what is the difference between spinal and epidural for c-sect?

[nelliesbelly]

anyone know??? I guess you would discuss this with anaethatist not ob? is there any choice or does it even matter??

cheers everyone

[~Trish~]

Hi, I can't help you with your question, but there is a thread here: Q about epidural/spinal block which may help answer some of your questions. HTH!

[sajemsha]

Hi Nellie,
I've just read the link Trish put up, it's worth a read, looks like different people have different stories. Me, I've had three ceasers and will be having my fourth soon. I had an epi with my first, no probs and a spinal/epi with my second again no probs and with my third I had a spinal, I hate to say it wore off when they started to stitch and they ended up giving me a general.
With a spinal it can't be topped up but with an epi they can top it up as they go. This time I've opted for an epi, if the anesthesist wants to do a combination, then I wouldn't mind that either.
As for stiches I've had staples, normal stiches and disolvable and I'm opting for the disolvable, you heal heeps quicker with them.
You do get a choice of what you want and you'll be asking the anesthesist, he aslo will ask you what pain meds you want after the baby is born.
I hope it all goes smoothly for you, take care.......

[nelliesbelly]

thanks trish and sajemsha.

sajemsha, can you comment on your experience of pain meds?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

For me:

Epidural let you feel everything, but no/little pain. Not sure I'd want a section with an epiudral (certainly didn't want a hand with it either!)

Spinal meant I felt nothing, but that was welcomed at the time! It also takes you a while to be able to walk etc, but after surgery that's a good thing.