Category Archives: Camille

Easy, Healthy Chicken Enchiladas

June 25, 2013

This Chicken Enchilada recipe is one that is asked for over and over in my home and I’ve made it so much now that I pretty much know it by heart. There are a few variations you could try and of course change up the ingredients to fit your taste buds for mild vs hot....

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Why do Epidurals not work for some People?

June 20, 2013

So lately I’ve been struggling with a very important issue when it comes to delivery. I am on the fence as to whether or not I should have an epidural. On the West Coast and especially in Utah it is very common for most women to opt to get an epidural for delivery. I myself...

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Jenny
I’ve had three kids and I’ve tried to have epidurals each time. Once I was too late for the epidural and had to go natural. I’m all for the the drugs. Why suffer any more than you have to?ReplyCancel
Julie
I had an epidural after laboring with my first for nearly 15 hours sans medicine. Apparently, he was also “sunnyside up” and they’d been trying to manually turn him around. After the second time that (horrible thing) happened, I decided I needed the epidural. It was given and I was told to relax in preparation for the actual birth. I spent the next 30 minutes or so waiting for it to “kick in”. The pressure and contractions were so bad that I was vomiting. I continued to feel everything. I even felt the ring of fire. I could feel my legs as I grabbed them to help myself push. Later I assumed that the epidural had just been there to “take the edge off”, but after reading how women are supposed to respond to it, I realize that I don’t think it worked for me.ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  It definitely sounds like it did not work at all! Are you planning to have more children? If so, you might want to consider other options or make sure your anesthesiologist knows your history of complications should you decide to try one again.ReplyCancel
Brandy
I’ve delivered 3 of my babies vaginally and had a epidural with each one. I received the epidural about 2-4 hours before delivering each time I was dilated to at least 5-6 cm. With my first and second I felt everything. Instead of numbing my lower body it numbed my upper. Each time Doctors, nurses and anesthesiologist was shocked because I had complete control of my lower half and it was aberrant that it just wasn’t working. I set straight up in hopes the medication would move down but it didn’t help. With my third we was prepared for other pain management options. The anesthesiologist suggested a combo of a epidural and a interracial one placed in my lower spine one in my upper. This did give me pain relief other than a window they called it in witch I felt pain in my lower stomach in a single area. Then with my fourth baby I received a epidural only because the anesthesiologist didn’t do combos. After laboring 12 hours and me screaming with the epidural the nurse finally tried to consult me about my pain she couldn’t believe with the max amount of medication allowed that I would be feeling anything but I was feeling everything in my lower body again. And I was having trouble breathing where my upper body was numb. I knew something was wrong this time for 2 hours of screaming and crying begging them to do something this pain was different than the other 3 so they finally check me dialated to 8 cm they realize the baby hasn’t moved down at all so they did a ultrasound and found him breech. By now my body is shaking uncontrollable from the pain. So emergency C-section it is and with my condition inability to numb up they would be putting me under for the surgery. I was so upset wanting my fiancee with me. Seeing that I was going to be unconscious they wouldn’t let him be in the room with me. Now I’m 9 months pregnant with my 5th and its been less than a year scents my c-section I’m going to be having another c-section and I’m terrified that if I’m awake I’ll feel everything. But I would love to be conscious and alert and have my hubby with me seeing this will be my last baby. Any advice or suggestions? Having a baby is such a wonderful gift. I would love to be able to enjoy the delivery. Instead of fearing it.ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Brandy,
  
  You have been through so much! Because you have experienced an emergency C-section are they planning for you to have a planned c-section this time around? I know that decision will be made in large part to how your incision was made and if they were able to deliver the baby with just one incision or two. I have family and friends who have planned c-sections for this very reason and have a wonderful experience with it. Maybe this would be a good option for you as you haven’t had a great experience with epidurals and c-sections are done using a spinal block.
  If you were further away from your due date I would refer you to Hypnobabies as that is what I did with my last delivery and had such an amazing experience using no drugs at all. Unfortunately this takes time and preparation and with you being in your ninth month you probably wouldn’t have time to prepare adequately.
  Please keep in touch and let me know how it goes. The best part of any delivery as you know is the reward at the end. I will send prayers and positive thoughts your way! You can connect with me on facebook “Camille Gourley Walker” or through instagram camille_mymommystyle. Good luck!ReplyCancel
- Carrie
  Don’t worry too much! My epidural didn’t work whatsoever but my C-section was a very pleasant experience. I started to feel some pain halfway through and the anesthesiologist was floored, but he gave me IV pain meds to make up the difference. He said my body didn’t react well to them but I didn’t know any better… I felt just fine other than being freezing. Being awake during the procedure is no biggie… You can’t see anything and the meds make you slightly drowsy. I hope all goes/went well!ReplyCancel
Carrie
I had a combination epidural like you explained… The doctor had a lot of trouble with insertion and tried many times. I was in bliss for half an hour from the spinal block and then when it wore off, there was nothing but pain. The epidural didn’t work… And the anesthesiologist couldn’t fix it because he was in a c-section. It was worse than anything I could have imagined. I had an awful nurse who kept yelling at me, saying the pain wasn’t that bad and that I needed to quiet down and put on my big girl panties because I was scaring the woman next door (this is the same nurse who ignored my complaints of a headache when I was discharged… I ended up in the ER 3 times from a spinal headache that wasn’t diagnosed until 5 days later). I ended up having a C-section because baby boy wasn’t going anywhere and he wasn’t doing well with me screaming in pain. I screamed so badly that when I saw my doctor 2 weeks later he asked me how I still had a voice! Between the horrible labor and botched epidural that made one day’s pain a week’s, I am grateful that I will be able to have a C-section right away next time! The “normal” post C-section pain is very tolerable… Difficulty with movement is more annoying than anything.ReplyCancel
Petra
I had epidural with all 3 of my kids. The first one worked 100% and it was amazing, I basically slept until I was at 10cm and then pushed for about 1.5 hours. No pain, no discomfort. I had to look at the monitor to see when to push.
Both second and third baby hurt so bad. I got epidural at 4cm for all 3 of them. It took away the contraction pains but when they started to drop and go through the birthing canal it was the most excruciating pain I ever felt. The epidural didn’t work on it at all. The anesthesiologist came several times to up my dose and nothing worked. Luckily this only lasted for about 30 minutes and then instead relief once baby got out.
I thought he didnt do it correctly the second time. But then the same exact thing happened with my third. I am a red head too btw. I just don’t understand how it can work 100% the first time and then not the second and third time.ReplyCancel
Sam wilde
I would just like to point out I was given an epidural which failed to work properly. I was later rushed to theatre and given a spinal by another anaesthetist which also failed to work properly. This meant I just needed an injection to numb my vaginal area and just hope the forceps worked. Not trying to scare anyone but it does happen. I’m currently pregnant with my second and I’ve been booked in to see an anaesthetist while pregnant to discuss my options. It really was traumatic for me hoping second time round it’s easierReplyCancel
carey
Hi Ladies,
Sorry to hear about your trials… I just wanted to chime in that my first epidural didn’t really work (the doctor tried to insert the catheter twice, and kept giving me more meds, and it only resulted in my arms and legs being numb – but I could still feel everything in my mid-section and as I delivered – and it made it really hard to push. UGH.
I was pretty terrified when it came time for my second – but I asked for it early, told him I had trouble with my first one, and it was like A DREAM. (I had a baby girl and was ready to name it after this man!!) It was clear that he didn’t want to talk badly about the first doctor, but it was clear that he just did a great job (and possibly that the first doctor could have been better). I feel that if a doctor is willing to TAKE A CATHETER OUT OF YOUR SPINE AND TRY AGAIN, there’s something to be said about it being placed correctly, etc. My first birth took me 24 hours of laboring and over 3.5 hours of pushing. With intense pain, vomiting, etc. My second was like a dream – slept through a lot of the labor, pushed for maybe 30 or 40 minutes. Barely felt a thing – and she was 2 pounds bigger than my first!! I’d say if you’re having issues, ask if you can see another anesthesiologist!! Best of luck to you all.ReplyCancel
Lindsay
With my first, the epidural wore off after about 20 minutes. The resident re did it a few times during my 26 hours of hell plus a spinal and nothing worked for me. I had been induced bc my water broke. Also baby was sunny side up. By a 9 cm I just couldn’t take another minute and was begging to be put out, I also felt extremely hot like on fire, begging to have water dumped on me. it was taking hours and I wasn’t dilating further so I had c section, they had to put me out. The last couple contractions on the operating table were unbelievably painful, there’s no way I could have done any more. I ended up getting a spinal headache the day we went home. Had to go back in for another epidural to take it away.
With my second I tried a vbac as I thought it was the residents fault it didn’t work with my 1st. But it didn’t work again! And baby was sunny side up again!! So i opted for c section. The spinal also didn’t work enough to numb me when testing me before cutting so they had to put me out again.
I am now going in tomorrow to have my third. It will be nice that its planned, I won’t be in labor… We’re hoping the spinal block works this time and I can stay awake and see at least one of my kids being born! I so hope so. But I’m nervous about feeling pain during it….ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  How did it go this time Lindsay? I am sorry you had such a horrible experience and had to go through c-sections not even being awake. ugh. I am hoping this time around was a lot more peaceful and happy! Send me an update!ReplyCancel
s
Hi! I was hoping to go natural mostly because I have had bad experiences with anesthesia. I don’t ever get numb for dental work and I felt stitches in my finger despite being injected with the max local anesthetic. Unfortunately I was at 7 cm for 12 hours so the dr started prepping for an emergency cesarean. The anesthesiologist gave me an epidural…didn’t work. Tried again any gave me another one. Nothing. Then spinal. Absolutely nothing. No effect whatsoever. So
He approached me and said “at this point you have a choice, you can go under general anesthesia but it will be risky for you and the baby or you can endure the pain of the cesarean. I felt everything…And eventually blacked out. It was terrible:ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Oh my goodness! I am so very sorry to hear this! i CAN’T IMAGINE going through that! Do you want to have more children?ReplyCancel
Lori
I have had only one child. I had an epidural at the beginning stages of pain. It worked for about 10 minutes, so they gave me another. This one numbed only the right side of my body so they told me to lay sideways and let it numb the other side. It did not and I was in so much pain. They decided to give me another because i was in excruciating pain. Well, needless to say, that didn’t work so they asked if I wanted another one. Of course not! I didn’t want to hurt my baby so I endured the pain and had a healthy baby girl. The doctor’s told me that if I have another baby, to tell the doctor that epidurals do not work for me and to ask for the pill combination. I do not plan on having another baby but they never told me why the epidurals didn’t work. I had “carpet burn on the right side and had stitches on the other side. I had to take a pair of socks to the bathroom with me for a month to bite down on as I peed, as it hurt so bad. Years later, I had a kidney stone and they gave me the liquid morphine. That didn’t help the pain in any way. When I asked for more, the doctor said no. I heard her talking and she thought I was a drug addict. She told me that there is no way that I could still feel pain. Only when she was out of the room and heard me crying telling my husband to tell her that I don’t do drugs, did she allow me another round. That didn’t work either. I could barely lat still during the MRI but was embarrassed that she thought I wanted only drugs. Does anyone else have this problem? I rarely go to the doctors as it is (maybe three times in my entire life) unless I am in dire pain and can barely walk. Now, I feel like I can’t go at all without them feeling like I only want drugs.ReplyCancel
Coll
When my first daughter was born my water broke at 1 am with zero contractions. I want to the hospital and the nurses immediately placed me on pitocin. Contractions were very hard. I was dialated to a 3 and had been in labor for 10 hours. I finally requested an epidural. It did NOTHING! I was in labor for another 14 hours with no pain relief. Than 3 more hours of pushing only to be told I was going to have a ceserean. My daughter was finally born. Fast forward 18 months later at a different hospital with daughter #2. I decided to try VBAC. Contractions came normally this time but two weeks late. My nurse broke my water about 2 hours in and contactions came full force. I was dialated to a 4 and requested an epidural. AGAIN it did nothing! I complained to the nurse and a different anesthesiologist came in to take that one out and put another in. Again, it did absolutely NOTHING!! Labor ended in another cesarean. Either I am extremely unlucky with anesthesiologist(which is extremely unlikely) or something is different with my body.ReplyCancel
Mariana Vivas
Im speechless after reading all your comments about epidural not working!!! Mine didn’t work either! It was a traumatic experience for me, first child, 36hrs of labor, 1:30hrs pushing, got my epidural with 7cm dialated, the doctor broke my water and contractions were unbearable. I was screaming so much and the doctor told me to “control my paint, stop screaming” I wanted to punch him. I tried the epidural first time in between the worse contractions and it didn’t work, he tried again and nothing… by this point I didn’t even know that could happen. The nurse and the anesthesiologist were very sarcastic thinking that I was lying. By this point I just wanted to squat and start pushing but I had to push laying flat down because I had the “epidural”. After a 4th degree tear my baby came out healthy and beautiful. Now Im 4 months postpartum and when laying on the ground I can feel both spots where they tried the epidural. Anyone else still feel pain were they fot the epidural? As a woman I really feel that we should talk more about our experiences.
Thank you for sharing!ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  You’re so welcome! I agree! There is not enough talk about this! Thank you for adding your voice!ReplyCancel
Miranda
I had 3 kids, my first 2 epiduals did not work, very little. When I told the anesthesiologist with my 3rd baby I’m not sure he believed me. UNTIL, I was a hour in and refused the catheter because I could freely move my legs ans pee using a bed pan lol. It definitely wasn’t working. And this was not a one time placement thing. 3 times it did not work for me. Novacain does not work well at the dentist for me. It does eventually work after about 8 shots of it. Luckily though I had a great anesthesiologist because he came back and checked on me several times and ended up giving me several other medications into my epidual until one of them finally worked. I have no clue what it was, BUT for anyone who has this issue, push for relief because there are other meds they can give that will probably work for you. I thought I was doomed with my 3rs but the experience was ridiculously better! ReplyCancel
Beth
My epidural wore off. They reinserted the catheter, and then the same. It was bliss both times for around fifteen to twenty minutes, and then straight pain. ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  That’s awful! Nothing worse than the yo-yo of pain! I’m sorry!ReplyCancel
Jennifer
I was given 2 epidurals in a row with my first kid and neither one worked at all. Ten years later, hoping it was the anesthesiologists fault, I got another with my second child. It didn’t work at all. I felt everything with both kids. Wondering if I should even bother trying for my third kid. I seriously doubt it would work, therefore isn’t worth having a needle jabbed into your spine for no relief…sigh. Is it me, or the anesthesiologist? I don’t know!ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Have you considered prepping for unmediated child birth? I did hypnobabies and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Let me know if you have any questions I have a whole series on YouTube.ReplyCancel

Bachelorette Episode 4 (MR. AMERICA) wrap up with Paul Walker

June 18, 2013

Mr. Bachelorette Competition Photo source As many of you read in my prior two posts (see post 1 here and post 2 here – shameless plug…), by night I’m an edgy Bachelorette columnist (too much?) but by day I’m an accountant. That’s right, a boring ol accountant. You know the “numbers guy”, “bean counter”, “number...

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Bachelorette episode 3 wrap up with Paul Walker

June 11, 2013

I want to start out this week’s post by giving a huge shout out to my boy Paul Walker. He was finally toppled at the box office this last weekend, after two weeks on top. Fast n Furious 6 has got to be the only 6th sequel to do this well. Having the name...

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Baby Walker: 17 Weeks

June 11, 2013

How far along? 17 weeks Maternity clothes? This is a maternity dress! I am on the hunt for some nice maternity shorts (thanks for all of the facebook help, I will be hunting at Ross very soon!) Best moment this week: Realizing that it has been almost two weeks that I have had any bleeding! Sleep: Needing it, loving it, and only interrupted by...

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Bachelorette wrap up episode 2 from Paul

June 4, 2013

photo source My husband and I love watching “The Bachelor/The Bachelorette” together. I realized that a lot of couples are doing this and thought is would be fun to bring a little bit of a male’s perspective into “My Mommy Style.” So without further ado, here is Paul. Through his wit and charm it will...

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Healthy Asian Beef Stir Fry

May 29, 2013

This recipe was a big surprise to me because it was much easier to put together than I expected it would be. My husband has recently been taking on a health challenge at work and with that has come some lifestyle changes. Instead of chinese take out try this next time…it is really good!...

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Top Ten Pregnancy Apps for your Iphone

May 21, 2013

I am in love with using my iphone when it comes to making my life a little easier when it comes to tracking all things baby. These are my top ten when it comes to tracking the before, middle and after. 1. When trying to conceive I loved using the “Period and Fertility Tracker” by...

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A baby

May 13, 2013

Ten weeks, taken two days before the tear I grew up as an avid journal writer. I started when I was five and something about it really clicked with me. When I first heard about blogs and how personal people were on them I was shocked to say the least. You mean to...

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Michelle
I have always been impressed with your journals Camille. CONGRATS! So excited for the Walker family.ReplyCancel
Noelle
I’m glad things are okay! What a scary experience. I’m also grateful for priesthood blessings, and I understand the hesitation in being so optimistic! Congratulations on the pregnancy, hope it’s happy and healthy from here on out!ReplyCancel
Eliza
Although your experience sounds/was frightening I just love what a beautiful story of faith it is as well~ a testament to the Lord’s hand in our lives. Congratulations on your sweet growing baby Camille!ReplyCancel
Kelsey
You scared me! I didn’t know the outcome of this story until the end. ha. But I’m so happy that you’re doing okay and Baby W is fighting hard! Love you Camille!ReplyCancel
breana
How exciting (and scary) at the same time. i am so happy for you and will be thinking of you every step of the way. Please, Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Also when you are up to it, I would love to get together with you guys. We miss you. Take care, and again I am so over the moon for you.ReplyCancel
Roxey
Wow. What an amazing story! You are amazing. So thankful things are going well, and pray it continues. Much love <3ReplyCancel
Camille
Thank you Michelle! I feel bad that I haven’t been writing in them as well as I should. Always appreciate your support. 😉

Noelle~I couldn’t agree more. It is a literal power of God here on earth and I feel so lucky to know that I can have access to it in times of need. And I know you understand, I am so happy for you too! <3

Eliza~Thank you! I love seeing your sweet little lady growing too. You are a great example of a Mother!

Kelsey~ Sorry to scare you Hon! Thanks for the love.

BreAna~ We miss you guys too! I am sure we will have to have a least of few bbq's at Dave and Em's house right? Thank you, too.ReplyCancel
Kristina
Yay! I’m so glad I read this AFTER I already saw you looking cute and pregnant today. So glad everything worked out. I hate that stupid statistic. I miscarried with my first at 12 weeks when I was traveling in Israel and that was one of the first things the doctor said: “don’t worry, it’s normal. One in 4 women miscarry!” Um…. Thanks? It was fun to meet you today, I really wished I had more of an opportunity to talk to you some more!!ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Thank you! It was so good to meet you too!
  
  Sorry to hear of your miscarriage too. It is an experience I wish wasn’t as common as it is. Hopefully we can get a chance to talk again soon!ReplyCancel

IKEA SPRING DECOR

April 8, 2013

Recently Jackson has been learning about ecosystems, seasons, and how a plant grows. I thought it would be a fun way to spruce up the style of our home and add a pop of color to the room to plant some of our own little seeds. Because what is more fascinating than the first baby...

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