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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Planned cs - worried anesthetic will fail like last time

15 replies

cheaperthantherapy · 01/04/2012 18:23

Hi - just looking for reassurance really. Had dd 20 months ago and the topped up epidural during a fairly calm emcs didn't work properly. I couldn't feel the numbness but when they started cutting I could feel the pain of it. They tried a mind altering drug then did a ga. I'm terrified this will happen again. Am scheduled for Wednesday and planned spinal block, but am starting to go into panic mode - that is my biggest fear about the op and I don't think I can face feeling the surgeon cutting me again - terrified!!

Had this happened to anyone in the first birth then the 2nd birth was ok?

Thanks

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Ushy · 01/04/2012 18:39

Hmm... they are supposed to test the area for effectiveness before proceding. This accounts for a lot of litigation claims |

"Pain during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia was classified as ?mild? or ?moderate? (where post-traumatic stress disorder was cited) harm and these cases in particular contribute to the high frequency of low severity claims seen with obstetric anaesthesia. The relatively large proportion of claims relating to pain during caesarean section suggests a need to improve intra-operative management of regional anaesthesia " (NHS Litigation Authority Claims analysis)

Mention that you didn't sue last time - might focus their minds!

cheaperthantherapy · 01/04/2012 19:02

:) thanks.. Have changed hospitals because of it... I know it is v unlikely to happen again but in some ways I'm thinking maybe it's my back/me and it's going to happen again (admittedly these thoughts are strongest in early hrs of morn when laying awake worrying )...

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Ushy · 01/04/2012 19:14

Yeh, good luck - and don't worry but do make sure they know what happened before.

You might find this useful

www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk/assets/_managed/editor/File/Info%20for%20Mothers/CS_leaflets/CS_ed2_english.pdf

cheaperthantherapy · 01/04/2012 19:38

Thank you! Had googled for info but not found anything as clear as that. :)

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mrsbrabbit · 01/04/2012 21:35

Hi. Just wanted to put your mind at rest, I had my third section four weeks ago. I had a v similar problem in August 2010 with the spinal during ELCS. I didn't feel the cutting but the spinal only went to T7 which meant I felt pain when they did a deep abdominal swab. Had to call the anaethetist over from the other side of the room where he was leaning nonchalantly against a bench rather than monitoring me!

When I unexpectedly found I was pregnant with DS2, I was terrified about the operation due to the issues with the spinal. I too changed hospitals and a senior consultant obstetrician did the op as I had a lot of adhesions after an EMCS and ELCS. I arranged to meet the anaesthetist who would be on duty before the operation to talk through my concerns. He suggested that perhaps the spinal had been put it too quickly which meant it didn't go high enough. On the day of the operation, he told me they were going to elevate my feet for a few minutes after administering the spinal to make sure it had the best chance of being effective.

I have to say that despite my fears, my experience four weeks ago was definitely the best section of the three. I didn't feel a thing! I now have a very lovely, very hungry little boy. Good luck, I'm sure it will be absolutely fine. x

cheaperthantherapy · 01/04/2012 22:19

Thank you so much - that does help put my mind at rest to some extent. I'll ask about raising my feet :) it really is such an awful thing to go thru I'm just fixating on it a bit because I want to do anything I can to prevent it.

Congrats on your baby boy!

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kitstwins · 03/04/2012 14:31

I understand your worries. The same thing happened to me with my first birth (twins - emergency caesarean) and it was horrific; really knocked me sideways both physically and emotionally. My epidural failed and my spinal block failed - I felt the same combination of lack of movement and sensation but feeling pain on cutting that you describe.

It took me four years to pluck up the courage to have another baby. I changed hospital, got consultant care, hired a doula and did everything I could to avoid another caesarean. As it turns out, I ended up with another emergency caesarean as my baby was very ill in utero and in distress. Even in the pandemonium in theatre I still felt a fatalistic dread about the spinal not working. I was just expecting it to go wrong. It didn't - my consultant and theatre team knew my previous birth history and were really reassuring - and I can still remember my astonishment when I realised the spinal had worked and I truly couldn't feel anything. Plus the exhileration when I realised I was going to see my baby being born. I was euphoric.

I'm proof that lightening doesn't always strike twice. We were just really unlucky the first time and the odds are in your favour that things will go to plan this time. What helped me was writing stuff into my birthplan in case it happened again - it was a way of gaining some control and understanding of an event that last time had proved to be beyond my control and comprehension. I included points along the lines of:

Owing to my previous birth (failed epi/spinal - delivery under GA) I would like the following to be put in place should I have to deliver under GA this time:

? photographs to be taken of baby at moment of delivery
? baby to be handed immediately (presumably outside theatre as husbands not permitted to be present during GA delivery) to my husband for skin to skin
? husband to discover sex of baby and inform me
? consultant/anaethetist to offer full debrief of what happened during delivery

There might have been a few extra things but overall this was the gist. So much of my twins' birth was a mystery to me and I really struggled with that. Although I dreaded the thought of another GA delivery I knew that there were no guarantees and noone could promise me with absolute certainty that it wouldn't happen again. This list at least meant that if it did I would have the opportunity to build a picture of what happened and also take comfort from the fact that my baby was in the immediate care of loving family (my husband). These were the things that had been missing the first time - both so important and taken for granted that they will be yours.

I hope this helps. I wish you all the best for your caesarean next week.

cheaperthantherapy · 03/04/2012 22:55

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I've made a note of your thoughts and think I'll incorporate some for if I have to have a general again. I am definately going to take some extra time with the surgeon and anethetist to make sure they fully understand. The last thing I want (except for feeling the op) is to miss my baby's birth again.... I was looking thru SIL phone the other day and found the first photos dh had sent her of dd- I realised they had been taken before I'd even got to meet her, was sad all over again..

I also never had a debrief and in all the confusion dh was v overwhelmed so a tad useless at trying to tell me what happened. Hopefully taking the control at this stage will help all go smoother :)

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catsareevil · 03/04/2012 23:01

Spinals ae completely different from epidurals. I had a failed epidural that allowed me to be able to tell exactly what was being done. Sad
I was worried then (with my second child) that a spinal would leave me feeling it, but I didnt feel a thing. I didnt even worry that I would because once they had started I knew I wouldnt be feeing anything.

Spinals do give a more complete block than epidurals.

cheaperthantherapy · 05/04/2012 04:39

Just in case anyone else was following this or searches for similar topic in future - quick update... Had elcs today, spinal was fab felt only pulling and tugging... No pain. Now I have a gorgeous baby boy.

:)

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Lunarlyte · 05/04/2012 07:05

Hello, I've been reading this thread with interest: congratulations on the birth of your baby boy!! Thanks Sounds like it was a lovely birth :)

catsareevil · 05/04/2012 07:09

Thats great. Congratulations Smile Thanks

StickAForkInMeImDone · 05/04/2012 07:19

Many congratulations Thanks Glad it all went well. Smile

mrsbrabbit · 09/04/2012 20:56

So glad all went well. Many congratulations! xxx

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