Needle/Body Phobia/Fainting

kelnoelle · September 2014

I have always had an intense phobia of all things doctors/needles/body related. I have fainted in the most silly situations (having my pupils dialated with a air puff, having a small wart frozen off my knee when I was little, my co-worker explaining a small surgery she had, hitting my funny bone so hard that my whole arm was tingling). The list goes on and on. I freak myself out when anything goes weird with my body, so I am petrified with having an epidural. Of course I'm afraid of the needle, but I'm mostly afraid after reading how it feels afterward, and that you can't feel your legs. I'm afraid that's going to freak me out so much and make me faint. Plus, I have low blood pressure, which doctor's think may contribute to it.

Is there anyone out there in the same boat?? Any STMs who had this same phobia but got through it okay? It's really hard to explain to people because I feel like they always say "you'll be fine." Of course I realize that I'm going to be fine, but I get my head so worked up about what's happening, and can't control the fainting. What happens if you faint during labor??

abbyful · September 2014

You don't have to have an epidural. That was a big factor in me deciding to have a natural birth (with DS and plan to do the same again), I didn't want a needle stuck in my spine.

kelnoelle · September 2014

WildFlower810 said:

I'm totally there with you on the needle phobia. I had to get my finger pricked this week for my glucose test and it wasn't fun.

My solution... natural childbirth! The thought of an unmedicated birth is actually a lot LESS scary to me than the thought of an IV, epidural, and all that goes with that. I utterly abhor even just a simple IV line and even right now picturing myself stuck with an IV while giving birth is enough to make me nearly panic.

I'll get back to you on my thoughts on if it was worth it here in a few months.

Wish I could wait to hear, but it looks like you're due the day after me, 11/25!

I haven't put serious thought into natural childbirth just because of all the people who tell me that the epidural is the best thing ever because of the pain of the contractions. Maybe I'll be so happy that the pain is numbed, that I won't care that I can no longer feel my legs either. :-)

Dumbgurl04 · September 2014

I feel you completely. I don't want to say I'm a hypochondriac because I don't need a placebo to make me feel better but not gonna lie I get pretty anxious when it comes to medical procedures. I havn't really fainted to much a few times from seeing a needle but I have been better at being very clear that I don't like needles. Usually I do pretty well when I just prepare myself mentally for things that will happen. I know my doctor is really good at letting me know what procedures are going to be like and when they will happen so that helps relax me a bit. I'm scared of the whole idea of childbirth but having these months to just give myself an idea of the experience has helped. While I do plan to get an epidural I know I won't have to see the needle plus I already talked to MH about how I want him to interact with me during the whole labor process so I know I'll be relaxed.

Also I hate how people always say "You'll be fine" cause I know I will be it's just a natural thing to feel scared and it just feels like the "You'll be fine" statement is a cop out for them so they don't have to deal with it.

bunnyray · September 2014

Hi ya. I had a series of spinal taps done as a kid which created a massive needle phobia. So you can imagine how petrified I was of the epidural and having another needle put into my back. My plan delivering my first was to not have an epidural under any circumstances. Well, 16 hours into the most painful labour I had to get a c-section and I had no choice but to get the epidural.

It really wasn't that bad at all. First I was in so much pain that I simply got over my fear and handled it. And it really wasn't near as bad as I thought it was going to be anyway. They give you a local anaesthetic first, which stings a bit, but you don't actually feel the epidural needle going in. What you might feel is a small jolt go down your leg as the medicine is administered. It feels sort of like getting an electric shock. It doesn't really hurt but does feel a little strange so be prepared for that.

As far as being creeped out at the numb feeling, it actually doesn't feel that strange at all. It's not like when your mouth is numb after the dentist and it feels huge and awkward. Unless you actually try to move your legs you won't even realise that they are numb.

One piece of advice, especially if you are squeamish, is don't let them put in the catheter until after the epidural is in place. (But do empty your bladder before the procedure!) Getting that put in is quite uncomfortable, but if you do it after the epidural you won't feel a thing.

The medication will start to wear off after about 4 hours. At least it did for me. At that point you will get a kind of pins and needles sensation in your legs but it's not the least bit painful.

Hope that helps. You will be fine. If I could do this, trust me, so can you.

I have a planned c-section this time so I know I will be getting an epidural again and I'm not at all scared this time.

mander82 · September 2014

/raises hand

I can join this club. I had to have mole removed from my back once and just the needle to numb me damn near made me pass out. I don't do well with needles or blood. I almost passed out when I got my initial pregnancy blood draw. that was 6 tubes though.

I have failed several times at trying to donate blood. I either get woozy, or they say my iron is too low and they won't take it.

I have low blood pressure too, not sure if thats related or not.

Between these issues and my allergies/borderline asthma, childbirth should be quite the adventure for me.

I still want the epidural, but I am not going to ask for it until I get to that point when I can't take it anymore.

TMI, but my constipated poop last night made me wonder how in the world women push children out. lmao......pretty sure its gonna suck really bad!

kelnoelle · September 2014

Thanks everyone! I feel better now realizing that I don't have to make the decision until the time comes, and will do what I feel is best at that point.

lil_shocker · September 2014

Yes, leave the option open for an epidural.. you can tell them you would rather not have one, but don't know how you will reacct to labor and re not totally against it if you feel the need for it or want to try. It's what I did.

I had a very horrrible and extreme phobia of needles growing up. Then at 18 I decided to try and get my bellybutton pierced, if I could get through the process. I had no issues whatsoever with it, and after that I didn't have issues with needles. Scalpels are a different story. I didn't know how I would react to the epidural needle since it isn't like getting a shot or blood drawn. And in the end I didn't need to get one because I was able to handle the paind without it.

Of course, I did have fentanyl in an IV (I am RH negative so I have to have an IV during labor anyway). Which, for FTM's who are negative as well, doesn't really impede labor techniques or become a hassle. I was a little worried about it but you don't even notice really.

lil_shocker · September 2014

When you are RH negative, you are given antibiotics or something to prevent the antibodies from being made if your blood interacts with a potentially rh positive baby. If my baby has rh positive blood then I receive another rhogam shot.

So, I don't have a choice. I believe all US hospitals make you do an IV if you are negative and the father is positive. But if there aren't blood incompatibility issues, you don't need it.

mrsodonnell12 · September 2014

I watched an epi being administered on YouTube once and almost passed out. I had to turn it off. I'll never get an epi for many, many reasons and this is one of them! Too risky for me and baby.

Kristy774 · September 2014

For me personally the IV in my hand was worse then the epidural, both times.

jac409 · September 2014

I was terrified of the epidural my first time too. But, the pain was so intense, all of that went out the window and it really wasn't a big deal. In fact, I would say, that was one of the easier things I went through that day. Like everyone else said, you don't have to decide until you are actually in labor, so just see how it goes. You may decide you don't need it, or you may not even have time for it depending on how fast labor progresses.

mrsodonnell12 · September 2014

aragosta said:

mrsodonnell12 said:
I watched an epi being administered on YouTube once and almost passed out. I had to turn it off. I'll never get an epi for many, many reasons and this is one of them! Too risky for me and baby.
I don't have a choice because I will have a csection. But my logic is I can't see it anyway. There are surgical procedures I've had that I would NEVER look up on YouTube. Doesn't mean it won't help me out though

Haha I get that. This is 1 of many many reasons I won't be getting an epi.

MmmPopcorn · September 2014

lil_shocker said:

When you are RH negative, you are given antibiotics or something to prevent the antibodies from being made if your blood interacts with a potentially rh positive baby. If my baby has rh positive blood then I receive another rhogam shot. So, I don't have a choice. I believe all US hospitals make you do an IV if you are negative and the father is positive. But if there aren't blood incompatibility issues, you don't need it.

I know that you get antibiotics via IV if you are GBS+, but I haven't heard of this for RH-. I thought you just receive a Rhogam shot after delivery and at some point around 28 weeks. I may have misunderstood this. @lissydee, can you confirm?

mrsodonnell12 · September 2014

MmmPopcorn said:

lil_shocker said:

When you are RH negative, you are given antibiotics or something to prevent the antibodies from being made if your blood interacts with a potentially rh positive baby. If my baby has rh positive blood then I receive another rhogam shot.

So, I don't have a choice. I believe all US hospitals make you do an IV if you are negative and the father is positive. But if there aren't blood incompatibility issues, you don't need it.

I know that you get antibiotics via IV if you are GBS+, but I haven't heard of this for RH-. I thought you just receive a Rhogam shot after delivery and at some point around 28 weeks. I may have misunderstood this. @lissydee, can you confirm?

Confused by this too. I've never heard of an iv for this, just a shot at 28w.

lil_shocker · September 2014

I could be mistaken, I forgot about the group b strep, though I don't remember if I was positive or negative. It feels like so long ago!

lil_shocker · September 2014

If it is a true phobia, trying to do a self exposure therapy may not be a good idea if you can't reign in your panic levels. It isn't just mental- there is a huge physical component to phobia and tackling that unassisted during pregnancy may not be a good idea. Not pregnant, depending on the phobia, certainly something to think about.

silverwings72 · September 2014

Please do not do any exposure type therapy without a trained therapist or doctor. They are trained for a reason. Just looking out for my peeps!

kelnoelle · September 2014

I tried reading this book: https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Medical-Phobias-Conquer-Dentists/dp/1572243872

It didn't really help, but I have definitely gotten better though this pregnancy. I also had a D & C last year, where I had to get an IV. I was freaking out so much before they administered it that they had to give me laughing gas just to get me to stay still and stop shaking.

Just have to keep telling myself that my baby boy will be my prize for staying strong and not freaking out!

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