Concerns about epidural

[DemiErdal]

I've been booked in for a c-section due to hip / pelvis problems. My main concern is having to have epidural and hearing all the horror stories that go with c - sections! Are they really that bad? I know they carry risks like pretty much everything we do in life!

I've getting pretty anxious now😩

I had an epidural and it was absolutely fine. No pain at all just a weird tingly sensation. The anticipation is worse than having it done. I can’t comment on a c section though. Good luck!

I’ve had two spirals, not for a c section but birth related.
The first I was going to have a c section but they managed to get him out with forceps (rushed as heart rate dropped). The 2nd I had one after birth as my placenta was attached to the womb wall so had to be manually removed.
I had no issues at all with either spinals, no issues after.
Felt well looked after and cared for

@MummyGoingItAlone @Namechangers87171717 thank you both for the reassurance ! I've got 3 and a half weeks left and now seems to be the time that everyone is telling me their worse horror stories about birth, c-sections and epidurals! Not sure why anyone would think that's a good idea x

Don't forget many C-sections and epidurals are emergencies and involve hours (sometimes days) of pain and stress and sleeplessness first. Likewise quite a few epidurals are given only when the pain becomes unbearable. Shattered dreams involved too perhaps if you are idealistic or passionate about certain things. By contrast when epidurals and C-sections are all planned, it is often calm and lovely 😊 Good luck!

I had an epidural after 24 hours of labour with a back to back baby - I remember the feeling of absolute bliss as the pain finally stopped - I think I told the anaesthetist I loved him Then I asked if I could go to sleep now "Er, no, we still have to get the baby out!" Didn't have a c section so no comment on that but had no issues with the epidural.

@BreadMole that's a very good point thank you for pointing that out to me! With a planned c section they tell you all the risks and even though the chances of them happening are very minimal there is always that "what if" in the back of my mind!

@HildaSnibbs oh gosh you poor thing! That's made me a little less on edge about the whole thing, thank you!! I suppose it's a bit like everything else no one really tells you the "good" outcomes of epidural it's always the worse cases you hear!🤦‍♀️

I had an epidural and an emergency c section and I healed really well and quickly

I had an emergency c-section and epidural. As the guy went to insert it he warned me that it might hurt but I didn’t feel a thing! All my friends who had planned c-sections said they were lovely.

I really did NOT want one but the hospital waited until i was pretty much out of it until they shoved a form under my nose i have NO recollection of signing. Long story cut short, they missed, SEVEN TIMES. My back is a mess. Something 'catches' in my back, usually my right side, its so painful it takes my breath away and when its really bad, i end up limping because i cant put weight on my right leg or it happens again. When pregnant with DC2 it swapped to my left side randomly but ive not had any trouble since touch wood

Plus anesthetic either doesn't work for me or takes a MASSIVE dose and ages to work.

I've had 3 (all for CS). All completely fine. They gave me a small local anaesthetic (just a tiny momentary sting, like having a blood sample taken or even less than that) and then felt nothing. Had to sit very still - they had me sit on the side of a bed, resting my arms over one of those over-bed tables with a pillow on top so I was comfortable and stable. All 3 took well. That's it really. I think as long as you are properly supported, you sit really still and not fidget, and if you are as calm as you can be then it helps.

There was no pain, no side effects, no after effects for any of them. All positive here

For an elective CS you will most likely have a spinal, not an epidural. Both procedures are very safe overall (though with recognised complications which your anaesthetist will discuss with you) but a spinal for an elective op is even more straightforward than something done in a hurry in labour.

This FAQ is done by the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association which should answer some of your questions more objectively. www.labourpains.com/FAQ_CSection