"Walking" Epidural

[Anonymous]

No such thing. I mentioned it to my doc (at VHC), and they nixed the idea quickly.

[Anonymous]

just ask the doc for a light touch. My first epi was perfect -- no pain, but I could feel my legs from the thighs down and shift myself on the bed without assistance. That wore off later that night so he topped me off. Got a little epi happy apparently because I was completely numb from my breastbone down to my toes. I promptly had a panic attack and thought I was going to die. UGH. Once that wore off, it was better. I got topped off twice more (in labor for 27 hours) and it was the perfect amount again. When it came time to push, I could feel alot of pressure, but no pain. Which is good since my 1st degree tear turned into a 2nd degree tear when my doc had to go in and remove my placenta by hand since it wasn't coming out on its own. Now that's the labor pain I remember. UGH.

[Anonymous]

at VHC, laboring mothers are given a pump where you can re-dose yourself every 10 minutes up to 4 times in one hour. I labored and delivered there on April 10 of this year. My body tends to rid itself of pain meds quickly, but then again, I wanted a natural childbirth (gave that up after 21 hours).

Anyway, When I first got the epi and it "took effect" they put in the cath and I felt that along with contractions in my lower back. I did a pump of meds and that took the edge off that pain but I still felt cath, contractions (not painful) and also my legs (all of my legs, back, sides, but it was pins and needles feeling in some places).

When it was time to push, I realized that I felt quite a bit. This was good and bad. Good b/c I could be helpful and efficient when pushing, but bad b/c I was going to feel pain. I did feel the ring of "fire" but for me it wasn't fire....maybe a slow burn. I felt me tear too. That hurt like hell. HELL.

At VHC, if you ask for no meds/low interventions, they STOP OFFERING DRUGS, so after i delivered I asked to be that my vag be numbed before stitching. Worked.

Good luck! My experience at VHC was very nice and I'm happy with my level of pain/pain relief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the anesthesiologist said it was because if you are going to get the epidural, they want it to be strong enough to block the pain of a c-section if something goes wrong. So that they don't have to give you more medicine if you need to have an emergency c-section.

I heard this is because the second dose may not have full effect.

These are both wrong. If you need a c/s, the anesthesiologist ALWAYS gives a much stronger dose of medicine, through the epidural catheter, for the surgery. In an emergency situation, the dose can be given even as you are running down the hall into the OR. The level of medicine that is given through an epidural for a vaginal delivery will simply never be enough for surgery. In rare occasions when the epidural cannot be increased sufficiently in time for a stat c/s, then general anesthetic can be given.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the anesthesiologist said it was because if you are going to get the epidural, they want it to be strong enough to block the pain of a c-section if something goes wrong. So that they don't have to give you more medicine if you need to have an emergency c-section.

I heard this is because the second dose may not have full effect.

Hmmm. I had a lighter epi at Sibley, at my request. I ended up with a c-section and it was no problem at all. The anesthesiologist just administered additional medicine. FYI, they would have to administer more medicine anyway for a c vs. a regular (even non-"light") epi because for a c you are numb from the chest down.