Anyone had a spinal block that didn't work?

[zazas]

With my second child I ended up with an emergency c-section and was given a spinal block which didn't work so ended up having a general. Has this happened to anyone else and if so have they then gone on to have another one that did work in another pregnancy if they needed one.

Third baby due in April - hoping not to have another c-section but if I am in that position would hope not to have to have a general again but concerned that spinals don't work for me (not had an epidural)???

My edpidural during childbirth didn't work and afterwards I had one for back disability which worked for about nine months.

I had another one after that which didn't work.

I then went onto have two spinal blocks, neither of which worked (for back problems again). The doc said basically that it wasn't worth trying any more.

I know mine were for a different reason but I was lead to believe they work for some and not others. Perhaps we're in the not others category.

Yes i had one that didnt work and ended up with a general, that was with dd1 and was for manual removal of retained placenta. Have not had to have one since so cant really comment further as to if it was a one off or if it would always be the case. Good luck in april.

You could ask your Midwife to refer you to an aneasthetist (i never remember how to spell that word). They can ry to go through what went wrong first time around. Do you have your notes from previous birth? That might help.

Well that is a relief that I am not the only one that this has happened to...

They never explained to me why it didn't work but I do remember the total disbelief on the anesthetist's face when I said that I would still feel my legs! She kept saying that she had done it right and I kept saying - fine but I can still feel everything - don't cut me open! My notes are somewhere I guess....

I am just hoping that if I end up in the same situtation it is not the same result - so maybe taking it through with an anesthetist just in case would help?

I had my first elec CS in Canada and the spinal was fine.

The second one in the UK used a different anaesthetic that I was very resistant to. I had a double dose but it wore off very quickly during the CS and I was in a lot of pain for the final 15 mins. Bonus though - I was able to move freely as soon as I got to the recovery room and was up and about within a few hours. I was prescribed Voltarol which was brill for the pain.

I had an epidural during labour with ds1. I went on to need an emergency section. It bloody hurt, but was just about manageable. Felt like I was being a massive wimp. They got ds out but when they went to remove the placenta, I nearly jumped off the table. It was the worse experience of my life. They gave me a general then. I was told afterwards it was because the epidural was incorrectly positioned.

Needless to say, I was shit-scared when I was told I must have an elective section when pregnant with ds2. But at every opportunity I got them to review my previous notes in order to explain why I was so anxious. I was given reassurances all the way, especially by the anaesthetist. They took my concerns really seriously, believed me all the time and took extra time and care with me. Btw, it went beautifully and painfree (had a spinal this time).

One bad experience doesn't necessarily mean the next one will be bad. In my case I think it helped that it was done 'electively' as there was more time and staff available. Good luck.