Terrified of child birth....please explain an epidural?

I'm sorry that you had such an awful labour the first time round. An epidural is a fine hollow needle inserted into the space in your spinal cord in your lower back. Then a catheter is inserted inside the needle (a smaller hollow tube to carry the anaesthetic to your lower body to numb your body from the waist down). You must be in established labour to have an epidural (from 3cm dilation). The epidural can only be given by an anaesthetist. An epidural can wear off during the labour only if you want it to, otherwise you will have it topped up when you start to feel it wearing off. It takes about 20-30 minutes to administer an epidural and you must sit with your back tilted over so that it can be given. Pain relief is then usually immediate. Hope this helps and good luck.