Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

DH and I went to a childbirth class today and, of course, the subject of epidurals came up. We talked about how they need to "turn down" the epidural once you are 10 cm dilated so you can feel the contractions and know when to push. When they "turn it down", is the pain relief completely over? Do you feel a tremendous amount of pain when you are pushing?

I am considering forgetting all about the epidural if it just helps you get to the point of 10 cm dilated (which i know is a struggle in itself)...

I am sorry if i sound dumb but the whole idea of a catheter in my back scared the crap out of me today

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

it is a scary thought, but however when the contractions started, i was the first one to say I want it!

they started to turn my down and I felt a lot of the pressure, which they said was the head in the right place.

My legs were still kind of numb. I couldn't position them because I couldn't feel them. The nurse had to put them up in the stirrups.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

You don't really feel the contractions when they turn it down, just a lot of pressure.

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maybe I am the minority, but I have to be honest - I was in a lot of pain when they turned mine down ....but, I am a baby when it comes to pain - I cry when I stub my toe! I had no idea that they turn down the epi...I found out after the fact. But the dr did tell me that they dont always have to turn it down much, depends on how "good" of a pusher you are he told me....

HTH

ps I dont think I would have been able to make it to 10 cm though w/o the epi....after 3 I was begging for it.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

I had no pain whn they turned it down....just pressure

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

They turned mine OFF!

Right before I had to push, the nurse came in and told me. I had NO IDEA they did this. I was hysterical crying because the second they turned it off, I felt so much pain. I was begging for them to put it back on. Supposedly its up to the doctor what they want to do. I was very angry with my doc for not discussing this with me earlier. I felt everything. The epi was wonderful for contractions but then when it came time to push, I felt it all.

I pushed for 3 hours and needed a c section anyway. I have to admit, it was awful. Next time I am at least going to go with a doctor who lets me at least TRY to push with it, thats if I dont have another c.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

i strongly suggest u having a natural childbirth- yes, it is painful, but yes, you CAN do it! the pain isnt constant, for one, you get breaks, and there is the most wonderful gift at the end- the beautiful life you created and supplied nourishment for for 40 weeks!!....do some research on natural childbirth, youll read a lot about how there are more complications and higher percentages of C sections when an epidural is administered (you cant push as hard bc u dont feel that much, which in turn can make baby's heart rate slow, and all DR will jump in for a c section...you dont know WHEN to push)... thats just me, im pro-natural birth... i always said, who knows how many children i am going to be able to have? id like to actually "feel" this one all the way thru. so, again, yes, we will all tell u how painful it was, but we will all tell you when it was over, and u look down at your child, that boy oh boy, it wasnt that bad..... good luck, and heres to hoping u have a beautiful labor and birth....PS- i have a sister with 6 kids, all natural births (3 of them homebirths), so i thank God i had her in my ear to tell me all about labor, and the biggest piece of advice she gave me was this- Summer, do not go to the hospital until u absolutely cant walk bc of the contractions....any sooner, youll be there, and ull let them conviince u to get an epidural just bc ull be laying there in bed in pain and ull think, "y not?" so that i did, waited and waited and waited for 5 hours and then i really WAS in pain, walked to the hospital, and had BD an hour later....

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

how far along are u?

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

My epi was never turned down or turned off while I pushed. I did end up pushing for 3 hours, but my doc said he never felt the need to have it turned down becuase I certainly could feel the pressure to push AND I was pushing great. She was just a little stubborn in wanting to come out. I would do it all again the same way if I have a 3rd.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

I was sooo against getting an epidural, you can read many of my past posts. I was in labor for over 48 hrs. I broke down by the time I was 5-6 cm dilated just b/c I needed to rest and I couldnt with the pain. I only had the epidural for a few hours. The dr tried to leave it on when I began pushing but it didnt work so she turned it off. Within 30 min I had most of the feeling back and felt the contractions but it is more of a need to push (you will understand once you go into labor). It was worth it for me just to sleep for a couple of hours and get my strength and energy back up just to deliver him.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

WIth Jack my epidural didn't work so I pretty much was hooked up to an epidural but had a natural childbirth. With Molly it was smooth sailing and they never turned it down. I dialated to 10 and pushed twice and she was here!

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

I didn't feel pain when they turned it down. I was also terrified of getting the epideral, but by the time I was ready for it, all the fear went away. I just wanted pain relief. I didn't realize i would feel the catheter going in and I jumped. I would suggest not jumping. Good luck

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I don't think mine was turned down at all. I didn't have any pain during pushing.

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No pain, just pressure as the others said. I felt the hardening of my belly, that is how I knew there was a contraction. As soon as the head passed, I felt nothing at all.

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I wanted an epidural so bad while pregnant, but I went so fast there was no time for one so I had her natural and I would do it again. It was uncomfortable, but I got through it. The pushing was not bad to me it felt like a burning sensation. Pushing a baby out was my biggest fear I always thought it would be so painful but it wasn't.

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I labored at home for a bit so I got the epidural at 7cm and it helped alot. They did turn it down and I didn't feel pain until I pushed the baby out, I really felt that.

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Don't be scared! When my doctor told me at 430a she was turning down my epi because I needed to be able to push better I nearly freaked! But, luckily, I never really felt any pain. I delivered at 649a...and towards the end I only felt slight pressure.

I think my epi guy gave me an extra generous dose because the doctor and the nurses kept saying to me "you STILL don't feel anything????"

Getting an epi is your choice, but for me I'm glad I did it because I was having some serious back labor and it REALLY, REALLY hurt. Without the epi, I would have been in pain for about 6 hours.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

They turned mine off too because I wasn't pushing right.

It DOES not wear off right away, it happens slowly and although I felt the contractions A LOT and the need to push, the baby was long out when I finally felt it had worn off completely.

Don't be scared of it, it is no where near as bad as you think it is.

I was afraid too, but am glad I got it and getting it was not scary at all. I was 7-8 cm when I got it, BTW.

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I had them turn mine up and the end and they did. I didn't feel a blessed thing and it was fabulous. My DD shot out in 5 pushes.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

If they did turn mine down, I had no idea. I held off on the epidural for a while. Once I got it I slept an hour and then pushed for about a half hour before my daughter was born. I felt absolutely nothing after they gave me the epi. Now I don't know why I held out so long on getting it.

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

Thanks for all of your input. It definitely sounds like a decision i can only make when i'm in the heat of the moment.

I am 37 weeks pregnant and i still have time to talk to my DH about it but i am glad that i found out what i did yesterday. The woman who ran the course that i went to had two totally natural births so naturally she is going to convince anyone that she can to skip the epidural. She was big into laboring as much at home as possible with music playing and massages from the dad. We'll see....

Thanks for all of your responses. I have a lot to think about now!!!

Re: Epidural Q for BTDT Moms

I kinda wish they had turned it down - maybe my outcome would have been dfferent.
Mine was cranked up so much, I was TOTALLY numb, couldn't lift my legs, nothing! I think it hindered my pushing because I had no idea where I was trying to push. The nurse would put a finger down there so show me where to push and I couldn't feel a darned thing!