Ok for all you non-pregnant people out there, this post will mean nothing to you, but I'm writing it because I have had a number of moms-to-be (first time, and not first time) ask me about my thoughts on Epidurals. I'm not sure if it's my parenting style (trying to go all natural when I can, using cloth diapers, homeopathic medicine, no harsh chemicals in the house) that made these women ask me about this topic, but I'm going to try to answer your questions as best as possible.
First of all, yes I had an epidural with Coral. I knew LONG before going into the hospital that I would take any pain meds that would be offered to me. In fact the first thing I said to the nurses upon arriving at the hospital was "I'm getting an epidural....not now...but just so your aware I want my pain meds."
When I first got pregnant with Coral I did a ton of research on Epidurals. If you have researched this topic at all, you probably found that people are either really against them, or really for them. People against them claim that labour is longer with them, baby comes out drowsy and is more likely to have latch on problems, and you can't feel when you need to push (to that I say a big HA. Your pushing out a child, I'm sorry but there is absolutely no way, no matter how many meds you are on, you are not feeling it).
For me, it really came down to how I wanted my labour experience to go. Not only did I want a good experience for myself, but I wanted it to be a good experience for my hubby as well. I knew that I wanted more children after this, and I figured if I traumatized Andrew, he might just call it quits after our first one. I wanted it to be an experience that I could actually enjoy (and it sounds crazy, but I actually did enjoy my labour). So I decided to go for the epidural. My drs response was a big "oh thank goodness! I don't understand why anyone would reject pain relief in a moment like giving birth." hmm..so true.
Ok, so let me banish a couple of those nasty epidural myths. Because I had chosen to get the epidural, I knew that I had an out for the pain. So for each contraction, I was able to relax and breathe right through it, knowing that if it became to much, I had a way out. And that's exactly what happened. The pain was getting to much, so I got the needle. Myth: Epidurals hurt like crazy. Ok maybe perhaps, if you don't do well with needles, I can see why it would be scary. It's a giant needle going right into your spine. But let me tell you, the contractions hurt WAY more then the needle. In fact I didn't even feel the needle go in (bless my poor hubby's heart. The guy does not do well with needles and he held my hand through the whole thing. He turned white as a ghost and I thought he was going to pass out).
Myth: contractions slow down your labour. First of all, this wasn't a concern of mine. If you happen to be one of those people that it does slow your labour down, who cares! Your not in pain anymore! Enjoy the extra hours you have of just you and your hubby, your baby will come soon enough. For me, it actually sped labour up. When I got the epidural, I had been in labour for 12 hours already. I was only 2 cm dilated, the same as when I first got into the hospital. I was put on an IV drip to make me go into active labour, so the contractions were REALLY bad, but my labour wasn't progressing. I got the epidural, and I could no longer feel the contractions. So I slept. Because I was sleeping, and so relaxed through my contractions, it helped me dilate.
Myth: you won't know when it's time to push. Like I said, after the epidural, I fell asleep, and allowed by body to do its thing. I woke up, the nurse checked me and said "still only 2.5 cm...your baby isn't coming any time soon. Just keep sleeping." I called the nurse back in half hour later and said its time to push. She kind of laughed at me, but I was insistent. Sure enough I went from 2.5 to 10 cm in half hour. Andrew was out doing errands, so I had to call him back. It's a weird feeling, you don't actually feel the contractions, but you DO feel when you need to push. Oh my, I don't thing anything could take away that pain.
Myth: baby will be born drowsy and won't latch on. Well, hard for me to say on this one. Coral was only born 2 weeks early, but the drs considered her a premie because of her size. She was drowsy, but not overly drowsy. She still did skin to skin, and she latched on like a pro. No problems there. AND, again, going into my labour, I really didn't care if I had a drowsy baby for the first few hours. Good grief soon enough they will be fully alert and require your full attention. Take the drowsy baby and maybe get some extra sleep while your at it.
My over all experience with the epidural was great. However, I did have a slight problem with it. After I had given birth and the epidural was wearing off, I had an allergic reaction to it. Like severe. It wasnt effecting my breathing, but I was breaking out in hives, and I was so itchy. So itchy that I was drawing blood on my arms and legs from scratching so much. Apparently it's very uncommon, but it can happen. So I was to given a shot of Benadryl in my IV. The Benadryl made me extremely sleepy. The nurse warned it might put me to sleep. That was my only beef with it. I was so tired I remember the room was filled With family members, and I had no clue what was going on. In fact I was so out of it, I only recently found out that my brother-in-law was actually at the hospital. I had thought this whole time he met her a while after she was born. Oops.
That being said, despite the allergic reaction, I'm still going for the epidural for this baby. After all, they don't give out medals to people who have an all natural birth do they. I actually enjoyed my birth experience, and I have to applaud the epidural for that.
Ladies I hope this answered all of your questions.
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