is getting an epidural painful at all?

Answer 1

At the time the only pain is from when they numb the skin. Which some people find burns more or less than others.

However many women report headaches and back aches for hours, days or in some cases years after wards.

Spinal headaches happen to about 1% of women. Back pain is hard to categorize as it is generally blamed on the pregnancy not the epidural.

However I know 3 women who deeply regret having an epidural, and two of them had natural births either before or after that they find preferable. One has severe complications due to too many epidurals being preformed in too short of a period -this was before the catheter method used today. I know one woman who says that epidurals are the greatest thing in the world. Sure that is just my experience and it is probably skewed as I tend to know mainly home-birthers.

During 3 days of labour I wasn't tempted to have an epidural. Labour isn't painful if you are mentally prepared for it and not in a state of fear.

Answer 2

I did both, one natural and one with an epidural. If I were to have another I would have an epidural again. The little pain there was of getting the epidural was nothing compared to the contractions. The anesthesiologist (sp) gave me a needle with local anethetic to freeze the area where I get the BIG needle. After that there was no pain. I didnt like the whole frozen not being able to move my legs bit but that wore off a few hours after the epi was removed. There was no real pain from the epidural at all. A slight pinch like you get when you have a needle ( obviously) and that was it.

Answer 3

Hello there Natalie Rose, (by the way a very pretty name!)
In answer to your question I can tell you that I have had four of them. They ranged from fairly painful to something that I did not even really feel. Much depends on the skill of the anesthesiologist. It is also important for you to be relaxed and to carefully follow the directions that they give you. When I had mine they numbed my back and then did the epidural. Once your back is numb you don't feel anything and the shots to numb your back are not that painful.
I never had any side effects from the epidural itself except for the intense itching that one person mentioned. It was actually only my feet that itched (weird I know) and I will always remember kindly the nurse that rubbed them for me all through my C-section!
All in all if you are having a C-section I would say it is well worth it since it is the only way you can stay awake and see your baby born and be able to nurse it right away. For a regular birth I don't know if I would bother with one or not. I can not really say as I have never had a vaginal birth.
Good luck. I would imagine that it is never too late to ask for one and you could "play it by ear". If you need it, ask for it.
Love and Blessings,
Lady Trinity~

Answer 4

Getting the epidural wasn't painful at all for me. I felt the needle go in but it didn't hurt. Of course, I was also having incredibly strong contractions but not dilating when I got it. (And I tried pain medication in my IV twice before I even considered the epidural. I didn't want anything that close to my spine but the contractions got too bad for me to handle.) Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance though. The epidural being administered didn't hurt me, but that's not to say it won't hurt you.

The only downside to the epidural for me was that it didn't totally numb me. I still felt everything when my daughter was finally born. It wasn't as painful as it might have been otherwise, but it still hurt pretty bad.

If I ever have another child, I would have the epidural again though. The little bit of pain relief it gave me was worth any possibility of pain when administered.

Answer 5

No, it's not bad at all. I had contractions for a couple hours, then had the epidural...I didn't even feel the needle, and they have you sit on the edge of the bed, so you don't see what is going on. There is a cooling sensation when the medicine is injected every so often. I could still feel when there was a contraction, but there was no pain, mostly numbness. I will definitely have one with any other kids I have.

Answer 6

It is less painful then labor, but i had a bad experience with it. First they tell you the worst part is the needle going in when the worst part is when they put in the medicine. It BURNED so MUCH!

After that I couldn't get comfortable. My fiance and the nurse moved me and I got comfortable for a little while, then my fiance and my friend moved me to help me get comfortable again, and then I moved myself a little bit (didn't have much strength to do so) and I was STILL uncomfortable. Anyways, now the part where they left the line to feed the medicine in my back hurt.

After my daughter was born they turned off the medicine and told me that once I have feeling back that they would take the line out, let me get a shower, and move me to my room.. Well she was born at 5:16 PM and around 10 PM I was able to sit up but I STILL had no feeling in my right leg and my back was hurting even more, FINALLY after a LOT of complaining and begging for the nurse to take it out she did!!! I got feeling back in my right leg within five minutes, the nurse said is was a coincidence, but I don't think so!

Just be VERY careful, this is messing with your spine.

I was in back labor, I don't think I could have done the last three CM without the epidural, but I am now seven weeks pregnant with our second child and I think I am going to REALLY try to do this one WITHOUT the epidural.

Answer 7

I don't remember it hurting. In fact I remember it being a gift from God!! You are so focused on how bad the contractions hurt you don't really notice the epidural, plus they usually give you a topical local. I am 27 weeks pregnant with my second child and I already can't wait for my epidural!!!!

PS.. mine made me very cold and it made me shake. However it didn't last long. Be sure to ask about the side effects.

Answer 8

hmmm. you may not like my answer, but I've had 2 children, both epidurals. The first one was FINE. With the other child, the anaestheologist must have been an idiot, b/c it took several attempts, 15 minutes (seemed longer), lots of bleeding, moving in several different positions, etc. It killed and even weeks after birth I could still feel where it had been. So in short... IT VARIES. Depends on whether or not the anaestheologist is competent.

Answer 9

I had an epidural with both of my children. I am pregnant with a third and I would still consider getting one if I need it. It feels like a pinching at first, but once it sets in it is quite relaxing. I have minor allergic reactions to it that cause me to itch. But an epidural is waaaaaaaaaay less painful than the pain of labor. If you are considering one, don't hesitate.

Answer 10

not really but I had one done when i was between a 8-9 and it did not work. If you get one make sure you get it not before a 4 ( or it will wear off) or after a 7!! I think that it was not to bad with nothing!!

I am a big baby and it stung some but not bad!! I had no side effects but, I think that I might have been in so much pain that I did not feel it .