Question on spinal/epidual

[visitor1]

My bub is due in bit over 10 weeks and going thru doing a birth plan now with my Doula. She is only a trainee but asked me what id prefer if i was to have a c-section.

So my question is:

1. Whats the difference between an epidual and spinal block?
2. For those who have had a c-section....what did you have and what made you choose it?

TIA

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Epidural: you can still feel stuff, still walk, recovery is shorter.
Spinal: you are numb from below the breasts. Cannot feel a thing for hours. Cannot get up, even to pee. Need one of those ladder things on the bed just to sit up and even then it's not worth is as you topple over so easily.

I didn't have a choice, as soon as the hospital decided I needed a section (which I didn't in the end) I was given a spinal.

[joralyd]

I had a general for my first because they couldn't get the epidural in even after 7 attempts while in labour. For my second I had a spinal block, they put it in on the operating table I didn't feel anything just a bit of pressure and a little sting, it worked very fast and I was numb from the waist/boobs down. I started to get feeling back while in recovery but full feeling came back with in an hour and a half. I was able to get out of bed the next morning as my op was done at night. I'm having a 3rd in Jan and I'm yet to disscus options with the aneathatist, I plan ask about the benifits etc of both epi and spinal but I'm swingin towards the spinal as it wa so effective.

[Mother Goose]

Hi Kim,

Gee! Not long to go now!

The main difference between the two is where the cavity within the spine where they are inserted (both are still inserted into the back). An epidural is essentially a "regional" block - meaning they can pinpoint where to block - this is why you often only get numbness from the waist down . A spinal block will give total numbness from the insertion site down (and sometimes a little higher as it can travel).
With both forms - you will be numb. Occassionally epidurals do result in "pockets" where you can still feel something. With an epidural they can "turn it down" so you can push.
You can get a "walking" epidural which means that you can walk but feel no pain. I am not aware of many anethetists who will do these (for various reasons).
I had both and there was no difference for me as the patient. Still couldn't move my legs, was totally numb, needed a catheter. Was able to move my legs within 30 min post section. Could have walked not long after but they keep you in bed for 24 hrs after a section where I was.

HTH.

MG

[RhiChiChi]

Hi Kimbaz,

It is my understanding that if you are electing a c-sect, that the preference for the anaethetist is for a spinal block - not sure why though.
I had an emergency c-sect after being in labour prior and had already had an epidural for pain relief, so the anaethetist just topped it up prior to and when in surgery. I wasn't allowed to walk around when I had the epidural b/c my legs were numb but I could lift them up and down when lying/sitting on the bed. I had a cathetar in overnight but was allowed in the morning to get up and have a shower and was encouraged to go to the toilet to do a wee to get my bladder used to working again.

[Danni]

hey darl...at my hospital you had no choice. It was a spinal. I couldnt start to feel anything for a few hours. And even then it took 6 full hours to finally feel my feet.

[Beach Mama]

No choice here either Kim. I had the epidural first, for pain relief, and my legs were numb but I could kind of still move them around a little bit, although it was difficult to do that and felt quite strange. When I went in for the c/s they took the epidural out and gave me a spinal which as someone else said numbs you from roughly the breasts down.
The other difference is that the epidural is inserted into the epidural space in the spine and the catheter stays in and is taped to your back. They can give youa boost if you need it - at one point I had a bit of breakthrough pain so they gave me a boost to break through that.
A spinal is simply a needle in your spine - there is no catheter left in.
HtH!!

[Berry]

I had an epidural with my vaginal birth and spinal block with my c-section. Both seemed quite similar in effect and recovery of sensation. However, the epidural was turned down in preparation for pushing so I did have some sensation then, whereas with the spinal I felt no sensation from nipples down until it wore off.

[Cherie]

I had a spinal block with mine, although at the same time they inserted the catheter for an epidural, in case I needed that as well (I didn't). My c/s was at 3pm, and I wasn't able to get out of bed until about 10ish the next morning. I was given pethidine as well, which made me itchy, so they added Phenergan to my drip a few hours after the c/s. I was numb from the chest down, but breastfed in recovery about 20mins after the c/s and had no problems with numbness or tingling in my breasts.

I didn't have a choice between an epidural or a spinal either, although I didn't ask for one, and I'm not sure what would have happened if I had voiced a preference. I was so sure I was going to have a natural birth that I didn't do any research at all about c/s.

[christy]

I *think* most c/s would be under a spinal. The catheter is inserted the same way. So if you were in labour & had an epidural, then needed to have a c/s they would use the same port, its just a different drug.

[laurensuzy]

Hi,

I just had my second (planned) c-section last week - both times they did a spinal, but this time I think it was a different ****tail - the first time I had serious shakes for hours afterwards, and it took me about a week to feel comfortable walking around, etc.

This time I had spinal morphine, and I felt great! In the recovery room I felt like I had taken some really nice drugs and was smiling away on cloud nine The next morning I swung my legs over the bed and walked straight to the shower with little to no pain. I was on only Panadol and Voltaren for 2 days until the nurse thought I was crazy and suggested I take Panadeine Forte (I accepted only because I like the stuff, not because I needed it).

Anyway, good luck with the birth!!!

Lauren


I haven't updated my sig since this baby, so:

Jackson - 21 months
Mikaela - 11 days

[Berry]

Hi,
This time I had spinal morphine, and I felt great! In the recovery room I felt like I had taken some really nice drugs and was smiling away on cloud nine

I felt like that too! I didn't know why, but I was so elated and smiley, even though I'd just given birth dangerously early by emergency c-section. I am wondering what the next c-section experience will be like as its a different hossy and I've heard they all do it a bit differently.

[Hoody]

Hi, i was given an epidural however it was very patchy i needed an emergency c-sect and i was screaming as i was going into theatre about been able to feel my left side. I was given a spinal block and found this to be much better. i had a catheter put in with my epi so it made no diff there. my spinal did start to travel though and got to just under my armpits so i had to be sat up slightly in recovery. My C-sect was at 11pm in the evening and i was out of bed and walking by 10am i dont remember when i got feeling back.....i may have been asleep as i had had 15hrs of labout b4 the c-sect. This time around i will try to VBAC but if not i will request a spinal as i am petrified of been patchy with an epi however they are very common so must be effective for most!

[Katstribe]

Hi, I have had both epi and spinal.
My first born was emergancy c-sec and they did a epi and i had the cathetar, i had what they call the epidural shakes in recovery ( some get it some don't, i was just one that did) and that lasted a while, can't remeber now as that was 16 yrs ago.
I followed with 4 natural drug free births and then my last was a c-sec as bub was in breech and my hosp does not support breech del anymore.
They did a spinal block (dif hosp than the first c-sec) and everythin was the same for me, had the cathetar and this time i had the itches which is apparantly the side effect from the morphine. So either way had side effects. But after my first emergancy c-sec they didnt let me get up for 4 days as i had toxemia very bad. With this bub i had him at 7:55am and was up about 12 hours later, as thats how long it took for me to be able to feel my legs properly.
Given the choice i would just prefer to have vag with no drugs any day though.

Good luck

Cheers
Kat