Epidural???

Question

ok so im definitely not a fan of shots.. i hate them.
whats it feel like to get to epidural (when they administer it)?
does it hurt more than the IV?

Answer 1

Okay, I've had 3 epidurals (two during my first labor, and one during my second which was only 9 days ago), and I remember all three distinctly.

Does it hurt more than the IV? No. The doc will give you a local anesthetic shot to numb the area on your back first. That feels about the same as when they give you an IV. The point of that is so you won't feel the bigger needle and tube being inserted. Well, you feel it, but it's not painful.

My experience may be unique, but I'll tell you how it felt for me. I felt pressure of the needle, and then I felt the tube being inserted. The doc has to feed a lot of tube in, and once it's all the way in, it felt like he had hit a nerve or something because my body twitched and my back arched involunarily (but don't worry, it wasn't painful, just a weird sensation). Then as he was taping me up, I could feel the medicine working like my hips started tingling like they were falling asleep. My legs never go completely numb, I could still move them and walk (just a little, the nurse won't let you go farther than the bathroom), they just feel really relaxed. If you are in labor for awhile after the epidural, they'll administer a catheder to drain your bladder. I had that with my first labor and it's no biggie at all. You've had the epidural so you can't really feel anything. With my second labor I delivered 45 minutes after getting the epidural so they didn't give me a catheder. Just make sure you use the bathroom just before getting the epidural, it'll really help.

Two things. One, make sure your husband/partner or someone else is there to brace you. To get the epidural you have to sit sideways on the bed and bend over so your back is rounded. And of course you have to hold really still (during contractions, that's quite difficult). All three times I had my husband stand right in front of me and I pushed my head on his stomach to stabilize me, and he had his arms wrapped around my shoulders. It was easy to hold still that way.

The second thing is that with all three, my blood pressure dropped which made my head and ears start to feel numb (with the first one, it TOTALLY freaked me out) and I felt sick to my stomach and dizzy. Once you lay down, it goes away almost immediately and with the second two epidurals, I knew to expect it so I wasn't freaked. But it really helps if you're hydrated, I didn't get so sick with the most recent one. Just make sure to say something so the nurse knows you're getting woozy...you need to lay down asap after you start to feel like that.

I gotta tell you, I hate shots too. I can't watch them given to me or I get faint. I think they always hurt and I'm a huge chicken. But I still wouldn't pass up an epidural. Not only does it take away the pain, but it completely relaxes you so your contractions are more effective, and if you tear or get an episiotomy, you can't feel it or getting stiched back up. AND the first few hours after you deliver you aren't in nearly so much pain because everything down there is still numb, so you can get some much needed rest. Your baby will need to be under a heat lamp for four hours after delivery to regulate his/her temperature, so an epidural will make those hours more comfortable allowing you to sleep better.

Good luck, it's really not that bad, I promise!

Answer 2

I hate shots too, more than anything. I've only taken them when I absolutely had to.

The best part of the epidural is that you don't see a thing when they do it, and the L&D nurse should be there with you to help you when you get it from the tech.

It feels cold at first, and if it moves that can feel so *very* strange, like someone is touching your back, but you can tell it's from the spine. It never hurt, it was only cold, and not very intense cold. What they do at the dentist's office for a filling hurts worse (and I've had dozens of fillings and several crowns)

After I got my epidural I got very talkative, it's amazing the anti-anxiety effect the drug had on me. I would get an epidural again next time, definitely.

The best part of the IV is that it's much quicker than the epidural to get. If the nurse gets it in right the first time, you'll never notice it again the entire time. I have very thin forearms, and never had any problems with the needle going haywire and scraping me or anything like that.

The thing that hurt the worst, no kidding here, is getting the tape off my arm from the IV. I cried at that! It ripped off the arm hair and I thought half my skin would go with it.

OH! If you have any rings or watches on the arm with the IV, take them off and give them to someone you trust! I had my wedding ring on the entire time, and almost couldn't get it off after I had the baby, I was much more swollen on the arm with the IV than the one without.

Answer 3

I honestly would wait and see how your delivery goes. I decided that I was going to wait and see because I wanted to not be drugged up so I could remember my delivery but I also didn't want to be in so much pain that I was a menace either. I had 1 complication during delivery, my contractions were all in my back and never came around so it was hard getting the epidural, then they weren't able to get the needle in anyway so they drugged me up and I delivered a few hours later.

So, for me, yes the epidural was more painful than the IV. But it may not be that way for you. With my next pregnancy I plan to do the same, wait and see how it goes. If I can go without an epidural and also not need to be drugged up, I will try that. If my labour goes the same as it did with my son I will know that the epidural just isn't going to work again.

Answer 4

Why does it seem like everyone thinks they have to get an epidural? It's optional. After all it's your body. I've gotten through three labors just fine without one. I get the narcs they take just enough of the edge off so that you can rest a bit. And they can be administered through the IV which they are going to put in anyway. Please do yourself a HUGE favor and look into the possible side effects and/or damage an epidural can cause. To me its not worth the risk.

Answer 5

The Epidural doesn't hurt more than an IV. It felt like a pinch to me and i could feel it going up my spine. When i pushed the button for the medicine it felt like cold water running down my back. It was a lot better than lying there and crying from the pain. While breathing methods help with the contractions it's exhausting!
Don't worry about how it's going to feel, that's what makes it so scary...thinking that it will hurt. Trust me it can't even compare with those contractions. You'll be in so much pain you'll be begging for one. You don't have to worry about when they have to take it out either because you still wont feel a thing. No worries.

Answer 6

I honestly think IV'S hurt more than any shot i have gotten..Now i must say I hate shots as well.i hate the fact that i have to get them during my pregnancy and was horrified with my first pregnancy and was gonna get the epidural,everyone told me it hurts sooo bad and they feel sorry for me etc..etc...But,the pain of the contractions will have u begging for one without thinking about the pain...I got my epidural the first time and it didnt hurt at all*it felt like a regular shot but in my back,nothing like an iv...then with my most recent i didnt even worry about it because i knew the pain wasnt going to be that bad...*and this is coming from someone who has never had a bee sting,so im not used to stings and pains* When u get the epidural your nurse will be in ther ewith u and will hold u tight to her chest and cradle u,it is soo comforting and next thing u know right after they stick u u start to feel cold and then nothing at all! its the best feeling in the world..u will go from crying from the contractions to smiling and being talkative in 5 minutes *thats all it takes* good luck!!!

Answer 7

I absolutley hate shots too BUT i think the epidural is the most spectaculer thing in the world i personally will never give birth without one.....an epidural feels like a bubble of pressure in your spine...i didnt feel any pain, they also numb the spot where the needle enters. also i did use an iv too before i got either of my epidurals and it stung just a little but they werent as effective as an epidural.....but remember with either of these options movement is limited especially with the epidural.
good luck!

Answer 8

They give you a shot of numbing medication like Lidocain before inserting the needle w/ the catheder for the epidural. It really isn't that bad, and you probably won't care when you are in that much pain anyway.

Answer 9

I received an epidural with my son and didnt even feel a pinch. I was begging for it with my daughter, but it was too late. The IV hurt like hell, and I had to clench my teeth through it.

Answer 10

Well, it's not too pleasant, but it's definitely less painful than hours of labor pains! If you follow the directions of the midwife/anasthesiologist on how to position yourself for the shot, and don't move or squirm, it should be fine.
As for how it feels, kind of weird, but then while it's in, you don't feel it at all.
Good luck!