2nd Trimester

Anyone else kinda scared of an epidural?

I know millions of women have had epidurals and nothing bad happened but I am still worried about that small chance of side effects. Anyone else kinda scared of getting one?
«1

Re: Anyone else kinda scared of an epidural?

  • I had one with my first and it still is the most scary thing for me about Labor and Delivery, but I am not willing to feel the  pain of going natural Smile

    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Trying to Conceive"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1c9357.aspx" alt=" Trying to Conceive Ticker" border="0"  /></a>

  • I was a little nervous when I went in to have my son but when the contractions got really bad after they broke my water I didn't even think of the side effects! It wasn't a big deal at all. The hard part was trying to sit still with intense contractions rolling through my body. I was induced and Pitocin is wicked! The only problem I had was after my right leg was numb for about 4 hours. I didn't want to get up much anyways. Its a quick pick in your back and it brings sooooooo much relief. :)
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Loading the player...
  • the thought of that needle going into my back was enough to make me go natural with DS. I'll be doing the same--hopefully--with this one.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I was terrified about the spinal when i went in for my c/s. they sat me up on the table, hunched over my shoulders, the nurse was holding my hands and they said ok your going to feel a little pinch (the freezing needle).. "ok that wasnt too bad, but here comes the scary part" i thought... in goes the needle and i literally said "that's it?? pfffffft" hahah the nurses laughed at me. didn't hurt at all.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • Once you are having intense labor pains you will do anything to take the pain away.  The epidural was my best friend with my first!!!  Don't be scared.
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers
  • Its one of the reasons I'm trying to go natural. 
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
  • Ummm I'm more afraid of the pains of natural childbirth than an epidural!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I was terrified of it and I swear it was nothing at all. DH watched it and he said it was pretty scary looking but I didn't feel anything. Like the PP said the worst part was having to remain still during contractions. I got to hold onto my nurse so she helped me through it.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I am terrified of needles and that's why I'm scared to get one. But I heard that our contractions hurt worse than the needle. My mom and my friend didn't even realize they were getting the shot when they were bent over. They were so focused on the contractions. That's the only reason I'm scared of it. I'm trying not to think of the side effects Wink
  • I will tell you right now for me the epidural was nothing. Man I had to get it twice with DD#1 because they didn't get it in right the first time around. The worst pain for me was getting the IV. I hate needles and the IV hurt more than the epi times 100!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • The numbing stuff they spread on your back before the needle hurt more than the needle to me and I hate needles.  I agree that the IV was worse!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker M/C July 17, 2006, December 25, 2006, March 13, 2010 & August 2010
  • I'm pretty nervous too.  My fear isn't from the side effects, but the thought of the needle in my back that gives me the willies.  I know millions of women have them everyday and they are fine.  I'm actually going to do Hypnobabies as a way of pain management and if that doesn't work I'm going to get the epidural if needed.
  • not really. I think at the time I'll be waiting for it! I am however scared that it won't work right.

  • After 63 days of daily intramuscular shots in my butt for IVF I am pretty broken in when it comes to shots.  The shots rarely hurt as much as you think they will.  I'm sure you'll do fine.
    TTC since 8/2004
    Me - DX Hashimoto's Disease, Hypothyroid, Rheumatoid Arthritis
    DH - DX Azoospermia - Sertoli Cell Syndrome
    DS-IUI #1-4 BFN IVF #1 - BFP! It's a boy!!!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I'm not really too scared of the epidural because I thank god it's in the back where I can't see the needle. BUT... I am SO scared of the IV.  I have neevr had one and even the sight of IVs in other people makes me woozy.  I didn't even realize I would need one until I was watching OBEM! I had a panic attack!
    ~Cate~ Baby Boy born 8/30/11!!
  • I'm more afraid of the RING OF FIRE.  can't type that without caps.
    image
  • b55cb55c member
    i'm scared of just about everything to do with labor.  def. scared of side effects of an epidural even though, just like you said, millions of women get them and their babies are fine.  i'm going to try to go natural and if that fails, i'll get the epi. 
    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Tips"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt191d2a.aspx" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I'm scared of the side effects but I'm also scared of getting sick while I'm in labor. I keep hearing that I won't get sick, but I'm not sure lol
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • imagesamfish2bcrab:
    I'm more afraid of the RING OF FIRE.  can't type that without caps.

    I'm probably going to regret asking, but what is the ring of fire?

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
  • imagewkfouts:
    I am terrified of needles and that's why I'm scared to get one. But I heard that our contractions hurt worse than the needle. My mom and my friend didn't even realize they were getting the shot when they were bent over. They were so focused on the contractions. That's the only reason I'm scared of it. I'm trying not to think of the side effects Wink

    I am actually not scared of needles. Getting the actual epidural isn't what scares me. It's the rare horror stories I've heard of them not working right and women having bad side effects. It seems so scary.

  • I had an epidural with DD, but it is my understanding that the RING OF FIRE is th last area for the baby to break through before the head comes out.   veryone I know who's experienced the RING OF FIRE has expressed how horrifically and surprisingly painful it is.
    image
  • Yes!  I did not respond to this post to sound preachy so I hope it doesn't come across that way, but my fear of an epidural and possible side effects played a key role in my decision to go natural with ds and again with this pregnancy.  If it's really bothering you, I would encourage you to look into natural birthing techniques.  We had success with bradley method, but I know others who like hypnobabies.

    Good Luck! 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker image Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker BabyFruit Ticker BabyFruit Ticker
  • I had bad side effects and will go natural this time. The thought of another epidural is FAR more terrifying than natural childbirth. 
    DS May 12, 2009 DD September 7, 2011
  • I was terrified of the whole process, but after having one last time, it was SO nothing to be afraid of. The worst pain of all of it was the numbing shot they give you BEFORE they even start putting the epi in. And that's just a normal shot, so if you can handle a normal shot, you will be fine. Once they numb your back with that shot, you don't feel a thing of the epi. Then it was sweet painlessness after that.....and I didn't get one side effect either. It was a godsend!

    An epi is on the top of my "what I want" list this time around!

    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Lilypie Pregnancy tickersLilypie Angel and Memorial tickers


    In my Think Tank, KM, Porteen + LowePro bags: Canon 5D Mark III / 5D Mark II
    16-35mm 2.8L, 35mm 1.4L, 24-70mm 2.8L, 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.2L, 100mm 2.8L IS, 70-200mm 2.8L IS
    Lensbaby Composer + 0.42x SuperWide, Holga Lens, Speedlite 580EXIIs + PWs,
    Mac LR4 + CS6 + Nik Editing Suite
  • I was really worried about it until I read more about them.  I thought they just stuck this huge needle into your spine and you had to stay perfectly still or else you'd never move again!  But then I read about how they numb you a little before they put an UVish thing in.  That made me feel a ton better.  I was imagining something like a spine tap!  LOL
  • I personally have not heard of any negative side effects. If you stay very relaxed, still and calm, it is fairly painless. I don't even rememeber mine with DD.
    Proud Mom to Eily 12/16/2005 BabyFruit Ticker BabyName Ticker
  • yep. going natural. not just because of that, but it certainly factors in.
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
  • imagefadushi:
    The worset part was trying to sit still with intense contractions rolling through my body. I was induced and Pitocin is wicked! 

    This exactly! 



  • imagesamfish2bcrab:
    I had an epidural with DD, but it is my understanding that the RING OF FIRE is th last area for the baby to break through before the head comes out.   veryone I know who's experienced the RING OF FIRE has expressed how horrifically and surprisingly painful it is.

    I've had both an epi and natural child birth and I'd take the epi again any day.  The RING OF FIRE was the most painful part of natural child birth for me and if I never have to feel that kind of intense pain/burning/tearing/searing pain like you're being branded with a hot poker again I'll die a happy woman.

    Kelly, Mom to Christopher Shannon 9.27.06, Catherine Quinn 2.24.09, Trey Barton lost on 12.28.09, Therese Barton lost on 6.10.10, Joseph Sullivan 7.23.11, and our latest, Victoria Maren 11.15.12

    Secondary infertility success with IVF, then two losses, one at 14 weeks and one at 10 weeks, then success with IUI and then just pure, crazy luck.  Expecting our fifth in May as the result of a FET.

    This Cluttered Life

  • I consider myself very fortunate. I wound up having a c-section, but did go through 18 hours of labor, 2 of which I had an epidural. The anesthesiologist that administered it was 1) GORGEOUS, and 2) a PRO - I felt almost NOTHING when he stuck me, just a slight pinch like getting a regular shot, then some weird, tingly coldness. I was so happy it was nothing like I thought it was going to be that I could have kissed him, LOL.
  • imagemegd06:
    the thought of that needle going into my back was enough to make me go natural with DS. I'll be doing the same--hopefully--with this one.

    This exactly. I am freaked the eff out about needles, but having my hoohah ripped apart by LO doesn't worry me that much. Weird. 

  • I had one with my first and the thought of it made me nervous as well but once the contractions started really kicking in I was praying for my epidural, the little pinch in the back was barely painful and WAY worth it, I'm obviously having another one:) Serve it up!
  • I was afraid of the epidural and the fact that it keeps you in the bed, I need to be able to move around.  It was one of my reasons for going med free with my DD and it is one of the reasons I will do med-free again.
  • imageBabyMamaErin:
    I was terrified about the spinal when i went in for my c/s. they sat me up on the table, hunched over my shoulders, the nurse was holding my hands and they said ok your going to feel a little pinch (the freezing needle).. "ok that wasnt too bad, but here comes the scary part" i thought... in goes the needle and i literally said "that's it?? pfffffft" hahah the nurses laughed at me. didn't hurt at all.

     This for me - I didn't have a c/s, but was induced.  I have always considered myself to have a very high tolerance for pain and for my entire pregnancy planned on going natural.  It wasn't until about 35 weeks or so when I met with a doc in my practice that I hadn't met before.  He was the doctor that ended up delivering my DD and has been seeing me throughout this pregnancy also.  He had told me (unprovoked and without knowing that I was planning on going without any drugs) that in his 40 years of practice, the best invention that he has seen in OBs is the epi.  I went home, thought about it and figured, you know, he's right - if its available, people continue to get it, why put myself through the pain.  DH and I were pretty much the last ones to have kids in our circle and I don't think I knew anyone that had had a natural birth.  I had totally thought that I was more scared of the huge needle going into my back than actual childbirth - which has been going on for um....ever.  But it really was nothing - to me - and I had the best experience during my delivery.  I was laughing, joking around with DH, the doc and staff, and remember every second of my daughter's birth that, to me, is priceless.  I know its not the same for everyone, but I am just so happy that I made that decision and will be trying for it again.  Instead of being scared of the needle, I am just praying that the experience the second time around is as good as the first.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • The pain of contractions hurts a billion times more than the needle......as long as you dont look at the needle you will never feel a thing...As for contractions....now that IS scary. The Epi was my best friend....dont be scared unless its of the contractions.......
    Live,Laugh and love image"image"image"imageLilypie Pregnancy tickers
  • Eh, it wasn't that bad at all!  :)   I had one with my first and it just basically felt like a big pinch and that was it.  The IV's going in to my hand hurt worse b/c the incompetant nurse kept getting it wrong and eventually moved on to my other hand.
    image
    Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickersLilypie Second Birthday tickers
  • imageRilly1212:
    Once you are having intense labor pains you will do anything to take the pain away.  The epidural was my best friend with my first!!!  Don't be scared.

    This wasn't true for me.  Pain is very relative and people all experience it differently.  Labor was definitely painful and the hardest work I've ever had to do in my life.  But I never got to a point where I felt the need for anesthesia.  But I'd also planned on a natural labor/delivery from the start and I think that helped.  And as for the ring of fire, that is the term for the point at which the baby's head is just about to pass over the perineum and it is stretched to its thinnest.  It doesn't last long and while it definitely was a burning sensation for me, it wasn't the "hot poker" sort of burning the previous person described.  But like I said, pain is so relative and no two women experience labor and delivery the same.  So don't go in with too many expectations on either extreme - don't expect a pain free labor, but you don't have to be terrified that it is going to be excruciating either.  Do expect it to be difficult work though!  And if you feel you need the epidural, go for it. 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • my epidural didn't work well and i was feeling the contractions for a while before they got it right.  

    the only side effect i got was a "spinal headache"...they sent me home from the hospital and i was vomiting profusely and talking jibberish.  thank GOD an astute nurse at the dr.'s office helped me the NEXT DAY when i took ds in for his check-up.  worst headache ever. i hope your hospital is more vigilant.

    that will not deter me from an epi this time though.  no way i'm going natural!!! 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I am terrified of an epidural. Not of the needle but the after effects of me and the baby. My mom went natural the first two babies but the 3rd baby she had an epi and he didnt even cry and was slow getting started. My mom said he seemed very grogged out. my mother was also not told to lay down flat on her back for 12 hours so she got horrible headache and they had to give her a shot of caffeine to get rid of it. Also im scared that since you wont feel anything will you even be able to push the baby out. My sister inlaw had to have the baby vacuumed out since she couldnt feel anything. Im just a little nervous also! First baby not sure what to expect.
  • I am a nurse in a hospital and the idea of someone sticking a huge needle in my back still freaks me out!  I see them all the time and usually everything is fine but still!! I think this is going to have to be some extreme pain for me to even consider having one!
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"