Im deathly afraid of needles and was wondering how much does it hurt to get an epidural? Honesty please
2007-01-17 07:18:11 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
okay ME TOO!
I was a scheduled C-Section- no rush or anything.
The truth- the fear of the needle hurt me more than the actual needle pain. I kept my eyes closed the whole time.
I told the nurse (in the face) I'm so scared I may pass out-please don't tell, can you help me. She literally let me hug her and put my head on her for the entire thing. She was calm and professional and I breathed with her. It was about 10 minutes of procedure and it was all over. Really- that quick. COLD anaseptic and iodine wash on my middle lower back, Prick shot one, wait about 2 minutes, prick and push push and taped. Ready to go. It was taped so well it never pulled or anything.
On scale 1-10 and ten the higest it was about a 4. Stubbing your big toe hurts much much more.
AND the minute that medicine hits your system- SIster your higher than a kite. I knew what to expect and watched the clock on the wall and was totally amazed and "keeping saing things like WOW and Your guys are great, They were teasing me back, yet I can't remember what they said."
In 30 minutes I was in surgery ready for my C section- the only reason I knew I was cut open was the look on my husbands face, and I they told me to stop laughing. Next thing I know- a beautiful baby boy is in my arm (the other one is strapped down for medication).
From top to bottom it was 90 minutes long. Amazing.
I was all sewn up and in my recovery for several hours, because my room was not ready yet- that was okay it was quiet, I knew my baby was with my family and I was tired and wanted to rest.
Either that night or the next day, they had me sit up to "Check it" and "ouch the tape" and pulled that needle right out, it leaked a little and itched a bit as it healed. But I don't even have a scar.
He tricked me- "just checking it" because he knew I was scared- he had assisted the docotor who did it. Clever fellow.
Best wishes
2007-01-17 07:34:58 · answer #1 · answered by Denise W 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was the best feeling in the world. No, I'm not being sarcastic. I was having contractions, one on top of the other, I'm talking 10 seconds apart. I couldn't deliver because I wasn't dilated fully though. So I asked for an epidural. Honestly, I couldn't even feel the epidural needle. They were saying at the hospital that I was having the worst contractions that they had seen there. Everyone says though that if you aren't having a lot of pain and you get one done, then it hurts like hell. But I was in too much pain to begin with. I plan on having another epidural if I can when I deliver this little one.
2016-03-14 07:10:11 · answer #2 · answered by Susan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had 3 babies (2 with an epidural and 1 without). I recommend the epidural because it made the birthing experience more enjoyable- I wasn't in so much pain that I couldn't stand it, like I was with my first. With my 2nd and 3rd, I was induced and pitocin contractions are so painful I really needed it to relax, dialate fully, and deliver. I waited until I couldn't stand the pain before asking for one, and the only painful part of getting it was holding in position during contractions that were coming every minute and a half. The needle I could not feel. It makes it better that you cannot see it either- considering that I pass out every time they do a blood draw! Within 20 minutes, the medicine kicks in and you'll feel so much better- it even allowed me to sleep for an hour as I dialated from 7 to 10. Pushing is harder only because you can't feel what you're pushing against, but having done it naturally with my first and her 15 and a half inch head, I can assure you that you are not missing much!
The injection site may be a little sore after delievery, but all things in perspective, the rest of the body will be too! I was singing the praises of my anastigiologist (spelling?), and if you felt the alternative, you will too!
Good luck- all pain is not forgotten when you hold your newborn, but it is definitely forgiven!
2007-01-17 07:35:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The needle itself barely hurts at all. But I personally will never have another epidural again in my life. With my first child I didn't have any meds, but with my 2nd things progressed a lot faster and I thought I "needed" the epidural. To make a long story short they screwed up the epidural and I ended up with a hole in the membrane that surrounds your spinal chord, so there was spinal chord fluid that was leaking out into my back which creates the most intense migraines of my entire life. After I got home I could barely move because of the pain in my back and because of the migraines. Luckily I had family that was there to look after me and my newborn. About 4 days later I had to go back to the hospital to have the hole repaired, they call this a blood patch. They take blood from your arm and using an epidural needle put it into your spine until you feel "full". Then you have to wait for the blood they inserted to fill the hole. If this works than you will be fine, if not than you will continue with the migraines and severe back pain. After this was all done, I continued to have more headaches...not migraines, just bad headaches, and bad back pain in the site where the blood patch was. It has now been 2 1/2 years and I still have pain in my back. Now I'm not trying to scare you by any means. I just wish that someone had of told me about the possibility of this happening. It doesn't happen to many people, but it does happen to some. Good luck with everything.
2007-01-17 07:34:54 · answer #4 · answered by hasgr8boyz 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They usually put a local first. Think stitches or dentist shot. They also usually put the needle in while you are having a contraction. Trust me I was concentrating on the contraction pain way more than I was worried about her and the needle. After I got it, I went to sleep. Plan on having one again this time. I will say though that your back will be sore the next day. Like after a shot but a little worse because of the location, but it's well worth it. If you are scared of needles let them know ahead of time and they can have you close your eyes so you don't see them prepping. The dr. has seen it all so if you want to cry because you are scared then go ahead. The contractions hurt way more than the epidural. You'll see. Wait until you hit about 4 or 5 cm.
2007-01-17 07:30:33 · answer #5 · answered by Amy A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I honestly didn't even feel the needle. I didn't know the anesthesiologist had actually put the needle in already until I got my next contraction and realized that it hurt a lot less.
I don't mean to scare you, but at the time you are ready to get an epidural, a needle will be the least of your concerns. There will be so much going on, and the contractions will be hurting you a lot worse than any needle ever could. Once the epidural is in, the relief is instant.
2007-01-17 07:28:33 · answer #6 · answered by Deanna B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have ever had a cavity filled at the dentist then you have felt the pain of an epidural. The shot that you get in your mouth to numb you up is the same shot that they give you in your back before doing the epidural. Plus, if you get the other pain medications that they offer, like Nubian, before the epidural you are pretty loopy and don't really care. Believe me, the pain of that one shot is going to much better than the pain of natural childbirth!!
2007-01-17 07:29:26 · answer #7 · answered by mom-knows-best 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Girl - it hurts way less than the other pain.... Really. I had a friend to was deathly afraid of shots and she had to get an epidural for her last baby and now she can not believe that she ever went without! It is such a small part of the whole experience that will make the rest of the experience so much more enjoyable. Get it! And do not wait too long -- the longer you put it off, the harder it gets... tell them you want it as soon as possible. If you wait - you are too tense and sometimes that makes it harder.. It's much scarier WITHOUT it!! Good Luck!
2007-01-17 07:25:20 · answer #8 · answered by nokiddingitsme 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not really bad at all. And you won't even see it. The worst part about the epidural is having to crouch forward in that cat like position while they insert it into your back. You have to continue to hold this position even while you are having contractions. That is the most difficult part about it.
You will be fine. I absolutely HATE needles every since I had to give myself insulin shots during my last pregnancy. I can no longer watch syringes either. So I understand how you feel. But trust me, you will be okay through this. Just relax, breathe, and if you have someone in there with you, your spouse, mother or friend, hold that persons hand and try talking to them about baby names and thing you want to do with the baby once he/she arrives.
Best wishes and God bless both of you!
2007-01-17 07:25:01 · answer #9 · answered by †♥mslamom♥† 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it hurts a lot less than labor pains. it wasnt very bad at all. it felt cool, not like neeto, but like icy cool, i wasnt really paying attention to that either. get the epidural not the spinal. if you have an emergency c-section, and get the spinal they will put you all the way out and you wont see the baby for a few hours after you wake up. with the epiudral you can stay awake and watch the baby be born. always be prepared to have one too. they are called EMERGENCY for a reason. i didnt prepare for it and i had one. i suggest the epidural. it dosent hurt like a shot it feels like somone is rubbing ice and grass on your back.
2007-01-17 07:23:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋