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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Epidural for elective versus emergency

15 replies

RambamThankyouMam · 30/12/2022 21:18

I had an epidural during labour with DD two years ago, which ended in an emergency section. I barely remember the epidural as I was in so much pain and begging for relief.

I'm due an elective with DS in a couple of weeks, and wondering how much pain I should be preparing for, given that I won't be in labour (unless he decides to make an entrance earlier...)

Is it agonising if you're not already in pain? Can you feel it going in?

I've suddenly started to be nervous.

OP posts:

TeddyBeans · 30/12/2022 21:20

I dunno about a spinal but they numb you first before the epidural needle goes in so you shouldn't feel much pain at all, just pressure if anything

Lkydfju · 30/12/2022 21:23

I don’t really remember it hurting much so I wouldn’t worry.

CoffeeBoy · 30/12/2022 21:24

It’s fine. They do a local first with a normal size needle. So after that all you feel is pushing, nothing sharp.

trilbydoll · 30/12/2022 21:26

They spray some freezing stuff on first. I've never felt anything so cold 😂they did warn me but it was still a shock! No pain though, at any stage.

Farcry66 · 30/12/2022 21:27

Doesn't hurt at all, I was fully conscious and non-pain relief. Have a numbing spray first, cold but not unpleasant. Then you can feel them moving you and a bit of poking, but no pain at all - similar to how it feels during the section itself actually.

PepsiMaxandPringleStacks · 30/12/2022 21:27

It's very annoying because you'll have been fasting. It was irritating more than anything else for me cause I was hangry and they put it in wrong the first time and had to re-do.

I'm only 4ft11 so they did a lower dose of spinal block and put an epidural line in too in case the spinal block wasn't enough and they needed to top me up.

JuneWind · 30/12/2022 21:28

I had the same as you, epidural for EMCS which I have zero recollection of. Then recently ELCS. Felt a sharp scratch when the needle went in, yes it hurt a bit but was literally over in seconds. As soon as it was done there was no pain at all.

Please don’t worry, you won’t even be thinking about it when you have your beautiful baby in your arms! Good luck!

Original poster

RambamThankyouMam · 30/12/2022 21:28

I feel better about it now - thank you!

I really hope I get an early slot. I will be absolutely ravenous from fasting

OP posts:

snowflake29 · 30/12/2022 21:30

I had a spinal not an epidural but the process is likely similar. I didn't feel pain but I felt some pressure and the anaesthetist said I may feel like an electric shock on one side, but I didn't.

ginggung · 30/12/2022 21:30

I had a spinal for my C section last year, and epidurals 15 years ago and I think the former was a lot less painful. I felt no pain at all during C section only a weird tugging feeling which again wasn't painful at all.

After surgery just keep on top of your pain meds ( keep a track of times and take when you are due) and start moving around as soon as you can. After surgery you will be sore but the pain meds do suffice.

RandomCatGenerator · 30/12/2022 21:30

I remember the first needle being pretty uncomfortable. The second needle feels weird because it is big and it takes a while for all the liquid to go in. But pain isn’t the right word, but I’d prepare for some discomfort.

Good luck with the birth! I loved my elective.

PepsiMaxandPringleStacks · 30/12/2022 21:31

P.s my first was emergency and second was elective so I understand how you're feeling but honestly the elective was so much calmer and easier to recover from!

daschundthroughthesnow · 30/12/2022 21:33

The spinal needle is much much smaller (though not shorter, just a really thin needle) than the epidural needle so I would hope it would be less painful in that respect!

aSofaNearYou · 30/12/2022 21:33

I had an emergency then an elective. It was definitely much more of a "thing" with the elective - like you I was really out of it when I had my first and barely noticed the process. During the elective they spent quite a lot of time getting the angle right and setting up etc which made me more nervous than I anticipated. But no it wasn't particularly painful, just a dull throb.

MummyJ36 · 31/12/2022 12:32

I was very worried about the spinal! But once I was in there everyone was so calm and nice it really did help. They give you a local first which was a pinprick and when the spinal itself goes in it’s just pressure. I remember lying down once it started to take effect and thinking “well that’s over with and it wasn’t too bad!”. I didn’t feel a single thing during my ELCS. I was expecting the washing machine feeling everyone talks about but I honestly didn’t feel a single thing.

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