PAIN RELIEF: Epidural, Spinal, or Combo??

[Guppy051708]

Which numbing agent would you recommend for a planned CS? The Spinal? The Epidural? Or the Spinal/Epi combo?
I may be getting a CS for a transverse lie (Sideways) and just planning ahead!

Which would/did you use, and why? Did you have any side effects? Did it work well, etc. Just trying to decide. I think Spinal is what most ppl go for (in a planned CS) but wasn't sure...i def dont want to feel anything! And ive heard a few horror stories about the Epi not numbing up things well enough

 

[AvianasMommy]

When I was induced with DD1, I had an epidural twice and it was literally the most painful experience of my life. I also don't like the idea of it staying in there, I have a huge phobia of needles and it freaks me out. My epidural had to be done twice too since it didnt take the first time. Once they took me in for my csection I had a spinal.

I just had my csection for DD2 on July 11, it was semi planned (was hoping I'd go into labor on my own but discovered low fluid at 38 weeks). I had an excellent experience with the spinal. The anesthesiologist first cleaned the area and then gave me an injection to numb the area. I was so afraid I'd freak with the pain but I barely felt anything at all. Then he did the actual spinal and I felt the tiniest pinch but nothing else. They immediately had me lay down. Within a minute my legs started tingling and got really warm. I kept trying to wiggle my toes because I was afraid they'd start cutting and I wouldn't be numb yet but they tested me and I was numb. I could feel them touching me but didnt feel any pain.

I can honestly say I'd pick spinal over epi any day and that if have another csection in the future, I wouldn't have any hesitation of getting another! Crossing my fingers that your LO turns soon! I didn't try anything to make her turn but she did all by herself when I was checked at 37 weeks. Good luck hun .

 

[momofone08]

I say spinal. My first was a planned c-section because of a breech baby. My second was a failed vbac and I had an epi placed through labor. I don't know if it was just the dr, but I felt nothing when they did the spinal. I felt the epi and it was uncomfortable and painful. I also vomited because my blood pressure dropped.

 

[Guppy051708]

So far the consenus seems to be spinal!
My mom had a spinal with her hysterectomy and said she prefered that over the time she had an epi during childbirth.
I had two other moms (that had CS) say the spinal was also better.

....how long does the relief from a spinal last? typically?

 

[momofone08]

The numbness lasted about 2 hours. The other pain meds in the cycle worked great for the first 24 hours.

 

[wookie130]

I'm aaaallllll about the spinal. If only that thing worked through the recovery process too...I would have gladly stayed that numb while my incision healed! LOL!

 

[Melissa_M]

Which numbing agent would you recommend for a planned CS? The Spinal? The Epidural? Or the Spinal/Epi combo?
I may be getting a CS for a transverse lie (Sideways) and just planning ahead!

Which would/did you use, and why? Did you have any side effects? Did it work well, etc. Just trying to decide. I think Spinal is what most ppl go for (in a planned CS) but wasn't sure...i def dont want to feel anything! And ive heard a few horror stories about the Epi not numbing up things well enough

I'm probably one of those horror stories I MUCH preferred the spinal. Will be getting it this time no question! Got the shakes really bad with the epi.
With the spinal I was fine but with the epidural I was actually bawling my eyes out while they were operating.... wasn't fun.

I say spinal. My first was a planned c-section because of a breech baby. My second was a failed vbac and I had an epi placed through labor. I don't know if it was just the dr, but I felt nothing when they did the spinal. I felt the epi and it was uncomfortable and painful. I also vomited because my blood pressure dropped.

^Same exact thing happened to me. Spinal with first c/s, then epi with failed vbac. Definitely found the epi c/s to be painful.

 

[hakunamatata]

I had a spinal. It made me super nauseous, so they gave me some type of antiemetic, and I was fine. I was kind of groggy the rest of the day. But it wasn't too bad.

 

[Sparklesx]

I voted spinal. I felt the needle go in but it wasnt painful but after 69 hours I wasnt fussed. I did start feeling sick tho and was told if that happened to tell them because it could be my blood pressure, all they did was inject me with something. I was extremely shaky tho but it wore off probably 15/30 minutes later. I forgot to say the feeling in my feet came back within half hour-hour. X

 

[Quackquack99]

I didn't have an epidural but I did have a spinal when I went into theatre. I remember the Anaesthetist told me he gae an extra suppository for further pain relief. I must have been the one of the rare ones but it took a good 10 hours before I could feel my toes again. The only thing that happened was that I did feel quite cold and shaky whilst I was in recovery. Also I started to itch quite bad so they administered an antihistamine to stop it. Other than that, the spinal was a massive relief!

 

[wookie130]

My spinal lasted much longer than 2 hours...I couldn't move my legs or feel anything from my chest down for AT LEAST 6 hours. This sounds terrible, but believe me, it was NOT. It was wonderful, particularly when they come in to press on your uterus. I just laid there, and enjoyed my baby, comfortable as could be!

 

[Melissa_M]

Did they still let you breastfeed right away??? They had me wait till I had feeling in my chest so that I could tell if babe was latched properly. Mine started wearing off about 30-40 minutes after c/s.