Spinal for C Section

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Hi All,

I had my ELCS approved today but the consultant said she couldn't really answer any questions about the spinal and this would be explained by the anaesthetist. However, I won't meet him/her until the day of the surgery.

I was hoping someone could answer a few questions for me as I'm finding conflicting info when I google:

1. How far up your body does the anaesthetic numb?
2. How long does it take to wear off? Or start to wear off?
3. Which is more commonly used, spinal block or epidural?

Thanks.

It numbs from chest down - for me, under my boobs. I could still feel my arms and shoulders and move them around.

I think it wore off in a couple of hours? Don't remember.

I had a spinal block as the section was planned.

I had a spinal for my first c section--wore off a few hours agyer my little boy was delivered, I could feel movement but no pain, numb from boobs down, epidural with my second - could still kind of move - felt a lot more pain during c section than with the spinal, again wore off after a few hours

1, up to your boobs or there abouts

2, can be up to twelve hours, but really dependent upon the person

3, will be spinal most likely.

I had an ELCS 2 weeks ago, i had a spinal and it numbed up to under my boobs, I had the spinal at around 9am, I could move my legs by around lunchtime

I had a spinal (twice)
It goes up to around nipple height. Everything is numb as you’d expect but you can still feel dull movements. Pre-op i read that it feels like coming washing up in your stomach and couldn’t imagine what on earth they meant. During surgery/delivery that’s exactly what it felt like! You can’t feel catheter or sepository at all.
By the time I was in recovery I could feel my legs. Due to complications both times I could not have enhanced recovery although I believe this is now standard and you are encouraged to mobilise as soon as possible so it must wear off v v quickly. The pain relief from the sepository lasts good while though.

I had a spinal and could move my arms fine, it went as far as my arm pits and they checked it is working by using a freeze spray from my toes upwards until I couldn't feel it under my arms. I could move my legs a couple of hours later and could walk about after 6 from memory

Agree with @BlueCookieMonster

Just to add, with my elective my son was born at 11.40 am and I was up and about and in the shower at 8 pm the same day so the spinal can wear off quite quickly. They recommend that you get up and moving about as soon as you feel able to.

Similar to above. Spinal went up to chest but could move arms.

Had mine about 9am, think I could start moving my legs around lunchtime, catheter out and walked to the toilet early afternoon.

Always spinal for planned section, epidurals only if it's an emergency and the epidural is already in.

Had a spinal for dc2, it blocked to just below my breasts. For me it wears off fairly fast. My feet were moving within 4 hours or so and I was on my feet by 6 hours post surgery. I had a tingling sensation in my legs the whole time but didn't feel any pain.

Thanks all, much appreciated!

Did any of you feel nauseous/vomit whilst in surgery? I've also heard your body can go into shock and cause uncontrollable shaking. Did anyone experience this? If so, how long did it last?

As you can tell, I'm a little anxious about the procedure (although grateful my request was approved).

Similar experience to everyone else - numb up to boob level and it had worn off after about 6 hours. I was asked a few times if I felt sick and, if I had, they would have given me something for it. I felt a bit sweaty and out of it but it passed quickly - I think part of it was not having eaten and as soon as I was in recovery with my DH feeding my chocolate, I felt fine. The anaesthetist is basically at your head the entire time and will be carefully monitoring you.

No shaking here.

Felt sick at one point during surgery- told the anaesthetist and they adjusted my drugs- bang I felt better. He was like a magician and so kind- I hear that’s not unusual amongst the profession.

Same sort of experience as everyone else. But I did get serious shakes as it wore off - maybe 30 mins?

I had a lot of shaking both times, it's the drugs that cause it. It lasted the length of the op but was worse at the start. It was like uncontrollable gittering of my teeth - it was so odd as I could not stop even when I tried. I also had slight nausea with my 2nd c section but not my first.

You can get shaking Ng as a side effect of the drugs,it doesn't last long but is irritating.However it is not due to shock.
Some women are sick(they are after all rummaging in your abdomen.The anaesthetist will give drugs to minimize this.

Yeah, I had a spinal both times, numb up to about chest - some hours to wear off, I'm not sure I stood up the first day.

I did feel quite zonked mentally while in recovery room clutching newborn (one lesson from first time was - don't send husband out to phone everyone while you're in there!) but no other problems.

Look up spinal anaesthesia for csection on YouTube.The Worcester Acute one is a talk through the whole thing by a consultant anaesthetist.

I was sick once but was given a anti sickness injection after and wasnt sick anymore.i did have the shakes. Unsure why that was. Mix of drugs and anxiety maybe. I had an epidural for pain relief but ended up in theatre for a forceps delivery

I was also numb up to just under my boobs. I don’t recall feeling sick, but I did get the shakes, I was shivering like I was freezing cold but it didn’t last very long. It’s a weird sensation during the section, my Dr described it as they’re actually pinching me hard, but it’ll feel like someone’s touching me which helped reassure me (I was absolutely terrified of having a section and all that would happen).

I had mine at 3pm, and felt ready to get up and walk around that evening, but I didn’t actually get up until the next morning.

I was so carefully monitored and reassured every step of the way I felt like I was in control of what was happening despite being unable to move most of body. It was a very positive experience, and very calm.

I also agree that anaesthetists are generally amazingly kind and reassuring.

I refused the anti sickness meds with my 2nd as I wanted to minimise drugs due to what happened during my 1st emcs. Don't do that. I couldn't keep anything down for the first 24 hours and essentially had to lie to the anesthetist to be allowed to go home after one night.

How far up can vary depending on dose of drug, for my ECS they kept spraying me with a cold aerosol to check where I was numb to (it went slightly higher then planned, as I had already had a epidural just before it became an emergency, but it wasn't fully effective, so I had spinal as well). For second ELCS it was just below Boob hight.

Both times I could move my feet after a few hours, and stand after about 6/7 hours.

I vomited twice during my emcs. It was rotten because it all went down my face and soaked my hair!

Also got horrendous uncontrollable shakes. Had a nurse each side holding my arms to try and keep them still.

I was able to feel and move my legs in recovery and was walking around 3hrs later both times.

I was v shaky immediately after surgery, blood pressure fell through the floor and needed warming up in recovery. That was the drugs. I felt fine really but couldn't stop the shaking/blurred vision/temperature drop. The anaesthetist fixed it all.

The nausea and vomiting is because the spinal anaesthetic will drop your blood pressure. They will give you medication to counteract the drop and also to reduce nausea. They will also give you some medication to drink beforehand (it tastes yucky, so don't sip it just neck it).
You will still feel some movement and also a lot of pressure as the baby comes out, this is normal. The anaesthetist will check the block before the surgeon starts. You usually feel numb up to your chest and you won't be able to lift your legs. As it wears off after three to four hours you get pins and needles. This is normal.