does the epidural hurt ????

Sara - posted on 08/03/2009

Not as much as labor!

Alison - posted on 08/03/2009

I was given demerol as soon as I got to the hospital to deliver my daughter, because the pain was so bad....which I think helped me when they gave me the epidural. After the demerol I felt NOTHING. I slept through every contraction, and when they woke me up, I pushed for ten minutes and my beautiful girl was born. I highly recommend the drugs. I don't know why anyone would go natural. My labour and delivery was such a peaceful beautiful experience I would never do it any other way. It does feel weird when being given demerol and epidurals but it is worth it. And don't worry if they want to give you demerol it does go to your baby but will only make him/her sleepy, and they can always counteract its effects.

Arwen - posted on 08/03/2009

I didn't feel it at all! Not the numbing shot or the epidural. Just felt my doctor pressing on my back. He redosed me right before I started to push, but it all happened so fast I still felt the cut. Not the pushing, that doesn't hurt. =) The cut didn't hurt, but the stitches kind of stung.

Rachele - posted on 08/03/2009

i had an epidural with my first c-section and a spinal with the second, they are given the same way, but the spinal last longer, it took longer for me to be able to move my foot afterward. it didn't hurt, just a little pinch and that's all.

Maggie - posted on 08/03/2009

Another thing to know is that many hospitals are different as far as when they give it. My sister was at a small hospital and her Dr wouldn't giver her the epidural until she was dilated to at least a 4. I was at a very large, well known hospital and they gave me mine before I was even dilated a 1.5.

Lara - posted on 08/03/2009

Also, if you decide to go without an epidural-make sure your doctor knows! It may sound obvious but my doc wasn't in the room with me much until I was pushing. She assumed I had pain med which i didn't with my first child and cut me assuming i was numb which I was NOT! Not a good experience! Make sure you guys are on the same page!

Kerri - posted on 08/03/2009

I had it, and honestly the iv was 3000 times worse then the epidural. It basically feels like a tiny pinch and then as though someone is pouring cold water over the area. I got a chill after it which lasted about 3 minutes and then it was done. I felt great, and i was up walking around an hour and a half after my daughter was born. So i'd reccomend it, and I'm a sissy about needles and shots and the whole epidural thing freaked me out pretty bad- but it didnt hurt, I barely felt it.

Lara - posted on 08/03/2009

Good for you trying for a VBAC, too many women have c sections again that aren't necessary! Recovery is sooo much faster after vag! I did think the epidural hurt. The worst part is having to hold still during a contraction while bent over its kinda scary! But afterwards it does feel better! I have had some back pain in the spot I got my epidural and have one other friend that has too but most people don't. Good luck!

Caitlin - posted on 08/03/2009

It doesn't hurt as much as childbirth!!!
But seriously, it's not all that bad. I have a horrible phobia of needles, and when I saw it I freaked out. The nurse explained that I had to be completely still, so they kinda held me when the doctor actually put it in. They did use some numbing stuff on my back first. You can still feel it, but it's really not all that bad. And once it's in it feels amazing! It completely numbs you so you can't feel any pain of childbirth, just some pressure. And because I couldn't feel pain I was able to push harder. My son was born after pushing through only 9 contractions. I would definately recommend going with the epidural.

Now you didn't ask this, but I thought I'd add that some doctors give you the option of taking pain medication instead of an epidural to ease childbirth. I would NOT recommend doing this. The drugs go directly to the baby during the childbirth which typically causes the baby's responses to be slowed upon birth. Also, the medication can make you sleepy causing your pushes to be weaker which can make labor last longer, adding stress to both you and your baby.

Hope this helps! Good luck and congratulations! :)

Natasha - posted on 08/03/2009

its different with everyone. I had a c-section with my daughter because she was breech but before i knew i'd have to have a c-section i said i would never get one because i saw what happened to my cousin....she got an air bubble after hers and had to get blood taken from her arm to put in her spin and she said it was very painful

Melissa - posted on 08/03/2009

I thought the jag they gave me to numb the area was quite stingy but the epidural was ok,It was a bit uncomfortable kind of like a pressure in your back but it only lasts a few minutes,Compared to the contractions though its a piece of cake.Unfotunatley my little one was in such a rush to get out i had had her before it started to work, So much for the midwife telling me i would be in labour for hours,I was only in labour for 2 hours,but after being 13 days overdue i was pretty happy with that.

Ashley - posted on 08/03/2009

It depends on the person. For me the epidural hurt and it didn't even work, but my twin sister had it and she said they had to tell her when to push because she didn't feel a thing. I think it didn't work for me only because I didn't know I could ask for it, so by the time I got it I was in so much pain I couldn't sit still. So make sure you are on the same page with your doc so you know when you can have it if you want it. As far as having a natural delivery, for some encouragement, my mom had a c-section for my twin sister and I and then had four natural deliveries afterwords without any epidural. So anything is possible!

Maggie - posted on 08/03/2009

I was induced for over 48 hours when my Dr recommended an epidural to help speed things along since I was not progressing with labor. The epidural did hurt but just for a short moment. I ended up having an emergency C-section like 6 hours later. I never felt any pain after the epidural. Being awake during the C-section was great because I knew what was going on and was able to see my baby right away.

Angela - posted on 08/03/2009

It honestly didn't hurt for me. I had an awesome one! That just made everything go so smooth after that!

Jenna - posted on 08/03/2009

With regards to the epidural, i was so against it as i wanted a natural birth however i had no choice as i had been in labour more than 2 days. the actual epidural is the most shocking feelin ive ever felt but im glad i had it done because to be honest it was a peaceful labour as i felt nothing except tiredness and hunger. go for natural but if the pain is too much have an epideral but dont regret it.

ANGELICA - posted on 08/03/2009

It's not bad. But I've always been told that natural birth is not very likely after having a C-section. Please discuss this in depth with your doctor to avoid unnecessary complications. As for the edidural, it's nothing at all. Just a little pinch and a bit of pressure and then ahhhh.... heaven!

Katie - posted on 08/03/2009

well i had an emergency c section with my first and I am now pregnant with my second also but I did make it to the epidural and its not bad at all.. Or atleast to me. It could have been the medication they gave me to thin my cervix and what not but it honestly felt like a little sting nothing bad at all. Hope this helps..

Tiffany - posted on 08/03/2009

With my daughter I delivered her with an epidural and I gotta say for me it hurt. But, with my son I had a c section and instead of an epidural they gave me a spinal block and it was a breeze!! Ask your Dr which is standard for surgery. Plus everyone is different, most of the people I know had no problems with the epidural!

Janet - posted on 08/03/2009

They will give you a local numbing before the epidural which will sting but the epidural you wont feel at all. The worse part is trying to sit still when they give it to you.

Corinna - posted on 08/13/2009

An epidural does not hurt at all! Didn't even feel it going in, its over in 5 minutes!

Tina - posted on 08/10/2009

epidural does not hurt as if your in labour u wont notice them doin it but u will have a huge bruse afterwards i did i needed 1 as i had pulled the muscle in my back a week before i whent into labour so i needed one hope this answers your question

Tiffany - posted on 08/09/2009

The epidural did not hurt for me, I didn't feel anything but a prick :)

Ilona - posted on 08/09/2009

does the epidural hurt ????



im pregnat with my second baby with my first i was in labour for 15 hours n then ended up in emergency c-section but refused the epidural and wen to sleep now im trying for natural but if that doesnt work im back for a c-section again but dnt know wat to do plz letme knw