what should be expected for epidural?

JessaRex · August 2015

What does it feel like? How long did it take? Im terrified of needles and usually have to lay down for blood work, is laying down an option? How many needles are used? Someone talked about catheters but didnt talk much about it. Walking catheter or the urine catheter or both?im at 24+5 weeks and am more worried about the epidural than anything else lol and i know its only cause i know nothing about them beyond what the internet tells, which explains a perfect scenario circumstance and doesnt actually tell what it feels like...

Latina211508 · August 2015

I had a urine catheter in for my second and third pregnancy. I'll admit it was annoying. I only had an epidural with my first. They had me sit down and lean forward. One needle, it felt like a big pinch in my back. But honestly I was having contractions and it hurt literally for a second. It wasn't even close to the pain that I was told by others. Don't stress it too much. It goes by very quickly.

cMichelle0423 · August 2015

Getting one is uncomfortable. Especially in the middle of contraction. Also don't go in with expectations that it's just going to work and everything's going to be rainbows and butterflies from then on. I've had two epidurals (technically 3 because the catheter came out after the first one) and they never worked for me. I still felt everything. I'm not even going to bother with one this time around.

DChunt09 · August 2015

I think for me, the hardest part of my epidurals, was the having to sit still part. When you're having a contraction, it's hard to sit still. That was the painful part for me.
I don't believe laying down is an option, but you can ask your dr. about it. They really need you to arch your back in order to place the epidural in the correct spot of your spine.
Only one needle was used for me. They locate the spot for the epidural, place the needle in. I felt more pressure than pain. Once the needle is in, they guide a very small tube through where the needle is.
Not all epidurals work. Mine always did. For some, they work on one side of the body but not the other.
I was given a catheter after the epidural and it was taken out right at pushing, so I almost never knew it was there.
My epidural wore off very quickly after labor and I was up and walking within the hour.
To me, the needle of an epidural doesn't feel exactly like that of a standard "shot." I felt a good bit of pressure and some sting. But it was short lived and worth it in the end.
The whole process took maybe 10 or so minutes. That included the time it took to clean off my back, look around for the spot... From start to finish.
Hope that helps a little!

BowWowBowie · August 2015

I'll agree it is uncomfortable. It's like a pinch and I don't believe you can lay down, you need to bend over for the needle to penetrate your spine. I'm one of the ones where the epidural didn't work, it only numbed the left side of my body. I feel like had I had a vaginal birth it would have been painful but okay, I ended up with a c-section and felt everything on my right side. The epidural is NOTHING compared to that.

A good thing about it is that the nurse will let you lean into her and let you hold onto a pillow. It sucks, but it's better than nothing if you aren't a fan of widespread pain.

PDXtbird · August 2015

By the time I got my epidural I was so deep into the pain of labor that I didn't even feel it- they had to tell me it was done and I could lay down because I had no idea. It was heaven. It took and experience that was so scary because of the pain and made it manageable.

lilnessi · August 2015

i was laying down when i got my epidural..i was on my side and they asked me to pul/l my knees to my chest (sorta hard when ur so pregnant lol) so that it was easier to place the needle..i think sitting up may have been easier but it went fine and worked well!

amberrmariee20 · August 2015

I sat on the bed, leaned forward and they cleaned my back with iodine and then inserted the needle, fed the catheter through and put tape over it ! It wasn't bad, never felt the needle go in, and had no pain afterwards ! I also had a urine catheter inserted, which I later discovered gave me a UTI.

plumpous · August 2015

What is the reason for the urine catheter and how do they put it in? Does it bother you?

mrsbacz · August 2015

plumpous said:
What is the reason for the urine catheter and how do they put it in? Does it bother you?

Once you get the epidural, you're not supposed to have sensation from the waist down. Therefore, you won't feel when your bladder is full and be unable to urinate on your own. The catheter is usually placed by a nurse via sterile technique and takes less than 5 minutes, going through your urethra into your bladder and a small balloon is inflated to hold it in place. You should not feel the insertion if the epidural was effective, but it does not hurt either way, you just may feel a slight pressure and discomfort.

delujm0 · August 2015

You won't see the needle for the epidural at all and it does hurt when they insert it, but it's brief and nowhere near as painful as contractions are.

The urine catheter is placed after the epidural so I didn't feel it at all. I loved it actually. When it was placed I told my husband I loved it bc it was the first time in months that my bladder actually felt fully empty.

My epidural worked throughout...I got it at 6cm and delivered about 6 hours later. I did have to give it an extra hit while pushing. At first I felt nothing but by the time I was 10cm I could feel pressure, not pain, when a contraction starred up, which was good bc I knew exactly when to push.

Alyllyra · August 2015

I had my epi lying down on my side. Like PP said, the worst part was having to lie perfectly still during contractions. And yes, the epi hurt, but for me it was sooo worth it. After getting it I was able to finally eat something and rest a little in preparation for delivery.
I did not have a catheter placed at the time, but I did have one the next day because I lost so much blood I had a hard time getting up. Even without pain medication, the catheter didn't hurt, so don't worry about it.

lalena · August 2015

I had my epi sitting up on the side of the bed, holding a pillow across my chest, a nurse holding my shoulders. She was able to look at the monitor next to the bed to tell the anesthesiologist that I was having a contraction, so she could still until I stopped contracting. I honestly don't remember the needle or anything about the epi going in. Took busy with the contractions at that point ;-). I also had a catheter, but don't remember that going in either.

I do remember that they take your blood pressure a lot afterwards, and if it guess down liked mine did, they give you a shot. It also made my face itchy. Upside, I was able to sleep a couple hours, which helped my relax and dialite from 4 to 10cm. Also, the epidural at my hospital only numbs you from belly to mid thigh. After I had DD, I was able to get to the bathroom on my own legs with help from the nurse.

Also, fyi, hubby is not allowed in the room during epi.

Latina211508 · August 2015

With my first my mom was allowed in the room when I had my epidural done (hubby was deployed). So maybe that depends on the hospital. Oh also I could still feel when to push. I was only completely numb by my women parts.

lalena · August 2015

Could be by hospital. I was told that the husband's get too nervous and it was their policy to be out of the room. Frankly, I was glad he was out. Lol Might be something good to ask the individual hospital what is their policy.

tbasinski · August 2015

Epidural = best part of pregnancy.

Leahauc · August 2015

I think the epidural is the greatest thing ever. Idk about laying down since they had me sit and lean over for mine, but it was fast and I barely felt it. They gave me a little numbing shot first so I barely felt more than pressure from the actual spinal insertion. I had in and out caths after I was numb. Once it was in, I was in heaven and able to sleep, dilated pretty quickly, and could still feel like a painless pressure when I had a contraction during pushing. They turned it off as soon as I delivered and I stayed numb through 45 min of stitches (they wouldn't stop bleeding). When I did get feeling back, it was funny because I got feeling back in my left leg wayyy before my right leg. Kinda weird but amused me for some reason. I'm terrified of needles too but will definitely be opting for the epidural again. I worked myself up for nothing.

DChunt09 · August 2015

My husband was allowed in the room. He ended up passing out but they always let him try. lol Last time, I got my epidural in the middle of the night and my husband happened to be sleeping and I told the nurse not to even wake him for this. So, she laid the mask right on him while he slept and everyone went right on with the process.

This must vary by hospital.

(I could also feel when to push. It wasn't painful, but I knew when I was contracting.)

maiatene · August 2015

Everyone's experience is different but the basics are you lean forward with partner/nurse supporting you, anesthesiologist swabs your back where the needle will be inserted, you feel a small prick and then you're done. At my hospital the anesthesiologist numbed the area first and if I needed to pee I rang the buzzer and a nurse came in w a catheter, one was never left to just hang out there lol. I had a very positive experience - I felt contractions without the pain and pushed with no problem. It helped me relax and get some much needed sleep since my son didn't want to come out for nearly 24 hours after my water broke. I didn't feel any of the after birth process - my husband said the doctor was elbow deep in my uterus cleaning it out and when they had to stitch me I felt nothing! Best decision I ever made...

weaselwhiskers · August 2015

I don't know if this is helpful, but by the time I got my epidural I was in so much pain from the contractions that I don't remember there being any pain with having the epi done. They just had me sit on the edge of the bed and lean forward, and waited until a contraction was done so I could hold still. I was SO thankful for my epidural.

I did have a urinary catheter but didn't feel it because they inserted it after the epi took effect.

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