what does a epidural feel like?

Shannon - posted on 01/12/2010

truthfully, if you get someone who's good at it you don't even feel it. Mine waited until i had a strong contraction and put it in. I didn't even feel it but saw my husband flinch... with in 5 minutes, the lower half of my body went completely numb and i ended up falling asleep until he was ready to come out. started feeling pressure in my hips and that's what woke me up! the only discomfort for me was when they pulled it out

Sarah - posted on 01/12/2010

I gave birth to one child without the epidural, and I gave birth to two children with the epidural. I do not think I would have made it through my second child without the meds. I cannot handle needles, but this is a needle that, if I needed it, I would accept with open arms. The needle/pain was the least of my worries.

Tarah - posted on 01/12/2010

it wasnt painful for me because i had such bad back labor and i was in labor for 3 days before i actually had my son and got the epidural we though it was just false labor but it was real labor with no dialation so after 2 days the drs decided to help me out and gave me patosin i had 2 waters one broke the first day i was in labor and then the 2nd broke 3 hrs before i had my son. I honestly do not remember my epidural and everyone said i didnt even complain i think when u are in that much pain that you dont mind whats going on if its going to help you GOOD LUCK and dont forget everyones is different just make sure you breathe lol

Tarah - posted on 01/12/2010

it wasnt painful for me because i had such bad back labor and i was in labor for 3 days before i actually had my son and got the epidural we though it was just false labor but it was real labor with no dialation so after 2 days the drs decided to help me out and gave me patosin i had 2 waters one broke the first day i was in labor and then the 2nd broke 3 hrs before i had my son. I honestly do not remember my epidural and everyone said i didnt even complain i think when u are in that much pain that you dont mind whats going on if its going to help you GOOD LUCK and dont forget everyones is different just make sure you breathe lol

Heather - posted on 01/12/2010

well i had an epidural for my c-section so I don't know if they are diffrent for vaginal birth but it's didn't hurt it felt like a bee sting and the your entire side goes numb then the other side. it's fast you never see the niddle

Jenna - posted on 01/12/2010

Just like a needle going into your back. If you're okay with needles then no need to worry. If you are afraid of needles, still no need to fear. It doesn't really hurt at all. As long as you sit still while they give it, everything will be fine.

Melissa - posted on 01/12/2010

more uncomfotable than painful. its a very quick stick then i felt kinda like a tingle in one of my legs and in less than a min. i could tell a difference. if your a big baby then the epidural is the least of your worries.......contractions are the worst pain i ever felt in my life,i dont mean to scare you. i was induced with my first but went into labor on my own with my second. i know how anxious and scared you can be with your first baby,but i strongly recommend NOT being induced if at all possible.The meds made my contractions so strong and close and it was all day and all night and half the next day before i even had my baby. letting nature take its course was much easier for me. dont worry this is what were made to do you'll be fine. When are you due?

Zahiryd - posted on 01/12/2010

Hi dear!!! i'm a young mom of 2 babies...i'll be 20 next week. i had an epidural for my son. to tell you the truth i'm also a VERY big baby, but compared to the labor pains, the epidural is nothing. just keep still. they numb the spot first with a hair thin needle...your legs are gunna feel as if they were 300lbs, but u will enjoy the rest after u get it. trust me...thats the first thing i asked for when i had my second baby 3 months ago, but couldnt cause i had her within 20 minutes of getting to the hospital!!! good luck...Zahiryd

Kristina - posted on 01/12/2010

i had one about an hour before my c-section and i didnt even feel it...they numbed my back and i was in to much pain to even feel that pain....

Kari - posted on 01/12/2010

Honestly I have had one for both my pregnancies. It feels like someone put a relaxer in all your muscles form your lower back down. I had no problem with either one. Some people do have complications but I thought it was great.

Mattee - posted on 01/12/2010

Hurts a HELL of a lot less than labor!!! Seriously...

Amanda - posted on 01/12/2010

i am a big baby too!! no tolerance for pain whatsoever! and my epidural didn't hurt at all.. you feel an odd twinge in your back, they wait for you to have 2 contractions to make sure it has kicked in, and then they insert a catheter into your bladder.



the thing to consider is how it affects you. because they affects every person differently. for instance, mine worked like a dream. i could still feel the tightening for my contractions, so i knew when to push. but i literally felt nothing else.. a good friend of mine had her baby about 6 weeks after mine, same anesthesiologist, same hospital. COMPLETELY different results. her chest was tingly, her legs were fuzzy and by the time she was ready to push she could feel everything but her own breathing... so, it just depends on how your body reacts to it.



the best advice i've heard commonly is to not make any prior expectations or rules on yourself. be open to any ideas that you are comfortable with. because that way, you are prepared when the option is given to you, and you don't beat yourself up for "not sticking to your plan"

Heather - posted on 01/12/2010

It feels alot better than the contractions you will have. I have had 2 kids and couldnt have done it without them,

Soph - posted on 01/12/2010

i have a 5 month old and when i went into labour 2 weeks late i went in knowing i did not want an epidural and my partner knew the same thing but it got to the stage where i didnt have a choice and it seems really scary especially when the doctor tells you he has to explain the risks before he starts but honestly if you stay as calm as you can its no more than a little mozzie bite!! and you feel like a million dollars once it kicks in.

Kimberlee - posted on 01/12/2010

It really doesn't hurt much at all. You mainly only feel a small stick in your lower back. This is where they are numbing your back. This way you don't feel the great big stick. Then I sortof felt a weird feeling in my back, they said they we're putting the tube in my back. It connects to your spine somehow, that's how it numbs your lower body. Then after the funny feeling in your back, from your waist down will go really numb. That's about all there is to it. You'll continue to be numb for about and hour after you have the baby. Hope this helps.

Stefanie - posted on 01/12/2010

Well I'm a huge baby when it comes to getting shots and giving blood. When i was pregnant i was all for the epidural but i was horrified. I was induced they started my med about 6 or 7 in the morning and my contractions started shortly after. Honestly, I was in so much pain from the contractions that the tiny pinches from the epidural weren't that bad. Plus, i felt one million times better when it finally kicked in and i couldn't feel the contractions as much. It's definately worth the little bit of pain. And if you end up having to get an emergency C-section like i did they can put the meds in through that route if necessary.

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

i say go for it. with my first my contractions were so hard i thought i was going go through the roof. once i got the epidural i relaxed and everything was great. with my second one i knew i wanted it and almost didnt get it because of an emergency in the er. with the first i remember feeling the little prick bt thats it. my best advise is sit on the edge of the bed and let one of the nurses stand in front of you to support you, youll feel a little prick but i think its alot better then the pain i wouldve been hadnt i got it.

Tricha - posted on 01/12/2010

I waited as long as I could as well. I was 7 cent when I got mine. I went natural with my first.

Kyleen - posted on 01/12/2010

I had my first kid by C-Section.. I remember they marked the spot & put that Iodine stuff on. Not sure about numbing it. But I remember feeling a poke. They left tubular needle in. Squirted some liquid and asked which side I felt it shoot down. It felt like my whole right side nerves were being zapped. Very unnerving.. Not sure about what they left in my spine, but they secured it. & later on they take it out & give you pain pills. They ween ya off gradually. It helps to just to breath & focus on you're little one, who you'll get to see in minutes.. & that it's worth it.. I will warn ya.. If you have a c-section.. When they're diggin your baby out.. All that pressure could make you nausiated, & make you throw up or dry heav. It went away after a few minutes though.. Just focus on baby & breathing cause being numb from the waist down makes breathing feel funny.

Nicki - posted on 01/12/2010

Getting it wasn't the bad part because they numb the area first with another shot, but personally I hated the feeling of my legs tingling like they were asleep while I was still feeling the pain of contractions too! Maybe they did mine wrong, but having one with and one without, they only difference was that I didn't feel the pain down there when baby was coming out. I felt bad contractions with one and ofcourse without one, Stadol (however it's spelled) cuts the edge and relaxes you some and it's just an IV thing. I didn't want one with my first baby but my Dr insisted and I knew nothing about what it would feel like after I got it or I would have refused, so I thought I should share that for the small amount of help it gave me it was not worth that terrible tingling feeling. And the pain down there that it did eliminate, actually made me push all the harder to get it over with, it's just a lot of pressure with the epidural and I got tired of pushing and wanted to give up, but when I felt it I was ready to push it out so I pushed real hard! It gave me more control being able to feel it instead of them telling me to push like when I had the epidural! Anyway the choice is yours to make so don't let anyone influence you to do something you don't want to, you can do it without one, believe me, I did and it was a much better birth experience then the one with...I did have IV drugs though so it wasn't all natural :)



Anyway best of luck with your birth and your new baby!

Jen - posted on 01/12/2010

I waited as long as possible and I didn't feel it AT ALL!! I was also having a contraction while getting it and I had back labor but I would definately get it again

Tricha - posted on 01/12/2010

Actually Heather your right. They numbed me to. But I did feel the needle that they used for the numbing but after that I didnt fell anything. It wasnt near as bad as I thought it would be.

Krystle - posted on 01/12/2010

felt like a normal shot to me. the doc made mine real deep, i couldnt feel anything at all, painwise. i felt her pop out though, pressure released! think of a bee sting that doesnt last. besides you see nothing and so it seemed to hurt less because i wasnt prepared for large needle or not, didnt know when it was comming etc. if thats the way you want to go, you will be fine

Jessica - posted on 01/12/2010

when your having contractions every 60 seconds you wont care. lol

as long as you dont move, its not that bad, its a slight pinch and some pressure for about 15 seconds, and then hours of no pain... its well worth it.

Leah - posted on 01/12/2010

By the time I asked for my epidural I was in so much pain that I didn't even feel them putting the needle in. It was such sweet relief once everything went numb down there :) So if you think you want one just wait a little bit until the pain hurts to the point you can't take it. Then you won't notice the needle at all :) Good luck

Elissa - posted on 01/12/2010

I had an Epi, but I was in so much pain with the contractions that it didn't even phase me! Just listen to what the nurse and anastisiologist (SP?) says & relax! Mine was dislodged and I ended up having an all natural birth!

Mindi - posted on 01/12/2010

I've had 1 child. I also use to work in a hospital and saw spinal taps done. now I am going to school to be an RN. The only opinion I can give you is from my own personal experience...when I had my son I opted to have the epidural, the anesthesiologist came in ...I felt a slight pinch when he injected the lidocaine into the area where he would be inserting the epidural, after the lidocaine I felt nothing he kept asking what i was feeling at one point I was feeling tingling in my right leg so he did something and then when it came down to it ... I swear to u I felt nothing but a little bit of pressure and I could barely feel that. I reccommend an epidural to any women that is having a baby. I personally think this day in age we have the technology and therefore there is no reason to go through that kind of pain if we do not have to. when my son was born and the doctor told me to push and i said push what? I don't feel anything so he said grunt ...3 grunts and my little guy was out and when the epidural wore off I was in pain but not excrutiating pain. Also I had no tearing and i didn't need stiches so it was amazing and the childbirth part was easy and not uncomfortable surprisingly...the 1 part I had been scared of most was relatively easy..at least for me anyways. so in my opinion definately get the epidural it will make things go much smoother :) Hope this helps.

Sunny - posted on 01/12/2010

I didnt think it was that bad, I was in pain and needed a break, the first poke was the worst but even at that it wasnt all that bad personally. One leg may be heavier then the other, its normal but they should be able to adjust it if it is not placed right to kick the pain. I hope you get an awsome anesthesiologist and great nurses to help get it done right. I had a anesthesiologist that had a hard time getting a spinal block in the spot with my 1st. I had changed Dr offices and hospitals and put it on my paper work when I was having my 2nd and the anesthesiologist came to give my epidurl, and he asked a few questions and when he was done he was like I dont know what there deal was. I didnt have any side effects after the baby either. good luck with your delivery.

Tiffany - posted on 01/12/2010

yeah, i was in labor for 2.5+ days before i finally was to the point of getting an epidural... i was excited about it, not afraid...lol... labor pains SUCK!!! Oh, one fun fact.... It will NEVER be harder to try and move your legs an inch... it was actually frustrating to try and just readjust... it's annoying to have to call for your nurse because you want to unbend your leg!

Tiffany - posted on 01/12/2010

Ok, i'm not going through all the other posts so this may be a repeat. I just had my little girl almost five months ago, and i had the epidural. First thing they do is put a local anesthetic into your back so you don't feel the big scary epidural needle... The first shot is just to numb you up, all I felt was a tiny pin prick, not as bad as the rhogam at all... all you feel is that pin prick because right after that the medicine goes in and you go numb right there, then you can't feel the epidural needle at all... Honestly the way they have you lean over is more uncomfortable than what is going on behind you... Which of course it really helps to not be able to see, you have no clue what is happening back there because you can't see it!! For me it was funny because my fiance was watching the whole thing, once the lady was done my fiance says "Oh My GOD that was a BIG NEEDLE!!!"... It was to funny. If anything be afraid of pushing for to long because once you start pushing they turn off the epidural, you start feeling the pain pretty quickly.... Don't worry about it though hun, it's really not that bad... if you did the rhogam you can do the epidural!! Good luck, god bless, and i hope you have a perfect baby just like i did!!!

Melissa - posted on 01/12/2010

i had one as i had many friends and family who said it was great. Although as i found out not every one is the same they struggled to get it in and punchered my dural tap which meant i had to go back to have it filled back in horrible experience and really painful when your not in labour and they sticking stuff around your spine. but is very rare i was just unlucky. Also i happened to be 1 of the unlucky people who an epidural has no effect again very rare. So ive had it all and had nothing. Labour is horrifically painful as i felt it all so i would recommend it as it helps people alot even though what i went through. Its a risk as i found out but isnt everything in life. Also my baby was born extremly healthy so doesnt have any effect on ur child.

Plus the epidural dont hurt if u in labour i didnt feel it as my contractions took my mind off it feels nothing compared to them. But if u aint in labour it kills

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

and i could not feel nothing i was numb from my waist down and it felt great

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

well i am a big baby too. ok this is what they do they giving u a numbing shot in the spot where they are gonna do it then the put tape on your back then they put the epidural in and you really don't even feel that because they gave u a numbing shot so its not that bad so dont be worried .

Terra - posted on 01/12/2010

It just felt like a little pressure to me and it took them 3 tries to get it in. Believe me when I say that when you are in labor you will welcome it!

Stephanie - posted on 01/12/2010

For me, it wasn't as bad as havng blood drawn when they put it in (of course that's probably because they put it in during a contraction so you're focused on pain elsewhere). After it was in, it burned for about 10 seconds or so and then relief.

Michelle - posted on 01/12/2010

It didn't hurt me AT all!! I felt a tiny, tiiiiny little poke when he gave me the local, then it felt like he was pushing on my back with his thumb, and all of the sudden he was like, ok you're done!! Then in about like thirty seconds I noticed it had kicked in. Easy, painless, best decision I've ever made lol

Jessica - posted on 01/12/2010

i have it twice now and it doesn't hurt at all. but one thing you want to make sure is that you don't get it to early. my first baby i got it early caus eeveryone kept telling to just get it and then i was disapointed cause i didn't feel anything so with my second baby i was really hesitant about getting it all well i went 8hrs with out and i had a much better experience cause i got to feel what it was like to have contractions and i actualloy able to feel everything that was going on. but pain why it doesn't hurt at all if they do it right then you feel a quick pinch and then you'll feel cold rnn through your body and 15 to 20 min later you'll be num and it feels awesome!!!! Just a heads up if you end up having a c-section it's normal to be very shakey and jittery. hope you are able to go natural though it's alot better experience.

Brittany - posted on 01/12/2010

Honestly, having blood drawn hurts worse than getting an epidural.

Ashlie - posted on 01/12/2010

Hi my name is ashlie thomason. I have had 3 babies and all my epidurals have felt different it all depends on who does it. They give u a shot in ur back to numb it but all in all it aint bad. A little advice though if u go in the night before and they try to give u something to help u sleep take it. It really for some reason helps with the pain i guess cause u are so sleepy u dont know what going on. :) The shot they give u in the back b4 they do it feels like a little be sting tho u will be fine and do good. Dont get all worked up about it tho cause that just makes it worse. It really is not that bad but my second one wore off right when i started to push and believe me u want that epidural because the pain of not having one is aweful!!!!

Amanda - posted on 01/12/2010

Let me tell you I am probably a bigger baby than anybody but I had the spinal with my c-section whenI had my twins and I honestly didn't even feel the numbing needle go in back and before I knew it it was over. I mean everyone handles things that this differently and I guess it depends on what kind of nurse/doc you have if they are rough or gentle best of luck to ya

Marianne - posted on 01/12/2010

I had one for my second bubba, I was in so much pain I didnt feel it over the contractions I was having then again it took a few people to hold me in place to get it done coz I had absolutely no control over anything. Im not a big fan of needles and was weary of gettin it done but I had no choice and I would do it again

Nicole - posted on 01/12/2010

Honestly...it feels like heaven. I didn't even feel the shot to numb my back before they actually put the catheder in. Labor is intense and after so many contractions you don't care about a little prick in your back!

Karen - posted on 01/12/2010

I had one with both pregnancies and each time I didn't feel a thing! The numbing agent they use first really works. Don't worry!

Heather - posted on 01/12/2010

For me, it felt like they were jamming a rail road spike into my spine. They had to do it twice because the first injection wouldn't go in because m wasn't sitting level, I was leaned to one side and so they had to lay me on my side and do it again. They apparently numbed the area, but it still hurt like crazy! It was terrible, but afterwards I felt no contractions, which was good because I had a 14 hour labor!

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

Honestly, I thought that it wasn't as bad as the pain of the contractions. It was uncomfortable having to lean over my huge belly and I couldn't breathe hardly when the dr was puttin it in but it didn't take that long. It really kinda feels like having your blood drawn. But sometimes the after effects (like later on down the road) suck. Like my back still hurts from time to time where they put it in. But everyone is different

Shelly - posted on 01/12/2010

I waited until the doctor told me it was my last chance to get it, I was 8cm at that time. Compared to the contractions I had been thru for 12hours it was nothing!!! And compared to what I would have went through during transition to 10cm Im sure it was nothing! It felt as though someone pinched me which literally is "nothing" compared to contractions that last 90 seconds and come one right after the other.

Aryn - posted on 01/12/2010

Ive had 2 and its not so much pain as discomfort.. and both of mine were completely different feeling so it depends on the person doing it..

Rachael - posted on 01/12/2010

I got mine when my contractions were already pretty bad, so I barely felt it at all. It was a little prick. Getting and IV hurt worse then the epidural. I am also a big baby. Plus, compared to the contractions, the epidural is nothing.

Natascha - posted on 01/12/2010

Hi there,



Before my baby was born, I was so afraid of the epidural that I considered going without it...yes, NATURAL. I would've died. I hardly felt a thing when they administered the epidural. It's true, taking blood hurts more. If only I knew I could've asked for the epidural the moment I went into labour...I would've. That's what I'll do with my next baby, ASK FOR THE EPI ASAP.



Good luck and Congratulations!

Regards,

Natascha

Vera - posted on 01/12/2010

I would love to answer you that, i am a person that is totally against epidurals i think that if our moms and grandmas could do it then why can't we?? I think if we are womens enough to get pregnant then we should also be a women and have the pain to give birth to our child...i think we will care more and appreciate a lot more our children when we suffer to have a baby...i look at that all the young girls that have babies very young and if there wouldn't be no pain killers they would take better care of themselves to not get pregnant!! I had 2 stillborns and all taking all the pain, then i had my son i was 21hrs in labor with no pain killers...it hurts...terribly but i am very proud of myself and i appreciate my body and baby a lot more then other girls i know that had babies with no pain!!! But my sister had one with the Epidural she said she didn't feel anything at all...so good luck to you