question about the labor process

I'm not very fond of needles and I'm not sure how I feel about epidurals. I heard they are painful. I was just wondering if theres another way to reduce the pain or is a epidural it?

[AnnieBrooke]

You know, I never felt the needle from my epidural.  I don't know about other methods of anaesthesia, I think there are variations on epidurals.  One thing and I don't want to bug you, but the moment you are in Labor & Delivery, they put an IV into your hand or arm.  It's to keep you hydrated and give them a fast path for drugs in case of emergency (the kind where they would need to knock you all the way out).  It's inconvenient and in the way, but I think it is standard practice.  

[New Mommy 2 Be 2007]

Trust me honey, you will be in a lot of pain from contractions to feel epidural, with my first baby my son I didn't feel the epidural at all! They do ask for family members to leave the room. My husband had to leave. With my daughter my second, my labor was bad the pain was awful! I got epidural with both kids around 8 cm dialed, with my daughter the guy must of did something different my right leg jumped, I had bad contractions and was hard for me to stay still, I felt the needle but it didn't hurt, after he put it in the pain from contractions just stopped. So if you don't want to feel pain get the epidural, I never seen the needle I didn't want to, and I doubt they show you, don't worry about it just get it

[cierra_k]

Yea I had to get three iv's already because I had really bad morning sickness but im a tiny person so they always mess up with the poking and I have to get poked more than once...I'm only ten weeks so I got Plenty of time to figure out what to do. After all the times I've been in the hospital they shouldn't even bother me anymore lol

[2ndbaby162]

Compared to contractions you won't feel a thing!! :-) plus the effect is instant and the relief amazing!! I'm hoping they'll give me mine a lot quicker this time round :-) x

[nae_moore]

The epidural wasn't too painful when I got it with my first two pregnancies. Didn't see them do it, and the only thing i felt was a little pressure on my back and a slight burbibg sensation that lasted just a couple seconds, then was completely numb. Good luck!!!