epidural

berrios71 · November 2014

Ok I have never had an epi but this time around the doctor said I have to get one since I will be tieing my tubes this time around. :-( Anyone that has had one do you remember what it feels like? My sister in law said it stung real bad but idk if it was just her or what. What does an epi feel like when you are getting it if you remember. Does it hurt? Honestly I am terrified to have something stuck in my back. Thats why I always went naturally with my other 3. Plus it didn't hurt all to much till I started to crown. Thanks for your input.

thefitzfam · November 2014

Mine felt like... Nothing. All I remember is sweet relief!

specialsn0wflake · November 2014

I don't recall mine hurting as much as feeling a lot of pressure. However, I should mention I have a pretty high pain tolerance.

OP, in the future, grammar goes far on this page.

lneice0160 · November 2014

I had a section with no labor before the epi and it felt like a bee sting in my back...nothing bad:))

Babykells3 · November 2014

I don't really remember feeling anything while they were putting it in either, maybe a little pinch but that would have been it. I just remember concentrating on not moving and hoping that I didn't have a contraction while they were doing it. Unfortunately, my epi only worked on my right side...

sbrent101 · November 2014

If you can handle 3 natural births, the epi is nothing! I was nervous about it and shocked at how little it hurt.

mrsalvidrez · November 2014

I always wonder how people determine whether they have a high or low pain tolerance.

kjuryfl · November 2014

Sadly I had a bad experience when delivering my first. It took them two tries to get the epidural in and hurt like a biotch. The epidural ended up failing and it was turned off since I dilated quickly (no time to fix it). For several weeks afterwards the spot in my back where the epidural was was very sore. I have a pretty high pain tolerance so I was really surprised by how uncomfortable the whole experience was. I am undecided about getting an epidural with this baby.

lindsayanne14 · November 2014

I had a good epi experience. I remember no pain, not even a pinch. I had some leg numbness for several days after but it wasn't a big deal, just felt numb when I touched it.

skinamarinkadinkado2 · November 2014

I had a good epi experience as well... no pain, just some pressure. It was nothing compared to the contractions and my anethesiologist was taking his dear sweet time because my daughters dad was curious and the aneth. was talking him through EVERY step... my face ended up in my nurses boobs by the time he was done from waiting. :-<

CivilMommy · November 2014

It was uncomfortable sitting curled over during contractions while the doc was working on it. It pinches, then burns for a moment, then pressure and sweet relief. I've had 2 with great results and no weird side effects.

be888 · November 2014

I don't remember feeling anything but a little sting when they inserted the epidural. It was much more painful to sit still during contractions.

starshollow · November 2014

I remember it being uncomfortable until the instant relief came. Then it was the greatest thing in the world. I did have some lingering numbness in that spot for a while after, but it wasn't a big deal.

lcole08 · November 2014

I felt a little pressure and maybe a small pinch but that was it. I had one with my first, but not second so it has been 4+ years. I remember that nurse when we got to the hospital and asked if I was going to have one, I was still undecided, and she told me the IV would hurt worse than the epi.

OliveMom3 · November 2014

I had a spinal block for my csection due to complete breech presentation. It felt like having an injection. Nothing more nothing less. No need to worry if your experience will be anything like mine.

Renate85 · November 2014

@mrsalvidrez‌, My Dr said they basically measure your pain tolerance by comparing your experience of certain events with other patients. I had an appendix on the point of bursting but only felt slight discomfort when I should have been crawling, so Doc says I have a high tolerance. But I think most people just decide to be scared or brave in certain situations. Know people who are terrified of injections but have tattoos?? Guess it's mostly in the mind.

And if anyone can manage childbirth without meds then a needle in the back is a small thing.

Dani428 · November 2014

Honestly I'm not trying to scare you but my personal experience was terrible. I swear something was going wrong when he was doing it and the guy was a jerk. It felt TERRIBLE going in and the pain afterwards in my back for 3 weeks was dreadful, and I wasn't near fully numb. That being said most experiences I've heard of are the opposite of mine so odds are you'll be fine

.

laceytravis25 · November 2014

I had NO pain! The only thing I felt was a small pinch. I'm glad I did get it though because my DD decided to come out sunny side up and so I had to push WAY longer than I should've. Hopefully you have a good experience with your epidural!

GWhizzers · November 2014

I had a spinal for my c-section. The dr told me it was feel like a wasp sting? It would sting, then the hot feeling would expand for a tiny fraction of a second, and then you won't feel a thing. It was pretty accurate! I would guess the epidural would be somewhat similar.

berrios71 · November 2014

Thanks everyone. I'm sure it's not hurt or anything, but I just wanted input of other women who have had an epi. My sister in law made it seem like the epi hurt more than the contractions. Maybe she has no tolerance for pain since most of you all said its like a little sting. :-) Thanks that put my mind to rest with that.

PinkDahLia44 · November 2014

mrsalvidrez said:
I always wonder how people determine whether they have a high or low pain tolerance.

I had my first baby without any pain medications. I was in labor for 36 hours straight and my pain never went above a 7 out of 10 and mainly stayed around a 4. I think I have a high pain tolerance.

kurban627 · November 2014

I was in so much pain by the time my epi came that I was just thrilled it was there. Some pressure and a pop and all of a sudden I could relax. Ahhhh. :x

LowTalker23 · November 2014

I've seriously been sitting here for a good 2 minutes trying to recall what it felt like when they put the epi in....so, I think it's safe to say, for me, it felt fine. I don't remember any pain, pressure, pinch, whatever.

JAP09-02 · November 2014

For me it just felt like a little sting. It wasn't bad at all.

GingerDS02 · November 2014

I was in transition when I got mine and I didn't feel the epi being placed at all. Too much pain from contractions to feel that I guess.

kerimontanye · November 2014

I was way more focused on not dying from the contractions and trying to sit completely still on the edge of the bed while they poked me several times, kinda like a bee sting I guess, but once it's there it's like heaven.

HoneyBunn24 · November 2014

I am petrified of needles and went into my last pregnancy determined that I would not have an epidural because it was a terrifying thought. It games to 7 hours in with no progress and no rest and the doctor said I would only experience worse...and I opted for the epidural. Conveniently the anesthesiologist was just getting ready for a c-section and had time to fit me in before I had time to really think it over. It didn't hurt at all. I'm allergic to the sticky part of a band aid...so my only discomfort came after when they put the massive tape on my back to hold the epidural in place.

But seriously...no issues...just the ability to sleep and get some energy gathered to push.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

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NoraMia · November 2014

I had one for a minor surgery and it went great. All I felt was a bit of pressure in my back when the doctor was administering it.

rosemama116 · November 2014

I think dh was more traumatized by the size of the needle. Like the others have said, it was a little sting and then bliss.

HoneyBunn24 · November 2014

rosemama116 said:
I think dh was more traumatized by the size of the needle. Like the others have said, it was a little sting and then bliss.

This made me smile...I'm so glad I didn't see the needle...I don't know how I would have reacted. DH was fascinated by the process of mixing everything and the prep work. I was paying more attention to him then I was to anything else really.

fatcat11188 · November 2014

I had to have two different ones placed the last time. The first one sucked big time, especially being needle phobic and being my first one. The first one was rougher then the second one, stung like a big ass bee and wasn't placed correctly. The second one, less of a sting and pure amazingness right after as the fantastic juices flowed into me, I was READY for the EPI to work! Certainly less pain then birth!

somewheresublime86 · November 2014

I asked a friend who is an anesthesiologist how women usually rate the pain/discomfort. She said when she walks into the room, most people are at a 10. Usually they say the actual epidural is about a 3, and profess their love and gratitude as soon as it kicks in.

HZ2012 · November 2014

Like a lot of PP's mentioned, it really wasn't so bad. It's a quick little sting, and then you're just numb from the waist down. If you've given birth without it, I'm SURE you'll be fine

littlewest1 · November 2014

Please give me all the drugs. I don't remember how it felt at all, just that it was amazing! They said lean forward, they did something and then I felt better.

Flowerstar1023 · November 2014

Were you ladies able to move your legs at all? I love the idea of pain relief but think not being able to sense my legs and their position might be a bit freaky! (Granted having 10/10 pain I imagine is worse).

shoeflypie · November 2014

I gave in to the epidural once my water broke and contractions were still haywire. Even with pitocin at full blast, my contractions weren't correct, and I was 6 days past. Little did I know that the epidural was the first amount of sleep I got in six months and the last sleep I'll ever get!

My right side wasn't as numb while my left side was dead weight. Instead of flipping me, I stayed on my right side to keep from feeling the pain during contractions. I had weird pain in the site until about 6mo pp.

Eta: they had me too flat and I began to have a lot of chest congestion and coughing. Once I leaned up it went away though!

littlewest1 · November 2014

Flowerstar1023 said:

Were you ladies able to move your legs at all? I love the idea of pain relief but think not being able to sense my legs and their position might be a bit freaky! (Granted having 10/10 pain I imagine is worse).

No I was not able to feel my legs but it didn't bother me at all. I was in a happy place. They did turn down the epi some when it was time to push so I could feel the pressure and know when it was time. I did get some sensation back then.

topaz7777 · November 2014

I asked for mine only to find out that because I was on thinners during my pregnancy that I would have to have a couagulation (sp?) panel done. That was a test that delayed my epidural for a little over an hour. If you are on any blood thinning medication, keep this in mind... I'm glad I asked for mine early!

When they placed mine, they hit a nerve that caused me to jump, and I got yelled at. They had to try a second time and it was just fine. I was so uncomfortable otherwise that I don't even recall anything unpleasant about the epidural. I could have hugged the guy I was so excited to feel the pain melt away.

I felt a little itchy for a while, cold, my blood pressure dropped some (which is pretty usual) and they gave me a little oxygen. Abount 5 min later, I was feeling no pain and they took the oxygen off because my blood pressure came back up. I remember they make you shift one side or the other because it works by gravity. They gave me a button to push to increase the epi if I wanted (for a while) and I'd say within 15 min, my legs didn't feel like they were mine anymore. I couldn't really feel anything from my lungs down. Contractions? What contractions? I think I took a nap. lol

I did however feel the pressure significantly at one point and mentioned it, and ta-da! Fully dialated. At that point they turned the epi either down significantly or off... because the rest hurt like hell. I couldn't feel my legs, but I sure felt the rest!!!

So, once you get an epidural you can't get out of bed anymore. They hook you to a monitor, you are restricted to laboring on your back with your legs up. (which they have to lift because you can't move them AT ALL) They even put in a cathedar because you can't go to the bathroom. If you didn't know these things, it's worth doing a little more research. I couldn't get out of bed for several hours after delivery when I could finally feel my legs. Also, make sure you really can feel them both before attempting with a nurses help to the bathroom because they got my sister out of bed when only one side was no longer numb and she fell on the floor very hard.

I'll definitely get another one this time, but I'm glad I know more of what to expect.

be888 · November 2014

Flowerstar1023 said:

Were you ladies able to move your legs at all? I love the idea of pain relief but think not being able to sense my legs and their position might be a bit freaky! (Granted having 10/10 pain I imagine is worse).

Nope, not at all. I used the bolus too much on one side, and my left leg felt completely dead. I thought it was hilarious, especially when it came time to pushing. I couldn't even switch side.

RIngReady · November 2014

Flowerstar1023 said:

Were you ladies able to move your legs at all? I love the idea of pain relief but think not being able to sense my legs and their position might be a bit freaky! (Granted having 10/10 pain I imagine is worse).

I actually could. The nurses were surprised because while it was harder, I was able to independently readjust myself in the bed several times, and actually stood and walked across the room to watch baby be weighed and measured about 45 minutes after birth.

I am allergic to Lidocaine though, the drug in most epidurals, and so they used something different and used very little of it because the anesthesiologist had never used my specific drug before and was a little nervous because of the consistency in the vial. He did tell me that it is possible for women to request just a little of the epidural so they can feel more, but then they run the risk of meds wearing off sooner and needing a second shot, but I guess it is an option.

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DD 7/2010, DS 3/2012, #3 due 4/24/2015

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