“She got an epidural soon after being told she was no dilated? She felt no pain? Even with an epidural, you get a lot of pressure, discomfort and towards the end, some pain unless they overdid the epidural. “

I don’t know, I think she kind of skipped over a few hours or so, but that was kind of similar to my situation. I was induced with my daughter, because she was late. I was about 2cm dilated when I arrived (I had been for two weeks) and I was given the pitocin. I steadily progressed as far as dilation, but I didn’t think the contractions were anything horrible, just annoying. I was at about 6cm when my water broke, and then I was in pain. As soon as that happened, I got the epidural about ten minutes later..so I virutally felt “no pain” with my labor and delivery too. Maybe that is what Samantha meant, but that she literally felt no pain, just that it wasn’t any significant period of time. Perhaps my epidural was too strong, because I felt NOTHING. No pressure or anything. At the time, I wasn’t about to call attention to it!

lamom – I agree that she seems to have glossed over some of the details, but it is totally possible that she didn’t have any pain with the epidural. The vast majority of the women I know who got an epidural experienced basically zero pain/discomfort once the epi kicked in. Not to say it always goes so swimmingly, but just speaking anecdotally that has been the case far more often than not among my friends and family.

Congrats to her

Well everyone has a uniqgue labor and delivery. Nobody except the person experiencing it can say how it was.

My co-worker had a 3rd degree tear with her first child and a c-section with the second child and she said the c-section was much, much easier to get over.

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first son, 9 pounds, 3 weeks early and shoulder dystocia. I had to sit and nurse for about 2 weeks straight and then when I finally got up I could just tiptoe around!! THANK GOD FOR ICEPACKS
It was pretty horrendous and it took forever to get put back together…
sounds like my instructions too.. rest, don’t get up and no stairs for at all for 2 weeks.

Congratulations to them! After a 3rd degree tear with my first daughter I was told not to use the stairs for 2 weeks, so I would imagine brisk walking wouldn’t be advised either if you have a bad tear. As for her blissful experience due to the epidural and no pain…..good for her! I had an epidural with my second daughter and didn’t have any pain either. In fact, I didn’t even know when I was having contractions. Everyone’s body responds differently to medication.

I think she skipped over the not-so-pleasant
parts, too, with the exception of saying she was sore afterwards. I’m with lamom on this one.

I like it when stars are more honest about their experience and don’t try to sugar-coat everything. It makes them seem more down-to-earth and like the rest of us real folks.

I had a 4th degree vaginal tear when my twins were born and I wasn’t told not to walk afterwards. It was quite the opposite, actually. Makes me wonder if she had a c-section.

lamom-

Some women really don’t feel that much pain in labor so I wouldn’t be surprised. When my mom gave birth to my younger sister, she was only in labor for 2 hours and almost didn’t make it to the hospital in time because she didn’t know she was actually in labor. By the time she got there, she was already 10 cm dilated and she wasn’t feeling any pain at all!!! She said it was great… lol. So needless to say, she had her second unmedicated delivery (she also gave birth to me with no drugs, but she said my labor was a lot more painful lol). With my sister’s, she said it wasn’t any worse than menstrual cramps… some women are just lucky I guess.

Her story is too cute…I love her asking if she could go back to work and the doctor’s response was a hoot…LOL She and Michael seem like they are just over the moon with their little one and I can’t wait to see pictures of her–she sure sounds like a beauty!

Congrats to Samanatha and Michael and welcome to the world little Josselyn!

Sarah’s note: Well, we know she glossed over some chunk of time at least, because she’s talking about 4:30 pm, and babe wasn’t born until almost 2 am, so I am wondering when it was she actually got the epi.

I’m also wondering if perhaps she had a third or fourth degree tear and that’s why her instructions are a bit stricter. A woman I know had a 4th and her rules were reminiscent of Samantha’s. (However, she never said her delivery was smooth sailing or blissful like Sam does, so I may be totally off!) All speculation on my part though!