Epidural - Martinsville,IN

Don't wait to ask for it. I did not get one with my first. Wish I had. When I had my second I wanted one and wasn't going to be talked out of it but since it happened so fast by the time I asked for it I was already at 10!!!

My labor (not induced) was 36 hours long.
I went the hospital 14 hours after it started, and got an epidural 2 hours later.
The contractions were very strong and less than a minute apart and I wasn't progressing past 3 cm - I stayed there for a long time.
I was in tears and the epidural was such a relief!
I managed to get a little sleep over night.
I had no idea I had another 20 hours to go.
I never would have had the strength to push him out if I didn't get a chance to rest up a bit.
He was 9 lbs 1.5 oz.
When the put the needle into your spine, it stays there until you are finished.
As the anesthesia runs it course, it will eventually run out if you let it, but they will renew it before it runs out.
I didn't become immune to it.
Mine had to be renewed 3 times.

I may be in the minority (at least for your question), however I didn't want an epidural and I didn't have one with either child. Mobility (being able to stand up and move around) was really important to me, and that wasn't an option here with an epidural. I was induced with Baby #1, and I did ask for pain meds after FINALLY being in active labor for about five hours or so (took forever to get me into labor). The meds gave me the break I needed so I could get out of my body's way, and when I was fully conscious again, I was fully dialated and the boy arrived about 45 minutes later. #2 was so quick that we almost didn't make it to the hospital in time, and even pain medication wasn't an option because I was fully dialated when they checked me. Quite a different scenario! Just giving you another view--I didn't particularly want to experience the pain, however being trapped in a bed lying down was not an option for me, so I compromised with using pain medication as necessary. Good luck, and know that regardless of what you do or don't do, the whole process WILL end. Wishing you the best.

I wouldn't get it before you need it. Ya never know. Both my induced babies (i have 5 kids) were terribly long labors, the other 2 of the other 3 were fairly quick, epidurals didn't seem to have anything to do with it since my last 3 kids I had an epidural. That being said, they kick in fast, and don't wear off, and if they do just let them know. They don't always take though, with number 3 and 5 I still felt it all, but with number 4 I couldn't even feel enough to know when to push. It just depends on how well it is placed. Talk to them about your concerns, and any history with anesthesia and go from there, they know what they are doing.

I had an epidural with both babies... the first I waited until I couldn't bear it anymore... that was a mistake because they have to give you an IV of liquids before they give the epidural AND you have to wait for the anesthesiologist (if there's only one on the floor and lots of women giving birth, you may have to wait in line). For my second, I waited until things were getting uncomfortable, but still tolerable so I knew if I had to wait an hour or two it wouldn't be a big deal. GOOD LUCK!

I did not want one, but after being on pitocin labor for 12 hours and only dialating to 6cm I was afraid I would not be able to push when the time came so I gave in. I had some kind of pump where I could control the amount of medicine. I quit pushing it right at 8cm because I wanted to be able to feel to push. It was just the right amount of pressure/pain.

I wouldn't get it before they break your water. I would get it after they break your water. My body progressed very rapidly and the epidural really did not take effect. I remember my doctor saying how unusual that was. That most women the epidural slows down their body's progress. I knew this was going to happen because my first child came very quickly and I wasn't induced. With being induced, they can adjust the amount of medicine to speed up or slow down the delivery process so I would get it after they break your water. The epidural can wear off so I would not want to take that chance.

I didn't have bad contractions with either of my pregnancies. In fact my water broke at home early in the morning with both pregnancies which is what alerted me to go to the hospital. My contractions felt like menstrual cramps. Anyway, I was induced with my first pregnancy. They asked if I wanted staydol (sp?) before my epidural. That was a nice little cocktail. I was nervous of the unknown and it really helped put me at ease. They gave me the epidural (injected into my spine) when I dilated to 3 or 4 cm. After that I literally didn't feel a thing. I really enjoyed my labor. I was able to visit with my family while we waited for my little guy to make his entrance into the world. He got stuck when I dilated to 8, so I was prepped for a C-section. When my daughter came along I had a scheduled C-section. So they gave me the spinal block from the waist down. The only part of that labor and delivery that freaked me out was I could literally feel the anesthesia work its way from my toes all the way up my middle. It actually made numb up to my chest and I couldn't feel myself breathe! I started to hyperventilate a bit but the nurses and anesthesiologist calmed me down by doing some deep breathing exercises. It was a really weird sensation at first!
HTH
A.

I just noticed this question when I finished responding to your first question. Make sure you read my response. (I requested the epidural catheter be placed before they even started my pitocin. It was great!) good luck!

Had a Spinal with my first Induction and that was wonderful I received it about 5 hours before actual birth. They thought I MAY need an emergency C, but I delivered just fine. I couldnt feel anything from chest down. I could only feel a slight need to poop, when my body wanted me to push. So I didnt have to have help there at all.
I did get an epidural with my last son, cause again they were worried they would have to take him by c-section. I was NOT induced with this one, but still they recommended it, in case. So about 2 hours before he was born they started the epi, and managed to paralyze my whole right side from waist down. I still felt absolutely everything as far as labor. It did nothing for helping the pain, and ended up being a hindrance cause I could not move my right side. It took 4 days to regain use again, and had to have Physical Therapy for months after, I still have residual nerve damage and pain in my right hip and leg. Will never have an epidural voluntary again
There are different kinds of Epi's. IF you want continuous low pain control you can get the catheter one where you release it yourself when the button lights up. If you want to be knocked out get the spinal. The doctor can adjust it... if it is wearing off, like a poster said, then you didn't ask for the correct one, or it was put in wrong.

I got mine right at 4cm. I was in so much pain (mainly back labor my son was on my spine) I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin. But the epidural is in an IV and it is consistent. When I got to pushing the upped the amount I was getting because the back pain got worse.

My plan was to mold off on the epi until I couldn't stand it anymore but I didn't last long. Just see how you are doing.

it will not wear down. I had 2 different experiences. With my first, they gave it to me when I wanted it and it was so strong, that I had to wait 30 minutes to push. They had to lighten up on the amount of the medicine!
With my 2nd, I was induced and was nervous. I kept hearing negative stories. Well, when they broke my water it did NOT hurt one bit. When I got my epidural, it made me itch all over for a little while. I don't know why it did the 2nd time and not the first, and the pain started to come back. All because I was squirming and the epidural came out. I don't even remember the pain from receiving the ep. You will be fine!!!

I made it a point to make it known on my medical chart LOL. Seriously both times I went to the hospital I said Hello (insert name) here, epidural ready to have a baby, epidural, is Dr.(insert) here, epidural? They laughed and said would you like an epidural? I laughed and said gee how do you know. As the nurses were prepping me I asked for the best Dr in the house (anaesthesia) to be on call and ready for me. It was the best legal drug both times. Good luck to you.

My doctor advised me to wait until I just couldn't stand it anymore. I did that the first time, but it didn't matter, because my labor went long enough that it still wore off before the baby came. And in response to Jo W., I told the anesthesiologist 3 times that it wasn't working anymore, but no amount of medication that they gave me provided any relief. It absolutely can "wear off" (or perhaps describing your body growing immune is a better way to say it). So the second time, I went in with the expectation that it would wear off, and just asked for it when everything became really painful, and it was wonderful. Good luck.

You can get it whenever you want it. My first labor was induced. They started the Pitocin when I was 0 cm and made me wait until 4cm for the epidural. I thought I was going to die. By the time my second baby rolled around (just 3.5 years later), they had changed their thinking and I didn't have to wait until 4cm. I got to the hospital and was 3cm. They told me I could have it anytime. With my third baby, I was lucky I had enough time to get one. I was 7cm when I got there and the anesthesiologist was busy. I got it when I was 8cm and the baby was born an hour later.

I don't think it wears off. I think they can also make it so they can re-dose you if it does wear off.

Best wishes for an easy delivery!

They tend to wait until you are dilated to 4 and in active labor. It does not wear off because there is a cath inserted into your spine with meds constantly flowing. The amount sometimes has to be increased as time wears on but those that say it wore off just forgot to tell the anesthesiologist that it wasn't working as well. Imagine that, distracted when you are in labor, who knew? :p

Just make sure you communicate to the anesthesiologist how you feel, don't be afraid to do it and be aware of it. If your legs feel like lead weights your are getting too much. If you can feel everything too little. I don't think people realize that there is no formula that is perfect because each person reacts differently to anesthesia. They give the norm so if you are not the norm you need to make the doctor or nurse aware of that. :)

Here's the timeline for my (induced) labor:
Pitocin started at 5am (dilated to a 1)
Water broken by doctor at 8am (at a 2)
Epidural when it got uncomfortable at 10 (at a 3)
Checked at noon and had gone from 3 to 8 cm!
At a 10 and started pushing at 2:15 and born at 4:06!
I looked at the pros and cons of epidurals and ultimately decided I wanted to not be in so much pain I wouldn't remember anything and I am very happy with my decision. It didn't help all that much with the pushing contractions, but I was able to rest comfortably until that point. Pitocin contractions are said to be more intense than natural contractions. Like the decision to induce or not, just do what your gut tells you to do. There are anti-epidural and pro-epidural people out there, each think they are right, but only YOU know what is right for you.

I got mine at about 6 cm with all of mine.

I had them break water before on the second and third.....I think it felt too odd with my first doing it numb.

I do not know about them wearing off...mine never did.

They did puncture my Epi sack during my last one...Which lead to spinal head ache.....I now have a new appreciation for miserable head aches....Even after having a blood patch done I still get positional head aches from them messing up.....It blows:)