For those who had an epidural

luvsbunny · May 2010

Please be honest. Silly enough m biggest fear is the needle.How much did it hurt?

thanks

ErinBrooke · May 2010

Not bad IMO. The contractions were just getting really painful, so I gladly took a quick needle prick knowing that I wouldn't have to feel the contractions anymore, totally worth it and not nearly as bad as I expected.

Good luck and can't wait to see you over here soon!

shannonk03 · May 2010

I will be honest-it hurt. She couldn't place it in the right spot and I got shooting pains down one leg so she had to try like two more times before she got it in. It is so hard to hunch over your giant belly and stay still through the contractions, ugh. Totally worth it though! The rest of my labor was a cake walk after I got that puppy in! 5 minutes of discomfort was worth 5 hours of pain free labor!

StephanieDeanne · May 2010

Definitely worth it to me. After I got it though I had what they call a "window" where I was still able to feel the pain, which sucked. The guy had to come back and give me another dose of the meds to try and get the window to go away. It worked thankfully. Honestly, the contractions were more painful than getting the epidural.

CareBear2005 · May 2010

Honestly for me it was nothing. I was super scared of this too, but the contraction pains had gotten SO bad that I probably wouldn't even have cared at the time if it hurt a lot, but I just felt a little burn when they shoot the numbing stuff in....that's it. I remember it was over and I was like wait, did they do anything yet?

Of course, it didn't take fully on one side, and they had to increase the meds, and almost thought they should take it out and try a different spot, but luckily they didn't need to.

mrsandrews07 · May 2010

I dont know how I would have made it without the epidural. It was like a pinch...nothing compared to the contractions and a huge relief! I had to have it done 9 times. They couldn't place it, due to my broken back. You will do great! Sooooo excited for you! Can't believe it's time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MrsPatterson · May 2010

I was extremely afraid of having the epi all through my pg because I am a serious weenie when it comes to needles. But my hand to God, the epi did not hurt a single bit. The only stressful thing about it was worrying that I would have a contraction during. Thankfully, I didn't, and I felt immediate relief from the pain. I freaking love epidurals.

CareBear2005 · May 2010

Oh! Forgot the worst part. My water had broken (in the hosp. bed) a few minutes before I got the epi, and when I was sitting hunched over I could just feel TONS of fluid gushing out, and I was like omg, it's going to pour onto the floor, I can't even believe this much water was in there...and when my nurse came back I said "I think I leaked...like, a lot..." and she looked and was like yup, I guess so!

lkstor · May 2010

Didn't even feel it... Pitocin is evil and my contractions were so strong and frequent... Barely felt the needle in my back!

NavyPilotWife · May 2010

I don't remember it hurting at all. I know that I felt a tiny prick, but I think that's it. Much better than the IV insertion.

PurpleK26 · May 2010

less than an eyebrow wax!

Mrs. Diss · May 2010

Honestly, I don't think it hurt all that bad, but I don't really remember. My contractions were pretty awful at that point though.

kimmie321 · May 2010

It didn't hurt at all. It did sting a little. My biggest problem with the epi, was that my contractions slowed down and I couldn't feel anything to push.

JEOZ · May 2010

I have to say I hated getting the epidural, but it was a huge relief. I thought the whole experience of giving birth was so much better than what I pictured.

DrDPM · May 2010

Not at all - a little pinch when they inject the lidocaine, and some pressure as the medicine goes in, but no pain. I've had 3 of them and loved them all.

knorton · May 2010

They pumped me full of fluid, broke my water, and started me on pitocin within one hour. So when they came in to give the epi the contractions were ridiculously strong. I was concentrating so hard on not moving that I don't remember the epi being any more painful than a shot.

That being said, my sister loved her epi the first time and hated it the second. I think a lot of it depends on the doctor.

lj smith · May 2010

I am terrified of needles and put off the epi because of it. But once my contractions got really bad, I asked for one. I barely felt it. It worked wonderfully for me and I plan on doing it again for all future babies.

maramarrie · May 2010

For me, once the needle was in (a stick like an IV, just in your back - so it's weird to begin with) the sensation was a lot like a pulling/pinching inside. It was painful, but not bad at all.

lovemymaddy · May 2010

Didn't really hurt at all in my opinion. What hurt and wasn't too pleasant were the contractions that I had (two of them) while having to hold suuuuper still while they put the needle in. But soooo worth it! I'd HIGHLY recommend it! GL!

hmd · May 2010

Well, my anesthesiologist was horrible. He had to do mine twice. Otherwise, it is over quickly. And you forget about it. The contractions while he is doing it are much worse.

blondie223 · May 2010

For me the epidural hurt terribly. I was delivering by planned csection b/c of a LO being breeched, so therefore I was not having contractions or any type of pains and felt everything that had to do with the epi. While I was getting the epi I told myself I would never go through that again. I guess I'm just a big baby when it comes to needles going into my back. Since I did have a csection, the epi was left in my back for 2 additional days for pain meds, which was wonderful, though my back was still sore a couple of weeks after they took it out. I hope it goes smoothly for you and you don't feel a thing!!

GL!!!

popcorn13 · May 2010

I had more then one. The guy kept messing up and had to keep replacing it. My contractions were so awful with the pitocin that I didn't feel what he was doing. The only difficulty was having to sit still for him when contrax were coming so strong and often. And I hated that they made DH leave the room. In the end, it wore off before I pushed....

jen-dale · May 2010

I wasn't having ctx at all so I was really scared it would hurt worse because I wouldn't have anything else to think about (scheduled c/s) but it really wasn't bad. I felt a pinch and a small pop and then a bit of pressure like someone was pushing on my back with their finger. The initial pinch was the numbing shot. No big deal at all. The flu shot was worse. Just don't look at the needle and you'll do great! You're so close!! :-)

saverne · May 2010

I don't remember the epi . . . to be honest it was better than the contractions! I looved the epi!

Peach&Fireworks · May 2010

The insertion of the needle and cath didn't hurt at all. My problem was it didn't work. The doctor got it in a blood vessel instead of where it was supposed to go. When he injected the test dosage of lidacane I about died for real - it hurt so bad! BUT that's because it was done wrong. I ended up getting a spinal block instead.

erinkate23 · May 2010

I'm a total needle wimp - but I never saw any needles at all. By that time, I had evil pitocin contractions and I think you could have chopped off my toe and I wouldn't have noticed.

The IV bothered me more!

vera1127 · May 2010

By the time I had it my ctx were so bad I didn't care how much it hurt. I honestly don't remember it a whole lot, other than him telling me I'd feel a little jump at one point, which I did, but I don't remember any pain. The contractions however....oy....so worth it!

Eviebee · May 2010

It's awful, but it's only a few seconds.

AB&TB · May 2010

Not too bad. MUCH less than the contractions.

You are getting so close! Good luck!!

shelbyluvschachi · May 2010

Did not hurt at all; just a wee bit of brief discomfort.

eas15905 · May 2010

I had gone into the hospital to be induced and they asked if I wanted something to help me sleep through the night and they would start the pitocin in the morning. I agreed and after they gave me the medicine they decided to check me only to find out that I was already in labor (I had been having really painful braxton hicks for weeks). So by the time I got my epi I was already loopy from the sleep medication so I had NO idea what was going on. I only barely remember joking around with the anethitist haha, it's like I was drunk! I will say the epi was fantastic until the end when it stopped working! I can't wait to get it with this second pregnancy and have it work the whole time.

Can't wait for you to join us over here!!!

jamie.LOVES.mark · May 2010

Hey luvs!!!

I was scared about that too, but honestly the needle did not hurt at all. Maybe a small pinch. I was hunched over and overheating so maybe that took my mind off of it! The worst part of my entire labor was getting the IV in my arm!!

Hope all goes smoothly!

chrissy0791 · May 2010

i can't remember it hurting that bad now....and i'm a total baby when it comes to needles and pain. like pp's said, the ctx were so much more painful than the epi. and it only took a second really so the tiny bit of pain was brief. i suggest not looking at the needle or all the stuff they are doing to prep. just listen to the nurse and focus and you'll be fine. good luck...can't wait to see you over here!!

KateAndMark · May 2010

I didn't feel a thing! Honest! There was a slight pinch and that was it.

RJHarmon · May 2010

ErinBrooke:

Not bad IMO. The contractions were just getting really painful, so I gladly took a quick needle prick knowing that I wouldn't have to feel the contractions anymore, totally worth it and not nearly as bad as I expected.

Good luck and can't wait to see you over here soon!

this exactly! I thought the contractions were gonna kill me! That epi was quick and easy when comparing the two!

mrshutch · May 2010

Neither of mine hurt at all. The first time around I opted for a narcotic first (I don't recommend- I was loopy) and the 2nd time around I was having strong contrx and don't even remember feeling the needle. You'll do great

nicobean1 · May 2010

I felt next to nothing - a mosquito bite when he numbed me with the local. It was heaven!

pentagrl · May 2010

The first needle I barely felt but the one they use to put in the catheter he hit nerves with and I had shooting pain all the way down my right leg for a few seconds. Did it suck for 2 minutes? Hell yeah, I cried it hurt. Would I do it again when I got to unbearable pain, DAMN STRAIGHT!

BeckyS1211 · May 2010

I am a total needle wuss....the slight pinching feeling was well worth not feeling everything else!!!

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