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Post by SaRa on Dec 3, 2008 17:27:48 GMT -5
LOL, we actually played cards after my epidural too... It was awesome!
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Post by sarabear on Dec 3, 2008 17:48:11 GMT -5
My epi was FABULOUS with Kirsten. I got it before they started labor because my bp was so high they thought I was going to seize. Epidurals bring BP down. They told me I had to have it. This was in that all natural gronola crinching Belgian hospital, lol. I was the only american that got one that month, lol. The anesthesiologist hung out in my room for hours and translated cause she was british.
BUT with Sara I wanted it as soon as I came in and my ob does not let you get it till 3cms. Well apparently he didn't believe when I said I went fast! They broke my water at 3cms. I freaked out (with every right because Kirsten was born 30mins after they broke my water and I was at a 5 when they did it. Went from 5 to 10 in ONE contraction!). By the time I got it, I was already an 8 an hour later. Boy was I pissed when it didn't work! Apparently, my ob didn't believe me again because he gave me a shot of demerol 7 minutes before she was born. We WILL be discussing that I get the epidural before my water is broken this time.
So now you know why I am so freaked about these contractions and premature labor. Both girls were emergency inductions. Kirsten was 7 hours. Sara was 3 hours 7 mins. What about the 3rd ones? I was watching a baby story and the dr on there said 3rd babies come even faster!!!!
In fact, I think we should just go ahead and start discussing some of this and I am going to tell him to put on my file in big red letters NO ONE BREAKS MY WATER TILL I HAVE AN EPIDURAL IN. I have NO desire to do natural childbirth again.
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Post by Debs on Dec 3, 2008 18:03:51 GMT -5
The bp effects are the downside of an epidural for me. Usually my blood pressure ends up too low and they have to add stuff to the i.v. to bring it back up. I could do without the lightheadedness of that. But the pain relief is worth it!
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Post by benner1976 on Dec 3, 2008 18:23:31 GMT -5
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Post by SaRa on Dec 3, 2008 18:46:33 GMT -5
AHHH just talking about the epi makes me happy.. LOL
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Post by PTK&C's mommy on Dec 3, 2008 19:12:01 GMT -5
i'm terrified of having an epi... the thought of having a needle that close to my spinal cord is terrifying to me. i know that the chances of impairment after an epi are small, but just the fact that there IS a chance scares me. I'm going to try drug free... i may change my mind, but at this point, that's the "plan"
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Post by Debs on Dec 3, 2008 22:04:45 GMT -5
Niki,
Because of the back labor, I was in so much pain the first time that I didn't even feel it go in. With the others, since I had done it before, it wasn't that big of a deal.
Susan, that would really freak me out too! I am usually able to stand by the time the baby has been cleaned up. Granted, I hold them for a while before we do all of that, but it doesn't seem that long.
You would have freaked over the "arm thing". It was high enough that it was making me feel like I couldn't breathe very well. But that is abnormal for me. I know they dosed me up a lot because they weren't sure if it hadn't gone in right the first time, or if I could just still feel it. If it were to happen again, when they re-placed the needle, I'd tell them not to start me on a high dose.
I didn't start having the blood pressure issues until baby #4. It was about that time when they changed the epidurals a bit. They used to numb your legs more than they do now. Whereas before I couldn't move below my torso, with the "new" ones I still have some feeling in my legs and can sometimes turn myself over etc. There are advantages to the way they do it now, but whatever the new formula is really throws my blood pressure off. It drops too low. With baby #4, I actually passed out while in labor from it. Since then I have known to warn them, and they watch my bp a lot closer. I think it is epinephrine they add to the IV when it drops.
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Post by sarabear on Dec 3, 2008 23:13:44 GMT -5
I have to say for me, the pain of labor was like GIVE ME ANYTHING. Honestly, I got over the whole needle issue when I was pregnant with Kirsten. After being in the ICU with her and having every vein collapse and them taking blood out of my feet. Well, that cured me of my needle phobia.
I would still be willing to get one now even though I got poked 5 times for a spinal when I had a D&C after Sara was born. That sucked. I had eaten and drank fluids, I had to have an emergency d&c after an US. Basically I sucked up a lot of fluids to do the US, and then they wouldn't let me leave because they said I had debris and my uterus was full of blood (8 days pp). They called my ob's office, he was delivering a baby. He didn't tell them what to do with me so they had to call back. My ob called his office and the office manager calls the xray place. They tell me on the phone I needed emergency surgery. Find someone to watch the girls and get to the hospital immediately. I was in surgery less than an hour later. So after that, needles don't bug me. That being said, I know if I needed to do it I could. However, I don't feel less or that I should have been able to do it, kwim. Really, it's a quick pinch for the numbing med. Once you get that, no big deal. I even tried to watch and my dh was like NOOOOOOO, don't look. Apparently it was a really long needle and almost made him pass out. Now, how can I convince my ob to give one to me at admission doors. I don't even care if anyone else sees, lol.
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Post by benner1976 on Dec 3, 2008 23:40:57 GMT -5
Debs I had DD about a month after you had Hyrum and DS about 3 months after you had Seth. My epis were different meds with the same effects. My legs feel like lead. With DS they dosed me up good about 15 minutes before I had him. I started having pain and called the nurse in. She was so intent on me not having the same experience as before that she had the anesthesiologist came in and he gave me a bolus. Then they checked me and I was complete. He nearly came out on his own. LOL! Anyway, after the bolus my legs were gone.
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Post by Debs on Dec 3, 2008 23:59:40 GMT -5
That is really scary that it took that long for you to get feeling back. Do you know if they could do anything different and not have that happen (besides feel all of the pain I mean)? Maybe cut the bolus in half or something? i can see why you are thinking twice about it. There really is a balance between being in pain and being numb! With my last two i really missed the mark...it wore off right before Seth was born, and I obviously had too much with Noah.
Have you discussed the epidural with your doc as far as the lovenox goes? I know that can be an issue as well, but since I am still so early, I haven't asked about it.
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