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Pregnancy

C-sections and spinal blocks

14 replies

buttercupbabe · 20/08/2008 18:17

Hi I'm having a c/s in a few weeks time. Last time I had an emergency one under general. This time I'll be having a spinal block. Can anyone tell me where you lose feeling from - is it chest down including arms and how long after before you regain feeling? Thanks

OP posts:

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BetsyBoop · 20/08/2008 18:25

You lose feeling from roughly the top of your bump downwards, you get a hot tingly feeling dpreading from your toes upwards, very weird! (They test with a cold spray to make sure where you are numb to) Your arms are fine (apart from all the attached cannulas & monitors of course...)

I started to get some sensation back in my legs about an hour after the op, and could "drag" my legs about the bed, but it a good few hours before you'd have enough feeling to safely walk (spinal blocks are much "denser" than an epidural)

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jojoisamum · 20/08/2008 18:51

I was pretty much the same as the above although I think it was a couple of hours before I had a dead leg sensation.

My section was during the night so I didn't get up until about lunchtime but if you are in for an elective, I think they get you up and about after 6 hours.

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Stinkyfeet · 20/08/2008 19:00

I had spinals for both my sections and both times I was numb from the chest down. First time the anaethetist (sp?) tested this by sticking pins in me!! Can't remember exactly when feeling started to come back, but do remember seeing my legs being flung about after ds1 had been born and not being able to feel it!!

HTH!

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LeonieD · 20/08/2008 22:17

This reply has been deleted

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cathym · 21/08/2008 13:54

I remember being able to move my legs in bed whilst I was still in the recovery room, but they wouldn't let me out of bed until the following day! Not that I was complaining, it was nice to have an excuse not to do anything

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notsogummyanymore · 21/08/2008 14:26

agree with all above and would include that i also had a lot of teeth chattering as if i was freezing cold. i thought it was nerves but was told it was a side effect of the spinal and nothing to worry about. just in case it crops up hope it all goes well for you.

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midnightexpress · 21/08/2008 14:28

Oh yes, I had the teeth chattering both times, and shivering too. Felt really freezing cold.

Mine were both emergency cs, so don't know if it's the same for an elective, but they kept me in the recovery room until the feeling came back and then transferred me to the ward - a couple of hours iirc.

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cathym · 21/08/2008 15:15

I had the opposite problem. I was so hot I was close to fainting. They got me a fan but I wasn't allowed it on for very long because they were worried the babies on the ward would get cold. And I couldn't have it on whilst my baby was with me. Sounds harsh really but I don't remember a lot of that day, and I put that down to the drugs as well

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Highlander · 21/08/2008 16:08

Top of bump down.

they use a slightly differnt anaesthetic in the UK (DS1 was Canada) which I was a bit resistant to. I had a double dose and it started to wear off a bit after 30 mins or so (not as awful as it sounds!). Bonus was that I had full feeling in recover and was up and about within a couple of hours

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MummyAnnabella · 21/08/2008 16:53

oh i had forgotten about the cold/teeth chattering bit - i had that too.

i was surprised that i could move my legs in recovery room as i thought it would take longer - kept telling dh in amazment look i can move my feet!! he didnt get it - dont think he understood epidurals!

remember being sooooooooo thirsty and they only give you sips of water in case they have nicked bladder or bowel. kept asking dh to give me more and he kept drinking the one tiny cup they had given me!

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TheFallenMadonna · 21/08/2008 16:55

I had a spinal for a forceps delivery and it was numb from the boobs down. And they told me that I had to push when the midwife told me my next contraction was happening. And I asked how I could push if I couldn't feel anything. SO I just screwed upmy face a bit and they seemed happy enough

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Pinkjenny · 21/08/2008 16:58

Ribs down. I was shivering too and felt a bit sick, but once I told the anaesthetist, he put something into my drip and both sensations stopped immediately. I had dd at 10.11am and had completely regained feeling by the end of the day.

I was hot too, but had the fan on all afternoon. I was scared beforehand about not being able to feel my legs, but it was more that they just felt really heavy. And of course, you're so distracted by your baby anyway.

Sounds hideous but it was an elective and was absolutely fine. No probs here at all, with either of us.

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cathym · 21/08/2008 17:38

There were only a couple of points when I felt scared about the whole thing. Firstly when I was convinced I could still feel my legs and tried to move them and realised I couldn't move anything except my arms. Secondly when they opened the doors to the operating theatre and I saw the big lights they have over the table. I don't know why but it just looked a bit scary. Worrying about if the baby will be OK (I had to have an elective section because of problems) does a really good job of stopping you from worrying about yourself though

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buttercupbabe · 21/08/2008 19:38

Thanks all. I had the shivering teeth chattering thing after my general with my section last time. I wonder if it's related to anaestheics or your body adjusting to not having a hot little baby inside you anymore