Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

So as scared of labor as I am, I am even more scared of the epidural. Did the needle hurt? Thanks!

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

i was scared of the epidural so much that i really did not plan on getting it - i got it becausei needed to slow labor down to get antibiotics in me - but anyway it did not hurt at all - they put a numbing solution in first and then did the epi - the numbing just felt like any shot - but it also could be compared to contractions nothing else hurt

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

Honestly I didnt even feel the needle. the contractions were so bad I was pleading for the epidural. No needle could cause as much pain as those contractions You will be absolutely fine and it will all be worth it in the end

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

i am the biggest baby EVER...i even have issues with getting blood drawn...I had my epidural early on (before the really painful contractions came), and i can honestly say it really wasn't that bad. I actually had a GREAT nurse, who just made everything so much easier..maybe that had something to do with it too...but it really wasn't that bad at all.

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I don't remember feeling any pain while recieving the epidural however, I do remember, very well, the heavenly feeling it left me with! It just relieved all pain and left me feeling so much better!

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I had a c-section and the epidural was the worst part. I did not have a typical experience though.. they couldn't get the catheter in and I was stuck many times, it took over an hour. The needle didn't really hurt but the numbing agent they put in before burned and pinched, and I felt that over and over again.
It also made me very shaky and itchy all over. Because I was stuck so many times, my back was extremely sore and made my recovery more difficult.

I am trying a vbac this time and my plan is not to get an epidural.

Again, mine was not the typical experience, but I think women wanting to know what it is like should hear all experiences.

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

You sound like me, which is why I plan to go natural. The epidural scares the hell out of me!!!

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I went natural until hour 30 something when they decided DS was sunnyside up and I needed a section.

I honestly don't remember a thing about the epidural aside from it making me shake.

The hardest part about them administering it to me was sitting up and hunching over because DS was so low in my pelvis I had terrible pressure in there. Literally felt like there was a bowling ball hanging out of my vajayjay

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I also planned to go pain med free.....that was until the pain from the contractions was to much for me to bare...this time around I know I'll make sure my doctors know I want the epidural ahead of time because I am no martyr...and I never even felt the needle and I don't know that I would have cared if I did

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I don't even remember the needle for the epi. I know my labor was one of those weird ones, though. I had planned to go drug free but had to be induced (water broke but labor didn't start) so I was weary and not progressing and the epi was recommended to get my labor to progress.

Funny but my daughter is 4 years old and I hardly ever think of her labor...

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

The contractions hurt so bad that I didn't even feel the epi being inserted.

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

Thanks everyone. Sounds like it usually isn't so bad.

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I was the same way-scared of the needle.

It wasn't until the pain of labor was stronger than my fear of the needle that I asked for it.

I have to say, it wasn't bad at all and you don't even see the needle and the pain of child birth is so bad, you don't care anyway

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

Posted by Larasmommy

Honestly I didnt even feel the needle. the contractions were so bad I was pleading for the epidural. No needle could cause as much pain as those contractions You will be absolutely fine and it will all be worth it in the end

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

i get epidurals for my back (pain management)...it hurt the first time, but the 3rd time i was so used to it. It's, kinda of like a pinch, but I would imagine with everything going on you may not notice it so much, but you will feel it go through your legs. from what i understand, epidurals for labor are far more powerful than the ones for pain management.

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I got the epidural and I am now 3 months post partum with chronic back pain and pressue right in the area where I go it...it hurts more for me now!

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

nope- it was nothing!!!! and i was poked a few times bc apparently we found out i have a mld case of Scoliosis also which makes it a bit more difficult

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

As scary as the epidural seems, it was a piece of cake both times! I don't love the quick burning feeling of the medicine but its over so quickly, then you are in heaven..lol..

Re: Spinoff to Labor Pain - Epidural?

I'm a HUGE baby and have always been afraid of chidlbirth.

I had a vaginal delivery with DD and a c/s with DS. With DD, the contractions were so bad I asked for the epidural pretty quickly.

All I had to say was the epi was HEAVEN!

I felt nothing, I was able to sleep for a while and was much more relaxed.