To be so squeamish about epidurals?

[CruCru]

I'm watching OBEM and the sight of the needle going into the back has made me feel quite faint.

I have given birth but when I had to go to theatre afterwards (for various reasons), they couldn't get the needle for the spinal into the right spot - sent shooting pains down my left hand side. I think it's made a slight anxiety into a full blown fear.

I am pregnant again and am really afraid that they will want me to have a C Section (because of various complications last time). I don't much mind the surgery but the idea of having a spinal and being awake through the surgery horrifies me. AIBU?

Yanbu because of your past experience. However, I had an epidural with dd and I have a major fear of needles. The anaesthetist was brilliant and didnt hurt me at all so I don't have a bad memory of the needle going in.

Could you ask for an experienced anaesthetist this time? Or share your fears in your birth plan so they know your concerns?

YANBU

I always watch people giving me injections or taking blood. I like to know when not to flinch. I didn't mind the big amnio needle at all.

But I hate the idea of spinal a, where I can't see when to hold still.

Fortunately, I avoided them.

Can you not opt for being totally knocked out?

If I had your experience i would.

I say this because I had a bowel problem and they did a small bowel exploration that I couldn't tollerate. They then opted to do a whole colonoscopy. I said that would be fine but don't think for a moment that I want to be awake due to the former.

I was put to sleep.

What I'm trying to say is if it was an horrific experience then you can actually be put under. They don't want to do it due to cost but sod that really. Make a bit of fuss.

Generally, isn't it safer to avoid a general anaesthetic if you can? It's not (just) about cost.

Agree you need to discuss this with your midwife.

Well, I have no problem with injections (I have been doing my own in the stomach - IVF). It's just the idea of the needle in my back I hate. Yes, perhaps I could be knocked out - I have a feeling hospitals aren't very keen on knocking out pregnant women.

Ugh.

If you have an ELCS it's more likely everything will go smoothly.

I was so tired and on so much gas and air when I had my epidural and later my spinal that I didn't care too much about anything.

Could you ask your midwife to arrange for you to discuss your previous experience with an anaesthetist?

An epidural holds a risk the same as an anaesthetic.

If you just cannot tollerate it then I'd go with the latter.

Happy mum happy baby.

YANBU. The very thought of a needle in my spine makes me feel light headed. Pretty much the only thing I had on my birth plan was NO EPIDURAL!

It shouldn't be painful as they usually give a dose of local before doing the epidural/spinal bit. So a mere pinprick at worst or in my case zilch. If you are phobic of the possible pin prick from the local, then get some topical numbing cream put on in advance.

If you have GA, then as they often do for kids re the i/v line going into the back of your hand, they could apply topical anesthetic cream in advance so you don't get any unpleasant senstion.

Needle phobia is not a good reason to deny yourself appropriate pain relief during childbirth.

Actually I've just remembered I had an epidural between contractions with my first and they gave me gas and air to breathe in while they inserted the epidural which was also fine.

YANBU but only because of your prior calamitous experience.

I agree, ask for an experienced anaesthetist.

I can only tell you that in my experience I didn't even see the needle, let alone feel it.

Magic hands. Bless his blue scrub suit.

A GA in pregnancy is much higher risk (of death) than an epidural or a spinal. They still use needles for a GA -for childbirth the GA passes the placenta and carries risk for the baby, so they give it after you're fully prepped and for the shortest possible time.

I had GA for my CS (medical condition precluded spinal or epidural) and am scared of needles. But I am/was far more afraid of the risks of GA in pregnancy. And you will miss a LOT of your childs "firsts" as you won't remember them.

I don't think you're beinmg unreasonable in the fear, but I would think you were really daft if you demanded a GA rather than spinal/epidural.

I don't really remember mine going in at all just the sheer relief when it did (in theatre for a forceps delivery) My DH on the other hand saw the whole thing and is still traumatised! He said the needle was huge and scary and he was glad I didn't see it. Poor DH I was pretty much out of it by then but he saw the whole thing and had the panic of DS not making a sound when they pulled him out where as I didn't actually know he was out because I couldn't feel it! (DS fine btw)

Last time the needle that sent shooting pains was the local anaesthetic needle. The anaesthetist said I have some scoliosis which makes it hard to get the needle into the right place.

I don't mind needles themselves - up thread I mentioned that I have been giving myself injections. I also had a drip in my arm when I was induced last time (it was okay).

I do see the point about missing the baby's firsts but that happened last time as I had to go straight off to theatre and didn't get to hold him first etc.