how much do epidurals hurt?

Question

what do they feel like? also the gas? I have to fillo ut all my hospital forms and releases today and I want to know how they all feel. cheers

Answer 1

bee sting is what people told me... but one girl said it felt liek heaven at the time... and well now she regrets it because she has permant back poblems as a result of the epidural. do some research. there is a lot more to worry about than just the pain it causes during labor. some women also get epidural head aches that can last weeks. so they are not with out risks. do some reserach before agreeing to it. also if you fill out your hospital forms keep in mind that if you jsut sign them you give them permission to do anything they feel fit... even if you don't. if you sign it and they cut you (epidiotimy) and your tell them not to... we'll you've already signed it giving them permission. so if there is anything you don't want to concent to unless an emergency then put that on the sheet as an acception and make them have to ask you when it comes up. many birth interventions are not needed and done purely because its convient for the doc or the way the doc just does things or was taught to do things... this does not mean its the only way or the right way. whats best for you and your baby is most important and may be diffrent than what is best for others. so have an eye out for yourself cause unfortunaly docs always dont.

Answer 2

First of all Congratulations!! I had my daughter last December and I was induced with Petocin so my contractions were really hard and strong. When they did the epidural I honestly did not feel a thing because my contractions were really strong and I was ready for the epidural. Don't be scared, you'll have a nurse in front of you that you will lean into to hold you still and comfort you it only takes 2-3 minutes tops and then it's over and you can get some rest!! About the gas I didn't notice any excess gas but one funny thought: I did pass gas once and didn't even know I had been the one to do it because I was numb waist down!! It was a really funny moment for all my visitors and reaally proved how well the epi worked!!

Answer 3

I've never had gas...and I've had 2 kids. But I have had 2 epidurals!
I chose this method of pain control because it has absolutely no effect on the baby...and it is the most effective! One suggestion: ask the nurse to do your Foley catheter (urine bag) AFTER the epidural procedure is done. It SUCKS!

Bottom line up front as far as the epidural goes...it's not as bad as you think!

Prior to your actually getting an epidural you are given a local anesthetic to numb the site before the bigger needle is put in. The worst of it is actually the slight pinch and sting of the local....and it isn't bad. If you are in labor, the hardest part of it is staying still during a contraction while the anesthesiologist is doing the procedure. Usually what they do is in this order: Site prep with Beta-dine (to clean it), administer the local, administer an etrathecal (where they inject a little bit of the drug into the epidural space to give you immediate pain control), then insert the epidural catheter. None of it hurts...it's just a little scary (perfectly normal to be scared of the big needle....just don't look at the tray when they bring it in! I promise it won't hurt after the local is done)...and I guarantee that you'll be praising the anesthesiologist's name by the time he or she is done. Don't worry, sweetie, you'll be fine!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I had an epidural and the pain was fairly minimal (compared to the labor that I was in) and felt like getting a shot (in the back).

One thing to consider with epidurals is how you react to normal painkillers. My body has a hard time processing pain medication and the epidural produced a reaction that caused me to itch from head to toe. They had to give me a bag of Benadryl to stop the itching and the combination of the epidural and benadryl slowed down my labor. They decided to speed it up with Pitocin, which caused constant contractions with no break in between. They use a seismograph-type of machine to monitor the contractions on paper and mine were actually shooting off the paper. I had a second epidural to help with the pain and it slowed the labor more. The delivery ended up being 22 hours long. It was a total nightmare.

This time around I am going to try to deliver naturally. I think the first time I was scared of the pain and didn't know what to expect. This time I know what I'm in for. Although it hurts like hell, it is totally worth it. Whatever you decide, don't let people make decisions for you and do what you feel is right.

Answer 5

An epidural will bring relief from contractions. As soon as the medicine entered my system I noticed great relief from the contractions. I was wondering why my doctors waited to give me the shot. Don't even try to wonder what the shot feels like, just take the shot when the time comes, and you will be relieved. Because contractions do hurt, and can be pretty strong. You have to be still while getting the shot. I felt as though I needed help holding my legs up, as though I couldn't really feel my legs. Those contractions were kicking my butt.

Answer 6

I signed up for an epidural although I am EXTREMELY afraid of needles. The day that I went in to have my daughter the contractions weren't really hurting that bad so I told them that I didn't want the epidural. They gave me a shot of demerol and that kept me from feeling the contractions when they started getting harder. I had 2 shots of demerol in the almost 8 hours of labor and the only time that it really hurt was when my daughter crowned and that only hurt for a few minutes.

My best suggestion to you is to go ahead and sign up for it just in case the other pain medications that they offer don't work for you. Just because you sign up for it, doesn't mean you have to have it. I have heard WAY too many horror stories from alot of my friends about the spinal headaches that they started getting after having an epidural.

Answer 7

The gas has no smell or taste to it so you won't feel anything. They'll numb the area before inserting the needle and will give you gas for your contractions so you can stay still. Don't worry you won't feel any of it. My son is 3 month and I'm so happy I asked for epidural.

Answer 8

At the time of epidural relief, compared to contraction, you don't feel a thing. I only had epidural (with youngest) and IV medications (with both). Didn't know that they still used gas. At this point I would sign up for the whole kit and caboodle, you can always decide at labor..you may only need IV or nothing. But defintly keep your options open!!!

Answer 9

I have an extremely high pain tolerance, but I don't remember it hurting exactly, just feeling really weird. At the hosp I used, they gave you Novocain at the site to dull the needle going in, a shot to ease a shot? Seemed dumb to me. Anyway, when the cath was actually fed it, it kinda felt like an electric shock or something, like hitting your funny bone all over. But it was quick, the relief was instant, and I didn't feel it coming out at all.

Definitely worth it.

Answer 10

The gas (Nitrous Oxide) does not help. They say it takes the edge off, but I was still screaming my head off through my labor.

I didn't have time to try the epi, but my guess is it won't hurt NEARLY as much as labor contractions and 'crowning' or the 'ring of fire' as your baby starts crowning... Think of your skin ripping from tension. Than again, I had a 4 inch laceration :P