I got one after 24hrs of cirvical ripening. I was so afraid, leading up to it, but found the whole process anticlimactic! It hardly hurt compared to the contractions I had, and I was ready for relief, ni matter what! Catheter was SO easy I didn't feel it at all! :] I would cry thinking about it, but it was not as bad as I pictured!

I got mine, everything was fine, just followed their instructions in taking a deep breath & curving my back & being still as they put it in. No pain.

I ended up getting mine after pitocin and having my membranes ruptured. I was about a 7. The anesthesiologist tried 4 times to get the needle in while telling me to stay still. I was having contractions every 30 seconds - 1 minute apart. He asked me if I work out because my spine was "tough". After finally getting the needle in, only part of my body got numb. I was unable to feel any contractions and my daughter turned her head sunny side up (research epidurals and facial presentation). The nurses attempted to get her to turn but it did no good. My epidural wore off immediately after her birth. I felt my placenta being taken out as I hemorrhaged. I blacked out and I developed a fever. So did my daughter. This was due to the epidural. I felt tingling and burning in my spine afterwards. I still to this day get tingling where the epidural was. Also in labor with my youngest I felt a huge amount of pain where the epidural was. I will NOT be getting it ever again and did not with my last birth. Just my experience.

Ive had 2 epi
2 wih out

The epi is a bit uncomfortable but makes it bearable like im silent!! getting it i found let me enjoy the experience , i did heal/recover faster with no epi but i also did panic and couldnt deal with the pain without.

I will hopefully be getting it again this time .

They give u that option

Everyone has a different experience but the epidural is beyond worth it like I said everyone is different the first time it was amazing with my son easy never had back pain or anything with my daughter the epidural wasn’t doing anything so they ended up giving me morphine which that one you go numb everywhere I couldn’t hold my daughter till after I was in the room which I felt bad because I don’t remember much but it helped with the pain but I had c-sections for both like I said its different for everyone just wait and see how your pain level is if you can’t handle it then go ahead and ask for the epidural

I have a huge fear of needles but trust me the contractions are worst than the epidural it just felt like when you go to the dentist and they give you a shot in the mouth it burns but not bad the only bad thing is the chills and it makes you cold I had instant relief after 15 hours of labor and slept like a baby til it was time to push I’ve had no back issues since the epidural

@kelliechrismer, I had an epidural with my first kiddo. It took forever for him to come out because I couldn’t naturally feel when to push. I was only pushing when the nurses told me to. Then with my daughter, I didn’t get an epidural and she was out within 15 minutes. Same for my twins, 3 pushes each, and they were both out. I plan to not have one this time too. IMO It’s just much better to be able to personally feel when you need to push. Oh and not to mention, I’ve had lower back issues since the epidural. (9 years ago)

I had been laboring for 12 hours already (but only about 5 hours on pitocin). I kept trying to nap but the contractions kept waking me up. I got really frustrated when they told me I was still at 5 cm so I elected to get the epidural. It was instant relief as soon as I got it. I was able to fall asleep shortly after. The worst part was I had the chills and was very cold. They woke up me around 4 hours later because I was ready to push. Baby was out in about 4 pushes. Completely pain free