What's the cons and pros on using Epidural during labor?
The Big PRO: Most women find it to be effective pain relief. The list of CONS: - more likely to have pitocin during labor - longer labor - longer pushing - reduces chance of spontaneous vaginal delivery to less than 50% - up to 14 times more likely to have vacuum extraction or forceps during pushing - more likely to have a cesarean - more likely to have fetal malposition - baby is more likely to have unsual heart rhythms - baby is more likely to have a fever - baby is more likely to have apgar scores under 7 - baby is more likely to have a septic workup, antiobiotics and infection - baby is more likely to have jaundice - up to 25% of moms complain of inadequate pain relief - mom is 74 times more likely to have lowered blood pressure - mom is 5 times more likely to develop a fever - mom is not able to get out of bed - most moms need a urinary catheter - some moms experience nausea, vomiting or itching - greater risk the mom will have 3rd or 4th degree tears - moms are twice as likely to have postpartum hemorrhaging - moms are up to four times more likely to have postpartum urinary retention - moms are more likely to have urinary incontinence up to a year after birth - postpartum backache and headache
Catheter during labor?
hi, im 30 weeks pregnant and i had a question i was curious about...my best friend who is also pregnant started having early contractions a few weeks ago had to go to the hospital and stay there all day while they ran tests and made sure she was fine...well they put a urine catheter in her and she said it was reaaaly uncomfortable and painful... now i read that they might put one in while im in labor at the hospital or if i have to get a c-section...what if i don't want one? can i just tell them not to put one in (i mean unless its for the c-section)...i heard you get one if you ask for an epidural but what other options do i have if i dont want one?
Really extreme abdominal pain during a period?
My period started two days ago, with slight cramping at first, and the usual headache. I took a few extra strength Ibprofen, and the headache left. The cramps did not and have worsened continuously for over 24 hours. My flow is not as heavy as usual, I have had a few BMs - normal consistency, but caused pain in my abdomen each time. Urinating is AGONY. Moving is AGONY. Stretching is AGONY. It feels like someone is sawing through my gut with a serrated knife every few moments. I have tried: ~ More Ibprofen, which does not even lessen the pain. ~ Some no-name robaxacet, containing acetametophen and methocarbamol (usually makes me relax no matter the 'cramp'. Didn't lessen the pain.) ~ Warm Compress (did nothing) ~ Warm Bath (even though it was gross) ~ Masturbation (which almost always works, but did nothing!) ~ Stretching and moving around (which hurt so much I was gasping for air) The warm bath seemed to help a little, but as soon as I got out the pain returned like I'd done nothing. Pressing the area hurts - the area it hurts is my whole lower abdomen. The only time I've felt halfway comparable pain is when I had an abortion (well over 5 months ago with several harmless and relatively CRAMPLESS periods in between) - and oddly enough during this month's ovulation, which eventually faded away. I'm going to have to miss work today because I don't think I can stand to work like this. I am 28 and have had my period for 14 years. Seriously, I DO understand what cramps are and these are REALLY off the beaten path. Is this something other than cramps? Is there ANYTHING you can suggest to make the pain go away?
What is the most painful thing in world?
I've had my share of pain and will always live in pain the rest of my life. Some of my injuries.Concussion-Have had 3, level 3 concussions. (Worst possible concussion).Compound fractures- 2 broke my arm.snapped my left arm .Broke my wrist. Snapped . Left arm was excruciating, because of the large bone.Torn Roto cuff - Pain not too severe, but very long to healCalf muscle torn in half. Excruciating, had to crawl to bathroom for about 2 months. Took 6 months to fully healRuptured ACL- Pain not bad. Surgery and rehab not bad.Torn Achilles- More pain than ACL, longer recovery. Not to bad a week after surgery.Ruptured L5– Excruciating, 2 guys had to help me get up, tough surgery and about 2 months recovery. First week after surgery was hard.Diverticulitis-10″ of intestines removed. Stomach staples. Pain not too bad. Developed Mercer, Dr. Cut stomach in office. 3 months with hole in stomach, clean 3 times a day. Not too badHerniated stomach- Installed mesh, 4 weeks. Not too badFractures- ankle, knee, left arm(6 times) right hand, right wrist, fingers. Pain is sore till they set and cast it. So, not that badNail through finger-Nail gun, hurt pulling it out. Wasn't bad except for thatKidney stones,-3 times. Hurt when passing through small intestines. Not to badHerniated discs C4,C5,T7, hurts when the pinch nerves. Chiropractic treatment helps. More of a annoying painWorst pain- Car accident suffered injury to brain stem, permanent nerve damage. Very debilitating, hard to work. Wake up throughout the night from arms,legs, shoulders, everything pretty much hurts.Nerve endings affected severely. Not just physical pain, but the mental part is just horrible.The worst pain because it never stops.Some days are just better than others,but never pain free.Just my opinion. Truthfully, any type of pain is severe in its own way. It's how you deal with it, that's the hardest.
What's the maximum amount of urine that can be held inside a human bladder?
I believe, I am qualified to answer this question as I did an experiment out of curiosity.Last evening I drank around 300 ml of water. [1730 Hrs]Before dinner last night, I drank around one and a half litre of liquid in the form of milk, juice and drinking water. [2100 Hrs]Last night while having dinner I drank one litre of water. [2230 Hrs]So before going to bed (without peeing) my stomach had around 2800 Millilitre (that is 300ml+2500ml+1000ml) of liquid.Next morning, I didn’t go to washroom to relieve myself rather I waited, waited and waited until my bladder screamed at me by saying “if you not gonna let me relieve by yourself then I am going to pee in your pants without your approval”. At this moment my stomach with my bladder got expanded at such a rate that it will explode any moment.Then finally I peed into the bottle:)Thums UP , Cheers!Each bottle capacity is 500ml. So as you can see, I urinated around 750ml (full bottle 500ml+half bottle 250ml).Result- Bladder can contains 750ml of liquid in the form of urine.My traits:-I am maleI am 29I am 5′10″I am healthy having NO disease so far neither minor nor major.I am physically fit nowadays, NO seasonal sickness. NO cold and cough, NO sneeze, NO fever or anything of any kind.I am fitness freak, Means I do workout daily, I am neither fat nor obese. I am lean, healthy and strong.Update: After half an hour or so, I peed additional exact 250ml, that now total makes exact 1 litre of pee. This 250ml was waiting to get inside the bladder but COULD NOT as the bladder was already filled with 750ml of urine.I am so gross, am I not? Do not worry, I took care all the necessary hygienic stuff.
How soon is an epidural given during labor and how much does it help?
An epidural is the REAL God's gift to women! In any reputable hospital, once you are in labor, they give you one when you request it. They do make sure that you are actually in labor, but after that it is up to you-- your knowledge of your body and how much pain you are in and how much pain you WANT to be in. All hospital staff involved know when to give you that epidural and they have a licensced anaesthetician to give it to you. It's only a momentary sting when it's inserted, much like a tetanus shot, and you will have at least 2 professionals in the room to coach you through it. After the epidural, they insert a catheter (which you don't feel at ALL, God bless the epidural!). It doesn't hurt when they remove the epidural tubes from you at all, since the epidural is still working, but there is a certain "uncomfortability" when the urinary catheter is removed. I not only had an epidural but I also had a C section-- any regular birth is probably even easier than what I went through, which was not too shabby! Don't worry-- your OB and the nurses in the maternity area are professionals and they want you to have an easy, safe delivery too!
Should pregnant women take an epidural during labor?
Listen to yourself and your body.There are women who can give birth without pain relief. I certainly couldn’t have done it.In my experience, epidural makes childbirth considerably more bearable, saves energy for more important things (such as meeting your baby for the first time!) than enduring pain hour after hour, and offers a serene solace in the middle of it to recover strength to complete what has to be completed.After a certain point, however, it may make you not feel the need to push, which may complicate things in the final stretch. That’s why it’s recommendable not to take it too late.Always also listen to your doctor / midwife, they know if there are medical reasons to avoid epidural.There are also other forms of pain relief. Spinal block and pudendal nerve block can be efficient, too. Some women also find nitrous oxide helpful. My personal experience was that holding the tube in my hand helped me to focus, but that was about the only benefit it gave me.Epidural may have some disadvantages. It may affect your muscular strength especially during the first half an hour after taking it, cause tremor or difficulties in urinating, prolong the pushing phase, lower your blood pressure, or cause headache. It’s necessary to monitor carefully the heartbeat of the baby and the blood pressure of the mother.According to research, however, the impact on the baby is smaller than that of strong painkillers. In Finland the mixture given to the mothers is dilute enough to generally not cause any harm to the labour process, the mother, or the baby. Births where epidural is given don’t end to C-section here any more often than births without epidural do.Giving birth is beautiful and empowering, but it’s also exhausting. That’s why I think it’s important not to press yourself to achieve some imaginary medal of bearing the maximum amount of pain without pain relief.Allow yourself to take an epidural if you feel you need it.Thanks for asking, Amarnath!