Epidural - stress v pain relief

Kirstin · Dec 20th, 2009, 08:26 AM

I have a huge phobia of injections, blood tests etc. and after reading about an epidural I really dont think I am going to be able to cope with having one put in, especially as it takes 20 minutes and I'm going to end up really stressed, will faint and be sick as I usually do with blood tests however I have a really low pain threshold so will want some pain relief, what would you do?

Snoopy · Dec 20th, 2009, 08:44 AM

Hmmm, it's definitely a tricky one. I know many women swear by epidurals, and if I have to be induced or something I'll be having an epidural myself, but I admit the idea of it is quite scary to me too....and I don't really have a fear of needles! (Just dental injections I hate) They do numb the skin before the put it in and the majority of women don't feel anything though.

There are many other types of pain relief you could try without going straight to the epidural - have you researched different types yet?

anothersquish · Dec 20th, 2009, 08:47 AM

What country are you in? Most countries offer some pain relief other than nothing or an epidural. Examples, TENS machine, gas and air, pethidine, diamorphine.

new mummy h · Dec 20th, 2009, 08:53 AM

hey chick xx im the same, i hate needles, although i dont faint or be sick i get very stressed if its not done quickly - so 20 minutes to me is absolutely awful! im goin for gas and air, maybe tens or birth pool if its free - unless i realllllly need one i wont be asking for pethadine or epidural - but u just dont know how your gonna feel on the day - i mite be begging for one! even tho i cant see it xxxxxxxxxxxx

Kirstin · Dec 20th, 2009, 08:55 AM

I am in England, I have researched the different types, TENS and gas and air seem to be too hit and miss, although gas and air seems to be my best option at the minute. Pethidine and Diamorphine seem to have a lot of disadvantages and could interfere with breastfeeding so I dont know what to do

lorna84 · Dec 20th, 2009, 09:00 AM

The gas & air is very good but only worked for so long with me, I did have a shot of pethidine but it made me really sick

I have a Huge Needle phobia I faint at most bloodtest

I read alot about epidurals beforehand & thought the very same as you However I opted for the epidural If Im honest It was nothing like I thought it would be & once done it was magic

Good luck

anothersquish · Dec 20th, 2009, 09:01 AM

well TENS and gas and air are common start points, I dont like TENS machines but many women swear by them and say they couldnt have managed labour without. Same with G&A, I used this for a short while and found it useful and many other people do (it helps if you hang fire with pain relief during the early hours as things like TENS/G&A become less effective if you are using them for hours and hours and hours) as for the injectables, there are "SOME" risks and sideeffects however no more so than with an epidural! An Epidural is a medical procedure, its not something to undertake lightly or "instead" of the injections.

Dream.A.Dream · Dec 20th, 2009, 09:05 AM

My MW said to me the other day that if you need an epidural you'll be in so much pain you won't care about the needle. Because I told her I have a needle phobia and that was her reply. xx

Kirstin · Dec 20th, 2009, 09:12 AM

All my mw has said is that shes worried I'm not going to be able to cope with labour, reassuring

Snoopy · Dec 20th, 2009, 09:20 AM

In addition to all the excellent replies above, there's also meptid (like pethidine but supposed to have less of a depressive effect on the baby) and the 'alternative' pain relief options of hypnobirthing, water (my primary pain relief), acupuncture, reflexology and so on.

If you go the TENS route, remember to shove the thing on at the very earliest opportunity. It works by encouraging a greater amount of endorphins (which are similar to morphine) and these take time to build up, so if you put it on too late you'll find it doesn't do anything or just irritates you.

Also remember that there's no guarantee with any type of pain relief. Don't discount those you feel might be hit and miss because not all epidurals do the job - yes, it's a very effective form of pain relief and, yes, it works in the majority of cases, but not in all.

Dec 20th, 2009, 08:26 AM	#1
Kirstin Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,157	Epidural - stress v pain relief I have a huge phobia of injections, blood tests etc. and after reading about an epidural I really dont think I am going to be able to cope with having one put in, especially as it takes 20 minutes and I'm going to end up really stressed, will faint and be sick as I usually do with blood tests however I have a really low pain threshold so will want some pain relief, what would you do?

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Dec 20th, 2009, 08:44 AM	#2
Snoopy Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 335	Hmmm, it's definitely a tricky one. I know many women swear by epidurals, and if I have to be induced or something I'll be having an epidural myself, but I admit the idea of it is quite scary to me too....and I don't really have a fear of needles! (Just dental injections I hate) They do numb the skin before the put it in and the majority of women don't feel anything though. There are many other types of pain relief you could try without going straight to the epidural - have you researched different types yet?

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 08:47 AM	#3
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	What country are you in? Most countries offer some pain relief other than nothing or an epidural. Examples, TENS machine, gas and air, pethidine, diamorphine.

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 08:53 AM	#4
new mummy h Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Leeds Posts: 2,521	hey chick xx im the same, i hate needles, although i dont faint or be sick i get very stressed if its not done quickly - so 20 minutes to me is absolutely awful! im goin for gas and air, maybe tens or birth pool if its free - unless i realllllly need one i wont be asking for pethadine or epidural - but u just dont know how your gonna feel on the day - i mite be begging for one! even tho i cant see it xxxxxxxxxxxx

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 08:55 AM	#5
Kirstin Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,157	I am in England, I have researched the different types, TENS and gas and air seem to be too hit and miss, although gas and air seems to be my best option at the minute. Pethidine and Diamorphine seem to have a lot of disadvantages and could interfere with breastfeeding so I dont know what to do

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 09:00 AM	#6
lorna84 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Midlands, UK Posts: 1,901	The gas & air is very good but only worked for so long with me, I did have a shot of pethidine but it made me really sick I have a Huge Needle phobia I faint at most bloodtest I read alot about epidurals beforehand & thought the very same as you However I opted for the epidural If Im honest It was nothing like I thought it would be & once done it was magic Good luck

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 09:01 AM	#7
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	well TENS and gas and air are common start points, I dont like TENS machines but many women swear by them and say they couldnt have managed labour without. Same with G&A, I used this for a short while and found it useful and many other people do (it helps if you hang fire with pain relief during the early hours as things like TENS/G&A become less effective if you are using them for hours and hours and hours) as for the injectables, there are "SOME" risks and sideeffects however no more so than with an epidural! An Epidural is a medical procedure, its not something to undertake lightly or "instead" of the injections.

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 09:05 AM	#8
Dream.A.Dream Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Elite Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 18,943	My MW said to me the other day that if you need an epidural you'll be in so much pain you won't care about the needle. Because I told her I have a needle phobia and that was her reply. xx

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 09:12 AM	#9
Kirstin Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,157	All my mw has said is that shes worried I'm not going to be able to cope with labour, reassuring

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 09:20 AM	#10
Snoopy Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 335	In addition to all the excellent replies above, there's also meptid (like pethidine but supposed to have less of a depressive effect on the baby) and the 'alternative' pain relief options of hypnobirthing, water (my primary pain relief), acupuncture, reflexology and so on. If you go the TENS route, remember to shove the thing on at the very earliest opportunity. It works by encouraging a greater amount of endorphins (which are similar to morphine) and these take time to build up, so if you put it on too late you'll find it doesn't do anything or just irritates you. Also remember that there's no guarantee with any type of pain relief. Don't discount those you feel might be hit and miss because not all epidurals do the job - yes, it's a very effective form of pain relief and, yes, it works in the majority of cases, but not in all.

Status: Offline

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