Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

No doubt in my mind i would get one. The contractions were HORRIBLE and can't imagine anything worse. I was set on having an epi from day one, and i'm so glad i did. Didn't hurt at all, and no lasting effects. It was a godsend.

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

Posted by MsMBV

I had a spinal block, which is a bigger needle than the epi, & it was fine. Honestly in the moment, that is the last thing you are thinking about.

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

Well, I had a spinal for my c-section, and it was not fun - I had to have two - but honestly, it all goes so quickly, and you are so focused on the bigger picture of whats about to happen, that its all scary, painful, and exciting at the same time!

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

I was also deathy afraid of having the epidural. I almost didn't have it- and freaked out when they told me that they'd have to put a catheter in as well since you lose control once you get the epidural.

My OB helped me talk it thru, and I decided to have it. It was nothing. The needle didn't hurt at all. It was the best thing ever!

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

I had it and do not regret it at all. I worried about it for no reason. I felt a pinch, some pressure and that was it. I had a wonderful doctor that knew I was nervous and he took his time and was great with me.

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

Posted by racheeeee

Compared to the contractions, it was nothing!

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

honestly, i got one and kept telling my dh i still felt everything but he thought i was out of my mind....lol...until i got up to pee after gving bnirth and they saw it had come out so, i gave birth without one after all.....

i think since i got a few minutes of it (dd was born in 5 hrs from start to finish!) it helped me emotionally prepare...so i don't regret it....but then again i had an easy labor too!

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

My epi was smooth sailing....SOOOOOO glad I got it! And it was the smallest pinch...teeny-tiny...you can do it!

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

Well I had a scheduled c-section because DD was breach. But I was also terrified of the epidural. I actually DEMANDED that an attending give it to me instead of a resident.

BUT- it was totaly fine. I didn't feel a thing. The IV (which barely hurt), hurt more than the epidural. I just asked the nurse to talk to me while it was being done. I had no idea when it was done.

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

I'm not afraid of needles but I was very concerned about the possible side effects and my own reaction to the epidural so I did not have one - and my baby was over 9 pounds!!! But I'm opposite most of the others who have responded - instead of thinking I wasn't going to have one, I did ask for one and then sent her away.

For me it was definitely the right decision for a number of reasons. I was managing the pain well, and the nurses were surprised at how well I was handling it. That gave me more confidence and more focus. That was really the key for me - being able to stay in control of the pain. I just had to keep breathing through it knowing that the contraction was going to come to an end soon. Once you start pushing, the contractions don't hurt anymore because you're pushing through the pain. It's actually a relief to push. At the very end when she was coming out that's when I was in the worst pain but once that part comes you know it's almost over. That was the only time I was thinking maybe I should have gone for the drugs... but then they handed me my baby and it was all over.

I really think it's a decision that you can only make once you actually go into labor because there's no way to tell before hand how painful your contractions are going to be or how fast they're going to come on. I was in so much pain in the car on the way to the hospital I told DH I was definitely getting one, but once I was in the hospital the pain was more managable so I knew I didn't need one.

Re: hi there....xpost from pregnancy board

I was nervous about it too. I am not afraid of needles, just dont like them..LOL.
When the time came, the nurse did a "Practice" run with me and told me everything that was going to happen.
Then, Dr. came in, I held the nurse, needle went in and it was a pinch.
When I was on the pregnancy board, some girls said It's like novacaine at the dentist..and they were right.
It was nothing.