When I was in high school our Health/Gym teacher told us that the epidural was the most painful thing she'd ever gotten and told us to avoid it at all costs. Then my best friend told me that her older sister got an epidural and suffers from back pain because of complications related to it. Fast forward to my first pregnancy, I go into labor and outright refuse the epidural. I was hell bent of not getting it because of the fear that was instilled in me. I'm screaming bloody murder and as I'm laboring, I was told that I was scaring the other women in the ward and I would need to quiet down. I was completely exhausted because the pain was beyond overwhelming. A nurse came in and asked why I didn't want the epidural and I told her my story. She validated my fears but also told me that I could greatly benefit from the epidural, especially since how much I was suffering from the pain. I ended up getting the epidural and it was the BEST decision ever. Unlike what my teacher had said, I didn't feel any pain from installing the epidural line. A few minutes afterwards I was in complete HEAVEN, no pain what so ever! I could finally breath, relax, and rest! I took a freaking nap for goodness sake! I will say this though, it was kind of tough trying to "feel" my pushes and if I was pushing correctly. To help with this they gave me a mirror to watch my progress which helped tremendously. My second pregnancy I immediately asked for the epidural. Once I got it I went straight to sleep for a couple of hours. They woke me up and told me to try and push. Did a few pushes and he shot out 😂 The second time around it felt like the epidural was pooling more into the left side of my body which made my left leg COMPLETELY numb and lifeless. I couldn't move that leg hours after I gave birth. I would definitely get the epidural for my third pregnancy. Pain from labor no joke 😢
Thank you for this story!! It makes me sad that teachers would be speaking their own fear stories to impressionable people from a position of authority. You can see that that story was incredibly influential. I am so glad you had a team of people with you that could explain things to you well and reduce your fears. Lots of times I see people so against it but the pain they are struggling through plus the absolute exhaustion actually holds their progress back ♥️
I love your content. I’m going into college next year after a gap semester for nursing school to be a L&D nurse. I’m so excited. Your videos are so interesting and I enjoy hearing your experiences and information.
When I had my 2nd baby i had what i thought the doctor said "para cervical." It was a long needle and I thought it went inside, not just on the perineum, it took away the intense burning and even back pain became bearable. It was almost immediately effective. I was talking and laughing as my monitor was going crazy marking my contractions. Approximately 20 min later the doctor checked on me because I told him it wasn't working anymore, his response was "let's do this, were going to have a baby". Two pushes later my baby was in my arms. I've never heard anyone talk about this type of pain control and I am curious if I remembered the name correctly or...? It was SO effective (although short lasting) that I wonder why I don't hear about it. My daughter is having her first and she wants to do it naturally if at all possible, but she is educating herself on all possibilities.
Hey Tina, I couldn't resist reaching out to let you know how much I enjoy your content. Your videos are like a burst of positive energy that brightens my day!
Update: I have had my baby and I'll tell you what the epidural was a God sent because early stages of labor I had zero breaks between every contraction I was throwing up because my body went into shock from the pain I almost passed out. I labored for 26 hours and the first 6 hours was the most intense until I got my epidural and then it made everything else smooth sailing. I only pushed for 30min with it and since he's my first baby everyone was very impressed! The pushing was the easy part for me 100% due to the epidural. And they did in fact allow me to deliver him while I was on all fours in bed with the epidural so I still got to deliver him the way I wanted too! 🥰 Omg massage even just now at 31 weeks has been a huggge help and distraction from my fiance. It literally makes the pain not pain anymore 😂 I'm sooo certain shower water will help too. (Any time I've been sick as a kid I'd take a warm shower so it's like a comfort thing)
When I was in labor with my second daughter I went into the hospital 8cm dilated and my wretched doctor said I wouldn’t be able to do labor without an epidural. I had been managing pain easily up to that point. I wi never get an epidural again because it restricts movement and that con is the worst to me.
My first pregnancy they gave me alot of pain medication and my son was born not breathing he needed 1 minute 27 seconds of CPR I also had an epidural. Mind you I was in labor 3 days stayed at 2 centimeters for what felt like a lifetime my epidural was not placed right so I was still feeling everything got it fixed during that time I went from 6 to 10 centimeters so I couldn't really feel how to push...went in on a Saturday had my son at 6 on Monday
I was literally told fentanyl, epidural, or nothing in 2020. It was my first, I was on Pitocin, didn't dilate hardly at all until 24 hours when I got the epidural.
Oh noooo, I'm sorry. Maybe your site didnt have the laughing gas...or they just didn't want to bother. Which makes me sad. I hope it all went ok for you in the end!
Same here then when I chose they said well actually it's too close to delivery then I chose the other they said the same thing I said well whyd you even ask then tf!? Woukdnt even let me get into the tub 😢 she started filling it up too then said well by the time it's full you'll be pushing. I'm all then whyd you even ask about pain intervention if I cant have it😭🤷🏼♀️ I wasnt gonna ask for it but after she put it in my head I wanted it....
Ive had 2 babies and I didnt even know that! Mine both came out fully natural because I labor too fast for intervention but I'm 25 weeks w my 3rd and I think im gonna try to get something done because with fast labors they are so effing intense it's all the labor you usally get in a 24 hr time span condensed into 2 to 4 hours 😢
Is it possible to do a mixture of laughing gas, opioid in the iv, and a local? I am absolutely petrified of having an epidural and want to avoid having one at all costs.
You absolutely could. Make your wishes known in the beginning so they know what you’re expecting! Is it the needle in the back that scares you or something else?
@@mamanursetina Thank you for your response. I think it’s a mixture of things really. I had a spinal tap as a teenager and it was absolutely agonizing. I had to get poked twice due to them hitting a nerve. I also don’t really like the thought of having the tube hanging out of my back either, and I want to be able to get up and move if I decided to. I guess it boils down to my severe anxiety, so the thought of having something happening to my spine just terrifies me to my core.
I think what freaked me out most was them telling me you can’t move but when the needle goes in it hurts and your body can’t help but twitch/ move them the anxiety of omg did I just mess up did I cause more damage by moving it’s all so so scary! I’ve had 4 c sections so I’ve had 4 of the epidermal/ spinal blockage and each time it just gets scarier and scarier… any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Serious question. Is it possible to have more than 1 pain control during labor??? Because I am terrified of giving birth at the moment and I'm afraid it is going to be torture tbh. Not trying to be dramatic. I don't do well with pain. I can't handle it at all. I have chronic pain so you would think I could etc. Also* what if mom is using suboxone? Could you please do a video about that? I would like more information. I'm terrified right now.
For my first 5 kids I used only nitrous oxide. For my 4rth, my nurses wanted me to stop using it, at that point I didn't care and was huffing away. They couldn't take it from me, I had such a grip. My dear husband disconnected the mask from the gas for them and I didn't notice it so I was huffing away on just the air.
Why didn't she talk about the really big cons of the epidural - the 1 in 100 chance of intense months-long headache? the 1 in 10 chance of it not working? I think I'll still go with an epidural next time because the sheer horror of the pain of the first time (unmedicated except for gas) stuck with me for years.
I'm no expert but a quick google tells me epidural not working doesn't mean it's entirely ineffective, and it can re-done or re-adjusted. And the chance for headache is between 1 in 100 and 1 in 500. This is a difference already, and these odds are for any severity (mild to severe) and any length (few days - months) headache. It's important to distinguish these things when making a decision.
I've had two epidurals and a spinal and I wasn't able to move AT ALL. I had to be lifted to change the bedsheets and given my legs to push. I also didn't feel any pressure so I had no idea when to push. They also left me without being able to move one leg until the following day.. should I not be getting them? Is this common? Or is this a not great epidural
I think water births are amazing. Many large obstetrical organizations (like ACOG) say to labor in water and “birth on land” which is such an odd sentence to say when taking about humans 🤷🏻♀️ but the feedback about water births from people who have done them is always incredible ♥️
Oh sorry - so you got all epidurals? And your happy you did that ? Does it affect babies differently then natural do you think? Is it more traumatic for the baby ?
Unfortunately you can't ask a baby what their experience of birth was. However, studies have generally shown that the APGAR scores of babies born to moms with and without epidurals aren't all that different. The medication doesn't get to the mom's or baby's blood stream in significant amounts. Gosh, I hate how UA-cam removes so many comments with links. Let me give people references!
With my first child, I got epidural and after some hours, my baby’s heart rate started to drop and I ended up having a cesarean section. Five years later and pregnant again, I’m definitely avoiding epidural. I will only try other pain relief options if they are absolutely necessary and if I feel like I can’t bear the pain anymore.
I love yours and mamadrjones content (would love to see a collaboration) ^_^ I have 6 kids 1st one was all natural (didn't have time for any medication 'til after I gave birth (so greatful for a very fast delivery) as for my the rest of my kids I got it through the IV (demerol) good thing I have a high pain tolerance because for my last 2 it wore off when it was time to push but it also might be because they only gave me half of the medicine (all my births were extremely fast except 1)
I had a hudge possibility of having surgery so I had to ask for the péridural at a point. But it was funny because I don't had to mutsh pain so I decided to took it after Some hours and every nurse was like "are you ok ? You chant it know ?" And I was literally euphoric all day... just utile they decided to go for the césarienne. After the boost of epidural, after all day labour, I was calm down ! I will do the same process for others if I could have others ! It was funny to do like it, at my rythum...
When I was in high school our Health/Gym teacher told us that the epidural was the most painful thing she'd ever gotten and told us to avoid it at all costs. Then my best friend told me that her older sister got an epidural and suffers from back pain because of complications related to it. Fast forward to my first pregnancy, I go into labor and outright refuse the epidural. I was hell bent of not getting it because of the fear that was instilled in me. I'm screaming bloody murder and as I'm laboring, I was told that I was scaring the other women in the ward and I would need to quiet down. I was completely exhausted because the pain was beyond overwhelming. A nurse came in and asked why I didn't want the epidural and I told her my story. She validated my fears but also told me that I could greatly benefit from the epidural, especially since how much I was suffering from the pain. I ended up getting the epidural and it was the BEST decision ever. Unlike what my teacher had said, I didn't feel any pain from installing the epidural line. A few minutes afterwards I was in complete HEAVEN, no pain what so ever! I could finally breath, relax, and rest! I took a freaking nap for goodness sake! I will say this though, it was kind of tough trying to "feel" my pushes and if I was pushing correctly. To help with this they gave me a mirror to watch my progress which helped tremendously. My second pregnancy I immediately asked for the epidural. Once I got it I went straight to sleep for a couple of hours. They woke me up and told me to try and push. Did a few pushes and he shot out 😂 The second time around it felt like the epidural was pooling more into the left side of my body which made my left leg COMPLETELY numb and lifeless. I couldn't move that leg hours after I gave birth. I would definitely get the epidural for my third pregnancy. Pain from labor no joke 😢
Thank you for this story!! It makes me sad that teachers would be speaking their own fear stories to impressionable people from a position of authority. You can see that that story was incredibly influential. I am so glad you had a team of people with you that could explain things to you well and reduce your fears. Lots of times I see people so against it but the pain they are struggling through plus the absolute exhaustion actually holds their progress back ♥️
Everyone is different me I can't do epidural but any other painkiller I will trying..epidural just scary
The epidural for my third did the same thing to my left leg.
You truly have the best content on this subject. I have a massager, a tens unit, and a birthing ball packed and ready for Monday. 😬
How did it go?
I missed this!! Thank you, how did it go?!
I love your content. I’m going into college next year after a gap semester for nursing school to be a L&D nurse. I’m so excited. Your videos are so interesting and I enjoy hearing your experiences and information.
Yeaaaaay!! It’s an amazing career choice ♥️
When I had my 2nd baby i had what i thought the doctor said "para cervical." It was a long needle and I thought it went inside, not just on the perineum, it took away the intense burning and even back pain became bearable. It was almost immediately effective. I was talking and laughing as my monitor was going crazy marking my contractions. Approximately 20 min later the doctor checked on me because I told him it wasn't working anymore, his response was "let's do this, were going to have a baby". Two pushes later my baby was in my arms. I've never heard anyone talk about this type of pain control and I am curious if I remembered the name correctly or...? It was SO effective (although short lasting) that I wonder why I don't hear about it. My daughter is having her first and she wants to do it naturally if at all possible, but she is educating herself on all possibilities.
Thank you for this, now i understand better what morphine did.❤
You're welcome :)
Hey Tina, I couldn't resist reaching out to let you know how much I enjoy your content. Your videos are like a burst of positive energy that brightens my day!
♥️
Epidurals over here!
Thank you so much for making this content. It makes it less scary.
I hate that the doctors never informed me of any of this. Makes me feel like a farm animal when they just do what they want and don’t even ask me. 😢
I had epidural with my first (on a 4day labour) and I want to get it this time around as well ( in 2 months).
Update: I have had my baby and I'll tell you what the epidural was a God sent because early stages of labor I had zero breaks between every contraction I was throwing up because my body went into shock from the pain I almost passed out. I labored for 26 hours and the first 6 hours was the most intense until I got my epidural and then it made everything else smooth sailing. I only pushed for 30min with it and since he's my first baby everyone was very impressed! The pushing was the easy part for me 100% due to the epidural. And they did in fact allow me to deliver him while I was on all fours in bed with the epidural so I still got to deliver him the way I wanted too! 🥰
Omg massage even just now at 31 weeks has been a huggge help and distraction from my fiance. It literally makes the pain not pain anymore 😂 I'm sooo certain shower water will help too. (Any time I've been sick as a kid I'd take a warm shower so it's like a comfort thing)
When I was in labor with my second daughter I went into the hospital 8cm dilated and my wretched doctor said I wouldn’t be able to do labor without an epidural. I had been managing pain easily up to that point. I wi never get an epidural again because it restricts movement and that con is the worst to me.
I have since learned you can fire your doctor and not have them deliver your baby
My first pregnancy they gave me alot of pain medication and my son was born not breathing he needed 1 minute 27 seconds of CPR I also had an epidural. Mind you I was in labor 3 days stayed at 2 centimeters for what felt like a lifetime my epidural was not placed right so I was still feeling everything got it fixed during that time I went from 6 to 10 centimeters so I couldn't really feel how to push...went in on a Saturday had my son at 6 on Monday
Sad you been in labor for too long..do you know the reason why your labor took too long?
I was literally told fentanyl, epidural, or nothing in 2020. It was my first, I was on Pitocin, didn't dilate hardly at all until 24 hours when I got the epidural.
Oh noooo, I'm sorry. Maybe your site didnt have the laughing gas...or they just didn't want to bother. Which makes me sad. I hope it all went ok for you in the end!
Same here then when I chose they said well actually it's too close to delivery then I chose the other they said the same thing I said well whyd you even ask then tf!? Woukdnt even let me get into the tub 😢 she started filling it up too then said well by the time it's full you'll be pushing. I'm all then whyd you even ask about pain intervention if I cant have it😭🤷🏼♀️ I wasnt gonna ask for it but after she put it in my head I wanted it....
Can you please answer, how dangerous is epidural for someone who has really always low pressure. 90/60 or 100/50
Same situation
Huh, I didn't know that there are that many options to choose from! 😲
Now you’re in the know ♥️
@@mamanursetina indeed! Thank you so much for teaching me about this subject 😁
Most hospitals don't have nitrous oxide, realistically.
Ive had 2 babies and I didnt even know that! Mine both came out fully natural because I labor too fast for intervention but I'm 25 weeks w my 3rd and I think im gonna try to get something done because with fast labors they are so effing intense it's all the labor you usally get in a 24 hr time span condensed into 2 to 4 hours 😢
What does it mean when you feel the pressure from the contractions in your leg/ thigh after getting an epidural?
Is it possible to do a mixture of laughing gas, opioid in the iv, and a local? I am absolutely petrified of having an epidural and want to avoid having one at all costs.
You absolutely could. Make your wishes known in the beginning so they know what you’re expecting! Is it the needle in the back that scares you or something else?
@@mamanursetina Thank you for your response. I think it’s a mixture of things really. I had a spinal tap as a teenager and it was absolutely agonizing. I had to get poked twice due to them hitting a nerve. I also don’t really like the thought of having the tube hanging out of my back either, and I want to be able to get up and move if I decided to. I guess it boils down to my severe anxiety, so the thought of having something happening to my spine just terrifies me to my core.
@@pandapug20 all solid thoughts, makes sense
I think what freaked me out most was them telling me you can’t move but when the needle goes in it hurts and your body can’t help but twitch/ move them the anxiety of omg did I just mess up did I cause more damage by moving it’s all so so scary! I’ve had 4 c sections so I’ve had 4 of the epidermal/ spinal blockage and each time it just gets scarier and scarier… any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Me too anything thing but epidural...and I not strong woman to tolerate pain so I am so worried
Serious question. Is it possible to have more than 1 pain control during labor??? Because I am terrified of giving birth at the moment and I'm afraid it is going to be torture tbh. Not trying to be dramatic. I don't do well with pain. I can't handle it at all. I have chronic pain so you would think I could etc. Also* what if mom is using suboxone? Could you please do a video about that? I would like more information. I'm terrified right now.
For my first 5 kids I used only nitrous oxide. For my 4rth, my nurses wanted me to stop using it, at that point I didn't care and was huffing away. They couldn't take it from me, I had such a grip. My dear husband disconnected the mask from the gas for them and I didn't notice it so I was huffing away on just the air.
Why didn't she talk about the really big cons of the epidural - the 1 in 100 chance of intense months-long headache? the 1 in 10 chance of it not working? I think I'll still go with an epidural next time because the sheer horror of the pain of the first time (unmedicated except for gas) stuck with me for years.
I'm no expert but a quick google tells me epidural not working doesn't mean it's entirely ineffective, and it can re-done or re-adjusted. And the chance for headache is between 1 in 100 and 1 in 500. This is a difference already, and these odds are for any severity (mild to severe) and any length (few days - months) headache. It's important to distinguish these things when making a decision.
I've had two epidurals and a spinal and I wasn't able to move AT ALL. I had to be lifted to change the bedsheets and given my legs to push. I also didn't feel any pressure so I had no idea when to push. They also left me without being able to move one leg until the following day.. should I not be getting them? Is this common? Or is this a not great epidural
I think the goal is to not make the patient THAT numb. You can ask to have an epidural turned down, if need be.
We all should birth in water! Water is Life
I think water births are amazing. Many large obstetrical organizations (like ACOG) say to labor in water and “birth on land” which is such an odd sentence to say when taking about humans 🤷🏻♀️ but the feedback about water births from people who have done them is always incredible ♥️
I wish!!! The hospitals where I live dont have that option 😢😢😢
You can have a water birth at home. I did in my bathtub with my midwife.
I want to try at least laboring in water if I can get a room with a tub this time
Oh sorry - so you got all epidurals? And your happy you did that ?
Does it affect babies differently then natural do you think? Is it more traumatic for the baby ?
Unfortunately you can't ask a baby what their experience of birth was. However, studies have generally shown that the APGAR scores of babies born to moms with and without epidurals aren't all that different. The medication doesn't get to the mom's or baby's blood stream in significant amounts.
Gosh, I hate how UA-cam removes so many comments with links. Let me give people references!
With my first child, I got epidural and after some hours, my baby’s heart rate started to drop and I ended up having a cesarean section.
Five years later and pregnant again, I’m definitely avoiding epidural. I will only try other pain relief options if they are absolutely necessary and if I feel like I can’t bear the pain anymore.
Oh no, I am sorry that your situation went that way. I hope you and your baby were ok!
I love yours and mamadrjones content (would love to see a collaboration) ^_^
I have 6 kids 1st one was all natural (didn't have time for any medication 'til after I gave birth (so greatful for a very fast delivery) as for my the rest of my kids I got it through the IV (demerol) good thing I have a high pain tolerance because for my last 2 it wore off when it was time to push but it also might be because they only gave me half of the medicine (all my births were extremely fast except 1)
I would blow my top. She’s one of my fave creators!
@@mamanursetina so awesome ^_^
I had a hudge possibility of having surgery so I had to ask for the péridural at a point. But it was funny because I don't had to mutsh pain so I decided to took it after Some hours and every nurse was like "are you ok ? You chant it know ?" And I was literally euphoric all day... just utile they decided to go for the césarienne. After the boost of epidural, after all day labour, I was calm down !
I will do the same process for others if I could have others ! It was funny to do like it, at my rythum...
Ah, euphoria! Thanks for being here :)
@@mamanursetina adhd as some... nice little things !
Is there any residual given to the baby from the local anesthetic?
Minuscule amounts if any. They are used so close to delivery too I would doubt any would thought and if given after for repairs it would be zero.
🎉🎉
I will use laughing gas and local anesthetic
Those five options are not available for everyone in every country.
I am 32 weeks now can i get epidural to get baby
Did you use an epidural? If not why didn’t you?
29 weeks I am thinking of an epidural first time having baby