I'm not going to lie, getting an epidural scares me. I don't mind needles usually, but the idea of a giant needle in my back freaks me out! I'm sure a few moments of discomfort are worth no pain... but giant needle!
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Nope! Feels like someone poking yor back hard with a finger (pressure). That's my experience anyways!
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It scared me too but when I was in that much pain they could have put a needle in my head for all I cared
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It was the worst part for me, but I hate (hate hate hate) my lower back being touched/pressure. It wasn't so much the needle that hurt it was a surge (the Dr called it a "zinger") that went thru my spine that really bothered me. But from what I have read on here, everyones experience seems to be different.
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I've never had an epidural but have had two spinals (where they inject the meds directly into your spine) and I have to say, the worst part of having a c-section was getting the IV, both times!
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Nope!
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No, it didn't hurt it all. I have major needle phobia, but the combination of numbing cream they put on your back, the fact that I couldn't see the needle, and the insane pain from contractions made it no big deal - I basically yelled "STICK ME!" when the anesthesiologist arrived
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I dreaded it but it was not bad at all. Small pinch. I just asked them not to show me the needle
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I don't remember more than a pinch and compared to the contraction pain, it really is no big deal (you'll be begging for that pinch if you decide to go the epi route). For me, the scariest/hardest part was needing to be perfectly still through a contraction. I didn't get the epidural until I hit transition, next time I'll probably ask for it sooner.
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Nope. I got a local first and it feels like a tiny bee sting. I felt nothing with the epi
Eta: It really helped that my anesthesiologist walked me through at all. She told me when my last painful contraction would be, gave me the med, then said the next one will be a lot less, then less, and I was like....whoa. Amazing. I felt like her explanations and telling me I was having the last one helps a lot
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Getting the epidural itself, no. They numbed the area first though and that didn't hurt at all. But being crunched over during contractions and being told to sit still OR ELSE was very scary for me. I had a hard time dealing with it! But it was all okay once it was over and not as bad looking back now. I was an emotional wreck anyway. Haha
My anesthesiologist was my favorite person!
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They missed the first time, so yes, it was extremely painful.
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I don't remember feeling a thing. The hardest part is holding still.
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It was a breeze for me. They did it quickly, in 1-2 minutes, between contractions, so I didn't have trouble holding still. I think they put on a numbing gel first and it was painless.
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I hate needles, but it didn't bother me at that point!
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Nope! It definitely feels weird though.
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Nope - a tiny pinch from the local anesthetic they give you, kind of like someone literally pinching you with sharp fingernails, then you feel pressure but nothing crazy. Agree with everyone the only bad part was being hunched over and being still through contractions. it was a breeze, plus the aftereffect is so amazing that even if it hurt a lot i would get it again.
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Not really. It was really hard to get though considering you have to sit a certain way & be completely still while you're having contractions. The only way I could do it is because the nurse hugged me the whole time lol but I was already at 8 cm, so I bet if I had gotten it earlier it would.have been easier.
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I don't remember any pain from the epidural, but it was hard to sit still.
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It didn't hurt either time. I agree with a PP that getting the IV at the hospital was far worse.
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I was scared to get one, but it was not a big deal. Of course, I wasn't having contractions so it was easy to stay still.
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I've had 3, the first one I don't recall any pain, second was a "zinger", the third was a nightmare and hurt like hell. I'll spare all the details, but they couldn't get me numb the first three times. Then I hit transition in the middle of that.
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I have a history of back problems so the idea of the epidural completely terrified me. Ended up having it done twice because the first time they screwed up and it didn't work. Niether time hurt at all, it was just a weird pressure for a few seconds. I was honestly more worried about the epidural than childbirth and ended up LOVINGGG it.
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@Danizaur: I agree!
I don't even think I felt a thing during the epidural but being hunched over and trying to stay still during contractions was the worst part. I actually ended up puking while trying to be still enough for them to place it. -
Nope, just trouble staying still.
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Yes. Mine was so painful, and then so ineffective, that I will not get one this time if I can possibly avoid it.
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I was so nervous for it too but seriously the fear goes away when you're in pain from contractions!! It was a small pinch when they numb the area - no worse then any other shit. Then, there isn't pain but a weird pressure feelin when they thread the catheter in. It doesn't hurt but it's a little uncomfortable. Once it's over you are golden though !!
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I didn't feel it with DD, but it stung a little with DS.
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I was suuuuper far along when I got mine right before delivery- sure it hurt, I had to hold still during insanity contractions and get poked in the back with a needle. Honestly, once I experienced contractions there was no other pain that could compare! So the needle pain was no big deal in comparison.
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Just wondering...do you have to get an IV when you go into labor or is that only if you have an epidural (which I will most likely have? ) I really hate having IVs in my arm.
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@simplyfelicity: I think it depends. I had an IV only once I asked for an epidural, but I was with the midwives group (and they avoid intervention as much as possible). Not sure if other hospitals/OBs have different practices. If I hadn't gotten an epidural, I wouldn't have needed an IV.
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It hurt more than I thought it would but it was still 1000000000x better than the pain I was feeling and it made EVERYTHING BETTER.
I was scared to have one because - giant needles in your back?! I really thought I would go med free because I was so scared of it. After 24 hours of stalling at a 3, I gave in and in the end it made my labor a really positive experience. I slept - got to a 10 within 2 hours - and had enough energy to push. I will not hesitate to have one for #2.
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@simplyfelicity: It depends. At my hospital you at least had to have a hep-lock put in just in case. I ended up with IV fluids even though I didn't have an epi because I was dehydrated.
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I always tell people I don't even remember what the needle felt like, but I DEFINITELY remember what the contractions felt like!
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I have major needle phobia (like I've passed out before) but it was a breeze. I agree with PP that the hardest part is sitting still/crunching over. My anesthesiologist was such a freaking pro. I could tell he could have done it with his eyes closed. Plus he dosed me perfectly so that I felt no pain, just some pressure, and I could still flip my legs around.
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I hate needles! That said, I would get another epidural again (and again and again :P) When I was in labor with N they missed the placement twice but I really didn't care. The back labor was awful. Then when I was in labor with E they got it placed quickly and I felt much better.
I was a totally different person once the drugs were dripping.
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When they give you the numbing stuff, before the epidural, it feels like a bee sting. Not too bad at all. Definitely easier to stand than contractions lol. The actual epidural itself didn't hurt at all.
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Didn't hurt. Trying to sit still with a hunched back through contractions, that was uncomfortable.
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@simplyfelicity: My hospital didn't make me put in a hep lock until I got the epidural. Before that I was in the tub and I didn't want it pinching or bothering me while I was moving around. But in a true emergency they don't want to waste time getting it in, so I think almost all places would require if before pushing.
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Yes, it was nothing compared to the contractions at that point.
And I also had a hard time being still. I couldn't imagine not moving through a contraction, so concentrating on that totally takes your mind off the epi needie!
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56 comments