3rd C-section | Mumsnet

gs26 · 2022-07-08T18:17:20+00:00

Hello...I'm being booked in for my 3rd section, 1st section being emergency and the second classed as emergency but just didn't progress well in labour. Best option this time around is a planned section but during section number 2 the spinal didn't work and I had to be put to sleep, what's the chances of the spinal not working again? REALLY want my partner to be able to be there and be there straight after but I have a massive fear that it will not work again?

Greybeardy · 08/07/2022 19:51

Depends on exactly what the problem was. It’s probably best to ask for an appointment with an obstetric anaesthetist to discuss it with them. Very broadly speaking, having had 1 spinal fail for no particularly obvious reason probably wouldn’t put most people off trying again, and with better luck on a different day, in a calmer elective scenario it’d probably work fine. The obs anaesthetist would hopefully be able to see the old anaesthetic chart & see if there was a particular issue and examine you to see if there was any obvious reason (eg scoliosis) that things might have been more difficult. For a 3rd section they may be tempted to do a combined spinal-epidural and depending again on what the problem was, this can offer some advantage if a spinal’s been suboptimal in the past. HTH.

Dilemmaemmaaa · 08/07/2022 19:51

I think it’s just your sheer luck with the positioning of it so probably not any more likely than it is for anyone else to have to go to sleep. Hopefully you’ll be fine this time

Original poster

gs26 · 08/07/2022 20:35

Greybeardy · 08/07/2022 19:51

Depends on exactly what the problem was. It’s probably best to ask for an appointment with an obstetric anaesthetist to discuss it with them. Very broadly speaking, having had 1 spinal fail for no particularly obvious reason probably wouldn’t put most people off trying again, and with better luck on a different day, in a calmer elective scenario it’d probably work fine. The obs anaesthetist would hopefully be able to see the old anaesthetic chart & see if there was a particular issue and examine you to see if there was any obvious reason (eg scoliosis) that things might have been more difficult. For a 3rd section they may be tempted to do a combined spinal-epidural and depending again on what the problem was, this can offer some advantage if a spinal’s been suboptimal in the past. HTH.

Thankyou I'll make sure I make that appointment x

OP posts:

Original poster

gs26 · 08/07/2022 20:35

Dilemmaemmaaa · 08/07/2022 19:51

I think it’s just your sheer luck with the positioning of it so probably not any more likely than it is for anyone else to have to go to sleep. Hopefully you’ll be fine this time

Hopefully it was just bad luck last time x

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chopc · 08/07/2022 20:58

Spinal didn't work 1st and 2nd times as there wasn't enough time to get it to work. Elective sections are different. If will work

Original poster

gs26 · 08/07/2022 20:59

chopc · 08/07/2022 20:58

Spinal didn't work 1st and 2nd times as there wasn't enough time to get it to work. Elective sections are different. If will work

Thankyou. I'm hoping so but hoping I don't go into labour before the booked section x

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Junebug22 · 11/07/2022 10:25

I had a planned section a couple of weeks ago and the epidural seemed to work with the exception of me being able to completely lift and move my right leg (very puzzling for everyone in theatre!!). Both anaesthetists really took their time testing my numbness, giving it a bit longer to work and then ultimately just gave me another spinal which did the trick. I think when it’s planned and baby isn’t in distress, they have more time to do these extra things so hopefully if there was an issue again, they won’t have to jump straight to general for you.

Original poster

gs26 · 11/07/2022 10:27

Junebug22 · 11/07/2022 10:25

I had a planned section a couple of weeks ago and the epidural seemed to work with the exception of me being able to completely lift and move my right leg (very puzzling for everyone in theatre!!). Both anaesthetists really took their time testing my numbness, giving it a bit longer to work and then ultimately just gave me another spinal which did the trick. I think when it’s planned and baby isn’t in distress, they have more time to do these extra things so hopefully if there was an issue again, they won’t have to jump straight to general for you.

Thankyou that's really reassuring for me. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience xx

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