Nine Things About The Epidural They Don't Tell You
You don't usually hear about these at antenatal class:
1. You have to stay absolutely still to get the injection in your spine
This is very tricky if you decide to get the epidural mid-way through labour, as opposed to having it at very start of labour when your contractions are not so bad. You're getting painful contractions but have to try to to ignore those for a few seconds, while your back is arched and the injection is put in.
2. It does not kick in immediately
I kept waiting for it to kick in and with each contraction I got after I had had the injection, my fear about this next point was elevated.
3. The epidural does not work for all
The epidural has a success rate of 98-99%. It is possible to be one of the 1-2% of cases where it does not work. While I was waiting for it to kick in, I had this sudden fear that I was one of those very few women it just does not work for.
4. The amaaaazing relaxing feeling
I could sleep, the relief! It was a fantastic feeling. I could relax and actually in 2 hours, I went from 2cm to 5cm. The epidural can speed up your labour, at least it did for me, but this is not the case for everyone.
5. The itch & other side effects
I shared earlier about how I got an all body itch as the epidural wore off. Obviously this does not happen to everyone. Read here for more about epidural side effects.
6. You can get the epidural dosage increased
I started with a low dose, but over time that started to wear off and at a point I could feel the contractions full on again. I requested for a dosage increase at that point.
7. At the top end of the dosage, you need a catheter
I really did not want a catheter but I was told I had no choice as I was going into the theatre at that point and a Caesarean was very much a possibility. When the catheter comes off, you have to be careful with getting back unto your feet and walking again. I found this quite weird. The midwife helped me up and I felt a bit unsteady, but then fine again in a few minutes time. I then felt strong enough to have a shower.
8. Nerve twitches
For months after I had the epidural I had nerve twitches at random places on my body. The have completely stopped now.
9. Swollen feet and leg
This is not directly related to the epidural, but because I had IV fluids two days after birth of baby, I had swollen feet (edema). I never got this during pregnancy so I was a bit shocked by it. A few days later it was gone.
This is very tricky if you decide to get the epidural mid-way through labour, as opposed to having it at very start of labour when your contractions are not so bad. You're getting painful contractions but have to try to to ignore those for a few seconds, while your back is arched and the injection is put in.
2. It does not kick in immediately
I kept waiting for it to kick in and with each contraction I got after I had had the injection, my fear about this next point was elevated.
3. The epidural does not work for all
The epidural has a success rate of 98-99%. It is possible to be one of the 1-2% of cases where it does not work. While I was waiting for it to kick in, I had this sudden fear that I was one of those very few women it just does not work for.
4. The amaaaazing relaxing feeling
I could sleep, the relief! It was a fantastic feeling. I could relax and actually in 2 hours, I went from 2cm to 5cm. The epidural can speed up your labour, at least it did for me, but this is not the case for everyone.
5. The itch & other side effects
I shared earlier about how I got an all body itch as the epidural wore off. Obviously this does not happen to everyone. Read here for more about epidural side effects.
6. You can get the epidural dosage increased
I started with a low dose, but over time that started to wear off and at a point I could feel the contractions full on again. I requested for a dosage increase at that point.
7. At the top end of the dosage, you need a catheter
I really did not want a catheter but I was told I had no choice as I was going into the theatre at that point and a Caesarean was very much a possibility. When the catheter comes off, you have to be careful with getting back unto your feet and walking again. I found this quite weird. The midwife helped me up and I felt a bit unsteady, but then fine again in a few minutes time. I then felt strong enough to have a shower.
8. Nerve twitches
For months after I had the epidural I had nerve twitches at random places on my body. The have completely stopped now.
9. Swollen feet and leg
This is not directly related to the epidural, but because I had IV fluids two days after birth of baby, I had swollen feet (edema). I never got this during pregnancy so I was a bit shocked by it. A few days later it was gone.
Did you have an epidural? What have I missed about the epidural that isn't widely known?
Happy Thursday
x
Nine Things About The Epidural They Don't Tell You
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