Epidural question for those who have had one

smhstones09 · September 2012

Does it hurt when they give you the epidural? Or are you in too much pain to notice by the point you get one? I've watched videos of women getting epidurals and it looks like it would hurt.

BEAUNAL · September 2012

I don't remember any pain with the injection at all. It was more uncomfortable trying to stay still and hunched over during a contraction.

persephonerose · September 2012

When we did our birthing class, they told us that our hospital uses a topical first to numb the area before the epidural. They said it helped to keep the women from moving, or flinching when putting it in place. Not sure if that is just our hospital's policy, you might check with yours to see.

KristaNbHam · September 2012

Mine didn't hurt. Even if it had, injections and contractions are two very different kinds of pain. One is like, "Ouch, that wasn't pleasant..." and the other is like, "UGHHHHH, not again!"

AngelxxRose · September 2012

I don't remember the epidural being painful at all. They numbed the area first with a local anesthetic so at the most you could just feel a quick little shot from a tiny needle.

dicer2 · September 2012

It hurt way less than 10 weeks of progesterone shots in my butt.

Magnolia0808 · September 2012

I don't remember any pain from the epidural - only the contractions. I LOVED my anesthesiologist. Seriously felt nothing but love for the man that let me relax for the first time in two days.

sara785 · September 2012

angelxxrose:
I don't remember the epidural being painful at all. nbsp;They numbed the area first with a local anesthetic so at the most you could just feel a quick little shot from a tiny needle. nbsp;

And the local burns a little when they inject it, but def no biggie compare to contractions.

CandaceLeigh · September 2012

I think it's worse to see the videos because while you're getting the epidural, all the action is going on behind you. You're focused on staying hunched over and trying to breathe through the contraction and have no idea about that needle. IMO- the things that hurt me the most outside of the contractions- the finger prick to verify my blood type (I HATE FINGER PRICKS!) and getting the IV in the proper place.

Beeautiful · September 2012

BEAUNAL:
I don't remember any pain with the injection at all. It was more uncomfortable trying to stay still and hunched over during a contraction.

This.

watermelon830 · September 2012

Beeautiful:
BEAUNAL:
I don't remember any pain with the injection at all. It was more uncomfortable trying to stay still and hunched over during a contraction.

This.

Exactly. I think it might have stung, but again don't really for sure remember since they make you sit so still while have contractions and I was more focuses on that pain.

sandyapples · September 2012

They numbed the area beforehand so it didn't hurt at all. It hurt a little when the anesthesiologist was feeling around on my spine beforehand. I was scared to get the epi but it ended up being pretty quick and easy.

ToriAlexis · September 2012

Everyone says the same thing about the epi and I am no different. Once you get to the point of being able to get one nothing can be worse than the contractions you've been enduring! I remember looking up at DH after they put it in (I was holding onto his shoulders) and saying "That's what I've been so terrified about?" It may have felt like a normal shot, I wouldn't say I felt nothing but it wasn't painful. It was actually a miracle and I could breathe again. And I could even stop ripping poor DH's head off for touching me.

skibbyaction · September 2012

I haven't had an epidural for childbirth, but I had one higher up in my back for a broken pelvis and ribs several years ago. I was terrified that it was going to hurt because I was already in so much pain, but it really didn't. This is one worry you can cross off your list.

jillc2010 · September 2012

I don't remember any pain either, but the pressure is what bothered me. They also hit a never the first time they placed it and I had a small seizure, so by the time they finished with the second one I didn't feel anything.

jennygirlmt · September 2012

I didn't feel anything. He said "There it's in." And I had no idea he was finished. He was amazing though, I'm hoping he is on duty this time too. And they don't put it in while you are contracting, but if you do feel a pinch at least you know it's bringing relief.

LollyBug18 · September 2012

I must be the exception to the rule because getting my epi was a nightmare. Maybe they didn't numb the area first but the anesthesiologist was a HUGE jerk and had to jab me like 4 times before he got it placed. The first time he tried, he didn't tell me it was coming and I jumped at having this giant needle poked in my back with no notice. At that point, the needle was hurting way worse than my contractions (and I was at 8cm, not in early labor, so those contractions were no joke...) and it made me cry a little. The jerk actually yelled at me to stop crying like a baby! I'm really hoping to go without one this time. But, all that being said, once it was in, it was great.

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