Spinal vs General - scheduled CS

[kf1979]

Hi,

Am booked in for a planned CS for DS2 this Friday and am having a hard time figuring out which way to go.

DS1 birth was a failed induction where anaesthetist tried to site epidural FOUR times without success. Was in agony for hours and ended in GA. Very traumatised by the whole experience and also by not having my perfect "natural" birth.

This time I'm actually quite happy to be having a planned CS, so no issue there as such.

I have a consultation with the anaesthetist on Thurs pm where I think I'll be offered the option of spinal or general. I am pretty terrified of the spinal option after having had such a terrible experience last time.

My nerves are saying to take the GA, but am wondering if I'll end up regretting missing out on the birth for the second (and last) time?

Would love any POVs from either side! Thank you!

I had a spinal for my one and only delivery. Anaesthetist did have to poke a couple of times before she got it right (the only part of the whole process when I actually thought I would cry for my mummy...)

I had been afraid of the c section for most of my pregnancy, afraid of being awake whilst it was being carried out. But my midwife had been fairly firm with me and told me GA was not the preferred option for the risks involved.

But actually when it happened, I was so happy to be awake and see my babies as soon as I could. So I was grateful for the spinal rather than a GA in the end. Good luck with your section, hope it will be a different anaesthetist from last time.

The preference from the medical point of view would be to have a spinal as there is less 'recovery' from this than a GA. When you see the anesthetist discuss your concerns and may be worth them looking at your back while you are there as some people have easier backs for sighting the spinal.

I know one of my friends had difficulties getting the epinal with her second c section (she ended up with a GA with her first as an emergency) and was down to her having a tightly packed spine. I know she said is was so much better having a spinal for the recovery than when she had the GA - it wasn't just missing the birth but also the few hours afterwards as well.

Hope your appt goes well.

Maybe you can discuss your fears with the doctor? How about agreeing to a spinal, but with the condition that if it is difficult to get it in, you can still have a general?

Thanks everyone - this is all reassuring stuff!

Yes, fortunately a different anaesthetist (in fact a different hospital and country too!) so I hope things might be smoother this time. I guess I just need to put on my big girl pants and keep my eyes on the prize a bit!

I'd almost prefer to just be told one way or another, but over here there's more choice than I'd expect back home (UK) and I'm not really used to having to make those kinds of decisions myself.

I will (wo)man up and aim for the spinal with the GA as backup.

I have has spinal for other procedures, and I would imagine that trying to site one in a planned situation would be a lot easier than on a woman in labour. Also, if that had trouble last time you may well find they will get a consultant who is very experienced to do it second time round, especially as they could be booked for a specific time. Good luck - I hope it all goes well.

Thank you!

I'll hold onto the idea of easy as pie! Thank you!

As a midwife ive sometimes seen an anaesthetist fail to get a spinal in, had a few attempts. They get a colleague to help who normally gets it in first time.

Go for the spinal. Chances are there won't be any difficulty. You get to see baby straight away and have those memories. It's less risky for the baby as well.

I've had both. I would highly recommend a spinal. Recovery from the general (the effects of the anasetic rather then recovery from CS) was much much longer. Not seeing dd until she was 4 hours old and I was very groggy wasn't nice either.

Yes, I also have no real recollection of DS1s first day, which I've always been saddened by and felt I missed out.

Thank you all so much again - my appointment with the anaesthetist is tomorrow afternoon so I'm feeling a little more prepared now.

Have the spinal!

I had a GA with DC1, and a spinal with DC2.

I was absolutely gutted to have to be asleep. DC2 was such a different experience.

Unfortunately my only option this time is a GA due to a spinal fusion and I am really gutted. Given the chance, I'd have the spinal every time.

It is also worth bearing in mind that, in the UK, a general would normally mean that your DP would not be in surgery either. Of course, that shouldn't affect any clinical deicsions, but it's worth knowing if you want to weigh it in the balance.

My partner is not allowed to be present - he has to wait in the corridor.

Why not still try for a spinal, but agree with the anaesthetist that he/she only tries a couple of times to site it so you don't getvto traumatised. Hopefully this time it will be fine first time.

I'd always pick spinal over GA.

Thanks all for your great advice!

DS2 was born earlier this morning after a successful spinal and hearing him cry/skin to skin in theatre was magical. I'm so glad I perservered and a large part of that was down to the great advice I got here.

Thanks so much again - currently enjoying newborn snuggles!

aaaah. lovely news. congrats . hope you're both ok.

Congratulations!

Congratulations! lovely update

Congratulations!

Congratulations . Thanks for the update, glad it went smoothly for you.

Wow that is amazing news!!! Congratulations and take care of yourself