From what I understand epiderals do affect the baby. Also it does change the experience for the mother because they are out of it during their labor. I have heard way to many horror stories about woman who get epiderals, most of the time it doesn’t even numb everything it is suppose to. And an epideral can slow down your labor, which in return can bring you to a c-section. And also woman do have trouble sometimes when they get an epideral, to feel when they have to push.

have to tell you but you are misinformed…you are not ‘out’ of it during labor. you are fully awake and alert through the whole miraclle and it does not effect the baby or slow down the labor. as far as c-sections are concerned this is not the cause. i have three children and i felt the need to push every time. thank god for the epideral!!!

I completely agree with bhindgrneyes. I also have had 3 girls all with epidurals. I did have complications with all three during labor but mine were more from the pregnancy. With my first little girl I had toxemia and the epidural cathader moved either too far into my spine or out and therefore, the meds didnt work and that happened about 6 hours before I had he so I felt everything. She ended up being “epidural free” as my anesthiesologist put it because I had no numbing whatsoever. With my second one my epidural worked and I still knew exactly when to push and I was happier being in labor because I wasnt screaming in pain every 10 seconds. With my third the same thing happened with the cathader so i had a second epiduaral about 20 mins before thdy told me that I had to have a c-section because the baby was in distress. I really do thank my doctors for being so good to me because I didnt need any extra meds when I went into the O.R. because of the epidural. Like they say “dont knock it until you try it”

It was disconcerting to see the doctor say that epidurals were just fine. I think people should really do their own research and not rely on television shows that just scratch the surface, especially on things that regard health issues, of which having a baby is one of the most important. To get a different view on childbirth I recently saw a very interesting documentary called “The Business of Being Born” http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com . It was fascinating (and I am an unmarried 33 year old male! OK I am more intellectual than many my age, but still.). You even get to see Ricky Lake giving birth. No joke.

I did not have epidurals with my kids. So, I don’t really have an opinion as to what they actually do and don’t do. However, I did find it odd that on the show there was NO mention of any complications or risks associated with an epidural. As with any medicial procedure I would assume that some risk exists.

I had an epidural and my child was fine. If I had to do it over I would chose to have an epidural again.

I have 4 kids and have had an epidural for each of them.  My first one my son was in distress cause I was in so much pain (not sure if it was before or after the epidural), the 2nd one I ended up getting a spinal headache from the epidural which they had to do 2 blood patches to fill in the hole in my spine they created during that (wasnt fun at all), so I had tried a birthing technique with hypnosis, that didnt work either for the pain, I just couldnt focus, but my 3rd and 4th epidurals seemed to go smoother than the previous 2. 

Every labor experience is different, and yes i have heard from mothers who had epiderals that they felt out of it and it wasn’t the same.

Mcivis that is what bothered me about the episode on ediderals because they did not meation the risks. there are definitely risks!

I think the people that think it does not affect the baby or have an affect on the progression of the labor(which i didn’t say it does every time), are the misinformed ones. I didn’t just hear this things by word of mouth, these were medical studies done, that i have either read about or seen on documentary. Yes some of the experiences i have heard about from other mothers, but it was mostly from all the research i have done. which i have done a ton of research, that is why i decided to have a homebirth.

Mikey i also have seen the business of being born which has also opened my eyes to subjects like this. i think it is something that is beneficial for anyone to watch. Epiderals can lead to c-sections because it can slow down the labor to the point where the baby needs to be out, and it’s taking too long(according to some doctors, there is a time limit on each stage of your progression during labor). Seriously just watch the business of being born, it can explain things much better than i can.

I have to agree with bhindgrneyes  I have had 3 vaginal births and an epideral with everyone.  My children were born and are perfectly healthy!  I feel pressure and I knew when I needed to push, I was NEVER completly numb!