few more questions about delivery!

I have a few more for you guys that I thought of while I was trying to sleep!!!

If they have to break my water for me, what is that like? Do they do that with other people around?
And then, since I will be having an epidural and should have the numb feeling...how exactly do I know how to push? Im afraid I wont know how to do things! Dont get me wrong, I want to feel as little as possible!!!

Thanks!!

 

I can't answer about the water breaking thing since mine broke on it's own about 20 minutes after my epidural. But after my epidural, I had one little "pocket" where I could still feel pressure from the contractions. When it came time to push, I just kind of knew how to do it, b/c that was what relieved that pressure.

I don't know if that makes sense, but I hope it eases your mind some. Don't worry too much about the delivery. Just know that, when the time comes, you'll just kind of know what to do. Same thing as when you bring them home.

 

When they broke my water it felt the same as when they would check my cervix. I don't know if I could have felt it more without the epidural though. The OB didn't look while she did it, so I was still covered up. Until I was pushing I never felt exposed and by that time I didn't really care. lol. I wasn't so numb that I couldn't feel pressure. I had no pain, but at one point I felt like I had to go to the bathroom and when I told the nurse she said that usually means it's time to start pushing. Then DH and my mom held my legs for me and I just pushed. Almost like I knew what I was doing. It really is one of those things that just comes natural to you. Must be the mothering instinct.

 

I can't tell you about the epidural, as I said, my children were all natural, but I can tell you that, not with one of my children did my water break! They had to break it all 3 times! (Gotta better chance this time though I think. ) It doesn't hurt, unless you get someone that doesn't know what they are doing and scrapes you. That doesn't really hurt, you just actually feel it. When it breaks, you will have a trickle of water, but you really won't notice it much. After they break your water, labor pretty much hits a high at that point, and it shouldn't take long after that to start pushing. My suggestions are to talk to your OB, when you go in, find out what nurses will be YOUR nurses, and talk to them. They are usually really good about talking you through the process. I promise, you will come through with flying colors. There is no wrong way to have a baby. I have heard that when you push, you push down towards your bottom. I honestly think that your body will tell you what to do, epidural or no. Take your time, breathe, and when they say push, hold your breath, put your chin down to your chest as much as possible, grab hold of your legs, and push with all your might. The more you push like what I described, the less times you will have to push. (You see the women yelling and crying when they push, they are not pushing as effectively and will have to push more often.) I have done it 3 times, and I hope to do it again... I know you will do great! If you have something to focus on, like a picture (you can use u/s pics of the twins) that helps too. It gives you motivation and helps you put your attention on what you are doing, instead of what others are doing! YEAH FOR YOU!!!

 

QUOTE(Nicholas and Noah @ Feb 4 2008, 10:21 AM) [snapback]604353[/snapback]
I have a few more for you guys that I thought of while I was trying to sleep!!!

If they have to break my water for me, what is that like? Do they do that with other people around?
And then, since I will be having an epidural and should have the numb feeling...how exactly do I know how to push? Im afraid I wont know how to do things! Dont get me wrong, I want to feel as little as possible!!!

Thanks!!


They broke my water for both of my boys after the epidural so all u feel is a warm gush of fluid-you will feel wet but nothing else the epidural keeps u feeling numb from the waist down so u wont even be able to move your lower body----when its time to push u will feel like u have to "pooP: lots of rectal pressure; its the baby moving down into the birth canal- The nurse and your Dh will hold your legs and they will tell u to push like your having a bowel movement- they might turn down your epi so u can feel the pushing-mine didnt- you will feel the pressure as the baby's head is crowning and it if your epidural is turned off u will feel the "ring of fire" burning sensation as the baby is pushed out-its a amazing experience that u pushed out a baby and now 2 babies! unreal!
---If u dont want anyone to see any thing that makes u uncomfortable-family/friends they can leave the rooom while they break your water but the epidural is done by anstelogiist-sp- and no-one will be present for that-it will feel like a bee sting going into your back and then it will get tingly and numb-you will stop feeling the contractions!

I hope that helps

 

I wanted to add that when they broke my water for DD1, it didn't hurt at all. The weird thing was, I always thought the water came out, and that was that. I was surprised that your body continues to make the water, so there is pretty much a constant trickle until the baby's born.

 

Breaking your water is not that bad. They do use a large pointy thing that looks worse than it feels, try not to look feels like it does when you get your exam, a bit uncomfortable but very bearable. When he broke my water it was just me and my hubby (holding my hand) and the ob and my nurse. I would tell your nurse that you are nervous about having a lot of people around. they want to make you comfortable. As far as the pushing goes they will tell you everything you need to know. You push just like you do when you are trying to poop I had one nurse on my right side and my hubby on my left and when a contraction was coming they would lift my legs in twards my body and tell me to push and they would count. than they put down my legs and i would just rest till the next one. They had me also push while i was laying on my side and i liked that, but baby B did not so i had to go back to my back. They had to use the vacume on both my twinkies to get them out but its nothing like you think it is. I also got a little tear from my DD when she came out and it still grosses me out to think about it. but with the epidural i had no clue it had happened and would not have know about it except i saw him stiching me up. so i quickly turned my eyes twards the babies and it was ok. i felt nothing. My husband stayed in the hospital with me and i was so happy he was there. It was nice to have help to get in and out of bed and help getting in and out of the shower. He also changed all the diapers while we were in the hospital. Please feel free to pm me i check my email all the time. You will do great!!!!

 

Had mine broken in efforts to induce "active" labor (I was walking around 6cm dilated having no signs of pain and doc wouldn't let me leave the hospital), but I did not have an epidural prior to this water breaking business. I was given pitocin first, and when that didn't seem to do the trick in speeding up any contrax, doc used the "hook" (which did not hurt at all). I felt a warm gush of water, and it wasn't uncomfy.

But because I had not had an epidural, my "water cushion" was lost and I started to feel painful contrax. I asked for an epidural soon after having my water broken. I still sensed contractions, not as painful, but I could feel my uterine muscles at work with my hands. . . you could visibly see my tummy balling up. . . and since they had me hooked to a monitor, I knew when I was having contrax. When it was time to push, the nurse would even tell me, "Okay, get ready to push. . ." And by then, my epidural had let up enough that I felt what I was doing without being in excrutiating pain.

Since, I have had two natural, unmedicated births where my water did not break until the babies were emerging.

 

When they break you're water they just stick a long sterile needle like thing up there, it has a little tiny hook on it and they break the sack. It is kind of like breaking a balloon. It doesn't hurt, you don't really feel anything except a little pressure. You're DH can be there and I am not sure about others, he was the only one in there with me when I had my kids. I am not sure about other people being there.

I never had an epidural so I can't help you with that one. Sorry. You will learn more at your child birth classes and by asking you're dr. You really will be ok, they will help you through the whole process. I hope that helped some.