hi everyone, i found im pregnant, im 34 years old this will be my first baby, im DEATHLY AFRAID of labor,

will they give u pain medicine during labor? i dont want to be knocked out, but i was one of those women who worried about it my whole life, IM SCARED can anyone tell me do they give u pain medicine? im not too thrilled about gettin a needle in my spine, is this something u can ask the dr for? or will they think ur crazy? thanks and good luck 2 all

carly

Hi Carly

Yes they will give you pain medication. There is a few different pain medications that they can give you. Ask for doctor about all of the different pain medications.
It is only natural for you to be scared of going into labor and delivering your child. Trust me I know.
I had an edipural and I did not feel a thing.

Send me a PM and I can give you some more advice if you like.

Hi Carly!

Yes they can give you pain relief throughout labor, if you don't want an epidural (the spine thing) you don't have to, you can have the gas, which you breathe through a plastic tube with a mask you place over your face (you just hold it). This helped me through labor, it didn't feel like it helped the pain and it can make you nauseous or vomit, but it causes you to focus on breathing it in, which helped.
Further, they can also give you Pethidine if your labor isn't too far progressed. This was AWESOME for me, it makes you a bit out of it, but it caused me to relax so much, I slept between contractions which helped me endure. Just make sure you tell whoever will be providing you with your acutal LABOR and DELIVERY care, whether that be nurses or doctors that you are adamant that you want pain relief through the labour. Some will try and hold you off pain relief but if you make it very clear what your wishes are they generally are great! And if the pain is too much you can always ask for the epidural to be arranged. I got to the stage where I wanted one, but by then I was fully dilated and had to push the baby out!

You'll do great!

As far as en epidural (needle in your spine) I was scared to death also. I am pregnant with my 3rd now. On my first one, I didn't want an epidural. 10 hours later, I was wanting one very much. I told the Dr I was scared and asked him how bad it would hurt. He said it would feel like a bee sting. I was in a lot of pain from the contractions that I didn't even feel it. He told me to tell him when my contraction was over and he would start. He did it so quick. It took about 30 seconds. You have to hold still with your back hunched over. They wipe down your back and usually tell you step by step what they are doing. It's not so bad. I haven't heard one person say that it hurt as bad as they thought. With both of my deliveries I got an epidural and was able to enjoy the experience so much more. I was relaxed and calm and not so worn out by the time the baby came. Good luck. You will do just fine! Let me know if this helps!

The ladies above have it right! Once your contractions start, that needle in the back is nothing, they will even numb the area before they put the big needle in, that way you don't feel it. And by that time you will want it. I was in labor for 3 days, they could have run a garden hose in my back and I would not have cared. So it's normal to worry, but try not to, it will all be okay!

I recommend taking birth classes. It helps to know what is going on with your body during labor and delivery. I think it helps you not to be as scared; it helped me. As for the epideral, I was always afraid of that needle in your back-but it was nothing! You don't feel it when they put it in because they will numb the area, and all they do is insert a teeny tiny cathader (spelling?) and take the needle out after that. It is not bad at all, believe me. Once you get the epideral, you will be fine. You can get the epideral around 4 cm, and you could be close to that before you even go to the hospital and not know it! Do a lot of walking the last couple of months, especially the last couple of weeks. I went 5 days over my due date and when I went in to my last doctor visit, I was almost 4 cm when he checked me. I had been having contractions and didn't know it. The only thing I ever felt was like menstrual cramps, and after getting the epidural, I didn't feel anything except the tightning of the contractions, but no pain. Now I know every woman is different and every birth story is different, but I think you'll be fine! Just remember, women do this everyday, and you can get through it, too! Just remember, you will have a precious little bundle of joy in the end!