Warning: If you have a fear of needles, this post may not be for you. 🚨
TikTok, otherwise jokingly known as TikTok University, has become a hub for learning tons of medical-related facts that were never discussed in school.
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Through the app, I've learned that dentists can tell if you've recently given a blowjob, cheap wine can give you a yeast infection, and easy tricks for beating constipation.
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Now, with the help of St. George’s University medical student Hansel Viera and Dr. Carlos De La Hoz, I know just what child-bearing people go through when they get an epidural.
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An epidural is a type of anesthesia that is injected into the epidural space, which is located around the spinal cord. With the help of an epidural, a person giving birth experiences numbness between their belly button and upper legs, which helps relieve pain associated with childbirth.
Is it option 1?
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Nope! That needle is a 27 gauge, which is used for intramuscular injections.
Then, is it option 2?
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Double nope! This one is an 18 gauge, which is used to extract medications from vials.
It's option 3! (Which will haunt my nightmares for years to come.)
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"Epidural needles are long so that we get better access to the epidural space," Hansel told BuzzFeed. "The length of such needles can vary depending on the patient's BMI. The more fat stored around the area, the longer the needle will need to be to obtain better access and administer the medication. The most common question is, 'Does it go all the way in?' And the answer [in] most cases is no, but again, it varies from patient to patient."
Instagram: @viera_lesnah / Via Instagram: @viera_lesnah
But...does it hurt?
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"It may cause some discomfort, but in itself, it is not particularly painful since we employ different steps before the insertion of the long needle. [Before the epidural,] we inject a local anesthetic to the skin where most of the nerve endings are located. With this, the patient will feel minimal or none of the epidural needle as it penetrates the skin," Hansel explained. "Some patients may ask to see what you are doing, [and] some will opt to not see anything. 'Out of sight, out of mind,' they say."
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"One of the best ways to improve the patient’s experience while going through this procedure is by showing empathy and building a good patient-physician interaction," Hansel continued. "Listening to the patient’s concern, making sure the patient understands what the physician will be doing, [and] allowing time so the patient can process the information. Overall, allowing the encounter to be patient-centered [and] making the patient [feel] in charge of the situation."
Instagram: @viera_lesnah / Via Instagram: @viera_lesnah
See? When in the hands of a capable doctor, there's nothing to be afraid of. Just shut your eyes and think of your sweet little babe that's on the way.
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