Does a spinal for an elective c section hurt?

[Loonybun]

Random question but its really borthering me.

This is my second baby and will be delivered by elective c section in about 10 weeks time. I had an epidural with dd aged 8 and I didn't feel them do that but I had been in labour 30 hours or so by then so I think any pain dulled in comparison!

I'm worried the spinal itself will be painful and I'd like to know warts and all!

The drop in bp was actually my worst bit. It made me extremely sleepy very suddenly and then nauseous. Wasn't too bad but the meds they gave me to get my bp back up made me shake and my temperature fell through the floor too. It was a really hot day, all the staff in recovery were sweating visibly and I had on a magic blanket with heaters directed on me and I was shaking partly through cold, partly through reaction to the drugs. I was fine as soon as they got everything back in sync but it was a very strange experience.

If you feel sleepy/nauseous/spaced out, tell the anaesthetist. She explained that you often report a reaction to the fluctuations before your vitals reflect it so they can easily adjust things to make you comfortable and prevent a bigger physical reaction. I lay there feeling spacey for a while before the anaesthetist leaned over and said 'anything you want to tell me?'

This thread has been great for allaying some of my fears about my impending elcs!

Can the drop in blood pressure thing happen when giving blood does anyone know? When I tried that I went very funny, nauseous and felt far away, but soldiered on until the nurses stopped it because I looked so awful. I have a naturally low blood pressure, so wondering if giving blood pushed it too far? Ever since I've been terrible about blood tests etc but think if I knew WHY that happened, I'd feel better?

I have very low blood pressure naturally (usually around 90/60 but drops to 80/50 when pregnant or if I'm under the weather). I'm not allowed to give blood for various reasons but when I've had any procedures done, or any sort of minor op/spinal anaesthetic/GA, my bp falls through the floor.

Thanks - think i will mention this at the time

Thank you all very much for the information and advice... I have very low blood pressure so I will definitely speak up if I begin to feel odd!!

I'm rather terrified about the whole thing but the though of not going through labour again is comforting! Never want to experience that again!

Thanks everyone :)

I had a ELCS 11 weeks ago after a previous EMCs. The elective was a much better experience-you are not exhausted or in pain or high on G&A. YOu are sober, hopefully well fed and rested.

They will come talk to you about it all and then get you in a gown, they will take you to theatre. You will have to sit on the edge of the bed and they will give you a little local injection before the spinal goes in. Things will go numb from your neck to your toes. You wont feel a thing other than be aware of movements as they poke about.

My advice is talk to the staff a lot-have some music on the cd player. The one thing that grossed me out a bit was i could hear the noises when they were operating. I just talked loudly and continuously to the lovely nurse at my head and my DH.

When your baby comes out they will put them on you and they DH will take baby while you get stitched up. This takes quite a bit of time.

One thing that surprised me and I hated was the ITCHING afterwards-apparently spinals do this. I itched and itched, i felt like i was utterly crawling with fleas. It was vile- 2 health cares came in and gave me a sponge bath at one point I could have kissed them. But it didn't last long.

For me recovery was the hardest bit-I expected it to be easier because the actual op was easier but it wasn't much different from the ELCS tbh-it still took me 4 days to get out of hospital, I had to be transfused, my milk took a while to come in.

Have lots of easy snacks handy and have someone at home to help out.

Best of luck x

The itching is the morphine! I wanted to claw off my nose at one point. They can give you an anti-histamine.