Spinal or epidural for c- section? Which is best?

[titferbrains]

Any reason to request one over the other? Thought I'd read best to have spinal but not sure why. Elcs in a couple of wks. First cs. Had epi for induced dd and have had loads of back pain with this pg. Wonder if pain linked to epi.

I think I had a spinal block for my EMCS and ELCS. I didn't have a choice though. No back pain with either.

I'm sure I had a spinal for my hysterectomy too, anaethetist said he was trying out a new cocktail of GA and a spinal to aid recovery and pain relief, I swear he was fresh out of medical school. He was right though, fab recovery!

Do you get a choice? Thought it was automatically a spinal unless epidural tube already in situ.

Spinal is same drug (I think) just one off dose. Epidural tube is left in situ so can be topped up.

Spinal much better for a CS, so if planned you will have a spinal, if epidural in place then for emergency they will top it up.
Having had both I would never opt for an epidural.

Ok. It is mentioned in birth plan bit of cs booklet from hosp so just checking.

You'll be given a spinal for an elective section.

I think the backache is more likely be linked to you being pregnant rather than a previous epidural.

I had a spinal with my son that failed to numb my torso (it was EMCS and after meeting with anethatist I feel a bit more relaxed, this has been put down to rush of EMCS and havign little time for prep). I am down for ELCS if don't labour sooner and I am having a combined spinal and epidural. There is s difference between the spinal and epidural but it is quite techinical and I don't want to miss quote so have included a link.

Hope this helps.

Should say I wasn't given choice with spinal block for EMCS and probably wouldn't have been given a choice with this one had the spinal not failed and I hadn't made an appointment with the anethatist. Was reasurred it is very very rare to fail and there is no problems with my back when it was checked so the anethatist is quite confident a spinal will work given more time, but for my sanity and to try and make the whole process as panic free as possible she thinks the CSE is the best option for me.

www.aboutoperations.co.uk/spinal-epidural-anaesthesia.html

I had a spinal for a cervical suture and my emcs and was up and about within 3 or 4 hours of each. I've heard to people still being completely numb the day after a section with epidural and that sounds hideous.

My post sounds like it was written to panic. I promise that wasn't my intention, just wanted to say I think the standard for section is spinal block. And I will repeat my earlier post and say it is terribly rare for it not to work so please don't be paniced by this.

Am I going to be led up for days after having a combined then? Didn't even think to ask about the recovery after having both!

I only have experience of a spinal (elcs 5 months ago) but for what it's worth it was brilliant - had absolutely no pain during the op and hardly any sensation of movement, pulling etc. either. I didn't like having the injection into my back but that was the worst of it. The numbness started wearing off after about 3 hours I think and I was up and about 8 hours after surgery. Good luck!

thanks very much