what do you think of epidurals? did you use it. i do not want to have pain but I am scare of epidurals too...?

Answer 1

I just had my baby 7 weeks ago and getting an epidural is the best thing I could have done! I didn't feel any pain, just pressure when I needed to push it was great and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It didn't hurt going in my back and I didn't have any pains in my back after they took it out either.

Answer 2

I, too, was scared of the epidural. I don't like needles and the thought of what they are doing with that one....... Anyway, you don't have to make a decision now. I went in thinking I would do my best not to have an epidural. I started with the breathing. When that wasn't working enough for me I asked for other types of pain meds. When I had been in labor for 9.5 hours I finally broke down and asked for the epidural. I was exhausted and couldn't face the thought of going through more. Good thing, because my son wasn't born for another 9 hours.

With my daughter, I didn't get the epidural. I went much faster with her and I just used the meds they gave me through my IV (which I only got 1 dose). She was born 2 hours and 15 minutes after we got to the hospital.

Bottom line, do what makes you feel the most comfortable at the time. You have plenty of time even after labor starts to decide. If it gets to the point that it's too late to have the epidural (there does come that point) then realize that you WILL make it through it because you are close to the end and the BIG prize - a wonderful baby that will make you forget about all the pain.

Answer 3

I had one with my first baby, but not with the next two. As a matter of fact no one in the world could pay me enough money to have an epidural again. The pain you experience during labour has a purpose and you can get through it without medication. Pain does not kill you and frankly I think the needle for the epidural hurt more than two competely natural deliveries. Think of the worst menstral cramp you ever had then multiply it by about 5; That's kind of what labour feels like. Good luck. PS Consider a water birth since there is very little pushing which can be painful. PPS The feeling of empowerment and strength you get after delivering naturally are awesome and something you'll never forget.

Answer 4

the epidural is the greatest thing ever! You will be in a lot of pain in labor and why feel it if you dont have too? I was in labor for almost 10 hours with back labor before i dialated enough to get an epidural and the relief was wonderful! all i felt was a small pinch in my back and then i started to get numb from my breasts down. Some people do get whats called a spinal headache from them but its not very common. IF your really frightened of the epidural there are other pain relief options but i feel that the epidural is the best one out there

Answer 5

When I was pregnant with my daughter I was convinced that I wasn't going to have the epidural. Not because I wanted to be brave and I was this proud woman that want's to do it the way God intended, I didn't want the epidural because I was scared to death of it. I avoided getting it for 10 hours. After 10 hours I couldn't take the pain anymore so I went ahead and got it. Believe me the epidural is nothing to be afraid of. I didn't even feel the needle go in or whatever they did to me. And soon after I stopped feeling all pain. It was well worth it! Get the epidural girl! It was made for a reason!!!

Answer 6

girl let me tell ya!!! I have 2 children and I had an epidural with both i am now 5 wks prego and I WILL be having one with this one .I say why not it lets you enjoy the birth without all the pain . And that's what got me through the first few hours of labor knowing i would get something to numb the pain . It is painless all i felt with the 2 i had was pressure. The pain was more scary to me than the epidural.

Answer 7

yes i used epidural, but now they don't have to put it through the spine now it could be put into your ivy , when the nurse asks you your level pain 1-10, even if the pains are not that strong ask for the epidural early it take a little while for the other nurse to come in with the epidural and have the epidural early because by the time the real pain come the epidurals is already working so then you don't have to feel the real bad pains.

Answer 8

I don't usually take pain meds for anything but after not having any food for a good 18 or so hours, I had to take some meds, not an epidural, to rest. After having a second dose the meds didn't work so when it was safe to have an epidural I got one. By this time I had been surviving on liquids for about 25 hours.

In case you are wondering I had to be induced. Went in at 7 p.m. had a light supper and was given meds to soften my cervix, at 8 a.m. gave me the drugs to get labor started and was not able to eat after wards.

Anyways, the epidural is really going be determined by how your labor is going. And don't believe everyone when they say you will have no pain with one. I felt everything, not as bad but I felt everything.

Answer 9

Check around the hospital in your area, not just the one you're planning to deliver at.

Look at the classes they offer.

Find one that offers classes in OB Anesthesia, and go. It will be well worth your time.

My biggest fear with an epidural was the idea of someone inserting a needle in my spinal column... what if they hit the spine itself?

I discovered in the class that the needle is inserted BELOW where the spine ends. Yes, it goes between two vertebrae, but the spine itself ends some ways ABOVE the insertion site.

Really, the class (given by the people who perform the epidural) is the best way to get your fears addressed, and to get the information you need to make a good decision, for or against.

Answer 10

Epidurals are a wonderful thing. I had one with my daughter, and I'm so very glad. You don't even get to see what the Anesthesiologist does because it's done in your back. You'll thank yourself a whole lot after you've got one. It's just a little pinch on your lower back, nothing compared to labor pains. Good luck, and hope you get one! By the way, some peoples do not work, but I know many whose have and it's wonderful.