spinal vs epidural

[iwantabub]

Hi Laides,

I'm booked in for my section on the 31st of May and the doctor has told me they will be doing an epidural to numb me for the procedure....

After reading some posts on here I am wondering what a spinal is as opposed to an epidural and rhat are the benefits/ bad things about both and for those of you whove been through it what would you have again?

Thanks in advance

 

[mjvdec01]

Don't worry, it's the same access, the anesthesiologist will just put the medication for the section in, instead of the stuff they use for vaginal delivery. I just had our third baby via c-section on the 21st of January. Our other two were vaginal births with epidurals. You won't feel pain, just tons of pressure. IF you do feel something that you percieve as pain, just tell your anesthesiologist and he/she will give you something in addition to the anesthetic you had already been given. It takes effect in seconds. You'll do wonderfully. It's not scary at all. Just make sure you keep up on your pain meds afterward, and have someone to be with you day and night for the first two weeks solid, then additional help for the next two weeks after that, so you don't overdo it. Tomorrow will be two weeks pot partum for me.

 

[momofone08]

They will numb you ahead of time.
"The spinal is administered in much the same way as the epidural with the pregnant woman lying on her side or sitting in a hunched over position. The needle is inserted into the spinal fluid and the pain medication is administered. Unlike the epidural, which involves a constant stream of medication, the spinal is one injection and then the needle is removed from the back. The spinal is more commonly used for short term pain relief."

I had a spinal the first time and an epi the second time. I personally thought the spinal was easier, but I wasn't correctly numbed with the epi so felt it. If you let the Dr know that you feel it they will immediately give you more numbing stuff. It did NOT hurt, I just felt a lot of pressure. With the spinal your legs get cold almost immediately and numb, the epi took a few minutes with me. Either way they aren't bad.

 

[Peggy O]

I had a spinal...getting it was no big deal at all. The actual C section scared me, but the spinal was nuttin'

 

[chobette]

I had an epidural with my emergency c/section and next time I'll be getting the spinal. The epidural wore off for me as well and they gave me "twilight meds". Note, I had been on an epidural line for 8 hours during my induction. So my experience may not indicate what yours will be. That was just my experience.

 

[honeybee2]

I had an epidural during my labour which I think took a little time to work and wore off so you 'topped it up' with a button. When I was pushing, they turned it off (without me knowing) so I could feel it. He got stuck and it was the most terrible pain I've ever felt so they whisked me for a c-section. The administered a spinal block which was immediate and you loose all sensation down below. With an epidural you can still feel the pressure and are able to push. A spinal block your legs are just jelly and you have no control or feeling.

 

[Melissa_M]

I had a spinal for my first daughter and an epidural for my second. There is no doubt I will go with the spinal for this time. With the spinal all I felt was some tugging and pressure....with the epidural...I won't go in to detail but I felt EVERYTHING. I knew exactly what was happening and I didn't like it at all

The benefits to the epidural was that it wore off more quickly so I was able to breastfeed sooner....but I also got the shakes for about an hour while it was wearing off....that was no fun either.

Both of my experiences were not planned c/s...but this third one will be. I would recommend the spinal to anyone who has the choice.

 

[kellyrae]

Hi Laides,

I'm booked in for my section on the 31st of May and the doctor has told me they will be doing an epidural to numb me for the procedure....

After reading some posts on here I am wondering what a spinal is as opposed to an epidural and rhat are the benefits/ bad things about both and for those of you whove been through it what would you have again?

Thanks in advance

Hi, If you dont mind me asking how did you end up with a booking day so in advance?
I am due to have a planned section due to my diabetes but I think I will prob have to wait till a few weeks befor till I get a date xx

 

[kcmichelle]

Hi, If you dont mind me asking how did you end up with a booking day so in advance?
I am due to have a planned section due to my diabetes but I think I will prob have to wait till a few weeks befor till I get a date xx

For my last pregnancy I was booked for my c-section on my 9th week visit. This time around I'm 16 weeks so far and not booked yet but was told will be within the next few weeks. I'm also diabetic. I'm surprised they havn't booked you yet. Are you type 1 or type 2? Or gestational? Type 1 are usually booked early here in Canada. Nevermind I just saw your signature and see you're type 1. Have you tried asking them for a specific date, Just say that day works well for you and they'll book it. That's what I said the second time around.

 

[RebeccaG]

I was told by my consultant that it will be a spinal not an epidural.

 

[kellyrae]

Hi, If you dont mind me asking how did you end up with a booking day so in advance?
I am due to have a planned section due to my diabetes but I think I will prob have to wait till a few weeks befor till I get a date xx

For my last pregnancy I was booked for my c-section on my 9th week visit. This time around I'm 16 weeks so far and not booked yet but was told will be within the next few weeks. I'm also diabetic. I'm surprised they havn't booked you yet. Are you type 1 or type 2? Or gestational? Type 1 are usually booked early here in Canada. Nevermind I just saw your signature and see you're type 1. Have you tried asking them for a specific date, Just say that day works well for you and they'll book it. That's what I said the second time around.

I'm at my diabetic clinic next week so will bring it up then...thanks for that

 

[iwantabub]

We only get like 1 appt with doc the rest are midwife visits and that was at 16 weeks..

I knew until the end was the only time to bring it up so I did...

Doc was fine and said they will book in and then just re book if nevessary.

 

[Stressbucket]

I had a spinal with my daughter, and it was great--hurt a LOT less than getting the IV drip put in, and worked beautifully.

 

[sg2011]

A spinal goes into a different part of the spine than an epidural so they are actually different. The spinal is one shot whereas the epi involves a small catheter in the back. They actually have a third technique which is a spinal/epidural combination as well. A spinal provides deeper anesthesia than an epi and epis have the potential to be provide inconsistent analgesia.

I had a spinal with my scheduled section and it was very effective. Very quick to act and I did not feel a thing whatsoever. Most people find the spinal to be minimally uncomfortable to administer...I was one of the few who found it more on the painful side and I had a very competent anesthesiologist.

They both have their risks but truly, serious complications are exceedingly rare.

 

[tickledpink3]

My first c section, I had an epidural which was painless. My second I had a spinal which I felt pain but it only lasted about 3 minutes while he wriggled that tube around. The one thing I didn't like, and this may not happen to anyone else, but I could feel them cutting. I couldn't feel pain but I could feel when she touched me with the scalpel and cutting me. It felt weird and freaked me out a bit but I felt no pain whatsoever.