What does it feel like when you are getting an epidural?

Question

I am deathly afraid of needles. I always have been since I was a little girl. Rather it be a shot or giving blood, I FREAK out! The epidural is what I am most freaked out about in this whole pregnancy thing. I sat with a friend of mine when she got hers and I was the one panicking. Granted it was her 4th kid though. This is my first and I don't know what to expect. I am 29 weeks and scared to death. Someone told me when they got their epidural it hurt so bad and they felt like their leg was going to shoot off. Is it as bad as I am expecting?

Answer 1

id be more afraid of contractions girlfriend.... you know the saying how do you spell relief? yea its e.p.i.d.u.r.a.l!!!

Answer 2

I have a 13 month old. I was also afraid of any type of needle, and I dreaded even getting my blood taken during my pregnancy. I have a very long and hard labor. It seemed like forever before they would give me an epidural because it took me so long to dialate. Trust me, when you are in pain, the epidural will be the least of your worries. It feels like a bee sting, but you get instant relief from any pain. It makes the rest of your labor fly by, and you will be able to rest a lot more. Don't worry about it, after having my son, all the needles, the epidural, the IV's, and the blood they take, you will never be afraid of needles again. Definitely get an epidural.

Answer 3

When i had my son i didnt want to get an epidural because like you i was terrified of needles but when your water breaks and nothing else will help the PAIN go away let me tell you.......I screamed for the anesthesioligist to get in their and give me that epidural.....I didnt even feel it not even a little bit all i felt was the horrible pain of childbirth and as soon as they gave it to me it was all good from thier i could have had ten kids after that.....when they put in the IV i wanted to cry that really hurt it hurt more than the epidural and i REALLY wouldnt recommend getting any IV drugs they make you feel real drowsy and super drunk and when you need to bring a child into the world the last thing you want to feel is super groggy and drunk you need to be as alert as possible at that time or else both you and your childs life can be in danger.....So good luck and dont be scared just get the epidural 98% of women do and i did and i will get it immediately next time i have a child instead of waiting and putting myself through pain

Answer 4

For me, it felt like getting a shot, only it was in my back. I was freaked out about it too...I said, "Eh, how bad can labor pain REALLY be? Knowing my luck, I'll be the one in one million who ends up with nerve damage. I don't want an epidural." Hah! Once my contractions got going, I was begging for one. The anesthesiologist kicked @ss...got it in correctly the first time, and all was good. It really doesn't hurt much more than getting shot or having blood drawn. I did notice, however, that the pain was deeper...not quite so stinging is it feels when you get a shot. It hurt, I won't lie...but the pain of contractions FAR out weigh the pain of an epidural. (My second baby was a c-section, and I had a spinal block for that...just a one time shot of numbing medicine that completely numbs you, but then wears off. The pain from that was worse.)

Answer 5

You will probably already be on som egood drugs, ahh demerol-my friend, and this will relax you and your anxieties a bit. Then they'll do a local anesthetic before the epidural. So the epi itself, you wont even feel. I've giving birth 3 times this way. I am a big weenie too, deathly afraid of needles, even to give blood. SO I feel ya! Never heard of a leg shooting off though. Weird. But yeah, its not so bad. A lot more comfortable than contractions, especially after your water breaks!

Congrats on the pregnancy and soon coming new baby!

Answer 6

It didn't hurt at all when I got mine... I was scared to death too. I went through 3 labors before I decided to have one with my last child. I could have kicked my own butt for not getting it with the first 3!!! All you feel is like a bee sting when they give you the shot to numb the area where they put it, and maybe a little pressure when they put the actual catheter in. If someone felt like their leg was going to shoot off, it wasn't being done correctly!! It is not bad at all. My back hurt a little for a few days, but that was the worst of it. Don't be afraid to do it! Having a baby is SO much more enjoyable when you can't feel the labor pains!! You don't see them putting it in, and they tell you exactly what they are doing. Good luck to you !!

Answer 7

well let me tell you if your crontractions get real bad the only thing you are going to want id the pain to go away, but to answer you question 'no ' the epidural doesnt hurt and plus if you do decide to get it you wont see the needle anyway and it feels like a mosquito bite. big deal! dont worry i got 1 on june 17 when i had my son and i think contraction hurt more but if u can take the pain dont use apidural because there are some side affects like headaches, backpain the epidural might move if you get moved to another bed for c section and u can have a negative affect. well good luck!

Answer 8

with my experience the contractions hurt alot more than the epidural. The epidural itself feels like a really sharp pinch. you can actually feel it going in your back then it gets all warm and you immediately feel the meds kick in and the contractions omg arent so bad anymore. The pain is worth handling and its only for 4 or 5 seconds at that. you have to be really still when you get it so maybe try singing a song in your head and close your eyes. before you know it, it'll be over. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 9

Unless you are having a C section (and even then you can ask for general anesthetic) you don't have to have an epidural. Why don't you just go natural, then you don't have to worry about it. I had one child with and one without and if I were to do it again I would not have the epidural but I think that its a personal decision.

Plus if you can't handle the contractions you will be begging for it anyway so I would not worry.

Answer 10

I hate needles too but was screaming for them to hurry up and get the freaking epidural after they gave me something to speed up the contractions. I went from looking and sounding like the girl in excorcist to sleeping within the hour. He didn't warn me when he was inserting the needle, so bucked a bit and he told me I had to be still. By that time I was ready to swatt everyone in the room. Didn't hurt though and I welcomed the distraction from the terrible contractions.

Answer 11

It's not as bad as you're saying and it is sooooo worth it. I had strange spacing in my spine and it took 9 times before the needle went it. The doctor said that he had never had so much trouble. But, once it was in, I was in heaven. I had no pain and it was wonderful. I've heard that the epidural can take only a few minutes to get in in most cases. For me it took almost 45 minutes. Also, you can't see the needle, it's in your back. When they put more medicine in, It feels cool on your back and kind of relaxing. Good luck!