I want to try normal delivery with epidural but I just saw the epidural needle is very thick and long. This is my 1st pregnancy and I am already having mental breakdown due to contraction & labour pains. I had nightmares everynight and cannot sleep from 2am to 6am daily! So seeing this thick needle makes me even more stressed and scary now. I am really scared of pain extremely. How do they administer into the spinal or epidural space? Is it going to be very painful when they insert into the spine? Any anesthesia to numb the spine area prior insertion of the epidural needle?

Personally, I couldn't endure the contractions pain. I was scared of using the epidural initially because of the side effects and wanted natural birth without it. But on my labour day (I was induced), the contractions were so unbearable and it was just beginning, laughing gas didn't help so I caved and took epidural. The injection was bearable compared to the contraction pains, and in just a few short minutes, I could finally relax. I find it a lifesaver, cause epidural saved me all the labour pains: contractions, birth, and stitching. I was numbed completely and it made my labour journey relatively easy, although I had to push baby out without feeling anything at all. I didn't regret it. So don't worry, the labour pain can be scary but the epidural pain is nothing compared to it.