Hello, curious little minds!! (I always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher — plz embrace the cheesiness and let me have my moment.) Anyway, it's another week which means we have another new topic to learn about! Last week we learned some surprising things about sleep and before that we talked about all things sex. This week, we are going to investigate epidurals. Let's FIND THE FACTS.
Last year when I answered your questions about my experience with vaginal childbirth, many people had lingering questions about getting an epidural — which, if you didn't know, is anesthesia that numbs you from your waist down. So, first I'll talk about my own experience, and then we'll get into the real facts from expert Dr. Mary Jane Minkin.
Dr. Minkin is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine, and founder of MadameOvary.com. She doesn't have an Instagram, but you can read more about her background here!
First and foremost, I am going to explain my epidural experience having my son vaginally. When I was pregnant, I didn't have a preference one way or another when it came to the epidural. I thought if I need it, I'll get it and if I don't, I won't. But, after going into labor, I quickly realized I NEEDED IT.
The biggest question I get is how badly did it hurt. Honestly? I felt nothing. The pain of labor was SO INTENSE that I didn't feel a thing. They turned me on my side to administer it and the only thing I felt were my excruciating contractions. The whole process was under ten minutes and I was totally numb quickly afterward.
And let me just tell you, when it kicked in, I was a totally different person. I could talk, I could smile, I could ENJOY my labor. It was bliss compared to what I had been dealing with. At that moment, 10/10 would recommend an epidural.
However, all good things come with a little bad — sometimes. After I got home from the hospital, I began having really bad lower back pain (something I've never experienced). I ended up having to see a chiropractor twice a month for about nine months. Thankfully, I no longer get lower back pain unless I am sitting a certain way for an extended period of time.
Now let's talk to Dr. Minkin who can really tell us everything we need to know! Here's a video of our interview — or you can scroll down to read a breakdown of the info!
View this video on YouTube
Let's break down the process of getting an epidural. First, your health care provider will have you either sit forward and hug your knees, arching your back or they will have you roll over on your side, lying in a fetal position. Next, the skin on your lower back will be numbed and a needle will be inserted. The needle goes into the space around your spine. Once the needle is in that space, a small, flexible catheter is threaded down into it and the needle is removed. The catheter is hooked up to a pump that constantly gives you a very small amount of anesthetic to keep you numb.
One thing Minkin said most people are nervous about when it comes to epidurals is thinking a needle is going into their spine. So, rest easy knowing the needle is not going directly into your spine — it is going into the fluid around your spine and it is also removed! I'm not going to lie and tell you the needle is small, though, because it's not. It's usually three and a half to five inches long.
The whole process of getting an epidural should take less than 15 minutes — and I can confirm this is true, I think mine only took about ten minutes. It kicks in fairly quickly and you may feel pressure, but not intense pain. Minkin said labor pains after getting an epidural will typically go from about an 8 or 9 to a 1 on the pain scale!!!
I was in labor several hours before getting my epidural. Minkin said this isn't always the case, however. "We can administer the epidural right away, as long as the person is in good labor, contracting well. If they're not in solid labor, an epidural can slow things down and that's probably why you had to wait," she said.
Because you won't be able to stand or use the restroom while you're numb from the epidural, some people will get a urinary catheter if they are having trouble holding their urine. I did not have one and Minkin said those are given on a case-by-case basis, but if you do get one you can breathe a sigh of relief because you won't feel it!!!
OK, so what happens if you're in labor and you have an epidural and need an emergency C-section? Minkin said the procedure can be done under the epidural and the person usually doesn't need another anesthetic. However, if someone is coming in with a scheduled C-section, they will likely get a spinal anesthetic instead of an epidural. "A spinal anesthetic actually works a little more quickly and gives the person a denser block which provides more pain relief in their belly," explained Minkin.
And that's getting an epidural in a nutshell! It is a pretty safe procedure, but as with most things, it doesn't come without risks. "The major medical problem we see with epidurals is blood pressure falling a bit. Epidurals relax a lot of stuff — and that's a good thing... But, the thing is, we also can relax your blood vessels, so we have to pay attention to your blood pressure. One precautionary thing we do is always have an intravenous (IV of fluids) to minimize the chances of the person's blood pressure going down."
"In our population, the majority of people do end up with epidurals as far as having kids. The other thing to remember is labor is usually worse with your first kid, so many people will have an epidural for their first labor and not with their second because it is much faster," Minkin said.
Remember, do what you feel most comfortable and happy with always! If you have any specific epidural-related questions, be sure to ask your doctor. Special thanks to Dr. Minkin for her expertise on this topic!
