Epidural class :(

[oceanbreeze]

Tonight i have to attend an epidural class at the hospital i'll deliver at. This was at the strong urging of my OB, since my baby is measuring big and he is thinking I may be a strong candidate for a c-section.

While i understand that would mean i need an epidural, they totally skeeve me out. I do not wish to know so much that it makes my skin crawl and makes me want to melt into my seat. I don't want to watch the video of the procedure (they will show it tonight) b/c lets face it, if i have it done, i can't see what the heck's going on back there anyways. I really do not want an epidural if i can help it/avoid it... and i don't want to go to this class but again, OB says to and my husband is insisting on it as well.

did anyone else go to one of these classes and can tell me what to expect?

[VivaciousJewelz]

You have to taken an epidural class??? WEIRD! They covered that in my birth class, and honestly, I learned waaaaayyy too much about it and it totally freaked me out. I probably would have been fine with it if I hadn't known so much about it. I guess your OB wants you to be informed since the idea is that if you know more, you're less scared, but some people do better with a lack of knowledge.

[foggierbard9]

I did no birth classes or epidural classes...I got an epidural with my first, don't care to know exactly what happened, just know they didn't put enough drugs in it and I felt the birth, just took a bit of the edge off....if I get an epidural this time, I don't care to know exactly what is happening either....knowing makes it scarier for me...doesn't ease any of that anxiety.

I couldn't go to an epidural class because then I would be losing it and telling them to just knock me out to deliver the baby...but that's just me. LOL

[cecaic0609]

I have never heard of such a thing! I don't even think they have a class for that here. I preferred an epideral and never had a class, it did wonders when I had my daughter, but was worthless with my son! I don't think they should force you to take any class, they are all optional here and I never took any childbirthing class, when you're in labor all that stuff goes out the window anyway, the last thing I was to think about is how to breathe. But if it were me and I had to go, I would just be thinking about something else and trying to tune it out as best I could.

[hbaqueen]

Oh I would have loved if they had offered me that! Matter of fact I was so against a C-section I skipped over all of that part in the books due to fear. And I had to have one and wasnt prepared at all for what to expect.
Trust me knowing what your up against in any situation is better than being in the dark. Go to the class and learn I think its a great tool.

[hbaqueen]

Wow just read the other replys I guess I am the odd ball knowing how something will work makes it less stressful to me. Good luck OP!!

[petergabrielfan]

They do epidurals for C-sections at your hospital? In my area they do strictly spinals now.

Honestly, I had two epidurals with DS#1 (neither one worked fully) and it really isn't a big deal. It's not nearly as bad as you think. :) I had a C-section with my twins.

I am a totally gun shy person when it comes to anything medical with my body, so I completely understand how you feel. I don't blame you for not wanting to go. I know that your OB is "insisting on it" but remember that you're in the driver's seat. If this is something you're not comfortable with, you don't need to do it. I can completely see your reasoning for not wanting to go. You won't be watching the procedure and as long as it works, how it works really isn't important to you.

[VivaciousJewelz]

Trust me knowing what your up against in any situation is better than being in the dark. Go to the class and learn I think its a great tool.

I think it depends on what personally makes you feel better. When I was in the hospital having my gallbladder removed, and they were telling me all the things that COULD happen to me, I was scared to death. I finally had to tell the surgeons not to tell me anymore b/c it was giving me a panic attack. The same thing happened when I had my c/s- they talked about it in the birthing class, and I was fine, but in the hospital and the doctor was telling me all this stuff about c/s... it was an awful experience for me.

So if you are the kind of person who feel comforted by knowing, then go for it, but if you think it's only going to freak you out more if you know, then I would skip it.

[petergabrielfan]

....knowing makes it scarier for me...doesn't ease any of that anxiety.

This is me too. I don't really want to know how it works. I just want it to work. I avoided all the pregnancy books, shows and stories from people because I didn't want more knowledge than I already had. TMI just freaked me out when I was pregnant.

[zoeys_mom]

Personally I wouldn't go. If I had to see them stick a needle in someone I would probably puke on the floor of the class.
I can only give blood if I don't look at the needle. With the epidural, all you need to know is to stay still and they will tell you that anyway, lol.

Do what makes YOU comfortable, it is your pregnancy and YOUR baby.