[Zoom39]

With my first pregnancy, I had an epidural headache after delivery that was horrific. I had to return to the hospital two days later to "fix" the problem with a "blood patch." This is a dangerous condition and for those of you who are getting the med's to alleviate labor pains, remember to stand-up from your lying/seated position after delivery and if you have a headache and/or a migraine than INSIST that the anestheologist/medical staff address the issue immediately. The medical staff and my personal obgyn disregarded my complaints (hadn't slept in 2 days and was given a soda) and afterwards I had a large quantity of prescriptio meds - darvecets and percacetes (spelling?) prescribed to alleviate the issue. I'm probably not using the correct language etc, but from what I gather the anesthiologists insert the epidural needle in your spine by touch and experience to know where to insert the needle and ocassionally (supposedly around 1% of women have the needle inserted too far which causes a hole in the spine where fluid drains from your brain while you're in an upright position. Your brain is nestled in fluid and once you get a hole in the spine, the liquid drains from head and your brain begins pressing into your skull causing these headaches. Needless to say it's dangerous, so make sure that if something seems wrong to address it immediately. Also, I've spoken with other people about this situation and there are a lot of woman that have had this condition which makes me think that the 1% of women dealing with this issue is not statiscally correct. The report of incident needs to be recorded not only with the anesthiolists office but the medical center that you've delivered at otherwise it'll go unreported as I believe many have been.

Since I'm unaware of how to use the "poll" system on this system, can you send a response whether you've had this issue and where you delivered? I just refuse to believe, after talking with so many moms, that 1% of women affected is accurate. Thanks in advance for responding and if I've written anything that needs to be corrected, than please correct this information.

[uma900]

I didn't even get past your first sentence. I DID TOO!!!!! It was the WORST pain of my life. I would go through labor again over that, an naturally, too! I had the blood patch, which worked for a while, but the headache came back with a vengeance when I got home. No way I was going back to get another blood patch! That was awful in itself. I had to get stuck three times, so they didn't know which "hole" would work to get rid of the headache. Wow, it was terrible. That Stat sounds wrong, but that is what they'll tell you. Also, my complaints were disregarded until I was crying. They asked me RIGHT after I got the epi if I had a headache, and I didn't, but you can't tell then. On my way to the recovery room I was sitting in the wheel chair, about to cry, holding my head, and the were like "here, look at ur baby!" I was like, I'm on PAIN! They had no clue. But it's over. I have my son. It's ok. I'm considering not having one again and going au natural because of it.

Wow, I had no idea you had one too! I had no idea it was SO common!

[Zoom39]

uma900, on 05 February 2010 - 02:49 AM, said:

I didn't even get past your first sentence. I DID TOO!!!!! It was the WORST pain of my life. I would go through labor again over that, an naturally, too! I had the blood patch, which worked for a while, but the headache came back with a vengeance when I got home. No way I was going back to get another blood patch! That was awful in itself. I had to get stuck three times, so they didn't know which "hole" would work to get rid of the headache. Wow, it was terrible. That Stat sounds wrong, but that is what they'll tell you. Also, my complaints were disregarded until I was crying. They asked me RIGHT after I got the epi if I had a headache, and I didn't, but you can't tell then. On my way to the recovery room I was sitting in the wheel chair, about to cry, holding my head, and the were like "here, look at ur baby!" I was like, I'm on PAIN! They had no clue. But it's over. I have my son. It's ok. I'm considering not having one again and going au natural because of it.

Wow, I had no idea you had one too! I had no idea it was SO common!

I was really lucky because the folks who patched my spine had an excellent reputation and I've not had any problems since. Also, I did try to go med free with my second delivery and got really close to delivery (7 centi) and was given an epidural that worked correctly and quickly and didn't have problems afterwards. Actually I was surprised that they gave me any med's considering that I was so close to delivery. You're absolutely correct, I'd take another labor instead of having that headache. Never expected that kind of pain. Hope other women and men (yes - they have epidurals) to report back about their experience.

[uma900]

Can I ask...why didn't you go through au natural with the second birth? For me, I could have gone longer with the contractions. I just got my epi because they were like "it will get worse." so I was like, go ahead, stick me. lol. I want to try natural next time not to be macho (that is a silly reason to not get pain meds) but because of the headache. I will get so upset because I really hated the first days with my son because I was in so much pain. I cannot go through that again. Plus, not having meds means an easier time afterward, so I've heard. I may need a doula next time around if I go natural.

On a side note, I do NOT believe that women just have babies in the fields and then go back to work. lol I do NOT see how that is possible!!

[JenniferMartinSings]

WOW!! I went through the EXACT same thing with my 2nd child! Except the doctors and nurses NEVER told me what was wrong. I didn't realize til after I got home and had my husband look up information on line to see what was wrong with me. My headache started the day we were leaving the hospital. If I was laying down, I felt ok, but as soon as I sat up or stood, the pain was so intense and the room spinning, it was unbearable! When I told my nurse as soon as my headache started, all she asked me was if I had an epidural, and I said yes. That was it! They gave me a soda and sent me home! I had to lay flat on my back for 4 days before my headache went away! It was the worst pain I had ever experienced, and I had a c-section with my first! That was NOTHING compared to the pain I went through with this! I believe it's called Postdural Puncture Headache. In my situation, they asked me DURING labor if they can have a student do my epidural. I don't remember any of that, but apparently I said yes. She had never done an epidural before. My husband told me they were talking her through the entire procedure. After a half hour of it not working and only numbing my right foot, they realized it wasn't done correctly and had an anesthesiologist come in to do it right. If I would have known then what I know now, I would have insisted on getting some answers before leaving the hospital! No mother should have to go through this! Labor was pain enough!


Jennifer

[uma900]

WOW I can't believe this!! It is the wrost pain ever, and to think that it can be avoided. Sure natural birth is hard, but you get over it. With Jackson I seriously labored beautifully and was tolerating the pain just fine because labor pain, while it really hurts, is good pain. Honestly, I want to labor at home next time and not go in until I"m ready to push...lol...if I can control it. My hubby is such a great coach, and we made a good team while in labor, I think it would be great for us next time.

[mrg613]

I did not have no problems with my epidural. I actually got up and was walking around with the aid of my nurse in 4 hours of them turning it off. Mine did fine and I will have one next time to.

[uma900]

Well, that is good. I wish was so lucky! The headache afterword was the worst pain I've ever been in. I'm thankful you didn't have to go through it!

[sweetmomma2]

I had an epidural with both my babies . With my first baby it only took on on one side of my body and they had to redo it,ouch! When I got home I started having lower back pain which i have had ever since and she is 4! With my second baby we barley made it to the hospital in time to get one, I was almost 8cm when we got there, I was gonna try and go without one but I was in sooo much pain, more so than the first time. My nurse told me later that she was surprised I made it as long as I did without one ( he weighed 10lb 2oz ) She thought if id had a smaller baby I could have done it natural. But the back pain got even worse after him, I guess its just something you have to live with. But I have 2 beautiful kids and would do it all over again!

[uma900]

I'm really going to try an do au natural next time BECAUSE of my rough time with the epi. I think one thing that makes it so hard on mommas and wanting to get pain meds is that it is such a pushed thing, and we're told we can't do it. We're also told that since we don't need to have that days with 21st century technology, why would we want to? Well, I know that doing it natural makes for better an easier recovery most of the time, and I would take labor pain over a spinal headache ANY DAY! Not to mention, I had the same problem - one half of my body stopped numbing up and i needed a readjustment. Also, they had to stick me THREE times just to get it in right. Then, I got pumped with TOO much medication, and I almost blacked out. So, intense labor or MANY issues with an epi. Not such a hard decision. Plus, labor was manageable because I saw the goal, the light at the end of the tunnel. Pregnancy sucked in comparison to labor pain, IMO. lol...

[ISRMomof5]

Fortunately I didn't have any major problems with my first epidural. I have had the following 4 kiddos sans drugs of any sort. I will say that even though I had a "good" epi, that it was horrible in comparison to natural. Until I had something to compare, I didn't know that I didn't like the epidural. There was the drug hangover, the constant monitoring, etc. If you can avoid the epi, I would. Of course, the desired end result is healthy baby, healthy momma. If you need an epi for that, then it's the way to go. Before getting your epidural they should go over the potential side effects — headaches being one of the MANY undesirable results. I have one friend who, almost a year after her delivery still has back pain where she got hers.

I'm sorry you had such a headache. From what I understand, those are the worst.

Cindy Jones

[uma900]

I'm with you, IRS mom, the side effects are worth looking into and being aware of. Labor pain is still pain, but it is productive and for a worthy cause. I would NEVER judge a woman for her delivery choices, and I advocate laboring through at home as much as possible. That is my plan, completely, to labor at home as much I can. I did with my son, but it was such a new experience, I went to the hospital in time for drugs and all. I will be staying home next time to get through the pain - i actually liked doing that. I was in my bed, with my husband only, with my cats, and it was ok. I'll need to read up, though, on what might happen if I wait TOO long - lol - just in case:)

[BristolGirl]

This is seriously freaking me out. I can try to get pregnant again in a few months and though my epidural went fine the first time, I DID almost pass out while getting it!!! It completely made me want to vomit feeling some foreign body wiggling around inside my back. I long for the days my mother talks about when she had me...they knocked her out and she woke up with me...no fuss, no muss!

[uma900]

lol...well i bet they would knock you out, too, if you wanted! lol.

[BristolGirl]

uma900, on 25 March 2010 - 04:10 PM, said:

lol...well i bet they would knock you out, too, if you wanted! lol.

Well, my philosophy of life is "No pain. NO PAIN!" LOL!!! I wanted to be awake so I could nurse, though.

[sadie]

I have heard of what you are talking about before. I had a problem with my epi that is pretty uncommon. It was actually a combination of a bad epi (I was SOOOO numb I couldn't even move my lower body at all) & other factors. Long story short, I ended up with femoral nerve damage (my left quad DID NOT WORK = I fell all the time = I couldn't even carry my own baby for EIGHT WEEKS!) It was HORRIBLE!!! I am still having issues b/c of it. From my research, it may not get any better. But, I'm with you ladies. I CANNOT have another one! I'm just looking for an OB who understands what happened and will be willing to work with me next time to ensure it doesn't happen again.

I delievered at Bristol. I have since spoken to my nurse and she said I should get the name of the CRNA who did my epi...not sure why or what good it would do.

BTW, if you ever talk to a chiropractor about an epi, you'll never want one!!

[uma900]

I guess you can report them or, dare I say, sue them? I don't want to say that, but it was what I was thinking To me, giving those kinds of meds seems to carefree and easy. They treat all bodies like the same thing, and don't take into account shallow areas that can cause problems. I am so sorry you went through that, and I would find out what you can do to combat that practice. Again, don't want to say that, but I was thinking it. You know, if you labor at home and wait long enough, you might be forced to deliver in the car - therefore, NO meds! hahahah!

[SouthernFriedTravelScribe1]

No meds can be very painful too. With my DS I thought I wanted natural birth. That is until I got to the hospital and the contractions REALLY hurt. They kept saying there was time to start an epi, but they'd have to wait for the doc to get there. He was at some concert or some gala affair and it took him about 45 minutes to get to the hospital. I tried to tell them the women in my family tend to give birth quickly, especially after the water breaks... but they didn't believe me... until afterward. In 45 minutes time I went from a 3 to a 10... and they about freaked out, even though they periodically had checked me. Needless to say, I didn't ge the epi. I got something called a Pudendal? block... which was really no help either. That started kicking in AFTER they had started sewing me back up where my skin had ripped. In fact they were almost done before I started to numb a little bit.

It was awful. I don't like pain.

I didn't get an epi for my daughter since the hospital in New England didn't have enough staff to give them. But whatever the doc had them give me was okay. It wasn't a Pudendal Block either. But I didn't have near the pain I had with my first birth. My DD was much easier on me, except right at the end where I was about to give up pushing. Luckily for me the last push did the trick. I really don't think I had one more push in me after that. Her birth was much more pain free than my son's.

Discuss your options. The docs around here are very knowledgeable and helpful.