How Does it Feel to Get an Epidural?

I was helping to admit a young woman the other day and she confessed that she was more scared of the needle of the epidural than of delivery. I was able to tell her that most women who receive and epidural, after the procedure is complete, say, "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

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Because each woman is unique and each anesthesiologist is unique, I can't tell you exactly how it will feel for you. I can tell you however how it felt for me, and how many of the women I have cared for say it felt for them.

Some women find having to curl around their baby while having contractions a somewhat uncomfortable. Also, having to remain still while the epidural is being placed frightens many women, but usually there is a nurse right at your side to help you and hold you in your position.

The sterile prep which the anesthesia doctor uses is often cold and is applied with a scratchy feeling sponge. The doctor usually then numbs the skin and deeper tissues with an injection of Lidocaine. This is very similar to the numbing shot one receives at the dentist in that it is a stick and then a burn. It only lasts a few seconds however and within ten to fifteen seconds you should not feel that anymore. At this point, you would only feel pressure as the doctor feels your back for landmarks.

When the catheter is placed into the epidural space, it can brush across a nerve root. This causes a momentary "shock" feeling similar to when you hit your "funny bone", only this shock sensation will occur in your back and run down one leg or the other. It only lasts for two or three seconds.

When the anesthesiologist injects medication into the catheter, there can be a slight cramping feeling in the back and the medication will feel cold. It isn't cold, but the room temperature medication is going into a warm place, making it feel cold by comparison.

As the epidural begins to take effect, your feet and legs will begin to feel warm and tingling, then you will become numb. Some women will still be able to move their legs, some will not. Much depends upon the medication used, the concentration of the medication used and the dose of the medication given.

The majority of women feel quite comfortable throughout their labor, though some may have a "hot spot", an area where the medication did not take effect, or some may need additional injections of medications into the catheter (called a redose) throughout labor.

If the epidural placement is more difficult, the woman may find the procedure more difficult as well, but most of the time the woman feels as if the placement of the epidural was much easier than what she would have imagined it to be.