We've moved and are in a MUCH smaller town than where we were when dd was born. Consequently, the hospital is very small and they only have one anesthesiologist, which means they do not give epidurals. I'm very scared about this! What they DO is called an intrathecal, which is very much like an epidural but without the catheter and continuous flow of meds. From what I understand, it's the same meds and they're injected into the same place in the spine, but it's a shot and not a continuous feed. They call it a walking epidural b/c you can still get up and walk around but you don't feel any pain.

With dd, I had an epidural and I loved it. The hospital has two CRNA (?) positions available, which to my understanding is a RN who can give epidurals. They SHOULD have one if not both of these positions filled by the time I have this baby, and I should be able to have an epidural. But if not, the intrathecal is my strongest pain control option. I don't want to switch hospitals b/c I really like my midwife and she only delivers at this one.

Intrathecals wear off in 6 hours or less, but my midwife said that they can be repeated if it starts to wear off before I'm done. She also said that labor time is usually cut in half from the 1st birth to the 2nd.

I've had an epidural and I know how it went for me. What I'm looking for is a person who's had both, and how they compare. Or, a person who's had an intrathecal and what that experience was like. Can anybody help me out here??

I can't even imagine having an epidural. The only time I gave birth all I had was demerol during the early labor (slept through most of it) and then a shot directly in the cervix to numb the pain there. Even that shot was almost too late since by the time they came I was almost completely dialated.

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Sorry, I had 2 Csections. LOVED THAT = NO LABOR Now, I could tell you the diff between epidural and a spinal block......

I tried researching intrathecal and kept coming up with cancer treatment? And one thing said it lasts 24 hours? I would research it thoroughly and if it is true what you've been told so far, I would have no problem with it. Seems like it's a good alternative to an epidural since you can still walk around but will feel no pain, especially since it can be repeated if necessary.

And why do they not give epidurals just because they only have one anesthesiologist? Normally there's only one on duty at a time anyway.

In order for me to have an epidural, the anesthesiologist would have to be there the entire time, start to finish. Seeing as how they have at least one woman in labor at any given time (altho not much more than that, IF that) she'd have to be there around the clock. If they fill the two CRNA positions, it shouldn't be a problem to have someone there throughout my labor and delivery who's lisenced to give them. But in case something goes wrong, they have to be on hand. One on duty is one thing, but they have one, period. I'm not sure what they do when she's on vacation.

I tried researching it, too, and there's just hardly any info on it. All I can find, and all I keep hearing, is that it's just like an epidural but not a continuous feed. What makes me nervous is that when I had my epi, I could push a button if I needed more medicine and it would ease the discomfort. With the intrathecal, there will be no button! What if it doesn't work?!? That's what makes me nervous.

I didn't think about them having to be there all the time . . . makes sense I guess. There are options and I have heard of a walking epidural before, just don't know what is involved. Good luck sorting it all out and figuring out what is best for you!