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Childbirth

Women who asked for Epidural AND spinal block..............why both??

19 replies

biglips · 04/09/2008 13:01

or have i read that wrong???

OP posts:

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lulumama · 04/09/2008 13:03

you can;t have both i don;t thikn! epidural is usually used in labour, and a spinal for elective sections.. epidural can be topped up as and when , and can be increased to anesthatise you enough for a c.section

how are you feeling now?

luckywinner · 04/09/2008 13:03

Sometimes the epidural doesn't work or there isn't enough time for an epidural but no idea why you would need an epidural with a spinal block as they completely wipes out any feeling at all!

biglips · 04/09/2008 13:07

oh right as i read it the other day and thought you can only have one or the other.

anyway....feeling ok but shattered now. Im keeping track on the movements by having a kick-diary...it was moving alot about 11am but now its gone quiet again but still a concrete belly

OP posts:

lulumama · 04/09/2008 13:08

did you call labour ward?

biglips · 04/09/2008 13:19

yes last night

OP posts:

lulumama · 04/09/2008 13:20

ok, was not sure from email if you had spoken to them ! did they say that the rock hard tummy was normal after ECV? glad you are doing ok

biglips · 04/09/2008 13:23

they just said that as long the baby is moving then theres nothing i can do. It is moving around 10 movements a day but it had dramatically dropped the movements as it was doing about 20 in 5 mins before i had the ECV...LOL!!

OP posts:

Divvy · 04/09/2008 13:24

I was offered these combined for my CS, I just choose a spinal though. There is a method for both though.

lulumama · 04/09/2008 13:24

did you say that to them? looking forward to reading your birth annoucenment soon ! won;t be long will it? couple more weeks tops!

Divvy · 04/09/2008 13:26

Chose

lulumama · 04/09/2008 13:27

inteeresting divvy !

biglips · 04/09/2008 13:31

well i didnt mention about the movements that had dropped dramatically as i had a thought about it after i had a chat with them and that was it.

OP posts:

biglips · 04/09/2008 19:16

bump

OP posts:

Mintpurple · 04/09/2008 19:43

Some hospitals offer a combined spinal / epidural - if the woman is in a lot of pain, the spinal component works quickly (within a few minutes) to relieve the pain and then they site the epidural catheter for top ups.

The spinal part does not always work however and its only a fraction of the c/s dose, so although your legs are a bit heavy for the first hour, you are still mobile.

Ive never really heard of the anaesthetist giving much of a choice in either /or though - its just the policy of each hospital as to which you get. I do think they are good for quick pain relief though!

biglips · 04/09/2008 21:09

thanks Mintpurple for the info as its interesting to know.

OP posts:

bessmum · 04/09/2008 21:10

I had both, DD1 was OP and at 9cm got a lot of back pain so had an epidural. This worked only partly, I could still feel one side but not the other - that was fine though, I could manage the pain fine with that and it was quite useful to be able to still feel the contractions. However I ended up needing forceps in theatre and was prepared for an emergency CS. The anaesthetist then gave me a spinal because it was all a rush and they felt that the it would be too painful to have forceps with only half an epidural working if that makes sense. My legs were totally dead for about 3 hours afterwards and it was wierd not being able to feel anything at all but my care was great throughout.

PInkyminkyohnooo · 04/09/2008 21:14

I had a spinal for my emcs as the epidural I had had was wearing off and a bit 'old', the anaesthetist didn't want to use it.

Divvy · 05/09/2008 12:46

The anaesthetist even offered me a general, but did advise against it. It was a planned cs, so not sure if that makes a difference.

FrockHorror · 05/09/2008 12:56

I too had both. I asked for an epidural with DS and they had to try and site it three times, leaving me with lots and lots of holes in my back and painful bruising. It didn't actually work completely, as one side of me felt like I was literally burning alive.

After 24 hours labour I begged them to help me get DS out and they told me to do it, they would have to remove the epidural and do the spinal block. I had a forceps delivery with DS and the spinal block worked in minutes, completely numbing me from the waist down. This lasted for 24 hours. There was no mobility at all.

The SB was wonderful, at the time and after as it completely took the pain away and enabled me to rest. Weird thing was being told to push but not being able to feel contractions, that was strange but it all worked out in the end.

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