During my last labor and delivery I received an epidural and my baby had a reaction to it. Her heart rate dropped every time they increased the dose. The same thing happened to my sister. I honestly don't think I'll do an epidural again!

Wow I have never heard of that happening before. I thought it was just the woman who had reactions to the epidural.

Well, I had decided not to have pain medication during my induced labor(pitocin and mag sulfate due to toxemia) until after 6 hours, I couldn't take it any more. I begged for that anesthesiologist to come back and give me some relief! So an hour later (an eternity!) he showed up and made my husband leave while he did the procedure. I wasn't happy that hubby got kicked out, but it was policy at my hospital. I was out of it with the pain, but here is what I remember: He gave me a local anesthetic so that I wouldn't feel the epidural going in. I couldn't see anything he was doing because it was all happening to my back. He put some kind of template on my back and told me it was very important for me not to move so I concentrated on not moving while the pain of the contractions was horrendous. I felt some pushing in my back, it was in, the med flowed and I could relax again and began to feel a helluva lot better-you can lay on your back since only a flexible tube carrying the medicine comes out from your back. They put in a catheter, but you don't feel it either. Taking out the epidural was easy as well, since it only took a few seconds-I was surprised. After all the fear I had from reading about migraines and my giving myself a hard time about wimping out to get the medicine, I was sincerely glad that I did it. I had a miserable birthing experience (babies to the NICU, didn't see them for a couple of days because I kept fainting) and found the epidural, ironically, to be one of the few things that went right.

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I have to say, after having my labor induced, and about 7 hours of labor, I finally got the epidural as well. It worked fairly well although they did have to lower the dosage because of effects it was having on me. It didn't however, affect the baby at all and she is very healthy now.

The epidural shouldn't effect the baby, and it shouldn't effect any part of mother besides the lower half being a bit numb. The problems start when the epidural is done incorrectly. If you feel a metal taste or hear a ringing in your ears, speak up. The doctors can't help you if you don't tell them what is going on. And don't be afraid to ask questions. The more you understand, the easier it is to know when to speak up.

I had an epidural during my labor, and I was finally able to relax for a bit. I ended up with a c-section anyway. To do it over again, I would probably still have an epidural, but I would try to wait a bit longer before having it done.

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Tigriz
Mom to Alex - 1/21/06

The epidural is one of the best things ever invented. I would definitely have one again. I had one and I don't regret it at all. Everything turned out fine for me and my baby.

is there anything other type of pain relief during the actual labor process besides an epidural? are there any other options? i faint at the site of needles and was wondering if there was anything that could be taken orally.

I had some kind of iv medication which did help and took the edge off, but I'll tell you that when you are in that much pain I don't think the needle will bother you if you know it will ease the pain. I personally never saw the needle and didn't look. I never even felt the needle go in because the other pain was so intense.

I had an epidural and the experience was a very good one. I have never heard of the baby having a reaction to it, however I have heard side effects to the mother, dropping heart rate, etc.