epidural question

rebecca4980

Ok, I get the gist of how an epidural works, but am really terrified of needles...Maybe I watch too much House MD, but is it really a big long needle that goes into the spine, or a smaller one?  If you've had one before, did you plan on having one before you went into the hospital or did you make that decision when the pain got bad enough? 

For some reason this is just bugging the cr@p out of me.  Of all the things to be worried about, really...a needle?  Ah, well, 12 more weeks to decide.