[mjl]

I have been married for 6 months now and starting to think I want to start trying to get pregnant. I am bothered by the thought of how painful labour is because I have a very low tolerance to pain. So I would definitely be getting an epidural. However the thought of an epidural scares me much more than the pain of labour and delivery. I know it is way too early for me to be worrying about this because I am not even pregnant yet, but I was just wondering if getting an epidural is really so bad or not. The thought of getting a huge needle in my spine scares me!

[CaptainRich]

Depends a lot on the Dr doing the epi's.
I have an injured back. After having had a series of three epidural, and then a myelogram, I can say from experience... the epi's were not much worry.

Frankly, I don't remember there being pain, just being in a vulnerable position.

But I'm a guy and just because it didn't hurt isn't to say I liked it, either...

[NeedKarma]

I agree with the Captain, it depends on the doctor. My wife would be in the low tolerance group and she had an epidural for our first. Of course by a certain point you may be really wanting it.

[mjl]

Thanks

[J_9]

Nah, it's not so bad anymore. First they give you a little shot with Fentynyl, it numbs the area so that you don't feel it. And in all actuality the needle is quite small, nothing like you are thinking about. They cannot put a large needle in your epidural space without risking leakage of your cerebral spinal fluid (which would be a bad thing)... so the needle is quite slim and trim actually.

The worst part is being bent over for a few minutes if you are having a contraction and can't move. Just the sitting still in a bent position is worse than the procedure itself.

[alkalineangel]

Believe me... compared to labor, the epidural is like a pin prick... I don't even remember the epidural going in...

[crystalbivens]

Like everyone said its not that bad and by the time you get to the point where you need one you'll take a stick over the contractions,

[melissa1]

It really is nothing to worry about and the needle really isn't that big!
I don't remember having my epidural so it couldn't of been that bad

[Wondergirl]

I successfully avoided anesthesia by taking Lamaze classes and happily using it during labor. Boredom was my biggest problem.

[kiki_doki]

I would have to agree with most of the above, not only did the epidural not hurt... but amidst contractions it provided me with the most blissfull experience of my life!! I would suggest not finding out about other things they might need to do... usually they tell you what you need to know in hospital, I found the graphic pictures of a c-sections very scary and regretted looking it up!! Don't scare yourself... ignorance is bliss as they say (",)

[JoeCanada76]

Believe me when I say that between having and epideral and not having one is one extreme to another. The pain you will experience in labour, once you have an epideral the pain does go away and it makes the delivery a lot easier on the pregnant women and the support partners. You need to always be well informed about your choices. Good and bad and decide for yourself what is best for you.

[Mommy2threegoobers]

IMO, epidurals are the ONLY way to go. I have 3 children and have had one with each one. It IS highly uncomfortable for a few minutes, I won't lie to you. But I think that most of that is trying to get your head between your knees when you are having contractions and are "out to here"! AND, not that I would recommend this, but you won't believe what you are still capable of when you have one. I didn't feel any of my children being born except for a "pressure" type feeling, but when my youngest (who is special needs) was sent straight down to NICU, I got up, got dressed and was down there too in 10 minutes. WALKING, by myself, with no help from anyone. (they had all deserted me to go down to the NICU). So, don't let the needle scare you, in my opinion, that needle is the least of what you will feel at that time.

[zelda]

You won't even really feel it because you will be in pain and won't be thinking about it.. I had two and the hardest part is staying still