Epidural

capratt157

How painful is getting the epidural?

leahaustin

I have not had one but I have heard getting the epidural is not painful. They numb the area they put the shot in and plus with all of the other pains you will be having this would be the least of your worries.

Creedon778

I don't remember it hurting at all.  I think I remember them saying they put some sort of numbing agent where they insert the needle so you don't feel it. 

Courtimilk

First off, they numb the area with a small needle before inserting the epidural, so you may feel a small poke. Second, since you are usually well into labor at the time of receiving the epidural, you won't really notice anything less painful than a contraction.

1017Shannon

Epidural sis not even give me a pinch of pain! I was so terrified...it was painless. The anesthesiologist will walk you through it and tell you exactly what will happen. I know easier said than done..but ita no prob! Good luck!

Liz4444

The contractions are so painful you don't feel it at all.  Mine was an IV, not a shot.

doodlemonkey22

Courtimilk:

First off, they numb the area with a small needle before inserting the epidural, so you may feel a small poke. Second, since you are usually well into labor at the time of receiving the epidural, you won't really notice anything less painful than a contraction.

Exactly right. I was scared of epidural with my first pg. But  you do get to a point where pain outweighs fear. And it feels like absolutely nothing in comparison to contractions. I had blood draws on my arm that hurt more than the epi.

Mama-Bear

They'll give you a small numbing shot, it feels like a sting.  After the numbing shot they'll do the epidural and you'll feel strong pressure. 

be888

The most painful part of getting the epidural was not moving through contractions while they inserted the catheter. 

BelhurstBride

I don't remember it being painful at all. 

HeatherMc78

I don't remember the epidural hurting. It was no more uncomfortable than all the bloodwork and shots I've had throughout the pregnancies.

skio

I had one with my first daughter and it was not painful at all. Just pressure...and the annoyance of having to sit there through contractions.

MrserinJ

The pain of the contractions outweighed the fear of the Epi for me.

I remember there being a slight pinch when they numbed the area and a weird/gross pressure feeling in my back when they actually put the catheter in. But it was over quickly and blissful after that. Well at least with my first son, when it actually worked.

Eleventy11

You will be in active labor before you get an epidural...trust me, you won't even know it hurts.

My spinal with my c section, on the other hand, made me cry. That may have had more to do with nerves though.

MrsShackleford

Them ripping the tape off of my back after DD was born was the worst part of the epi imo.

caramia582

Liz4444:

The contractions are so painful you don't feel it at all.

Yup, this.  Having to sit up and lean forward during contractions was way worse than a wimpy little (or big, I never actually looked) needle.  I seriously don't even remember feeling anything. 

rab2006

By the time I got mine, I was begging for it. Worst part was trying to sit exactly how the anesth. wanted me to (back arched) being as I'm super short and had a belly making it difficult. I remember him telling me I'd feel an initial pinch/sting w/ the numbing injection. That in itself was heaven. I don't remember it hurting. When he did the actual epidural, he did hit a nerve and I got 1 very quick sharp pain that made me yelp and kind of jump (like literally had no control over trying ot stay still). Otherwise... it was heaven.

carolyn02

Not at all.

trudibell

Not nearly as painful as contractions!  

BabyCampbell312

It didn't bother me at all. But my contractions were killing me so I was more focused on THAT pain than anything to do with the epidural.

 

sparkymcgeee

I had one three days ago. It hurts a bit but absolutely nothing compared to the pain of contractions and those happen a lot.

also, I didn't remember the pain from when I had DD but I remembered the contraction pain I had with her. 

pinottoparenthood

I was in labor when I got the epi and contractions were excruciating. The contractions hurt so much that I could barely curl my body up in the bed like the anesthesiologist told me to. The epidural did not hurt at all, but I don't know if that's because I was distracted by the horrible labor pains or not. I will say that at be point, I felt a very strange tingling sensation in my back, but that was it.the pain from my contractions started to subside almost immediately, and 15 or 20 minutes later, I felt perfect. After that, labor and delivery was a breeze! Don't be scared of the epi, labor was way worse (for me anyway).

Lemmon_ade12

Wasn't painful for me at all :-)