scared of needles due Jan 23

babyjayden15 · December 2014

Hi IM expecting Jan 23 with my first little girl and I am scared of needles. IM nervous about the I.V in the top of my hand and Im nervous about the epidural how can I get over these fears before labor??

Unknown · December 2014

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ashiscute · December 2014

I agree. How have you dealt with needles so far?

You do not need an IV or epidural if you don't want them but they are pretty easy to deal with especially if you're already in active labor. The IV is painful to me but the epidural is literally the best. You don't see the needle at all since they are behind you. It doesn't hurt and brings sweet relief. You can always wait until you're in the situation to decide if you want to do these things. But honestly, there's a lot going in when you're in labor and needles sort of take a backseat you know?

Alygohome · December 2014

I am terrified of needles and I have had blood taken like 20 times this pregnancy. I just suck it up and deal with it. If I need an IV or Epidural I will just suck it up I guess. Although I am hoping to get away with no Epidural as the catheter scares me too.

My husband is way more terrified of needles than I am and cant suck it up (for realz he just had dental work done with no freezing or drugs because he hates needles) so he would prob say no to the IV and the Epidural.

mellizzard · December 2014

I'm the same way - I hate needles! I didn't even give blood for the first time until last year because of my hate for needles. However, I will say with as much blood as I've given over the past few months, I'm much more relaxed when it comes to being pricked. Who knows how I'll be on delivery day, but I'm pretty sure I'll suck it up - women who hate needles deal with this (needing to be pricked for delivery, etc.) every single day. You can do it!

schnitz9 · December 2014

I have no fear of needles but I know many people who are. Here's what I do for them.

1.) if it hurts its for a few seconds remind yourself that. It's not permanent.

2.) Try talking to someone while they are sticking you or inserting the catheter it will distract you

3.) do look at you hand or arm while they are inserting the needle. Many people actually have no issues if they can't see whats going on.

jennypolkadots · December 2014

As others said, you don't actually need either of these for a healthy delivery. You can do without pain medicine if you start preparing now, and can opt out of the iv as long as you are properly hydrated. You will need to eat throughout labor though and learn the hospital's policy about that (most just sneak snacks btw). There are many other coping strategies instead of the epidural and you can absolutely do without if you prefer, but you do need to prepare. Some doctors will allow a hep-lock instead of an IV just in case they need to administer meds quickly and this is much more comfortable than being hooked up to something.

My best advice is to wait until your contractions are 3-5 minutes apart before showing up at the hospital. You will be way too consumed with the labor to care about needles. Then get the heplock and decide if you really need an epidural or not. Having your SO aware of how you're feeling and able to support you will also go a long way.

AMomWithABlog · December 2014

Agreed, I hate needles too. Scares the be-jesus out of me really. But after having given birth to one child already and one due at the beginning on January, I can tell you that once you are in that moment and it's "go" time, you just kind of accept them. At least I did anyway. The realization that I was about to meet my son and life was going to be forever changed for the better distracted me from most of the unpleasantries in regards to the needles.

babyjayden15 · December 2014

I've had my.glucose tested and my.blood drawn I turned pale white and.almost passed out

babyjayden15 · December 2014

What about when they cut you down there is that painful does anyone know

vpeazy · December 2014

lol...you are already so busy and a baby is coming out of your crotch, you don't even know they are giving you and episiotomy!

drpayne · December 2014

babyjayden15 said:
What about when they cut you down there is that painful does anyone know

Has to be mud.

Unknown · December 2014

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sarals24 · December 2014

OP, newsflash...having a baby hurts. In more ways than one. It's probably too late for you to do anything about this, so maybe try not to focus so much on things that really aren't in your control.

writeonwater · December 2014

You do not have to have an IV. One of the reasons why I chose a natural birth is I did not want to have a needle in my spine. Read up about hypnobirthing and other relaxation techniques.

writeonwater · December 2014

Also, you are in control of what the doctors do to you during labor. If you don' t want an IV tell them. Giving a low risk woman fluids during labor is not evidence based and may cause problems. You can also include in your birth plan that you do not want an episiotomy. The routine use of episiotomy is not evidence based.

babyjayden15 · December 2014

Thank you ladies for the advice

sschwege · December 2014

babyjayden15 said:

What about when they cut you down there is that painful does anyone know

Episiotomies are not as commonly done as they once were and I would be running away from a doctor who does them routinely. I did not have an episiotomy with my first two. I did however tear and needed to be stitched up afterward. The shot they give you to numb it does pinch, but I asked them to pour liquid lydicaine over the site before they gave me the shot.

abbyful · December 2014

babyjayden15 said:
What about when they cut you down there is that painful does anyone know

With everything else going on, this will be the least of your concerns. (I had an episiotomy with my first, tore with my second. Both were med-free births.)

PrimRoseMama · December 2014

babyjayden15 said:
What about when they cut you down there is that painful does anyone know

It's not always necessary & if they do it they usually numb the area first. It's better to tear naturally.

graciesmurf · December 2014

abbyful said:

What about when they cut you down there is that painful does anyone know
With everything else going on, this will be the least of your concerns. (I had an episiotomy with my first, tore with my second. Both were med-free births.)

I also had an episiotomy (however, I had opted for pain meds). For me what made it worse was that the OB did a count down while he was doing it. Otherwise, yes it was painful, but it wasn't the biggest pain of the moment.

22615lastone · December 2014

I hate needles to but Ive had to get so much blood work done this pregnancy that they really arent that bad anymore but I am afarid of on needle I do have to get and thats th amnio needle. Ive had the epidural and at first it is scary to get but once its in and working you will love it

drpayne · December 2014

OP, you won't care about the needle much once you are in labor. At least I didn't. If you'd rather tear than have an episiotomy, tell your doctor ahead of time. They don't do those routinely.

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sschwege · December 2014

bbw5292 said:

Oh sweetie! I am also deathly afraid of needles. To the point where I faint when i get my blood drawn or get really nauseous when i get shots. But at my last 2 appointments i decided that when my baby girl is here i will do anything for her, and if that's the case then i should be doing anything for her now even though she isn't physically here. The shots and the needles are necessary to make sure that you're both doing well, and as horrible and unpleasant as it is... it's a sickening experience that we learn to tolerate because it's for our growing babies. I get where you're coming from though. It's terrifying thinking about all the weird things they do when they are getting close to being here. I was scared about the episiotomy too, but everyone that I have talked to says its the preferred choice between that and tearing. Anyways, you're not alone just know that! good luck to you, and congrats on your baby girl.

@bbw5292 I just wanted to respond to your statement about episiotomy, the most current research does not support the routine use of this procedure instead opting to let women tear naturally in most cases. The ACOG recommends it being limited to certain instances such as fetal distress for example. You can read more about it here:
https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/News-Releases/2006/ACOG-Recommends-Restricted-Use-of-Episiotomies

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sschwege · December 2014

bbw5292 said:

I more meant in the anxiety department. I know that tearing naturally is what the doctor goes for. But from the women that I have spoken to with experience with both, they all have said that the episiotomy was a huge difference when it came to their nerves. It was a for sure, this is how it's going to be, instead of wondering.

Oh, gotcha, that makes more sense!

lmlee15 · December 2014

As a nurse i can tell you i much prefer being on the giving end of an iv but as long as you have an experienced nurse that makes a difference. I just had my baby yesterday so with it still fresh in my mind the iv wasnt too bad and the epidural (which i encourage everyone to keep an open mind on) were not bad at all. Ive seen lots of lumbar punctures so i would honestly say that i was terrified going in to it but surprisingly it barely bothered me at all. Guess my mind was elsewhere haha. You will be surprised what you can handle when you put your mind to it! Good luck (:

ghostof5letters · December 2014

If you're terrified, just go med free. No biggie.

Samiantha101 · December 2014

I don't know if they would apply this in L&D delivery, as I am not in a medical profession, but I once received numbing cream before an IV was applied. Maybe you should ask about it being an option? I didn't feel a thing!

sarals24 · December 2014

Yep! Med free and you won't get any needles

abbyful · December 2014

I went med-free. They still put the IV in, just didn't hook it up to anything (until after baby was born, my hospital gives pitocin to deliver the placenta). And they also took my blood while in labor.

firsttimeaussiemum · December 2014

You just suck it up. Needles suck and all but surely you knew you would have to get them throughout your pregnacy. Best thing you can do is try not to think about them and just remember a couple minutes late the pain will be gone and you would have already forgotten you had one done.

ckramkowski · January 2015

I am a diagnosed needle phobic. It is not I hate, not it hurts, more of it will send me into a full blown panic attack. So I understand if some of the suggestions you are thinking they don't understand.

I have been receiving desensitization therapy and I also use a linocane cream before hand. It is a prescription. I have HG during this pregnancy so I have had to deal with a lot of needles. I recommend finding a therapist that deals with phobias. Also get the cream. Bring someone with you that will advocate for you with needles (my husband has to tell them they must wait until I am numb from the cream). Also be upfront with people and let them know. If you need more help let me know.

genmccarley · January 2015

I just wanted to point out that once the IV is in, it's just a plastic catheter sitting in your hand- not an actual needle. The needles just there for the poke and than its retracted and tossed. Some people get confused about this & think they have a needle hanging out in their hand.

Ashgal · January 2015

I used to have a severe needle phobia as well, but once you have given birth, it will majorly decrease! I just find if I don't look at the needle it helps a lot! Also make sure you request a nurse who is good at doing IV's. I have actually found the IV to be worse than the epidural, especially when you get someone who is bad at doing them. Get someone good and it will be nothing.

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scared of needles due Jan 23

Re: scared of needles due Jan 23

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