How physically demanding is childbirth (with epi)?

[Anonymous]

PP here - I did have an epi, which is in your question, and I still thought labor was really hard. I also ended up with an urgent c-section (note: not "emergency". Emergency is when mom goes under general anesthesia because the baby needs to come out NOW. Gets confused on this board a lot, but in your case could be an issue??)

Emergency c-sections are some of the scariest medicine for doctors to practice and they obviously try to avoid at all costs because general anesthesia does cross the placenta. I think since you have a condition you're worried about, you need to talk to your doc about the possibility of you needing emergency c-section if you can't do it, vs if you decide during labor that you can't hack it and they need to do an "urgent" c-section. The two are worlds apart

Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

I agree that you should talk to the Dr treating you for the underlying medical condition - and suggest that you ask for a conference with you and both doctors(specialist and OB) , so that you can assure yourself everyone is on the same page.

That said - and while every birth is obviously different - I suspect that there are ways your Dr/ nurses could manage your labor to make it as un-strenuous as possible. First, get the epi as soon as possible, to avoid exhaustion from the pain of contractions. Second, "labour down" so that the baby is as close as possible to coming out anyway before you start actively pushing. This combination will probably make total labor time much longer, but physically easier.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that you should talk to the Dr treating you for the underlying medical condition - and suggest that you ask for a conference with you and both doctors(specialist and OB) , so that you can assure yourself everyone is on the same page.

That said - and while every birth is obviously different - I suspect that there are ways your Dr/ nurses could manage your labor to make it as un-strenuous as possible. First, get the epi as soon as possible, to avoid exhaustion from the pain of contractions. Second, "labour down" so that the baby is as close as possible to coming out anyway before you start actively pushing. This combination will probably make total labor time much longer, but physically easier.

Good luck!

This is excellent advice. And don't be scared by some of the previous posters who are marathon runners and barely made it through childbirth--yes, pushing is hard work but you don't need to be a competitive athlete to deliver a baby vaginally! Alot of it has to do with genetics, your physical size and build, and the size of your baby. Hang in there and good luck.

[Anonymous]

I think the PP who made the point about c-section recovery is right -- while a vaginal delivery might exhaust you, I can't imagine how long it will take someone with no stamina to recover from major abdominal surgery.

Another thought: If your body is progressing on its own (i.e., you are dilating and effacing), perhaps consider an induction? Pitocin will get those contrax going fast, and you can get an epi right away (and you'll want to, believe me). Both of my deliveries were pitocin-induced (not by choice but because my water broke and I didn't contract on my own), and once I got the epidural, I actually felt pretty relaxed. I'd even call my second easy -- essentially relaxed in bed for the couple hours of contractions and pushed for only ten minutes (45 with #1).

Obviously, everyone's experience is different, and a medically induced birth brings risks (including increased risk of urgent/emergency c-section), but it might be worth at least discussing with your doctor.

I also have to say that in a time when many OBs push for elective c-sections to make birth more "predictable" (even though studies have found that elective c increases risk to mom and baby), I think that your OB's opposition to it is actually pretty telling. OBs get sued at the drop of a hat these days, so if she's aware of your concerns and still wants you to deliver vaginally, she must think the c-section is a bad idea. Still, agree with others that you should get a second opinion from a physician who specializes in your condition (not, I think, from another OB).

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

OP again -- thanks for all your advice, everyone! I actually do have an appointment coming up with my condition-specific specialist. But heard from another pregnant woman on a condition-based message board who said her specialist, OB, and perinatologist all are pushing different things, so figure more opinions may not help! (Though more knowledge / advice ALWAYS helps, to inform the ultimate decision.)

Your comments have given me some good ideas for areas of further discussion with my docs, which may be a big help in the long run. Appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

OP, a lot of people have said this already, but I would also urge you to get a second opinion. If you are exhausted by simple tasks due to your condition, you should have every childbirth option available to you, based on your unique situation. Your decision should not be dictated by your doctor's preferences. I personally found childbirth incredibly exhausting, and I would disagree with the previous poster who said recovery time for a C-section is always longer - not true at all if you get a really bad tear. Please talk with your specialist and go through all the possible scenarios, then make the decision based on your knowledge of your physical condition. Healthy baby, healthy mom - that's the goal. Good luck!