chronique:
Well,I don't really know much about these things but I heard some of the reasons why women have excrutiating pains while in labour,has to do with what and what they eat during pregnancy. I heard stuffs like ice-cream,chocolates and stuffs,makes the baby grow too big and also adds to delivery pains.

To be honest,I'm more of an old fashioned dude when it comes to issues like this. This is how I think of it: if my mother could deliver 4 kids normally without epidurals,and your mum(my partner) can deliver XYZ kids without epidurals;why should we(you and I) not do it this same way? I understand we're in a digital age where everyone wants everything done with just a click of a button but then,not everything should go that way. I like things being done naturally. One thing I know for sure is that,for every child my wife gives birth to,She'd definitely get a new top of the range luxury car as a gift for that. It's just going to be my own way of saying thank you for going through that pain to give me a child.

bukatyne:


It was until you said how long the pain lasts.

I am a woman, I have not had a baby before so I keep quiet when mums tell me about their experiences.

You a man is telling us how long birth pain lasts despite the fact that you have not even asked your wife; you are saying what you believe she would say.

Issokay

mcdokwe:
u prolly didn't read me well. She wouldn't say anything different. She did a lot of research during her pregnancy and let me in on everything that informed her choices.

I maintain that labour pain doesn't last. Unless of course you mean other pains associated with child birth which could be as a result of incisions and all that.

So long as you've not given birth, take it that I have a better idea than u do.

An epidural is a type of local anaesthetic. It can be used to completely block pain while you are awake.

This has the advantage of allowing you to avoid the common side effects of general anaesthetic, such as feeling sick and dizzy. In addition, you will avoid the rare, but potentially serious, complications of a general anaesthetic.

Epidural anaesthesia can be used to numb sensation and provide pain relief in a number of situations including:

•during natural childbirth
•during a caesarean section, where a baby is delivered through a cut that is made in the abdomen
•after surgery that has been carried out under general anaesthetic
•during other types of surgery, such as knee surgery, hip replacement surgery, rib or chest fractures and amputation of the lower limbs
Epidurals are most commonly associated with being used to reduce pain and discomfort during labour and childbirth. This topic focuses mainly on this use of epidural anaesthesia.

Labour and childbirth
Some women decide to have an epidural during labour and childbirth. Your midwife will be able to advise you about having an epidural and whether they think it is necessary. However, remember that the final decision will be yours.

An epidural may be recommended to help relieve pain during:

•a particularly painful, complicated or prolonged labour
•the delivery of twins or triplets
•a caesarean section delivery if an epidural was sited during labour
•an assisted delivery – where either forceps or a suction cap (ventouse) is attached to the baby's head to help with the delivery
Read more about pain relief during labour.

Side effects of an epidural

There are several potential side effects that can occur after having epidural anaesthesia.

Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure (hypotension) is the most common side effect associated with having an epidural. This is because the local anaesthetic used affects the nerves that go to your blood vessels, leading to a fall in blood pressure. This may cause lightheadedness or nausea.

Your blood pressure will be closely monitored while you are having an epidural. If necessary, medication can be passed through a drip to treat low blood pressure.

Pain and discomfort
You may experience some slight discomfort when local anaesthetic is injected to numb the skin during epidural insertion. However, you should not feel pain when drugs are injected into the epidural space.

Sometimes, it is also possible for an epidural to be unsuccessful. For example, this might occur if:

•it proves difficult to find the epidural space
•the local anaesthetic does not spread evenly around the epidural space
•the catheter falls out
If your epidural fails to work, your anaesthetist will see you and attempt to improve the numbness. If the epidural cannot be improved, they will offer alternative pain relief, which may include performing the procedure again.

Loss of bladder control
After having an epidural, you will not be able to feel when your bladder is full. This is because the epidural affects the nerves around your bladder.

A catheter will be inserted into your bladder to allow urine to drain away. Your bladder control will return to normal as soon as the epidural wears off.

Itchy skin
Sometimes, the painkillers that are combined with local anaesthetic during an epidural can cause itchiness. If you develop itchy skin it can usually be treated.

Sickness
You may feel sick (or actually be sick) after having an epidural. However, you are more likely to experience this side effect with a general anaesthetic. If your blood pressure is normal, anti-sickness medicines will usually help.

Backache
A study carried out in 2010 found no increased risk associated with the use of epidural anaesthesia and long-term backache.

Your epidural care team will try to ensure you are comfortable during and after the procedure, but being in the same position for a prolonged period may inevitably make existing backache worse.

If you experience severe backache in the weeks following an epidural, you should report your symptoms to your care team as soon as possible so they can investigate the problem.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Epidural-anaesthesia/Pages/Sideeffects.aspx

How an epidural is performed

If you choose to have an epidural, the procedure will be carried out by an anaesthetist. An anaesthetist is a doctor, specially trained in providing patients with pain relief during medical procedures.

Having an epidural
Most epidurals are given while the patient is sitting down and leaning forwards. Alternatively, an epidural can be carried out while you are lying on your side with your knees drawn up and your chin tucked in.

Lying or sitting in these positions opens up the spaces between the bones of your spine (vertebrae) and allows the epidural needle to be passed into the epidural space more easily. This is an area through which the nerves from your spine to your body pass.

Before the epidural needle is inserted, a sterilising solution is rubbed into your back and sterile drapes are placed over your back, leaving the injection site exposed.

An injection of local anaesthetic into the skin helps to reduce any discomfort. A hollow needle is then inserted and a thin, plastic tube (epidural catheter) is passed through the middle of the needle, into the epidural space. The epidural anaesthetic can then be injected through the tube.

If you are having an epidural during childbirth, you will need to have a drip in your hand so that fluid and medication can be given to help prevent low blood pressure, a common side effect of epidurals. The drip may restrict you from moving around freely.

While you are having an epidural inserted, you may experience a brief stinging sensation as local anaesthetic is injected into the skin. You may also experience slight discomfort in your back when the epidural needle is positioned, and the catheter is inserted.

If you feel pain or an electric-shock-like feeling, tell your anaesthetist, because the catheter may be pressing against the root of a nerve and may need to be repositioned.

Effects of an epidural
Shortly after having an epidural you will start to experience a warm, numbing sensation in your lower back and legs. Your legs may feel heavy and more difficult to move. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes for the epidural to take full effect.

The nerves in your bladder are also likely to be affected by the anaesthetic. This means you won't know when your bladder is full, and whether you need to go to the toilet. To prevent damage, a thin plastic tube (catheter) will be used to drain urine from your bladder. Your bladder sensation will return to normal when the epidural is stopped.

Read more about the side effects of an epidural.

After having an epidural
Following epidural anaesthesia, it is likely you will be advised to rest in a lying or a sitting position until the feeling in your legs returns.

It usually takes a couple of hours for the feeling to return to your legs and you may experience a slight tingling sensation on your skin as the anaesthetic starts to wear off. You may need help getting out of bed.

If you start to feel any pain, you should tell the doctor or nurse who is treating you. They will be able to give you medication to help control it.

After having an epidural you will be able to breastfeed your baby

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Epidural-anaesthesia/Pages/Howitisperformed.aspx

rebella:
Thanks aisha2 for this, I've been reading up on the pros and cons of epidural and its definitely something I would consider, but I will wait till the pain becomes unbearable before asking for it to be administered.

ogtavia:
Nice write up aisha...d first paragraph was quite funny,tore me up a bit...well,I dnt support whatever causes a woman severe pain and endangers her live...however,d bible is clear on dis mata in Genesis,after the woman ate d forbidden fruit...I am also up for anything dt will reduce maternal mortality...however,d epidural is a specialist area requiring great care such dt none of d procedures goes wrong and portends great harm for d woman,I am nt married...but if it is last resort and d doctor advises in its regard...then #teamepidural...but I pray it doesn't get to that....

bossladyMo:


[b]Why don't you try passing a golf ball through your pe nis hole...let's see how natural you like things then.

For your info...a contraction in a woman carrying a 2kg baby, is just as painful as the contraction in a woman carrying a 4kg baby.

I just hate it when men try to compare their wives/women to their mothers....most of these men are not half the men their fathers are/were......mschewww!

aisha2:




Is it just me who knows that Christ has redeemed us from every curse including the curse of painful delivery hence the development of epidural. My God is not a sadist and woman hater

mmagdalene:
@topic

I wanted to opt for the epidural but my doctor advised against it. Scared me away with all the downsides. Also said it requires specialists who are very scarce in Nigeria. I asked for names of hospitals where it could be done in Nigeria and he said it's rarely done here and he doesn't even know any hospital where it's done. And I wonder, could this be true?


Anyway, I've had my baby and I thank God for safe delivery. Very painful, yes. Would have gone for the epidural if I found a hospital where it could be done.

LewsTherin:


This is precious!

Wanted my Lady to get an epidural but the doc adviced against it. I really couldn't bare to see her in such pain. It was terrible for me!

I'm all for any tech development that makes life that bit easier. Anyone who don't like it, bridges are still plenty in Lagos. Choose one and jump off!

If at all we decide to have another child, she gonna get a c-section on the morning of her EDD. No time for no time!

debbydee:
whether they give you epidural or no epidural you will go through pain either before delivery or after delivery. My humble submission

Bolushalom:
I'm not married yet, but I know I'm getting it. I have a very low tolerance for pain, the needle they will use to administer the epidural self is still an issue.

sheunfemix:
. I also have really low tolerance for pain too. I hate needles so much that people hold me down for injections. But when I gave birth to my first child, twas a miracle. My aunty talked to me and said things that made me feel like birthing was like going to d toilet. She told me to be brave and dat real women dnt shout while giving birth o. "if u shout it will make it more difficult" I was so charged psychologically that I sincerely dint feel pain. And I dint shout or cry either after giving birth to my girl, nurses and doctors came to see us in amazement. I believe anybody can overcome pain.