Fear of the epidural

Carley · May 30th, 2008, 23:26 PM

Is there anyone else here scared of the epidural? I'm completely scared of them...it's a fear. Is anyone else scared?

ryder · May 31st, 2008, 00:09 AM

Im not afraid of it. The pain you feel when the epidural is being inserted is nothing compared to feeling a bowling ball pass through your vagina.

lol

Arnt you having a home birth?

Carley · May 31st, 2008, 00:23 AM

I want a home-birth but I'm under high risk and I'm having a hospital birth in the birthing centre. I have had a lot of genetic problems and premature births.

How would people describe getting an epidural? I've been told to get it early so that when I'm in full labour I don't have to sit still through full blown contractions.

But I've also been told epi's can slow down labour and have effects on the baby? I'm scared it may interfere with breast-feeding?

pepperflake · May 31st, 2008, 00:32 AM

I'm wouldn't say I'm scared of the epi. I didn't have one with my first baby so I know I can do it without one but I've also been researching it a lot in the past few days because my back has been hurting so bad. I'm afraid I will have a hard time during labor if my back continues to hurt like this and I will get way too tired.

But I've also known a few people that ended up with emergency c-sections because the baby's heartbeat dropped when mom's BP dropped from the epidural. But then I read all these lady's stories and how wonderful it is. I'm feeling really torn about it. I guess I will just have to wait to see how I do this time. I think it's important to be as informed as possible about benefits and risks so you can make the right choice for you and your birth. Talk to your MW. Read everything you can.

Someone posted this link the other day http://www.kimjames.net/epidural_ris...de_effects.htm

PitBullMommy · May 31st, 2008, 10:54 AM

Terrified. I hate needles and God help the person who tries to put one in me! Cept, of course, for the IV that I have to have cause of the GBS

lorrilou · May 31st, 2008, 11:03 AM

to be quite honest i had one with callum and didnt feel it goin in, contractions were far too painful and my mind was more on them than the epidural.

leeanne · May 31st, 2008, 11:52 AM

Quite frankly, the needle I hardly felt in the midst of the contractions.

Holldoll · May 31st, 2008, 12:04 PM

It's not the needle going in that you should be fearful of, it's the effect on both you and the baby.

I was terrified to have one and before labor, was VERY adamant about not wanting one. Because of the way my labor went (I won't post it again, it's in the birth stories) I ended up having one. I was still terrified while getting it and during the labor. I think it ended up saving me from having a c-section. I would just say make sure you know the pros and cons about them. There can be serious consequences of them.

pocahontas35 · May 31st, 2008, 12:40 PM

You don't need to be afraid! I know they are scary b/c of the needle, and the risks, but the people giving them are trained and do them all the time. You won't feel the actual epi, b/c they numb the spot first with a small needle. That stings a bit, but only for a few seconds. Then you have to sit completely still while they do the epi, but you can't feel it at all. And it is like Lorrilou said, you are so distracted by the pain of the contractions that you don't really notice it. I didn't get one with my first 2, and I did w/my second 2. It is all a matter of where you are at (pain wise) whether you can handle it or not. You will be okay. Just be sure of what you can and can't accept during labor before you are there and maybe irrational.

Serene123 · May 31st, 2008, 12:42 PM

I'm petrified but unfortunately I'm also aware of myself and my lack of pain tollerence.

May 30th, 2008, 23:26 PM	#1
Carley Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,136	Fear of the epidural Is there anyone else here scared of the epidural? I'm completely scared of them...it's a fear. Is anyone else scared?

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 00:09 AM	#2
ryder Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Belleville, Ontario Posts: 25,717	Im not afraid of it. The pain you feel when the epidural is being inserted is nothing compared to feeling a bowling ball pass through your vagina. lol Arnt you having a home birth?

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 00:23 AM	#3
Carley Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,136	I want a home-birth but I'm under high risk and I'm having a hospital birth in the birthing centre. I have had a lot of genetic problems and premature births. How would people describe getting an epidural? I've been told to get it early so that when I'm in full labour I don't have to sit still through full blown contractions. But I've also been told epi's can slow down labour and have effects on the baby? I'm scared it may interfere with breast-feeding?

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 00:32 AM	#4
pepperflake Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Georgia, US Posts: 863	I'm wouldn't say I'm scared of the epi. I didn't have one with my first baby so I know I can do it without one but I've also been researching it a lot in the past few days because my back has been hurting so bad. I'm afraid I will have a hard time during labor if my back continues to hurt like this and I will get way too tired. But I've also known a few people that ended up with emergency c-sections because the baby's heartbeat dropped when mom's BP dropped from the epidural. But then I read all these lady's stories and how wonderful it is. I'm feeling really torn about it. I guess I will just have to wait to see how I do this time. I think it's important to be as informed as possible about benefits and risks so you can make the right choice for you and your birth. Talk to your MW. Read everything you can. Someone posted this link the other day http://www.kimjames.net/epidural_ris...de_effects.htm

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 10:54 AM	#5
PitBullMommy Other BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 3,332	Terrified. I hate needles and God help the person who tries to put one in me! Cept, of course, for the IV that I have to have cause of the GBS

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 11:03 AM	#6
lorrilou Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: northumberland Posts: 5,566	to be quite honest i had one with callum and didnt feel it goin in, contractions were far too painful and my mind was more on them than the epidural.

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 11:52 AM	#7
leeanne Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 26,691	Quite frankly, the needle I hardly felt in the midst of the contractions.

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 12:04 PM	#8
Holldoll Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,684	It's not the needle going in that you should be fearful of, it's the effect on both you and the baby. I was terrified to have one and before labor, was VERY adamant about not wanting one. Because of the way my labor went (I won't post it again, it's in the birth stories) I ended up having one. I was still terrified while getting it and during the labor. I think it ended up saving me from having a c-section. I would just say make sure you know the pros and cons about them. There can be serious consequences of them.

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 12:40 PM	#9
pocahontas35 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 448	You don't need to be afraid! I know they are scary b/c of the needle, and the risks, but the people giving them are trained and do them all the time. You won't feel the actual epi, b/c they numb the spot first with a small needle. That stings a bit, but only for a few seconds. Then you have to sit completely still while they do the epi, but you can't feel it at all. And it is like Lorrilou said, you are so distracted by the pain of the contractions that you don't really notice it. I didn't get one with my first 2, and I did w/my second 2. It is all a matter of where you are at (pain wise) whether you can handle it or not. You will be okay. Just be sure of what you can and can't accept during labor before you are there and maybe irrational.

Status: Offline

May 31st, 2008, 12:42 PM	#10
Serene123 Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32,048	I'm petrified but unfortunately I'm also aware of myself and my lack of pain tollerence.

Status: Offline

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