how much does epidural help when pushing?

[Anonymous]

Does an epidural make a big difference during the pushing stage? I know that it would sort of numb you a bit (some people say, too much) but is pushing without one superduper painful, or is the epidural more to get you through contractions?

Last time I didn't get it until I was like 8 cm dilated and I think I could have kept going, but it was definitely a relief. Also for DC1, they had to do a small snip to get him out after I had been pushing for 3 hrs--not an episiotomy but it was a small snip. If I didn't have an epidural, would that hurt a lot?

[Anonymous]

I have only had an epidural birth so I can't compare. I had a 3rd degree tear that still hurt like hell when it happened even with the epidural. The stitching just felt like very strong pressure though so I'm guessing the epidural helped relieve that pain.

[Anonymous]

I had an epidural with my first, and I was 8 cm when they put it in, and basically ready to push once I had the relief. My next two kids I had without pain medication, largely because after the first birth experience I also felt like I could have kept going.

Yes, it’s very painful, but it’s typically faster without an epidural. Your body know when to push, they don’t have to look at a screen and tell you to push (ha! They were like 5 seconds late when they tried, I “knew” a contraction was coming and I as already pushing like hell!) So the whole thing is more efficient.

I found pushing more painful than contractions but I’ve been told that’s unusual and most people find contractions worse and pushing to be a relief (like, it’s still painful, but it’s active).

[Anonymous]

I had both experiences and let me tell you that the epidural one was a cake walk compared to the natural one for me. In fact, i was very pro-all natural in the first one and chose to have the epidural in the second. Of course this might be different for everyone and depends on your preferences.

[Anonymous]

^ oh and the snip would have hurt but you have so many endorphins you wouldn’t have noticed. I mean, with my second unmedicated birth I tore from my vagina to my urethra and I didn’t notice. I mean, the whole thing was painful, but I was so focused that it was like getting a paper it while trying to lift a boulder or something.

[Anonymous]

Paper cut

[Anonymous]

No epidural and ended up with a second degree tear, plus laceration (no stitches) towards my urethra. Didn't feel it, I was so focused on getting that kid OUT. And then they used lidocaine before stitching me. I mean, yeah, overall it hurt. Unmedicated childbirth generally does, and my baby decided sunny-side up was how he wished to enter the world.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the epidural- with my first one it hurt like hell. With the second one- only felt pressure and no pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the epidural- with my first one it hurt like hell. With the second one- only felt pressure and no pain.

I had this, but in reverse. I was shocked by my first birth being painless (and no, I wasn't too numb and felt I could manage pushing well). The second also shocked me in a bad way.

[Anonymous]

No epidural. Labor was bad but pushing was not. However, I have long very skinny babies so maybe that helped?

[Anonymous]

My epidural failed. And then I was supposed to push but I was paralyzed with pain. I couldn’t sit up at all to push. Embarrassing but all I could do is cry and I am a strong person. I got my bolus and it was heaven. Super numb immediately but then 15 min later I happily pushed and got to hold my baby without pain. Bliss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had both experiences and let me tell you that the epidural one was a cake walk compared to the natural one for me. In fact, i was very pro-all natural in the first one and chose to have the epidural in the second. Of course this might be different for everyone and depends on your preferences.

I had the same experience. First birth, no epi, pushed for 45 minutes and tore badly. It hurt SO MUCH. As did the clean up and stitching. I believe I threatened to kick the poor resident who was doing it and it was really hard for me to enjoy the baby I had just met. Then I nearly bled out.

Second birth, got the epi, pushed 3 times total and couldn’t feel it at all. I wasn’t even sure I was doing anything, but baby popped out on the 3rd push. Then we snuggled and nursed for over an hour. It was blissful.

Epidural FTW IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had an epidural with my first, and I was 8 cm when they put it in, and basically ready to push once I had the relief. My next two kids I had without pain medication, largely because after the first birth experience I also felt like I could have kept going.

Yes, it’s very painful, but it’s typically faster without an epidural. Your body know when to push, they don’t have to look at a screen and tell you to push (ha! They were like 5 seconds late when they tried, I “knew” a contraction was coming and I as already pushing like hell!) So the whole thing is more efficient.

I found pushing more painful than contractions but I’ve been told that’s unusual and most people find contractions worse and pushing to be a relief (like, it’s still painful, but it’s active).

I've only given birth drug-free but pushing was more painful than contractions for me, 100%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had both experiences and let me tell you that the epidural one was a cake walk compared to the natural one for me. In fact, i was very pro-all natural in the first one and chose to have the epidural in the second. Of course this might be different for everyone and depends on your preferences.

I had the same experience. First birth, no epi, pushed for 45 minutes and tore badly. It hurt SO MUCH. As did the clean up and stitching. I believe I threatened to kick the poor resident who was doing it and it was really hard for me to enjoy the baby I had just met. Then I nearly bled out.

Second birth, got the epi, pushed 3 times total and couldn’t feel it at all. I wasn’t even sure I was doing anything, but baby popped out on the 3rd push. Then we snuggled and nursed for over an hour. It was blissful.

Epidural FTW IMO.

Same. Had two natural and one w epidural. Had bad tearing and lengthy pushing with natural. With epidural pushed 3 times and much milder tear. I am convinced the epi helps you to relax and let your body do the work it knows how to do.

[Anonymous]

Had epidural with the first and it failed. Pushing was so much easier than the rest of labor. Labor was 22 hrs and painful and I threw up from the pain ugh. Pushed for barely 20 min with the first, and a tiny tear.

Got the epi for the second and it was such a blissful experience. No pain at all after. Just chilled and watched tv and waited for the baby to make her way down. I had maybe 5 pushes and she was out. No tears.