Hello 靚靚巧兒,
I am a mother of two. The first time I gave birth, I did not want to use epideral. But after 20 hours of pain, I still wasn't fully open (already used pitocin and break the water manually to induce). I couldn't eat or drink anything and I was exhausted. Finally I gave up and used epidural as the doctor recommended.
For the second baby, I asked for epidural right away after I got admitted to the hospital. I had pretty good experience with epidural so far, no side effect.
I think I am one of those lucky woman ... I didn't use epidural and I didn't experience the pain over 3 hours.
I still remember 355 days ago, I broke water at home at 11:30pm, ran to bathroom to take a shower & wash my hair. We arrived hospital at 1am, by that time I still not feeling any pain. Because my parents went to hospital with us, I even told my husband took them home first and have 3 hours sleep then come back to see me la … I don’t want everybody wait in hospital for maybe over 10?20? hours since I didn’t feel any pain and people said first time mom used to take 10 hours before the BB born. I start feeling the pain at around 3am but I didn’t ask for epidural since both my husband & I worry about the side effect, and Matt was born at 5am. I’m so luck that Matt came out to see this world very fast, but too bad that my husband didn’t have enough time come back to experience with me.
I knew woman use epidural before said that’s the best medicine in the world. I would recommend you talk to your doctor regarding your concern of epidural, he/she can give you more professional advice before you make your decision. Different woman can hold the pain in different level, and no one know how long will the “level 10” pain last.
Wish you have a “fat fat white white” baby ah! Don’t be too worry ah … not all the first time mom experience looong pain ga.
When I had my 1st child, I didn't want to use epideral until I feel really painful. Becuase growing up, my mom told me it hurt ur back bone alot. So when the doctor asked me if I wanna use it, I told him I can still wait a bit. 陣痛其實唔係好痛﹐ but when my doctor want to check me, 佢一碰到我大脾我就痛到死(唔知點解)﹐ 根本檢查唔到﹐ so he order epideral for me. It is not so bad actually. 打既時候我覺得仲冇吊鹽水咁痛添。
This time I told my doctor I need epideral right after I checked in to the hospital. Because he told me 2nd child will be very fast, I don't wanna wait til my water break. I feel lucky I did it earlier, because I waited 12 hrs (4pm - 4am). 打左真係咩都feel 唔到﹐ 我一路訓到生得先醒左開始生。 連醫生剪﹐ 縫針﹐ 我都唔覺。 It's acutally better this way, because you need to save the energy to push.
My conclusion is, not that what my mom used to say was wrong, you just got to understand one thing, which is, 醫學技術日日進步﹐ 就算同一樣野﹐ 十幾二十年前同依家都唔同左。 最主要係﹐ 妳生BB醫院既麻醉師手勢好唔好。 呢樣可以問下妳個醫生。 不過妳睇我呢D咁熬底既人都夠膽一年生一個﹐ 就知道其實打麻醉唔得人驚。
HappyMatt, you're really very lucky ah!! Did you walk a lot when you were pregnant?
靚靚巧兒, I totally agree with BabyRnC that the IV is more painful than the epidural. Actually my first 麻醉師 was a resident (trainee) only, but it wasn't painful at all. He did need to try a few times, maybe because I am tiny size and it's hard to find the right spot on my spine la. The second 麻醉師 was very experienced but still took her a while to put it in.
I am extremely scared of needles. Even now for my kids check-up or flu shot, I will let my husband to take them because I can't even see them do it to my kids. I don't want to make my kids nervous because of me.
I would recommend using epidural if possible. Of course, as HappyMatt said, you need to check with your doctor if it's suitable for you first.
my first time (with Amanda) the water bag broken, however, she is over size (34weeks with almost 7lb), I have heart mur mur, she has heart mur mur. no contraction since water broke for almost 10 hours. so OB desided to induce labor plus use epideral (because I have asthma, they want to save my energy).. it works wonderful.. I only push 18 minutes to labor Amanda.
my second time (with Gabriel), full term, Bleeding. but contraction too weak. So, OB again, induce labor, and use epideral, to save my energy. Work wonderful again. It takes me from my first push till the placenta came out only 6mins.
as I do exercise everyday, walk a lot and as a nurse on med surg floor, so I move a lot.. and I know how to force my abdomen.. 多紮馬, 係易生好多.
Beth isreal medical center, I trust them.. I have the same midwife for my both laboring.. that was cool..
(also the same crew because I had so much complication on my pregnancy, so I had been admitted so many times, and they knew me.. ).
The first time I used epidural, I really had zero pain. But I still feel some pain the second time I used it, just less severe. the 麻醉師 said that way I could feel the contraction and know when to push. I shouldn't expect all the pain to go away totally.