epidural, I'm very very scared?

Question

Sorry so many questions this is a loaded one, but I just posted a previous question, but I was wondering if the needle hurts when they are giving you an epidural, like if I jump or move will I be paralyzed I do not want to experience any labor pains but I want the epidural I just want to know if it is goin to hurt when they put it in and will it wear off if I don't deliver right away and will I be able to push hard enough through the numbness

Answer 1

The labor pains are so bad at that point YOU WILL NOT CARE. I promise it doesnt hurt. I really dont think I felt anything. The toughest part is to stay still. It is the greatest thing ever. I was able to laugh and joke around...I barely felt my contractions after I got it. They had to look at the machine and tell ME when I was having a contraction. Dont be scared, you'll be fine.

Answer 2

Aye its u again!!=) ok so about the epidural well i had it sittin up on the bed. U r not suppose to move at all. Im not completey sure if u would b paralyzyed but it is best to just sit ur a** still..know what i mean?? Anyways yeah of course there is a pinch when the insert the needle and when they inject the medicine u can feel it around ur back ..very weird feelin i might add. Also the epidural will last for quite a long time so i wouldn't worry about how long it will last since u are goin to have induced labor it shouldn't take as long. Furthermore when i was in labor with the epidural i had no idea when i was having a contraction. That's how well it worked. The bad part was having to push when i didn't feel anything at all. So have the nurses monitor ur contractions to tell u win to push. That's how i got my big ol baby out..trust me u can't stop pushin just because u don't feel anything because if u do u might have to have a c-section and i pretty sure u wouldn't wanna go through that. Right?

Answer 3

HI there, I noticed you have alot of answers, but none really explain what it feels like. When I had my epidural, it feels like someone is pushing on a bruise. Sort of hurts, but it is tolerable. Way better than the contractions, but I was induced and they say your contractions ar eworse with that. I also had a big contraction when they put the epidural in, which kinda sucked, but it wseasy to stay till. Just find something to focus on. The epidural started working abut 15 minutes after they started it, and they run ice up your leg every 40 minutes or so to test the numness. You also have a push pump button that you can get to recieve more of the medication if needed, you are in control. I could feel the pressure of the contractions, but not the pain. Also, I went from 4cm to 10cm in 2 hours after I got the epidural. It will be fine, and over with before you know it. Congrats, and try not to be too scared, everything will go smoothly.

Answer 4

I will just tell you that every hospital, doctor and delivery is different. When I got my epidural they numbed the area around it before they stuck me with the actual needle so I didnt move. They also did the actual epidural in between contractions so I did not flinch from the pain. Also about the wearing off, I have heard of that happening. My brothers girlfriend delivered their child after the medicine had worn off. This had happened because they gave her a one time dose. For me they gave me my epidural in an I.V. type of thing. When I started to feel the pain I just simply pushed a button and it gave me another small dose, I of course had to talk to my doctor before pushing the button again and again. As for the being able to push you are not going to have any problems with that. When the baby is ready to come out you will feel a lot of pressure and you will have the need to push the baby out. The numbness shouldnt have an effect on your ability to push your child out, there have been people that have delivered babies in an a coma. Even if you cant physically push your baby out your body will know how to do it on its own. Well I hope this helps good luck with your delivery and congrats on your new addition.

Answer 5

It hurts. A lot. It's really big, and if you are going to have an easy, normal labour you are much better off just birthing naturally. Chances are good that they will give you something else first if your labour is bad so that you won't feel the needle fully anyways. I didn't get it until after 16 hours of labour pains, so I was too tired to care or move for it. I didn't feel any pain for the next 8 hours of labour either, so you don't have to worry about it wearing off right away. It doesn't make you feel paralyzed entirely either, so you will be able to push hard enough, and still actually feel your baby being born as well. Good luck. Just remember - your body knows what it is doing, so if you relax and work with it, labour will be easy and much less painful. ***The epidural CAN potentially hurt your baby, so please make an informed decision. Research it first and use it only as a last resort.

Answer 6

I had an epidural with my first baby. You have to stay real still. The nurse stands right in front of you and holds your shoulders, you can hold on to her to help yourself stay still.
It doesn't hurt. It is a little tiny pinch that is over in a second.
It is so worth it.
It wont wear off. If it starts to wear off they can increase it.
As to pushing while being numb. You still feel some pressure and the Doctor will be looking at the monitor by your bed to see when you have a contraction. The doctor will tell you when to push.
With my daughter I wanted to be tough and deal with the pain for as long as I could. Well, I waited to long and had to go through the labor with no pain medication at all. It is the worse pain in the world. I thought I was going to die.
Don't be scared of getting an epidural. It makes labor so easy.

Answer 7

I have had 4 epidurals, and you don't have any reason to fear. They give you a little shot first to numb the area, its not painful at all. The hard part is not moving when you are having a contraction, when they are setting it up. If your epidural starts to wear off, they will give you another dose. The needle stays in your back. Each epidural I had felt different. One numbed me too much, one came too late, one didn't numb the vaginal area, one had to be put in 3 times to get it in the right place. But, all the epidurals were a wonderful relief from the incredible pain of child birth. Don't be afraid, I actually found giving birth fun and enjoyable!

Answer 8

3 babies, 3 epidurals. My labors were long and exhausting and the epidural helped me to relax and rest up for pushing. It does not really hurt, it is just a bit uncomfortable when they are doing it, but you will love the guy who does it for you! They have you sit up and lean forward and they tell you to stay still, but if you have a contraction, they will stop and let you breathe through it and then they get on with it. There are risks, but there are plenty of people who have done it and are ok. It is a decision that you make knowing yourself and how you handle pain. I never went in with the attitude "I am getting one!" but I always left it open as an option. You may surprise yourself and not want it, you may decide that you want to try to stay relaxed and not feel the pain and go for it. Whatever you decide is going to be great! Try not to worry, your body knows what to do, and the Drs. know how to help it along if need be. And also, you will be able to push. You just remember to push like you are pooping (really, that is the right kind of pressure) and you will be able to do it. Rest up!

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

i went thru labour for 10 n half hrs, first child. NO pain killers. I dunno how the hell i did it but everything just kinda happens n u don't think about the time, u tend to live in that moment when ur in labour. In pain or not...not then snooze....pain then u do whateva the hell u can to ease it! I forgot all about stoopid relaxation music n chanting n all the otha suggestions they make to u. The absolute best thing i found for the pain in contractions was to alternate between a hot shower, rockin on my hands n knees on the bed n having someone rub my back till i dozed off while draped over one of those tables that sit over ur hospital bed. Just make sure u remember to take ur own pillow n make sure ur partner doesn't have to work the next day cuz i dislocated one of my fiance's fingers n left purple bruises all over his hands. I didn't even realise i was doing it but he was damn sore afterwards. Personally i was too bloody scared of the needle n ALL the things that can go wrong with an epidural but when i have my next baby i think i'll be givin the gas a try, cuz, while i know i can do it without anything other than what u find at home (worst case scenario- u don't make it to the hospital) i think i'll give it a try the easier way next time. Friends tell me the gas alone works fairly well - remember NOTHING is gonna take away ALL the pain! The main thing is make sure u have someone there with u the whole way for support. That makes the world of difference!! Good luck n enjoy mummyhood!

Answer 10

Firstly Congratulations! Before they put the epidural in, you need to know for sure that you're not going to move during your contractions while you're sitting up. When I got my epidural, I had to lie down with my partner holding me by the arms and legs so I couldn't move during my contractions. The epidural hurt a little bit, nothing near what labour pains are though. For me it felt more like someone was blowing bubbles in my back (when they were trying to find the right spot) once it was in I fell asleep - I didn't get my epidural until about 20 hours into my labour

Answer 11

I never had an epidural for having a child, so I can't really answer your question.

However, I have had about 20 epidurals to help elevate back pain. Like you, I was very very scared of them. They weren't bad at all, I mean I would of rather been doing a lot of things other than getting an epidural but the pain rom the epidural wasn't bad at all.

My husband and I do so much together, we even had epidurals together once! (True story)