Is having an epidural painful?

Question

I want to consideer hving an epidural when i give birth, but I am deathly afraid of needles and I don't knowif i will be able to have one. Another thing too, is that I have a low tolerance of pain so something like the Epidural would help. I wonder why doctors dont use general anthesia. What are choices do i have if I am way too scared to have an epidural?

Answer 1

We do not use general anesthesia for labor and delivery for a number of reasons. It is much more dangerous in pregnant women, with a higher chance of aspiration (inhaling your vomit) or inability to intubate (and you die from not being able to breathe). We do general for c-sections when we have no other choice (coagulopathic women, for example). Secondly, you'd be unable to push the baby out if you were anesthetized. General anesthesia also gets into the baby and can lead to a depressed infant.

Once you start having serious contractions, the idea of an epidural won't seem so bad. You don't have to see the needle, and you won't feel a whole lot. We numb your skin in your back, and besides the sting of the numbing medicine, you just feel some pushing.

If you have a low pain tolerance, you have a good reason to GET an epidural, not avoid one. Contractions HURT.

If you don't want an epidural, you can try a small dose of i.v. medication, but it is usually inadequate for serious pain relief, and the drugs do reach the baby so the amount you can get is limited. You can also have spinal narcotics, which can take the edge off, but won't be as effective as an epidural will.

Or, you can do what I did and have nothing at all. It's doable, but it REALLY REALLY hurts. A lot. And I have a high pain tolerance and had short labors (2-3 hours)

Whatever you choose, good luck, and enjoy your baby!

Answer 2

Well, I was the same as you- completely terrified of needles, and not sure what I was going to do when it came time to deliver my son! When the time came, I had horrible "back" labor, and decided that I needed an epidural to get rid of the pain, and help me to calm down! Yes, it is a big needle, but they numb the area before the insertion, so all you feel is pressure, the worst part of it for me was that I had a contraction in the middle of the procedure and it was really uncomfortable being bent over! But once it was over I was completely pain-free in 3 minutes, and was able to relax and rest until I fully dialated! All I can say is that it helped me tremendously, and when I have another child, I will definitely be open to having another epidural if I feel that I need it! I don't really know anything about other pain-relieving methods, so I can't help you there. Whatever you decide, I hope your delivery goes smoothly!

Answer 3

First of all, in regards to why they dont use general anthesia, is because you need to be awake and alert in order to push the baby out. An epidural is probably a good choice for you, it will not be as painful as the contractions, they will place it in the middle of your back so you will not have to see it. They use an extremely small needle and a very thin cath. to deliver the pain meds. At the most it will feel like a small bee sting. What they will do is have you sit up as straight as you can, put your chin on your chest and lean forward just a little. They will clean your back off with cold antiseptic and then they will tell you to take a deep breath in through your nose and then breathe out through your mouth, when you breathe out they will insert the needle. The only bad thing about an epidural is that you usually have to be at least 4 to 5 cm dialated before they give it to you, so that it won't wear off.
Also there are other ways that can help you deal with the pain. Try to walk around as much as possible, this will speed up your labor but also take any pain from your back. You can also lay on either side and sit up with pillows behind your back, this will not be as painful as lying down. Also you can take a warm shower or bath when you go into labor and this will help your muscles relax, you can even deliver in water if you would like!
Most importantly, try to stay calm, remember to breathe slowly and deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth, listen to music to help distract you, and also have someone there that you trust that can help to encourage you to have faith in yourself. Don't worry you can do it!!!!Good luck;)

Answer 4

The epidural was a breeze and so was the second one and the spinal block (all that for one kid). I never felt the pinch others talk about, it was more like someone with a cold finger put pressure on my spine. The first time they asked me if I wanted it I said no, but soon after the guy left, I asked him to come back and do it. I was so afraid of the needle that I didn't even look at it when they showed it to us in childbirth class. I can handle blood, I was in the room when my best friend had some melanoma spots cut off, but I could not be anywhere near a needle. It was a breeze once I was in there though. Don't even worry about it. I also recommend the breathing exercises. They really helped me focus my energy and I never even screamed, My mother could not believe it!

Answer 5

Epidurals sound alot scarier than they really are see when they do it to you you usally are half way through labor they waited on me until I was dialated to 5 cm.......by then what hurts more than anything is your belly so when you sit up to get it you will get a local anistetic shot first which burns alittle but for the rest you cant even feel it as long as you hold still while they are putting it in by the time you lay back down you will already have some releifthe other choices for pain control are pain med which work really well until you have another contraction, Doctors dont usally use general antesia on you because unless you are having a c section this is something you will need to be awake for and it has adverse effects on the baby

Answer 6

I too am afraid of needles, however, the epidural was nothing compared to the pain I felt during labor. You really don't even feel it. And if you are too scared for the epithen natural is the way to go for you. After my son was born I have always told everyone that if everyone in the world was given an epidural there would be world peace. It is that good.

Answer 7

hi, i was scared to get an epidural also. with my first son i had him completly natural, with my second son i had meds but just thru IV, and then with my third son they couldnt get him to come out so they thot they were gonna have to do an emergency c-section so i had to have an epideral and i was terrified but once they did it, I LOVED IT!!! i was in so much pain from the labor and the contrations that when they did the epidural i didnt even feel it! i ended up having a vaginal delivery and could feel enuf to be able to push and have him on my own but couldnt really feel the pain! when i had my fourth son i knew that i wanted an epidural. i got the epidural and since i got it a little earlier in the labor this time i did feel it a little but its so much less painful then the contractions, it just felt like a little pinch. then when my fifth son came along i again knew that i wanted the epidural, lol! again, i felt it but nothing to bad, just a pinch. now with this one i didnt notice that my back was kinda sore for a day or two after the delivery, but i went thru delivery and didnt have to feel the pain!!! im now 31 weeks pregnant with my baby girl and im almost positive that i will AGAIN have an epidural!!!

Answer 8

They gave me Stadol (I have no idea if that's the way you spell it). It was useless. I got an epidural at about 5 cm and I never felt a thing. However, once they determined that I was going to need a c-section, they cranked it up and i threw up. Most strong meds do that to me, though. Just something you might want to consider if meds make you sick easily. My 2nd was a planned c-section and I got a spinal. I never felt it either, and it wasn't disguised with the pain of contractions. Hope this helps!! Good luck!!

Answer 9

I am afraid of needles also and I didn't even feel the epidural go in and it took affect right away. While I was getting my epidural I was having one of the biggest contractions I have had during it and I didn't feel it.

Answer 10

have you ever had your brothe give you a really bad pinch? hurts like that but once the drugs kick in you will be redy yo marry the dr. take it from me and take the drugs having a natural birth hurts! feels like you are being torn in half!! i got a spinal and my labor was soo long that the drugs woar off b4 it was tiem to push! wahhh! thake the epidural it lasts longer. my friend had twins with the epidural and said she didn't feel a thing! she said she could have delivered a football team.
wishing you good luck and a happy healty baby...you can contact me any time for help or a good listener.