(Epidural) Does it hurt? Its it the only pain relief I will get????

[~LiL MaMa~]

I am pregant with my First child and I am so scaried to get the EPIDURAL. I want to know do they give you other meds before the EPIDURAL? And Does it hurt when they put the Epidural in your back?? How long will it stay in my back? Should I get the EPIDURAL

[Facere23]

I had my DD 4 weeks ago.  I attempted to get the epidural.  But, unfortunately, they were unable to get one started on me.  I was too "challenging", they said.  They stuck me several times and rooted around in my back for about 15 minutes...and i barely felt a thing...it was a little sting when they stuck me, but what little pain i felt was NOTHING compared to the pain i was in from the contractions. They used a topical anesthetic before they tried anything.  I will warn you that i had a bit of discomfort where they were sticking me for a few days afterwards.  But that may be because they were rooting around in there for so long.  I had to brave it drugless...but if i had the choice, i would have prefered the epidural.

[ni-ki]

I had my ds 8 months ago and had an epidural at first it was great didn't feel any pain. But the closer i got to pushing the more and more i started to hurt "down there" my epidural numbed my tummy and my right leg. When it was time for me to push i felt every inch of my son coming out and it hurt like hell. Every one else i have talked to who has gotten an epidural has had great wonderful experiences. If i had to do it all over again i would get the epidural again. There is more pain in the contractions then there is in the epidural.. but that is my opinion. I know when you are in that situaion you will make the right choice =) good luck with your delivery and your new baby

[~LiL MaMa~]

Thanks everyone. One more thing will they give me anyother pain meds besides the Epidural. Like when i go in labor will all i get is the Epidural or will they give me something in my IV to help with the pain of having her? Thanks i feel alot better about the Epidural and i think i will GET IT!!

[momto3girls]

Hi there,

I've had 2 epidurals for 2 different babies.  Honestly, it feels like a bee sting and may even give you a little chill, just like you've been stung.  That was it.  Once it was in, I didn't feel it, it didn't hurt and then it was smooth sailing till my baby was born.  

I'm sure everyone will have their own stories and 2cents to share.  Good luck to you!  Babies are so wonderful and change your life in the most incredible way.  I never realized how much I could love someone so tiny and perfect.  Best wishes to you!!

momto3girls (:

[petanka]

I had my 2nd DD about 6 weeks ago and I highly recommend getting epidural. It does not hurt to get it and it will save you lots of pain. I went in on Dec. 25 with contractions, the next morning Dr. broke my water since I was 4cm dialed, got Epidural about 5 minutes later and slept through all the horrible pain until 3pm when the Epidural ren out. Nurse wanted to give me another one, but by that time I was 10cm dilated and so they did not want to continue with epidural so I could push. Started pushing at 3:45 and 4:30pm she was here. So my easier and less pain then with DD#1 when they gave me just one shot of epidural (8years ago) and once that ren out I was in horrible pain due to the ipocin or whatever is the name of the drog to speed up your contractions! So I highly recommend EPIDURAL unless you want to go through hours of labor in horrible pain! Do not mean to scare you, but it is painful!

[ImmortalOne]

I had 2 difficult labors, but after having spinal taps I refused then and I will now (I'm due August 27th), to have an Epidural.  They gave me Demoral (sp) instead and it did the job enough to allow me to rest between contractions.

[mommy_in_mpls]

Trust me. You'll want an epidural. It was a small needle sting, but was well worth it. I could feel the pushing without the pain associated with it. It made the delivery so much easier.

[PGB]

I had epidurals with both of my sons and wouldn't have it any other way.  With my first, it took right away and had no problems.  With my second, the first one numbed my right leg and that was all.  So they came back and did a second one.  It did hurt.  To me, that is.  But, I'm a big baby about needles and pain anyway. LOL  But, the pain was nothing compaired to the contractions I had while waiting for them to come back and give me my second one...

And yes, I got something for pain before the epidural.  I was enduced both times.  The first time I was scared to take anything for pain because I had heard that it would slow your labor down.  The nurses were actually offering me something for pain while looking at my contractions on the moniter.  I refused.  They finally asked if I was sure and I told them why and they laughed at me and told me that if it did slow it down, they would just turn that IV up higher!! LOL  So, needless to say, I told them to bring it on.  The second time, I didn't wait for them to offer, as soon as the contractions got strong enough to feel, I asked for the meds!!! haha  Good luck!!

[Trialanderror]

The pain is really less than a bee sting. Do not worry. If you want to avoid experiencing numbness in all the wrong places as Ni-ki described, do some research first about hospitals in your area. Some do provide the epidural that you can administer yourself after the initial injection. You simply have a push button beside you and when you think you can not bear it anymore, you give yourself another dose. It is an excellent invention.
As for alternatives - there is laughing gas. It is a nice feature to keep you in a good mood but does not take away the pain itself. And it tends to make you feel nauseated.
I had a 14 hr labor on Oxytocin which apparently makes it more painful and I bridged the first 7 hrs with a bit of laughing gas. I had wonderful colourful hallucinations during those moments... After an increase of oxytocin, the nurse talked me into getting the epidural which truly helped me through another 7 hrs. My son was born 9 lbs and face up and I let you in on my greater fears: I was so paranoid about an episiotomy - rather than epidural - that I did not dare to do the final push until 2 hours had passed. When I finally did, no tears or cuts happened at all, no afterpains, and all thanks to the massage techniques and perfect timing the nurse provided. So, if you inquire about epidurals, do also inquire about whether your hosital of choice does routine episiotomies or at least works on avoiding them.

[*heartagram*]

I didn't feel it. They tell you to take deep breaths so when they insert it it feels very much like a small ***** or like someone else said, a bee sting. You can only feel it for a second, the epidural begins to work within 1-2 minutes of it being inserted.

[2ndBaby]

I did have an intravenous drug in the hours before epidural-forgot the name of it!  The problem was that it put me out completely and negatively affected my blood pressure.  I had to 'come off' that drug a bit and then had epidural.  I didn't feel the raw pain that I imagine natural birth would bring, but I did feel intense cramping pain during pushing.  That said, I still plan to use an epidural this time around.

[~LiL MaMa~]

Thanks Everyone I am sure to get the Epidural now because of you guys!!! I was just so scaried because everyone is like its the worst pain in the world and my mama said its the best thing in the world!!!LOL Thanks so MUCH!!!!!

[ImmortalOne]

Like I said, in answer to your previous question, they gave me Demoral, which they gave me for both of my pregnancies.  To be honest, the pain of giving birth is nothing.  Demoral allowed me to feel the contractions, but allowed me to rest between them as well.  I would have felt very robbed if I had chosen otherwise.

[twiceadopt]

i'd wait and see. my partner's given birth twice and didnt have any pain meds or epidural with either one.. the pain just never got that bad. she's large and fairly wide-framed (weighed about 260 giving birth) so that may have been a factor. but the boys were both over 8lbs, one almost 9.