Re: Nasty epidurals!
Cris Coffey (CCOFFEY@rugs.bry.indiana.edu)
Fri, 29 Mar 1996 12:54:49 EST5
After reading all the "Nasty Epidural" notes, I've reached the
conclusion that I am lucky not to have had one, nor will I attempt it
in the future! I've heard positive arguements for them...obviously
they're wonderful for some people. But I'd rather not risk the
complications, spinal headaches, spurts of pain in cold weather, etc.
Don't ge me wrong--I DID ask for an epidural during labor, but I
didn't get one. I don't think I could have bent over or arched my
back for it anyway--the labor pains pretty well paralyzed me and I
couldn't move any part of my body during the actual contractions
because they were so painful. I froze up. I'm not sure why I didn't
ever get one. On one end, I think they were waiting until I dilated
to 5 to make sure this was really "it" (I'd been hospitalized many
times with the notion that "this was it"). Once I reached 5 and
could have had the epidural, the OB broke my water and from there on
out I dilated too rapidly for it. Oh well. I was given a wonderful
medication called "Talwin" (sp?). It did absolutely nothing to
deaden any pain. It's benefit was to relax me during and in between
contractions because I was tensing up too much. The L&D nurse was
wonderful. I'd not been able to attend childbirth classes, so she
coached me, my husband, my mom, and my dad on what to do to ease the
discomfort and progress the labor. I guess I was tensing up enough
to prevent dilation. After the shot of Talwin it was smooth sailing,
but still with pain. I was so relaxed that I actually fell asleep
between contractions, and was awakened each time by my husband
shoveling ice chips between my lips.
I'm glad that I didn't have the epidural for another reason--I could
actually feel what was happening and delivery went much smoother and
faster. I knew exactly when I needed to push. I told the nurse I
needed to, and she said to go ahead and she summoned the doctor. I
felt when I needed to push, and I felt how hard I had to push. Those
benefits would not have been possible with an epidural. To me,
feeling nature take its course and letting my body tell me exactly
what to do to deliver the baby is the biggest benefit of not having
an epidural. It sure did hurt, but I lived!
Cris
From: KATNEM@aol.com
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 11:54:48 -0500
To: ypaschke@cclink.fhcrc.org, preemie-l@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Re: Nasty epidurals!
Hi all!
I was in full labor, contractions at 30 seconds apart. The anestheologist
first asked "what kind of insurance do you have?" Like I was really wanting
to have a casual conversation at that point. She could easily have looked at
my chart. She then put on that @$%^%$$# blood pressure monitor that squeezed
my arm so tight that my fingers turned purple and I couldn't decide which
hurt worse, the contractions or the blood pressure monitor. Then was the real
doozy. "Arch your back like a cat". I wanted to punch her.(and probaly would
have if the blood preesure monitor didn't hurt so bad) Anyway, after 3 failed
attempts to insert the IV or tubing, she pushed my shoulders forward and I
almost fell off the table.This was truly a nightmare. She finally succeeded,
and injected the epidural and followed it with a morphine drip. I'm sure most
of you know, the little black bag with the button you push anytime you are in
pain. I had mine taken out the next morning. I hated the feeling of a tube
hanging out of my back. To this day, when it is cold outside, I can still
feel pain in the missed injection sites. So I have to agree with yvonne,
epidurals are NASTY !
Susan (mommy to Katrina and Emily 5/11/94)
-----------------------------------------------------
Cris Coffey, Information Specialist
Sponsored Research Services
Indiana University
Bryan Hall 001
Bloomington, IN 47405
(812) 855-7865
-----------------------------------------------------