I am scared to death of needles and plan on having an epidural. How bad does it hurt when they give it to you?

Answer 1

I had my first 3 w/o pain meds, then discovered the wonderful world of epidurals after a 4th painful labor that wouldn't progress. I then had an epi with my 5th and plan one this time as well. They will give you a numbing shot first, it feels like a sharp pinch or a small bee sting. By the time you WANT the epidural, you will be so focused on making the pain of contractions go away you WON'T care. Honest.

I see some other answers, and the epidurals are performed by TRAINED SPECIALISTS (anesthesiologists). They are not going to paralyze you. Also I found myself far MORE in control of my labor as I wasn't fighting the pain of contractions, and was able to push and not push when told to. The first 3 naturals I had to have an episiotomy with the first two, and I tore with the third. With the 4th and 5th births (with epidurals) I experienced none of this. Also epidurals are FAR safer than IV narcotics for your baby, as the epidural is not administered into your bloodstream. The person who tolfd you all of these things (MummyToBe) admits to never having HAD an epidural, so I wouldn't exactly call her well-versed in them. Take it from the answerers who have BEEN there.

Answer 2

The pain of the epidural is nothing at all compared to labor. They give you a very small needle first of local anesthetic and then they give you the epidural needle so you really don't feel it. I thought the worst part of the epidural was the strange tingle you get in your legs because of how the epidural catheter touches some nerves. Epidurals make labor enjoyable!

Answer 3

To be completely honest its nothing like having a needle hun...the worst part is sitting while your in labor...lol....I have had 4 csections and 5 children....4 epidurals and only one did i have a problem with and that was because i let a training anethesiologist do it.....and she hit a nerve....all 3 of the others i didnt feel anything except cold running down my back....so my best advise cause i highly recommend epidural is make sure you request that you have a dr doing it a real anesthetiologist just tell them you dont want any people training doing it...and you'll be happy you did as any pain you may have had will disappear...lol...Hope ive helped some..Rosie

Answer 4

I am terrified of needles to the point I cry when thinking about having blood drawn, so I completely understand your apprehension. However, I have had 2 epidurals with my children and first of all, typically they won't let you look at the needle when they wheel the tray in with all of the tools on it, so unless you have seen it performed somewhere else, you won't know how big it is (I still havent seen a needle that they have used). And secondly, while they try to get it in between contractions, there is a possibility that you will have one while they are in the middle of the procedure...it happend to me both times and strangely enough it was a welcome relief knowing that I had to concentrate on keeping still and breathing through it....it gave me something else to think about, so it was in by the time the contraction was over. But keep in mind that you don't have to do it, and there are millions and millions of women that don't and get through labor just fine. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I am pregnant with my first child but have had 3 epidurals to relieve my sciatica. I just went into the dr's office and laid down and they gave them to me....I have nerve damage due to a ruptured disk in my spine. They numb you with a smaller needle and you only feel pressure when they use the big needle for the epidural..... The epidural feels like someone is pushing the eraser side of a pencil real hard into you..... just feel pressure thats it

Answer 6

Labor pains are so bad that you welcome an epi! First they will numb your back with a tiny needle that you barely feel. After your back is numb they insert the epidural. The IV that they will give you as soon as you check in to the hospital hurts worse than all of the epidural. You will be fine! TRUST ME!! Just relax, and it also helps that you can't see what they are doing on your back.

Answer 7

They numb the area first with pain relief, so you don't feel the actual epidural go in. I think it's more knowing the fact that you have a huge needle going into your spinal cord that is a little off putting more than the pain. Believe me, when you are having contractions, the pain of a needle is bliss! The pain is more than worth it, as after that all pain is gone! Don't worry, you'll be fine!

Answer 8

its not so bad, it is a very long needle, but.... it is very thin. an IV through your hand or in the crest of your arm, usually hurts more because the needle is thicker as to not destroy any blood cells, and the epidural needle is thin so at the most you will feel a slight sting and maybe a little pressure but it is a short and simple process.

Answer 9

i too am terrified of needles, i cried when they told me they were coming back to put an I.V in! but anyway when you are in the actual child birth that is pretty much all that's on your mind. But when i started begging for mine i did not feel it at all! They numb your back first and then they make you hold real still which is hard to do in the first place but its important that you do. Anyway they put it in and the most i felt was a small amount of pressure, then after a few minuets i felt nothing at all! Which at that point it was SOOOO worth it! Oh and don't look at it either! lol

Answer 10

Trust me, the contractions feel much worse. I didn't even really feel it because they have to do it right between contractions, so you are so busy making sure you do not have a contraction. I was so relieved when the anesthesiologist finally came in! They try to hide the needle from you so don't look at it and you will be fine. Good luck!