Spinal tap or epidural

Just wondering what ladies have preferred when having an elective c section an epidural or a spinal tap i have had an epidural 17 1/2 years ago with the natural birth of my 1st son and after 3 more natural births since i am now faced with having to have a c section due to PP but i have read that spinal taps are better what is the difference? and what are your experiences if you have had both? i am freaking a bit as my friends wife had an epidural that went the wrong way and paralysed her from the waist up she ended up dying from a blood clot in the lung related to the epidural it was a big f#ck up.

I've had both (well not the spinal tap cos thats something completely different, but I know what you are referring to) but I have had a spinal and an epidural.

I didn't like the epidural, I felt that it lasted for longer than the spinal did and I wasn't able to hold DD1 for ages because I was just so out of it, had hardly any feeling. Also got really bad muscular pain between my neck and shoulder, which is a side effect of them.

Spinal I had with DS (I thought it was the other way round, but DH assures me that it wasn't) because for some reason I couldn't have the epidural, he couldn't get it in the right spot, so I had the spinal.

Oh, I also had more blood pressure problems during the c-section with DD1 than DS - which I'm told was because of the epidural. Also hated something sticking out of my back and it took the midwives to the next day to take it out.

They are pretty much the same procedure except with an epidural they leave the catheter in so there is the option for continuous infusion or top ups of the drug where as the spinal is a much heavier block using different drugs they just don't leave the catheter in there most of the time. I haven't heard of them using an epidural for a c/s. Usually if someone already has an epidural (say from labour thats then converted to a c/s) they will top up the epidural using the spinal drugs to make a more dense block thus then making it a spinal anaethetic. Where I work you don't get a choice. Its an epidural for labour and spinal for a c/s. But I know we are weird compaired to other hospitals seeing as we are remote (we don't even have epidurals where you can mobilise) so other places might be different.

Ive had both spinal block and Epidural.

I got to choose with my elective c/s and went with the spinal block.

The reason for this is the anethetist explained a lot less drugs are used in a spinal block than the epidural. Is this the same as a spinal tap? im not sure if its the same thing.

I had the epidural with my first birth, for about nearly 24 hours and I didnt like the side effects of it, the shaking etc. I recovered a lot better from the spinal block and will be having the spinal block again this time.

Remember every birth is different. im so sorry to hear about your friends wife :hug:

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They are pretty much the same procedure except with an epidural they leave the catheter in so there is the option for continuous infusion or top ups of the drug where as the spinal is a much heavier block using different drugs they just don't leave the catheter in there most of the time. I haven't heard of them using an epidural for a c/s. Usually if someone already has an epidural (say from labour thats then converted to a c/s) they will top up the epidural using the spinal drugs to make a more dense block thus then making it a spinal anaethetic. Where I work you don't get a choice. Its an epidural for labour and spinal for a c/s. But I know we are weird compaired to other hospitals seeing as we are remote (we don't even have epidurals where you can mobilise) so other places might be different.

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I wasn't given a choice with my c/section either - I had a spinal block. Spinal blocks only last for a limited amount of time (about an hour I think) and then they wear off. When I had an epidural (for my VBs) it was given in doses over a longer period but I was never completely numb from it, it was just a tingly and dull sensation so I still knew when I was having contractions, when my babies were crowning etc. With the spinal I didn't feel pain, but I could feel other stuff. They ran an ice cube down my tummy before the operation to check that it was working - I could feel the wet sensation of the ice cube, but not the cold sensation.

My friend who had a c/s through the private hospital was given a spinal block but the doctor had some issues getting it to go in and on the last attempt told her if it didn't work, they would need to get an epidural for her instead. I don't know why or how that works that if they can't get a spinal in they give an epidural.

That is awful about your friend's wife.

I have had both but for a different reason, had an epidural when i was having DD and then i had to go to theatre for internal bleeding after she was born and they topped the epidural up with a spinal block. with the epidural i still had some feeling and could move a bit, with the spinal i had zero feeling. I dont know how long they take to wear off but mine took two days before i could get off the bed and i still had numb toes for weeks after!

Great thread Ferrals.

I am going to the Anaesthetists tomorrow and will write a rundown of my Apt if you want on the thread tomorrow? I am going in the way of spinal at the moment, I would just ask your doctor to have an appointment with your Anaesthetists. Because of my concerns, my OB suggested it and my Anaesthetists had no problem with it. Let me know if you want me to let you know how tomorrow went. : )

Limisspositive-the more info the better i would love to know how you went.

I prefer the Epidural! I've had both and the Epidural just seemed quicker and over with. The spinal I had 3 weeks ago was horrible.. I thought it was just 2 needles.. the anesthetic, then the spinal but it wasn't.. he did a circle of anesthetic which was about 5 or 6 needles and then the spinal in the middle of that circle. And that anesthetic bites like a ****

Hey Kristy, seen your from the Sunshine Coast. Did you happen to have bubs at Buderim?

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Hey Kristy, seen your from the Sunshine Coast. Did you happen to have bubs at Buderim?

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No lilmiss... I had her at Caboolture and can't speak highly enough of it

I had an epi for pain relief with my first labour, so not for CS... had a spinal for my CS with DS2.

I really didn't like my spinal, my blood pressure dropped & it was a bit freaky, plus it was a high block.

I had an aneasthetist appt when I was pregnant with Pie...I wanted to know if I could choose an epi (if my VBAC was unsuccessful).

She said they generally wouldn't use an epi for a CS unless they had to, much prefer a spinal, she said it was stronger & gives better coverage. I did feel a lot better after talking to her about it.

Complications can happen with either, but are rare; if you're facing a CS, ask if you can have a chat to the aneasthetist, tehy will put your mind at ease :hug:

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No lilmiss... I had her at Caboolture and can't speak highly enough of it

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My mate had her little girl there. I would of probably gone there but as I am private couldn't. as I wanted the same ob through out and to know who would be doing my C-section.
I have heard that Redcliffe is horrible for C-sections. Highest rate for infection or something... but again they were public.

Hi ferrals, I had a spinal with my c/s and it worked fast and was out of my system fast. I actually told the anaesthetist that he had 1 go to get it in and then I wanted a GA lol glad he got it in 1st time. Yes they do put in a local first and yes it does sting like a b@#$% but I found it (the spinal) was starting to wear off in recovery so yes it probably was only about an hour. I could feel my legs and feet and wiggle my toes before I got back to my room. I would definitely go the spinal next time if I had to.

For my C-section I had the spinal AND the epidural line in. The anaesthetist was worried that the spinal wouldn't be enough for me so he put both in. Ended up we didn't end up using the epidural line because the spinal was enough. He seemed really paranoid that I'd start to feel something - he said this was because I'd had a few other surgeries in that area.

i had a spinal with dd's c/s, and it was great, i could move around a fair bit after coming out of recovery, and i had no side effects whatsoever.

I had both also, but after going in for a caesarean last year with my daughter they tried getting an epidural in, 10 goes at it so ten needle holes and 3 anaesthetists having a go, finally the last guy decided to do a spinal. I wish that had been done in the first place as i would not have been in so much pain from being crouched in a ball for so long with alot of needle holes in my back. The midwifes were astonished. It did wear off after about an hour, i felt a little sore sensation as they were putting my dressings on in the theatre. I'll def be having a spinal again this year. :)

Thanks ladies you have all given me plenty to think about and put my mind at ease a bit.