A few questions about labor and delivery?
ByFirst, if you get an epidural, do you get a catheter? Also, an episiotomy sounds pretty… painful to me. Granted, I’m sure it has nothing on labor, but has anyone had an episiotomy? When did they tell you that you should have it? Also, did anyone refuse (or just not have) an episiotomy and have bad tearing? Last thing…. two of my friends have had c-sections. One was put completely under, one was awake for the procedure. If I have to have a c-section for any reason, I’m just wondering which you recommend?
My hubby and I are planning on taking lamaze (although I’ve already taken it as a friends labor coach), but I’m just trying to get some different opinions. Thanks for any help!
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11 Comments
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:35 am
There are different kinds of epidurals–one is called a “walking epidural.” They actually hook you up to the bag with oxytocin (synthetic pitocin), and you can literally push your little bag around and walk around the birth center–which helps start/maintain the contractions. And look, I won’t lie to you, I thought the epidural was one of the most painful, funkiest things I had ever endured. Everyone else says “It was just a little pressure.” But I thought it felt AWFUL. And yes, they did insert a catheter. Another weird, but bearable, pain.
Episiotomies are usually done as last minute gestures. The doctors don’t PLAN on giving you an episitomy. But if you push and push, but the babies head just won’t squeeze through, then they may give you a teeny snip. And then they sew it up, right after the baby comes through. Doesn’t leave a scar, so don’t worry.
With c-sections, it’s neat to be awake when your baby first comes into the world. They put the baby close to your face and you can kiss that tiny angel as soon as they arrive. But if you’re under–no such luck. Hubby will have to take care of baby until you wake up.
I enjoyed my lamaze classes. Only took them for the first child though–we have 4.
I really hope this helps hon. Remember, child birth is SO natural. After all the worrying you realize, “I can do this, and it’s all gonna be fine.”
April 23rd, 2010 at 10:18 am
First..yes they will put in a cath when you get your epidural, 2nd episiotomy isnt as painful as a 3rd or 4th degree laceration, they numb you first you dont even know it has happened, of course they always ask first and usually right before the head is fully crowned. 3rd, 99% of all c-sections are done while your awake, moms have no choice in which will happen. In my opinion, awake is better, they put you to sleep immediately after baby has gone to the nursery.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:14 am
Yes normally you do get a cathater because you cannot get up to go to the bathroom. An episiotomy shouldnt hurt if you have had an epidural.As for the c-section, I have never had one but if at all possible I would have the spinal because you do not want the medicine they put you to sleep with have an effect on your baby.Hope this helps, and best of luck.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Sometimes you end up with a catheter if you get an epidural, but it’s not standard across the board…that’s something that normally happens if you are going to have a c-section. You won’t even know you are having an episiotomy done if you need one…mainly because the doc won’t do one unless he thinks you need one, and he can’t tell if you need one unless the pressure is severe enough to where he thinks you will tear, and if that’s the case, you aren’t going to fill a thing.
As far as episiotomies go…take a piece of notebook paper and hold it firmy on both ends…then pull it equally from both sides…watch how it tears. Now, try again, but this time, put a small rip in the paper along the side in the middle of the paper between both hands….you will notice that the paper tears MUCH easier and more of a tear will appear if the paper is already torn to begin with. If you have an episiotomy, there’s a high likelyhood that you will tear more and worse than if you let nature take it’s course. You can just let the doctor know ahead of time that if an episiotomy is his standard practice, you’d prefer not having one. He will follow your wishes, no problem.
I’d recommend an awake c-section simply because you will be able to get the full experience of seeing your baby as soon as it’s born. You can’t see anything, or feel anything, and you will also be able to bond with your baby sooner than if you were knocked out.
PreLabor classes are great, but there are newer options out there now! Have you read up on a waterbirth? Oh my gosh, my sister in law had one and it was amazing. Something I definitely wish I had the opportunity to experience first hand.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
get the epidural it don’t even hurt you are in to much pain to even notice it (i am deathly scared of needles ) yes you get a catheter but its not that bad. Also don’t get an episiotomy they hurt more and are deeper then a tear usually also they are harder to heal, you really don’t notice when you tear i didn’t until my doc told me. if you have a c sec. don’t go under because you wake up feeling sick and like were is my baby and if you stay awake you fell like you are a part in the birth good luck and god bless.
April 23rd, 2010 at 12:04 pm
When you get an epidural you also get a catheter because you cant feel the bottom half of your body which makes it hard to walk to the bathroom, they never told me about an episiotomy before hand, I honestly think they dont really know if you will need one until they head is visible, I did have to have 3 stitches though, With my first daughter I had a c-section and I was awake which I do recommend because you get to see your little one as soon as he/she is born, you feel no pain of course, now I did puke as soon as she came out I really think it was because of all the medication I did have the shakes alittle, but it was worth it, and you also get to hear the first cry, Hope this helped alittle.
April 23rd, 2010 at 12:30 pm
If you have an epidural you’ll most likely have to have a catheder since your lower body will be numb…you won’t be able to walk to the bathroom. But as soon as you can walk they’ll take it out. I had a small episiotomy with my first daughter and it wasn’t as bad as it sounds…they numb the area first but if you have an epidural it’s very unlikely that’s you’ll feel it anyway. My sister refused the episiotomy and tore pretty badly…it took her alot longer to heal and it’s harder to stitch up a tear, rather than a straight cut. The doctor probably won’t know if you need one until the baby’s head starts to crown.
As for the c-section, at the hospital here where I live they only put you under completely if the have to do an emergency c-section, otherwise they give you a spinal block. My friend was completely awake for hers and got to hold her baby as soon as she was out. If it were me I’d do the spinal block so I could be awake to hold my baby…but it’s really a matter of personal choice I guess. But hopefully you’ll have an uncomplicated birth and won’t have to worry about that!!
Hope this helps…good luck!
April 23rd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Congrats!! *Well with my first son I had an epidural and yes I had to have a catheter, I don’t know if it’s mandatory now or not but back in 1998 I was told I had to have the catheter. I didn’t have the epidural with my second and I’m not going to have it with this one because I personally had bad side affects that came with it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have it because I’ve had plenty of friends that had it and had no complications. *I did have an episiotomy with my second, but not with my first. But with my first I did tear and I personally would have an episiotomy over tearing because tearing hurt worse especially when it came to healing.*With the c-section thing I honestly can’t answer because I’ve never had one. My sister did and she just got a spinal block and my best friend has had 5 c-sections and she had the epidural every time. I don’t know of anyone personally that was ever put completely under. Hope this helps a little!!
Well Good Luck & Congrats Again!!
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I had a c-section with my first baby because he was breech. i had a spinal block. I would recommend doing anything possible to avoid a c-section all together. Broitney spears makes it look easy but natural labor is less painful. If you need a c-section you shouldn’t be knocked out if it can be helped. General anesthesia is risky for the baby and you’ll spend your babys first hours of life unconscious and then super groggy, not fun at all.
My next two babies were born with natural labor without any drugs at all. I tore with the first vaginal delivery. Getting stitched up wasn’t exactly fun but I healed really well. With my 3rd baby I didn’t tear at all. I would seriously recommend trying to avoid medications if you can. It was so worth it for me. if you do get an epidural be prepared t be stuck in bed with monitors, cathertes and an IV. Lots of leashes and no way to run.
Don’t allow a doc to give you an episiotomy just as routine thing, its not medically necessary. Ask a nurse or your doc to apply a warm washcloth to your perinium as you push. this helps ease the head out and feels pretty good. I was told by my midwife that tearing heals better and I beleive it. I didn’t feel the tear as it happened(that I remember anyway). lastly keep an pen mind. Not everything always goes according to plan.
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I can speak from experience on the c-section. I had a planned CS because my daughter was breech. I would recommend you stay awake if you can. You don’t want to miss that first moment your baby is there. You want to here that first cry, see him/her in that first minute of life.
Now, I must speak the truth here. C-sections can be rough. Not everyone is the same. Some never feel a thing and come through smiling. My c-section was incredibly painful. I went in awake, but had them put me under after I saw my girl because I couldn’t take the pain. I had a spinal block, but the docs will tell you that even with that, you will still feel pressure and pulling and the feeling of being “unzipped”.
You will most likely get sick from the drugs and throw up right there on the table. The drugs they gave me made me burn inside my chest, and when they took my uterus out to check it and stitch it back up (yes, they take it out of your body) it was a cramping-like pain I couldn’t bare.
The good news is, they can pump more morphene in while you are lying on the table to help with the pain. And if it doesn’t work, they can then put you under like they eventually did for me. So you don’t have to make the choice of being put under ahead of time, they can do it at any time during.
As horrible as this all sounds, you will make it through. And I can tell you that if I have a c-section with my next one, I will go in awake again.
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Here’s my Labor and Delivery nurse, 2 cents…
Do you get a catheter with an epidural? It depends… a GOOD L&D nurse doesn’t IMMEDIATELY put one in. I have my pt’s empty their bladder right before the procedure. Then, depending on how far along they are in their labor….they may require one– or not. Me personally, I have had THREE babies, and THREE epidurals and not ONE catheter, go figure that! I NEVER just insert a catheter. Often times that is for nursing conveniece only, plain and simple. I wait to see if my patient is progressing rapidly or not. Not to mention there’s a huge difference between a pt getting a epidural at 2cm vs. one that is 7cm.
I personally have had 3 episiotomies as well, and it is my opinion that I’d rather have a epis then a tear…but that’s just me. You can also have an epis with a tear, that happens too…a 3rd and 4th degree tear is not a good thing as far as healing and in the long term as well. An episiotomy is not bad and easy to care for afterwards and it heals easily as well.
C-Sections? I would not be put to sleep, voluntarily. In fact, I believe most physicians will not put you to sleep unless it’s an emergency and there’s no time for a spinal to be done. Being awake is nice, you dont feel a thing and you get to see and hold your baby. Contrary to what the other L&D nurse said, I never put my pts to sleep after the c-section and the baby goes to the nursery. It might be done that way at some hospitals, but where I’ve worked…the baby actually stays with the mother, in her PRIVATE recovery room. Sometimes afterward there is alot of pain, so the mom receives pain medication and that can cause drowsiness…
Good luck with your delivery!!!