Traumatic previous EMCS petrified of spinal again!

[EloiseAndBump]

I had a VERY traumatic birth with my daughter, the spinal is a major cause of my issues. I remember being petrified and they was telling me to relax and lean on the midwife while they put the spinal in, I remember it hurting me and nearly passing out. Can I have some tips and advice on keeping calm and not worrying so much, thank you

 

[EloiseAndBump]

I should also mention i'm pregnant and due to have a planned csection because of medical problems.

 

[ready2bamum]

I remember my spinal being the least thing that I liked about the whole section experience, not because it hurt as such but just because it felt awful and gruesome, I could feel it all poking around etc....I didn't like it much at all...im really undecided if I want to opt for another section or try for vaginal, its so difficult to decide. xx

 

[Eternal]

No advice none of mine have hurt at all, lots of pushing which isn't nice but no pain.

 

[eew1471]

Maybe they can go ahead and give you a lil shot of some kind of pain med before the spinal to keep you calm! Demerol is what I had and I was pretty relaxed.

 

[ArcaneSpark]

Hello,

I had mine today and I suffer terrible needle anxiety. I had gas and air during the canular and spinal and found that really helped, could this be an option for you?

 

[Claudia83]

Maybe they can go ahead and give you a lil shot of some kind of pain med before the spinal to keep you calm! Demerol is what I had and I was pretty relaxed.

This! I had a minor surgery in January and was under general anesthesia and before they put in the IV, they put something on my arm to numb the area. I didn't feel a thing! I asked the nurse why they didn't use this more often and she just laughed. I'm guessing it's an added cost. Some use 1% lidocaine injection or EMLA cream.

 

[MrsN]

I have a major needle phobia, and smother myself in EMLA numbing cream before having any kind of needle inserted. I find it helps me as if I know I'm not going to feel anything then I find myself less worked up by it all.
Unfortunately its pretty hard to apply it to your back and it didnt work for my last section, but for my 2nd I had gas and air like another person mentioned and found this worked great. I pretty much knocked myself out I had so much of it.
I think relaxing as much as you can really helps too (easier said that done I know). But I am a total wimp when it comes to anything needle or medical wise, but I'm due to have my 4th section in April, so if I can do it, I know you can too! xx

 

[ama]

I had mine yesterday and was also very nervous about the needle.it was the worst part for me in past c sections .wasnt too bad as they gave the area a local anaesthetic and i tried focusing on breathing .didnt help much tho when dr doing it told everyone to be quiet in the room as he was wanting to hear the popping noise .eek! My midwifes hands were very sweaty after holding my hand thru it ha but it wasn't so bad and now I'm holding my beautiful baby x

 

[misspriss]

I know just saying relax probably won't help much. But your past experience probably won't be repeated. There is a huge difference between an elective section and an emergency section.

Mine was an EMCS, but I honestly didn't feel a thing when they did the epidural. I didn't even notice the local anesthetic. Perhaps with an elective, when everything is planned out and expected, it will go smoother.

Everyone I have heard had an ELCS after an EMCS said the elective was much smoother.

 

[x__amour]

Me too. I am terrified as the epidural hurt me way more than I thought it would. Completely freaking out.

 

[Starry Night]

I more have a fear of it failing. I got an epidural even while planning a vaginal birth and I didn't feel it going in at all other than a slight pushing. But it totally failed in that I was still feeling all the contractions and the nurses poking and prodding in my vagina (they were trying to get a blood sample from DS to see if I needed a section or not). So when they started the section they said they would do a "poke test" to see if I could feel anything. And did I ever! That 'poke' felt like they were slicing me open. It was an emergency so they simply knocked me out after that but now I have this horrible anxiety about the epi or spinal failing should I need another section. I have read too many stories of sections going on with the ladies feeling everything and the doctors not caring.

 

[The Alchemist]

I more have a fear of it failing. I got an epidural even while planning a vaginal birth and I didn't feel it going in at all other than a slight pushing. But it totally failed in that I was still feeling all the contractions and the nurses poking and prodding in my vagina (they were trying to get a blood sample from DS to see if I needed a section or not). So when they started the section they said they would do a "poke test" to see if I could feel anything. And did I ever! That 'poke' felt like they were slicing me open. It was an emergency so they simply knocked me out after that but now I have this horrible anxiety about the epi or spinal failing should I need another section. I have read too many stories of sections going on with the ladies feeling everything and the doctors not caring.

This is exactly what I'm scared of! That the epi wouldn't work. Or that it will but somehow quickly die off. I'm so afraid of this because hey....shit happens. I'm gonna hope and pray that my epi works! I go in for a scheduled section tomorrow.