't have one only because I wanted to feel and experience the pain of child birth. I don't take it for granted the pain that women must go through when birthing a child...

But everyone's pain tolerance is waaay different...What might be too intense for you might be a walk in the park for me ya know??

If you want you should see how long you can go without one... Then make the decision when you feel the time is right...

Sarah

I had one with my second child it was magic I recomend them

I didnt have an epi with any of my two my first was drug free and the second I had a shot of nubain(still feel contraction except you abit groggy helped me sleep inbetween contractions!!

My advice see how long you can go without an epidural that pain isnt as bad as some say it does hurt just not a killer, try other pain relief methods first my mom has nonstop pain from a epidural she got for after having my bro(tubes tied lol.)

epidural does slow labor down and well it brings you blood pressure down so they have to give you other meds in an iv

i had both of mine in under 4 1/2 hrs, now the benefits to epidural are pain free and should an emergency arrive they can just wheel you into or not that I would wish that on anyone!

Within 1 hour of my epidural I gav birth I was in labour for 7 hours all up drugs seem to make my labours faster but yes I was on a iv drip an that was a bit anoying like diamondsz said see how you go with the pain im havin a natural birth thins time no drugs I think it can be done once its over youll think it was easy

Had one with my first, but not with my second (it was too late for one by the time I asked about it).
The one I had with my first was fabulous. It actually speeded things up, because my body relaxed, things had been progressing pretty slowly up untill that point.
I pushed the baby out- even though I could'nt really tell whether or not I was pushing- none the less, out she came, no stitches and I aws up and about shortly afterwards - I needed to use the loo! I also had a shower soon afterwards- they had one of those stool things that old people use in the shower.
I was fine. No ill effects afterwards for me or the baby.
I went through the second au naturelle (that might actually be real french there) it was ok- well, no, it wasn't really, but it ends so quick (whn the baby is delivered) that you kinda forget it was happening if you know what I mean- there's no pain wind-down just wham, pain gone.(no stitches tho again)
i think the trick about avioding the stitches is not to push the baby's head out too fast, if you can help it, there is a crazy buning sensation when the head is about to be delivered that makes you want to get the baby out immediately, it doesn't hurt exactly, it's just real odd.
I didn't feel any really strong contractions, so I just stayed at that point for, probably just a few moments- the top of the baby's head was already visable, and I just let her sit there for a moment, and then gave one more push when I felt ready. My skin and whatever had a chance to stretch itself, before I delivered my babies head, so it didn't tear. The first time I gave birth I had the epidural, which made it harder to push, so her head was delivered slowly too.
You'll know the feeling when it happens- it was good to have a go at a natural birth thuogh, I must admit that- well, no, it was caca, but I know if I ever have another baby, and i'm, like, stuck in a cave or whatever when I go into labour- I know pretty much what's I n store, and that i've done managed to do it once before.
I don't know which way i'll go next time though, if i'm not in a cave that is.

I went from being 2cm dialated to 8cm in about an hour, it was like all the pain hit me at once lol I was 8cm when I was admitted and got the epidural right away and was about 9.5cm dialted she said...It can slow down the labour and it did mine.. I was 10 cm for a while b4 they broke my water.. But I needed the rest anyways! I didnt mind the lil extra wait!! I dont think I could have done it without it.. But thats me

Omg thank you for your advice my baby is due in 3 weeks im scared how long does it take for the epidural to work? If anyone remembers... I was wonderin how much water you lost when your water broke?

By the way how do they clean you up after baby delievered?

Without having the epidural, the worst part was the cean up. Only because my .Dr was shoving gause un in there to control the bleeding while she stitched me up. Honestly, I lvoed not having the epidural because I was in control. Nobody had to tell me when and for how long to push. I let me body guide me through the whole thing. I knew from going in that my body knew what it was doing and it knew how much pain I could handle.

I'm not gonna lie, the contractions hurt like a mother, but post pardom was great. Because I had already felt the pain, I didn't get slapped in the face with it whenever the epidural would wear off, ya know? It's like, I knew the pain and coped with it....I didn't even take the pain meds they prescribed, I wanted to feel every part of it.

I would .D.E.F.I.N.A.T.E.L.Y go drug free again next time!!

Sarah

Babymajic0506 , wow! I admire you for doing that and actually saying you would do it again. I always thought I would do it drug free and now that i'm having my 1st baby I am so terrified!!! But nonetheless you are great!

I could have never done it, yep shes great!! Lol
with me it took them a while to administer the epidural, they have to be really careful and such.. But it took effect almost immediately and the rest of the labour was a breeze

By that stage, you don't even care sandralynn -lol.

And it's not a big deal when it wears off. The morning after I had my first baby, the nurses kept checking if I wanted anything for pain- one of them checked my chart and freaked right out because I hadn't had anything- not so much as a paracetemol tablet.
I said- oh, no, you see, I had an epidural, I don't think it's worn off yet, so i'm not in any pain.
She actually laughed at me! Apparently, as soon as they "unplug" it, it's over. It doesn't hang around in your system.
Who knew?
So post-partem, no problem.

By the waybabymajic0506 - packed gauze ? Stitched up?
How many stitches did you end up with?
Yeeeeooochh, shudder.

lol you sound just like me... As soon as they took my baby out, I wanted to shower, they said no because I had to wait for the epideral to wear off.. But, to answer some ?'s of yours, I haven't read any other posts yet, so sorry if I repeat things.. As far as back pain from an epideral, I had none, yes you do have to be 3-4 cent. Before they will give you one! Atleast that is how it was when I was in labor 3 yrs ago. :p I did however itch like hell after the epidural wore off. My butt and legs itched like crazy!!!! It didn't last too long though ;)

haha.. I did that 3 times, I think I deserved the epideral on the last one! :p

Yeah, I have to agree by the time your ready for the epidural your not worried about if its gonna hurt going in or not lol..To me it just felt like gettin a normal needle...But obvioulsy a lil more painful cuz of where its going in..With me they put the lil tube thingy in it.. To inject w/e it is in me.. Gave me a lil bit twice to make sure I didnt react.. Then gave me a dose of it.. And then I had some constantly dripping in..It was great.. I couldnt feel my legs at all.. It took a couple of hours before I started getting feeling back.. And around then the nurse and my bf helped me to the bathroom and I was aloud to shower in the morning.. But it took a while b4 it completely wore off.. But once it did, the pain wasnt all that bad.. It felt swelled up down there and hurt a lil bit.. I didnt take any of the pain medication they gave me everyday. To me the pain was no worse than the pelvic pressure I was feeling when I was pregnant! I only had 1 stitch tho.. Most of my discomfort was the humongus pad they make you wear.. And 1 hemroid lol its not that bad afterwards..

i only had one stitch...But I was bleeding a lot and she kept having to wipe it..And it just felt horrible!! Lol....

The only reason why I was insistant on not having an epidural was because I have a phobia of needles. After they stitched me up and I delivered my placenta, they took my temp and it was 102.6 and they .N.E.E.D.E.D to administer an .I.V. I asked them if they could just give me tylenol and they said they had to give me that too. I had to take a series of antibiotics throughout the night. I told my .Fiance that if I started begging for the epidural or drugs to force me to refuse them...

I didn't get to hold her because of my fever and her temp. Kept dropping. The next morning I was on the phone demanding my child. And they brought her right to me. I was pissed, but they didn't want to expose her to me with my fever. I was able to look at her through the glass as long as I wanted though...Which was reallly hard to do! She was soooo alert afterwards.

Thanks for all the compliments...There were people on this forum who gave me the strength and knowlegde to be able to go through with it.

Sarah