Epidural Scare!

I agree, epidurals are scary and not nearly as safe as women assume and doctors make them sound. My advice is VBAC, don't be induced, and go without drugs. Waiting until the baby is ready and you go into labor naturally will cut down on the chance of not dilating, and so will not having the epidural (about 25% of women stall out in labor after an epidural is introduced).
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Hi Felica, Do you have to have another c section? I had 2 and then with my 3rd I had VBAC. I had horrible experiences with both of my c sections and when I was pregnant with my 3rd I read as much literature as I could about the "dangers" of a V-back. My doc wasn't 100% for it but he also knew how strongly I felt and I explained to him why. A couple questions though, did you have the 2nd C-section merely because you already had one? Did they really do an epidural or was it a spinal tap? There is a difference from what I've been told. I had a spinal tap for both of mine and from what you explained with your second, I had a similar experience with my second except for the leg issue. My problems started after the baby was already out and they were sewing me back up and all of a sudden from my toes up I started to feel like I was being crushed and I thought I was dieing. My husband almost became ill and another doc took him out of the room. The anesthesiologist put something in my iv quickly and then I began to feel a bit better but even now with my second son 7 and a half I can still remember what that felt like. IF having a V back isn't an option for you make sure you discuss your concerns with your Ob and also when your delivery time gets closer have a serious discussion with your anesthesiologist. Tell them everything you experienced and ask them to explain to you what was happening and why and if they have a plan in place to avoid it or what they will do if it happens again. If your second c section was at least 2 years ago and it was just scheduled merely because you had already had one then I think you have a strong case to discuss the VBAC. The biggest issue with a VBAC is the scare that your incision from the former c-section will tear and this is really serious, you could die and so could the baby. Now having said that, the other thing to consider is that c-sections are major surgery. So many people don't really say much because they are so common but they are and things go wrong with them as well as you and I have both experienced. I am so glad I had the VBAC, my recovery time was lightning speed compared to how sick and soar I was after both of my c-sections. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck. I would do what you can to resolve your concerns so you are not stressed out, it's not good for you or your baby.

Hi iam 46 now but i had my kids in 85 86 c section 11 months apart.Well i dont no why they would give you so much in the first place.Do you fell that the first one was nessasery.I would not dealate because i was smaller on one side then the other a lot of doc do that to get it over with i was in labor for 29hrs.I need it my daghter just had a baby girl in feb 5/09 they indused her she was there from 5 am till i got there deliverd at 8:30 she just need to get a little upset i was making her nerves i guess talking a lot thats what made her not kinda fouces on it all then she was born.Iwould not let them do that to you agian its not good i would have them but you outif you are a very healthy person.Iwas but out for my son it went well he is 22 now.Ithink 3 is a charm its not good to have to many c sections. Well hope i helped good luck would like to hear back how our doing.

I would research the anisthesiologists at the hospital where you plan to give birth. Request the BEST one you find.

Typically after 2 sections you can not attempt a VBAC, so I'm guessing that is not an option. Be open and honest with your doctor. Tell him your concerns and work out a plan together. If you're doctor does not seem sympathetic to your concerns and willing to work out a plan that puts you at ease, then find a new doc.

i had 3 c-sections with my 2 ihad an epidural i felt the same way. i also hated that i couldnt getup & move around , with my last 1 i had a spinal that was totaly different, i could actually get up & walk around and not have to be confined to bed i dont really know what the differents is i just know it was alot better

given the circumstances can't your doctor use the same medication in your IV as before? or is a VBAC an option?

First I would be sure you find a new OB and second I would think about a different hospital.But you could still have problems.Things like you descibed are freak accourances and rarely happen twice.

I don't know what to say to you never having gone through all of this. I guess you need to remember the odds are against what happened last time ever happening to anyone and give it up to a higher being in prayer.

I also had a HORRIBLE epidural experience with my twin girls. It took over an hour to get it in and they kept hitting my spine and I almost passed out...it was AWFUL!!! Anyway, I just want to tell you that the last epidural I had (with my son) went so much more smoothly. They took their time rather than just jabbing it in and I think it only took 30 min. It was still one of the least fav parts of L&D, but, hey - what isnt!?! I think that your fear is totally legitimate - I am scared again this time around too - but just make sure everyone is aware of now horrible your last experience was. I think that expressing how scared I was to my nurse and the anesthesiologist helped them to be more aware and take more time and care into making my second experience better. Good luck!!

First off.. been there done that..lol Get a reccommendation on a good anesthesiologist then ask your doctor about getting a spinal instead of an epidural. For my 2nd c-section they gave me a spinal.. just a simple shot in my lower back that literrally worked in seconds. I was sooo excited that it was virtually not much pain (taking into consideration the contractions i was having) I had a difficult 1st delivery.. the epidural after several attempts failed. Anyway .. inquire about a spinal... many people i know prefer that over a epidural.. Unlike the epidural it doesn't stay in you.. its a shot.. Epidurals are better if you are laboring/pushing and unsure how long it will take and you can keep giving yourself more.. A spinal is almost immediate and has a certain lenght of time.

Hi F.,

Congrats on your pregnancy! Try not to worry b/c every delivery seems to be different, as least for me.

I pretty much the same way about the epidural w/ the 3rd delivery. I had the same thing with my legs shooting out and then with the 2nd delivery I started having back pains/labor after the epidural which made me really nausious. My back was still in spasms for a while after the delivery, enough so that the anesthesiologist came back to visit me twice- once later that evening and again the next morning.

The 3rd delivery went fine. I asked for other pain relief the first time- I think that they gave me Staydol (sp?) and waited until 6 1/2 centimeters diliation to get the epidural. They said that at that point an edipural was all that they would give me, it was too close to delivery. I almost opted for nothing- was that afraid of another epidural but it went perfectly this time and I could get a little rest and I delivered 2 hrs later. Healthy baby girl.

Please don't start worrying now- just try to enjoy your pregnancy! Best wishes for a safe, painfree delivery!

Mom of 3 girls (14, 9 1/2, and 7 (This delivery was 7 yrs ago tomorrow))

Same sort of thing happened with my second. I have since found out. I have a very curvy spine. Letter C shaped and with being 5'!" tall it doesn't help. I had to have a spinal done recently and they had to use an x-ray to guide the needle. Might be something to ask about.