What I've read and what I've heard about epidurals, is that it numbs you, and you can't feel anything. Most women don't have any feeling after having an epidural. Some women say that it hurts to get it a little, but it's so worth it after, not feeling the pain and such.
I been watching like birth shows, and baby shows and stuff, and I never really thought of it before either, and I'm TERRIFIED. like terrified terrified. I don't know what is going to happen or what it feels like. And it doens't look pretty.
But all the women I have talked to have told me all the pain is forgotten when you hold that precious little baby in your arms.
And it takes longer to heal from a c-section. I don't think I'd like on unless its an emergency.
But don't worry, you are not alone, I'm just as scared, and I'm sure every first time mom and even second and third time moms are all scared as well. you will do fine.

I also wanted to have a
c-section, but I heard it is alot more painful after the birth than if you were to have your baby vaginaly. I had my daughter vaginaly...with an epidural. And YES thank god epidurals work...I didn't feel a thing.
Good luck and I hope you make the best choice for yourself :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pky9DHxH0uo
watch this before you make up your mind on the issue!
trust me.... i too am scared of child birth as in petrified... an epidural apprtently really does work... however i have been having some therapy to prepare me for the birth and that has helped ease my fear alot.
GOOD LUCK

You sound like me - I was so scared of the birth I wanted a c-section (which you can elect for free here) but I ended up changing my mind completely. I had a homebirth - absolutly no option for pain releif! And it was WONDERFUL. I won't have it any other way. The pain wasn't as bad as I thought either, and being at home no needles, no doctors (just my two midwives and partner) and no unfamiliar environments.

well i read with epidurals that they are good for relieving pain, but it can take a while to wear off, so you can be quite drowsy and still numb afterwards. which would suck with new bub, but at same time natural would be a lot more pain but apparently you feel fine after. if you get a c-section you would also be left with a scar.
personally im gonna wait and see what happens if i can tough it out without epidural then i will but if its too much then i'll have the epi.
i guess personally im not actually thinkin too much about the actual birth(i am scared) but i keep picturing my baby boy crying as the midwife hands him to me, and that makes me not so worried about the pain.
10 more weeks to go!!

I've given birth naturally 4 times and had a c-section. After the actual delivery, the c-section hurt so much worse. The recovery wasn't good, it was so painful for a couple weeks. Wouldn't it be better to just have a vaginal birth w/an epidural? I've had a spinal (very similar to epidural). It did hurt for a min, but not screaming pain. As long as you breathe deeply and have someone there with you whose hand you can squeeze or something, you'll be fine. Then you go totally numb, so no more pain. You can do this! I promise!

i myself am extremely scared of pain, when i got pregnant with my son i was terrified that i would have to push this child out of me! i ended up having an c-section i9t was horrible. couldnt even move for days! not to put you off, with this baby i want a natural birth, i mean i got pregnant so i wanna go thu it all

hunny, c-sections aren't the easy way out! your recovery time goes from 2 weeks to 6. you can't lift your hands above your head, can't lift anything heavier than your bub. if you want a painless experience try epidural you can't feel a thing.

As for birth.....well the labour was just a whole lot of cramping and lots of pressure on my pelvic bone, than I was given hormones so my labour was stronger than normal. Keep in mind i never tore but the bit where he came out only felt like a bad Chinese burn and it only lasted a few moments.

As for pain meds

Gas- you suck at the start of contraction to get you through it, can make some ladies sick

pethadine- makes you sleepy and if bub is born soon after makes bub sleepy

epidural- completely numbs the area. No adverse effects on bub, should wear off in a while and you shouldn't get too sleepy unless you have had no sleep.

oh my first was born with no pain killers

AND I should probably add he was 8lb 14oz which is almost 9lb

I had an epidural, It didnt hurt,They make you sit on the end of the bed and hold on to someone. My boyfriend was talking to me so I didnt concentrate on the guy behind me. They do put a cathider in you so you can pee since you cant get up after they give you the epidural. You dont feel them put it in cause they do it AFTER your numb. Also, it took me a couple hours before I could get up after I gave birth. The nurses make sure your not numb anymore before they let you get up. The nurse and my boyfriend had to help me get in the bathroom to take a bath and clean up. After that your on your own unless you want help.

no idea about the c-section but epidurals i can tell you about!!



Basically what happens is your nurse most likely or maybe anesthesiologist will place a drip in your hand, this is just like a blood test and they'll do this early on, probably just a few minutes after you get settled in your hospital bed, later on in the contractions etc, they'll place the epidural, you can ask for it whenever your too uncomfortable, but be warned if it gets too far along and too close to actually having to push, they won't be able to give it to you...they'll probably ask you at some point what pain management you want and will ask if you want them to place the epidural, if you're doing ok without it, but dont' want to go past when you can have it, just ask your midwife or nurse or doctor when that point will be, they'll probably be able to estimate it, or get them to tell you when its a good time to place it. when that time comes your anestesiologist will ask you to either sit up and hug a pillow and hunch your back, or will ask you to roll on your side and get in the fetal position.

After this they will prep your skin which will be a little cold whipe with a sterilising cloth, they will then give you a local anesthetic. this is a needle. It is just a little prick, just like a blood test but hurts less.

After this they will find the vertebrae they want, they will place the epidural. You will need to stay PERFECTLY still, which will be a little hard because you'll still be having contractions, but its very important, I'd just suggest having something to squeeze when they contractions come, a hand, stress ball, whatever.

You won't feel them placing the epidural. They'll tape the epidural down, and you're done. You'll lie down again.

It takes a few minutes for the epidural to kick in but once it does its a god send!!

Usually, or in my experience, you will no longer feel ANY pain. you won't be able to walk around or anything and probably won't be able to move your legs very easily so have someone there that will move them for you if you want.

They will place a catheter too simply because you won't feel when you need to use the bathroom, you wont' feel this go in at all, they'll do it when the epidural has kicked in.

When its actually time to start pushing, if you are totally and completely numb, i'd ask them to turn the epidural down a bit. Its best if you can at least feel where you need to push and when, because otherwise they will need to tell you. You won't feel any pain but you will still be aware of what is happening. I could imagine it would be scary if you couldn't tell what was happening at all!!

Basically thats it, you'll have enough sensation to know what to do and where to push and when, and you're baby will be born!! woo hoo!

After that they'll stitch any tears you may have had - again, you won't feel a thing.

It takes about 10 -20 minutes for the epidural to wear off, after that you'll be a little wobbly in the legs as you gain all feeling back. they'll take the cathetre out when you get your feeling back enough to walk around - taking the cathetre out just feels like removing a tampon, doesn't hurt at all.

Anyway, then you can get up and have your shower (you might need a hand from someone, your partner, your mum, a nurse, whoever you feel comfortable with) just because you'll feel really tired (thats normal with any birth)

And you're all done. Epidurals are miracle workers i adored mine!!

by the way ladies, its really not all that bad. I had hardly thought about the actual birth and then all of a sudden my waters broke!! haha, just relax when it happens, remember millions of women have done it before you and millions more have done it with a hell of alot less technology and help that we have today...its rare for ANYTHING to go wrong. Just take your time in getting ready for the hospital (though do make sure your bag is packed with EVERYTHING you may want or need), get in something comfortable, have a shower, put a headband or something on because its DAMN annoying if your hair is falling in your face, get your hair up off your neck too because you might get hot when it comes to the pushing and all of that, you can put on makeup if you want to look half decent during it (considering how unatractive the whole thing is you might want to look presentable if people will be visiting you!! Anyway...its really not scary, and i had ALOT of things go wrong when i reached the hospital so trust me, its not that bad. Just get your epidural!! haha.

Oh and with the c-section, just be mindful that it takes alot longer to heal from it, its hard to pick your baby up for feeds etc and you wont be able to hold your baby straight away after the birth. Plus, i can't even describe the feeling of giving birth, its really amazing and empowering, you feel so strong, its like your own little miracle. and there aren't even words to describe the feeling of holding your baby boy or girl when its done with...its just...wow.