Could You Walk After Getting an Epidural?

My legs were so numb, I couldn't get up for a couple hours afterward. But I had a catheter in, so it wasn't a big deal. I think they turn down the meds for the actual delivery, because I could feel again when it neared time to push. Other than restricting me to the bed, and keeping me from hours of unnecessary pain while my body worked to dilate me enough, I can't see how it really changed the delivery process at all. It just made it less painful. I think epidurals are great!

Yes, you are numb after an epidural.........and you have to stay down in bed for a few hours before they will let you up.............Now this was a while ago, so I don't know if things have gotten better with the time you must stay in bed afterward or not.........

Yes, it was great for me....I'd been in labor a LONG time and it was a relief.

Good Luck to whomever you are talking about and making sure they are getting good info.......

Yes! After all 3 :-) For me an epidural is the ONLY way to have a baby! LOL

So - I wanted to go as natural as possible (just kidding myself as I have no pain tolerance) just in case I got there to late and there wasn't time for an epidural - really, just trying to get my mindset together..... but once the pain hit I knew there was no way I could handle it anymore, so in went the epidural - HALLELUIA (did I just hear angels singing). It was THE BEST thing I did... it just made the pain go away, but that was it. I was happy - I was able to enjoy the expiereince without the pain... and I will do it again!! I remember feeling like I was going to have a bowel movement almost the entire time... (and the nurses were very kind... I wanted to get up and use the bathroom and they would say no, you can do it there if needs be, we'll clean you up.... ummm -hello, embarissing) but - it wasn't that I had to go.. it was the baby putting pressure on me... so I could feel the baby but not the pain... and I did get up afterward to go pee - no problem. I completely enjoyed my birthing experience. Natural isn't for everyone - and kudos to those who can handle it - I could not and I am perfectly heathly with a healthy, beautiful little girl. It's there for a reason.... good luck!

I got an epidural and loved it. I did not feel a darn thing while giving birth and some women want to feel something. I was only in labor for 4 hours before my son was born, so he came quickly, but they had me up to walk about an hour after I gave birth and my legs felt a little wobbly when the epidural was wearing off, but I was fine! Glad to be out of the pain!

First, I'll tell you that I didn't want drugs in labor. It wasn't worth the risk to me or my baby. But, I understand that many women either think the risk isn't significant enough or that women don't actually understand the risks. As a doula, I support a woman's choice to get one when they feel they need it. My knowledge is from research, and from my training as a midwife's assistant and a doula, it is not personal experience. But please know that I am very educated on the matter and my statements come from that education, not from an anti-epidural view.

MOST women cannot walk after getting an epidural. Your case is actually rare. There are two reasons this happens. 1) There is too much medication given to feel anything, and 2) the doctor doesn't want to take any chances. An "epidural light" can be given which can, sometimes leave enough feeling to walk short distances, like to the bathroom, however, many hospitals don't even have this choice, many automatically order a urine catheter so you don't have any reason to get out of bed. However, there is more risk with a "walking epidural" because it's done differently, so many hospitals don't even offer them any more.
No matter your experience, you need to understand that MOST women with epidurals ARE in fact restricted from walking as soon as that needle is placed until at least a couple hours after birth when they have worn off. Many don't feel any pressure and that is why so many end up with bad perineal tears - a lack of pain means they can't feel that they should stop pushing and let the tissue stretch naturally (hence your need for stitching).
Please realize that you are the exception to the rule, not the norm. Telling your friend that many women can walk with epidurals is a fallacy. It worked for you and that's great, but please don't lead her on to think they are all like that or that they are without risk. She should expect that she won't be able to be on her feet at all, and she should ask her own doctor what his/her practices are and what the hospital offers.

Once I received the epidural, I was not allowed to get up and walk until about 2 hours after delivery. This was according to the hospital staff (I personally believed I could have walked earlier), who were very firm about me not standing. However, I had 3 doses of the epidural because my labor lasted so long that the first dose wore off, and the second dose didn't take. I could certainly tell the difference between when the epidural was working and when it wasn't, and I was very desperate for the third dose! However, I was NOT completely numb. I felt some pain and a LOT of pressure (I had severe tearing, and I knew it!) I think the epidural helped me deal with contractions a lot more than it did with the actual birth. I plan to do it again with this next baby.

I had epidurals with both kids and with the first I couldn't feel a thing including my legs. I couldn't move them I was so numb. I have to add they gave me an extra boost of it because I was in pain. That numbed everything 100%. It took longer for me to get up with that one than the 2nd one. I was given the epidural but forgot I could push the button to get another dose until it was to late. The nurses kept asking me if I felt any pressure but didn't know what they were talking about since I was so numb the first time. All of a sudden there was serious pressure and she was on her way out. I was up and about pretty quick with her since I could feel/move my legs the whole time.

The first dose they gave me didn't work so they gave me another and I was numb from the ribs down. I couldn't even help them get me on the gurney when the decided they had to do a c-section. It felt really weird not being able to use my legs but it was better than the pain.

I only got an epidural with my first, but it actually didn't "kick" fully in till after I delievered. With all my kids (4) the nurses wanted me to call the first time I went to the restroom. Only becuase during a normal delivery there is a lot of blood lose, and some moms do get dizzy & pass out, so that what to make sure all is ok & if you do have issues they are there to cautch you. Thus, far I haven't had any issues with dizziness after delivery, but I do have them help me out of bed for my first restroom visit. After that I do it all by myself & am up and around quite a bit... changing diapers, walking the halls, or whatever else I feel like doing.

My legs were kinda asleep when I did get the epiural - personnaly I didn't like the way it made me feel & since it didn't "kick" in till after I delievered I found it a waste of money. So, the last 3 I went natural with them... it wasn't that bad. I delievered really quickly, the pain was there, but it was over fast & well worth it all!

I completely agree with everyone is different. I too experienced a great deal of pressure and knew everything that was going on with the delivery. When I received the epidural, it actually made me have to pee every 5 minutes. I was able to walk to the restroom up until the time I had my child and then again right after I gave birth. I did not have any stitches and was fortunate enough to only have to push twice before my child was born. Then with my second child, I was in a great deal of pain even though I had the epidural. I mentioned this to the doctor after my second child was born and she told me that different anasthelogist (sp?) like to use different dosages and the one that did my second epidural is known for going light. I also gave birth within 15 minutes of having the epidural so I don't know if it had time to take effect or not. I am no medical wiz. I do agree that having the epidural was a good decision, but I guess you just never know what the results are going to be. One more point, after my first delivery, I felt like I had bugs crawling all of my legs and I was told it was the epidural wearing off. That did not happen with my second delivery. Thank goodness that is a gross feeling.

with my first, I had one and I was completly numb from the waste down. I couldn't even move. I was not even able to get up and walk for at least 1/2 a day later.
With my 2nd I did get one again, but it failed. I was only numb from my right knee down. I could feel everything. I almost passed out from the pain. I remember the nurses kept trying to make me stay awake between contractions, and wanting to scream when I was having them.
So, for me, I was constricted to the bed for a LONG time after on the first time. 2nd time, wasn't so bad, but I slept after and didn't even try to get up because I was so tired

I was numb for at least an hour if not two hours after delivery. They did encourage me to get up and walk to the bathroom after about 1 1/2 hours, but I needed assistance because my leg were very shakey. I was also unable to feel the sensation to urinate for hours after the epidural wore off. I did feel incredible pressure when I was fully dialated and ready to push, although I could not feel my son actually coming out. I still feel very indifferent about the fact that I had the epidural. I will probably not go that route with future births, but will instead go without the use of any drug. An epidural is going to be so different for every woman and the only way to know the side effects is to have it administered. Every woman has different feelings about the use of pain managment durring labor and whether they will or will not use them. I walk into that delivery room with the mindset that I would not be using any drugs, but in the whirl wind of me getting there in active labor those plans somehow changed.

whether you can walk or not probably depends on the drug level in the epidural.. with my first.. she was stuck and they had to use forecepts.. they gave me a large dose of epidural medicine.. quickly sat me up to the medicine could go down my spine to numb my bottom..then they pulled her out.. I was worn out and too tired to walk.. I dont think that I even tried to walk for a while..I walked within 1-2 hours..

with my second.. I pushed 4 times he popped out.. the nurse got me up to go to the bathroom and I could walk fine..

every delivery is different..

I waited as long as I could before the epidural and it was immediate releif from the contractions but I could still feel everything else! It was like trying to hold the biggest p in ever, I did feel her coming out just not the contraction pinches. I didn't go completely nimb i still held my legs up and had to walk to the bathroom as soon as they had me ina room. Epidurals aren't as scary as they seem and your not harming your baby if you want to get one, my little girl wasn't drugged up at all she was very alert even though i did have to have an oxygen mask for a little while.

i got an epidural and had some blood pressure problems so i had to lay on my side. apparently epidurals work with gravity and on the side i laid on i was completely numb on one side but felt everything on the other. while i was pushing it started to even back out. but i kind of got to feel both ways at once and with the epidural i still felt the pressure from the contractions but not the excruting pain. so i feel like i was able to enjoy the delivery more than if i was in pain the whole time. and the hospital i was at had a mirror on the celing that tilted down so that i could see my daughter as she entered the world. it was very nice. when i have my next child i will be getting an epidural again. i would recommend that nobody feel guilted in to not having it done

I had one leg more numb the other, i think one i had to have my hubby hold up for me....i could barely feel pressure from contractions and couldn't feel much of anything down there...i know i could feel release when the baby's head finally came out and then the rest of the body, but that was it. I needed a little assistance walking when it finally came time to move me...but i didn't feel out of commission and definitely enjoyed it more than if i was feeling pain.

I had an epi... they adjusted the dose so that in the beginning I was completely numb (I took a nap, as a matter of fact... but I'd been stuck in transition for several hours)... and then they lowered the dose until by the time of the actual birth I wasn't numb at all. 10 minutes after kiddo was born I was up walking around, using the bathroom was one of the first things I did. No tearing, no episiotomy, no stitches.

I was able to go to the bathroom pretty quickly after both of my epidurals. It's not like you spit the baby out and you have to go to the bathroom immediately. There is plenty of time for it to wear off before you need to go. The nurses helped me up to the bathroom the first time without any problems. I have had two epidurals (for my 2nd and 3rd kids) and am very thankful for them. I believe that having an epidural allowed me to be relaxed and focused because I wasn't in miserable pain. My second epidural was absolutely AMAZING and it could not have had a more perfect delivery. There was a huge difference between my two epidurals/deliveries. My first I could still feel some pain and a ton of pressure and my second I could not feel any pain and barely any pressure. Either way, I was able to relax and not exhaust myself before the baby came. When the baby came, I had the energy to enjoy them. With both of
them, I was up walking pretty quickly. I would definitely have an epidural if I ever have more kids. The way I look at it is that if the resources are available to make you more comfortable....then take advantage of them. One more thing, I also had my first child without an epidural and it was torture and not an enjoyable experience compared to the two with the epidurals.

I had my first child, "natural", with the second I had some IV meds to take the edge off and with my third i was due to get my tubes tied so I had an epi. All I have to say is that if I need meds with this delivery, (7 years later and I had my tubes untied and we are due in Dec.) I will go for the IV meds. The epi was the worst experience i had. It was the longest labor, and rather than dull the pain it made my legs itch, and even when I begged them, they did not let me up to use the restroom after delivery.

When considering your pain management options in child birth, ASK the hospital what their methods are, and what restrictions come with each, each is different, and just like different doctors have different practices, each hospital will have it's own way of doing things.

Yes, they are great! I didn't want one up front but ended up caving later on, very good choice. I pushed for nearly 2 hours (my girl was face-up) and ended up TEARING. I didn't feel the tear at all, just pressure and "vibrations" through contractions and delivery. Another plus- I didn't have to be numbed up for the stitching. ;)

Yes, you have to be restricted to bed (obviously) but it's worth it. I could actually still move my legs a little bit but when they got me up out of bed a couple of hours later to take me to my pp room, I almost flattened the nurse b/c my legs were still pretty weak.

I couldn't move from the waist down hours after birth. I want a natural birth and am willing to try again without the epidural because it was definitly not what I wanted at all. I was talked into it by the nurses. Very disappointed. Sorry, I know it's not what you wanted but yeah.

Definitely it's sooo different for every delivery. I have 3 kids. First one, I was 17 hours in labor. Without an epidural I don't think I could have made it. I was so tired when he was born that I was already falling asleep at the end of the delivery. No way I could have even tried walking then but I could feel all the pressure and some pain. The ob was great making sure that I would not tear so I think that's a team effort. Second baby was a 6 hour labor. I got so numbed I didn't even know when to push. It was wonderful though... I wasn't tired and I got to enjoy my baby more without the pain or tiredness. I could also walk about half hour afterward. Third baby was born after 2 hours of having contractions. Barely made it to the hospital. I had an epidural but it didn't work and it was extremely painful. The nurses had used two bags of iv and my bladder was REALLY full. I think that's why my epidural didn't work and I was in so much pain. No way I could walk after that. But all my kids were born very alert and I don't see how the epidural could have affected them except on my own alertness... without/little epidural I could not spend time with them since I was exhausted. The one the work was great and I spend the rest of the morning with my baby :)
I have friend that had her babies in a tub at the hospital and she had pretty easy labors and could walk well after but it's all about your personal tolerance to pain and preparedness to tolerate it.

Hi-

I had an epidural during my extremely long, difficult delivery.I was numb, but the moment my daughter made her final push into the world, OUCH. I don't think any amount of anesthetic would have shielded me from that. But it was over in minutes. My recovery was pretty easy, with the only difficulty being the inability to pee right after, despite feeling like I had to go. That was annoying, and it lasted about 20 minutes. But I had no mobility problems.

After getting the epidural I was completely numb. The only thing I felt was that urge to push, but absolutely no pain during the whole thing :) After I delivered my son and was stitched up for some tearing, they had me get up right away to use the restroom and move me into another room. I was actually surprised at how quickly they wanted me to get up. The nurse assisted me with walking, but I wasn't completely numb and could have probably done it without her help. It just would have taken me a while because I hadn't stood up in so long, and I had just gotten stitches.

The first time I had an epidural it simply stopped my back labor (which was a blessing) but I could feel everything else. I wasn't numb anywhere, which I kept telling people, and only when the doctor went to stitch me up and I flinched and told her she needed to give me a shot of lidocaine or something did anyone seem to believe me! I walked immediately after that one.

With my second, I was BLISSFULLY numb -as in "Wow, I can't believe this thing is really my leg!" numb. However, within 4 hours of giving birth I was able to walk. After my first child I couldn't understand what all the hoo-ha over how fantastic epidurals are was, but after the second I understand! I SLEPT through most of my labor, and after my first labor, I certainly don't feel like I missed out on anything!