2006-09-10 10:37:46 · 41 answers · asked by Shizzy 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
It hurts a whole lot less than labor itself! If you are worried about the epidural (which they leave a tube in your back the whole time you are having the baby, kind of like an IV) then you could always do a intrathecal(which is a shot in the spinal cord, and that's it.) It lasts a few hours, and when you feel it wearing off you can ask for another. I had an epi with my first child and an intrathecal with my second, and I much prefer the intrathecal over the epi. Both do totally kill the pain though. I just like the intrathecal better because it wears off faster after you have the baby and you can get around on your own sooner. Also, the intrathecal works almost immediatly whereas the epi can take up to 20 minutes to work.
2006-09-10 10:48:29 · answer #1 · answered by sclay95843 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only time a epidural hurts is when there puting the needle in ur back because they do it whilst having a contraction and that hurts because u have to stay still which is sometimes difficult when u want to move around and scream but once u have had it u cant fill a thing ur numb from the waiste down and takes a couple of hrs to wear off once u have had the baby hope this helps.
2006-09-12 00:58:49 · answer #2 · answered by loopy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know your going to probably ignore this because I am a man, but they used to use epidural blocks to perform surgery on the ACL. Which is how I had an epidural. I had to have my ACL repaired and they gave me an epidural. This was when I was 18 and I can tell you the only thing I felt was something I would describe as an electric shock and then nothing FOR HOURS well after th surgery.
2006-09-10 10:44:25 · answer #3 · answered by mikeae 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The thing that puts me off the idea of an epidural is being stuck on a bed with wires and monitors all over me. I am likely to feel panicky in that instance. Plus they can have side effects of making you feverish, sick and shaky. I really don't want to feel like that in labour!
I am hopefully having my baby in a birth centre where you do not have to lie on a bed with monitors and are free to move about, use the pool etc. They don't do epidurals though, only gas n air or pethidine.
I feel I would much sooner have my baby in that kind of relaxed, non-hospital atmosphere as I am liable to panic attacks and I know lying on a bed not being able to move about would make me very panicky. But I guess I will have to see how the labour goes and how I handle the pain.
2006-09-10 10:44:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the whole point is that it hurts a lot less than labour! With my first pregnancy I thought I wanted as natural a delivery as possible. But by the time I was 3 centimeters I was in so much agony I honestly didn't even notice the fact that they were sticking a bl**dy huge needle in my back. I'm not sure I would have cared if they'd hit me over the head with a mallet as long as it made the pain from the contractions stop. Which it did. Completely. It was bliss.
I think the answer is, no one can tell you beforehand what labour will be like for you. Go in with an open mind and be prepared to listen to your body and what it needs.
2006-09-10 19:20:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is different so you cannot really rely on other women's experiences. When I had to take mine, it was painful but with a pressure kind of feeling which felt very strong- I did not like the experience of taking the actual shot, but it did relieve the contraction pains... I am pregnant now, and I am really going to try to avoid it as I did not like my first experience. On the other hand, my friend who just gave birth two months ago, said she felt nothing... So, everyone responses to pain differently, so, once it is your turn, only you can tell how much pain you are able to tolerate and if you will need the epidural after all. good luck.
2006-09-10 11:06:39 · answer #6 · answered by Snowwhite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to have an emergency caserean and they had to do an epidural and I must say it hardly hurt at all, the labour pains must detract from it. Best wishes, I would reccomend an epidural as it will keep you calm and focused, only down side being you are numb so can't move but who cares when you are pain free?! xx
2006-09-10 10:46:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do u mean does the epidural hurt or the labour? Well not every epidural works and results can be patchy you go numb some parts and not others. Having long needle put into spine isnt pleasant! i would say dont do it, use it only as a last resort. gas and pethidine are ok.
2006-09-10 10:40:56 · answer #8 · answered by princess s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The epidural doesn't hurt... the pain from the contractions that you're having hurt. And on top of that, you're not allowed to move while they're giving you the epidural, so that pretty much sucks. I was so ready to get rid of the pain from my contractions, that I didn't even think about that needle in my back! I'm such a wimp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-09-10 10:47:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No i didn't feel it at all. They will numb the spot before they put the epidural in. It is a walk in the park after the pain from contracions.
2006-09-10 10:46:15 · answer #10 · answered by Mrs. Brown 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋