Odds aree pretty good that you'll use epidural. If you're like me, I'm afraid of needles. When I get shots or get blood drawn, I always have to look away. So when I was pregnant, the thought of getting epidural was a bit terrifying. But really, it wasn't that bad at all.
The hospital I delivered in has a policy that absolutely no one is allowed in the room other than the aneasthesiologist and the nurse. The nurse held me and reassured me the whole time. The anaesthesiologist talked through everything that he was about to do. The first needle prick was just that... a prick as if you're getting a shot in the arm. After that, I really didn't feel anything. Though I did feel a little nerve tingling that made me want to move/twitch, which of course I resisted because I was to remain very very still. When I thought I really couldn't keep still anymore, the whole procedure was done. A minute or so later I felt tingling all the way down both of my legs. That was it!
My labor nurse smiled at me and said, "it wasn't too bad, was it?" No, it was not bad at all. The IV needle actually hurt more than the epidural. |