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.

What’s the difference between epidural and spinal block?

I already had an epidural, was numb to boobs but with hindsight should have let them do the numb test a bit longer than I could feel it so that I was totally numb.

Baby born at 8pm, was on my feet by 6am probably could have been earlier but I had pethadine (or morphine?) in theatre and wasn’t fully conscious for hours.

thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/regional-anaesthesia-caesarean-2018.pdf this fact sheet is brill.

Apparently the tube that goes in your spine is about 15cm long and very wide/thick compared to the spinal one which is really thin and short. I think it is put in differently somehow too. Not sure if they use different drugs.

A spinal works in minutes and can't be topped up without moving you back into position. An epidural is through a very fine line that stays in and can be topped up when required. It takes longer to start working though.
They are injected into different spaces in your spinal area.

Thanks very much everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences, it's great to hear what to expect from those who have actually gone through it themselves. I'll definitely have a look at that YouTube video and the fact sheet. Thanks for referencing them!

I had a spinal with EMCS.

I had the shaking, i thought it was just me being a wuss as I was very scared. But found out recently it is a 'thing'

Oh thank you re the difference.

I still don’t understand the benefits of one o we the other but I guess that’s why I’ve found it hard to research this.

In the unlikely event that I have a second I’ll probably have to have an ELCS and have been curious as to how a spinal would be different.

I had epidural both times. First was a ventouse Delivery and I was sick and had the shakes-difficult to stitch a shaking lady. Second was emcs and was fine. I was in hdu for about 12 hours due to blood loss so didn’t stand but there were no issues.

I had a planned spinal 25yrs ago. Worked within a minute.numb from just below boobs. I didnt feel anything, no rummaging. Didn't feel sick. I did get lightheaded and vision started going black but anaesthetist was quick and gave me something and I didn't pass out.
I got the shivery shakes in recovery.
The numbness started to wear off by afternoon and gone by evening. Delivery was 11am.

I think from the patient's point of view, the main difference is that an epidural is like a drip that stays in and can be topped up. A spinal is a one off injection.

I have emetophobia and haven't vomited for 25 years and was so scared of being sick during mine I cried as soon as they gowned me up, I think I convinced myself I felt sick when I didn't and got into such a tizz they sedated me, second time I was the same as soon as I lay down I kept saying I felt sick, they were so good and gave me lots of antiemetics and said as soon as my BP dropped (if it did) they would give me meds to bring it back up.

I had the uncontrollable shaking due to shock with my vaginal (non-epidural) birth, but not my c section.

Mine wore off within half an hour both times (one spinal for retained placenta, one for a c section) I could easily have walked around after about 90minutes if it hadn't been for the catheter.

I have no idea whether I had epidural or spinal, I don't know the difference!

And re vomiting, I vomited during my vaginal delivery but not my c section.

Honestly, all the bad things people reference about c section, I had with my vaginal birth and none of them with my c section (numbness, infection, not being able to move, pain, long recovery, vomitting, shaking, feeling faint etc).

I've had two spinals for sections. First time was an EMCS I'd had an epidural and this was replaced with a spinal, I did go into shock afterwards and was shaking for quite sometime but put this down to a traumatic labour. Can't remember how long it took to wear off as I was pretty out of it. I was sick the following day, but think this was more likely to be a consequence of pethadine, epidural and block in 12 hour period.

Second time was a planned section, no shaking, no sickness, block went in at around 9am and I was catheter free and showered by about 6pm (I had to push for this though, I was adamant I wanted to settle down for the night clean and wanted to do this in visiting hours so DH could look after the baby). I started to regain feeling whilst in recovery so probably a few hours.

Don't be scared to ask questions, the first time round I lay there petrified, too scared to ask any questions. Second time I was much more confident to ask questions and express how I felt, I think at one point during the section I mentioned I felt nauseous and was given anti sickness meds via an IV.

I was also very itchy afterwards, was scratching my whole body with a hair brush!

I had it at 1:30pm and could start to move my legs in the bed again about 7pm. I could get up to move into a wheelchair about 8pm. It really freaked me out not being able to feel my legs

Epidural is just a weaker version of a spinal block. For a c section it’ll be a block. They use the epidural so that the woman can still feel the contractions in labour to know when to push but they are not as painful. For a c section no pushing required so full block.

I was up and walking by 10pm, had the spinal at 1.15pm

I had a spinal. Just as a reassurance, mine ‘went wrong’ and impacted my breathing/chest area. They dealt with it super calmly and quickly. I understood what was going on but at no point was it scary. They are very good at their job and even if it doesn’t go absolutely to plan, they know what to do.
I have only happy, good memories of that baby’s birth.

"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?"

Yes this happened to me after I came out of theatre in recovery. I was wrapped in a sliver foil type blanket. No idea how long it lasted as I was in shock. I did lose a lot of blood on the table though which is probably why

I also threw up when I was in labour

I've had both.

It numbs to my toes. And up to the top of my chest

Took about 4 hours to wear off

Didn't notice any difference about either.

yep - the nausea during the procedure is due to blood pressure dropping so let the anaesthetist know. My dad did spinals (and had one for his prostate op so that he could let me know what it was like for my two electives after an emergency one). Wears off pretty fast. One thing that I would've liked to have known beforehand is that the uterus ligaments can bear the weight of a human, so don't worry abut the tugging!

I was walking just over a mile with my second. My first I walked a long way. But I was incredibly poorly.

My second I went to make w cup of tea. The dr stopped me asking me what the he'll I was doing. I said oh my gosh. I'm so sorry. But I was really thirsty. She said no I just can't believe your uk and walking!! Then got the drs to watch me. However I didn't have any pain relief for either after. I didn't need it. Plus my baby was in neo natal. Both times. To that made me mobilise much quicker. Some women didn't even get out of bed for 4 days

I was up and out within 4 hrs. I made them take the catheter out. As that was awful. It's meant to stay in 12 hrs. But both times I couldn't bare it. So they took mine out. With the promise that I made sure I peed within 12 hrs. I drank so much water that I was fit to burst. That solved that problem.

I shook. From head to toe. For a good hour and a half. No problem though. Just can't help it.

I've had three ELCS. All three were spinals and I was numb from about arm pit level. I shook the entire time of all three surgeries though, I think it's from the drugs, not sure which drugs. I shook so much I didn't feel safe holding the baby but it wasn't a problem, my DH held them close to me. The shaking wore off while I was in recovery and I think the spinal wore off in a few hours.