failed pain relief

12 replies

sparkle · 24/06/2005 23:22

Does anyone have experience of both a spinal and an epidural not working during childbirth? My sister's last delivery ended in a c-section under general as the other two failed. Is this likely to happen again? Her first birth was with gas and air only.

OP posts:

QueenOfQuotes · 24/06/2005 23:26

I had a spinal for a CS with DS1 - worked a dream - so well that it number me from my neck down and I still couldn't move at all at 8pm in the evening (he was born at 12.16 in the afternoon!!!

2nd time around went for a VBAC and apart from the very first shot of pethidine NONE of the pain relief worked - including the maximum dose for spinal/epidural

So although I don't know if it can work after 'not' working, but it can certainly not work after working............and I suspect it could be the other way round too.

sallystrawberry · 24/06/2005 23:28

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misdee · 24/06/2005 23:29

epidural didnt work for mw with dd1. midwife didnt belive and stitch me afterweards with no other painrelief. i was in tears by the end.

Original poster

sparkle · 24/06/2005 23:29

that's interesting. I'll wait and see if others have had similar experiences. She's pregnant with twins and so I suppose more likely to have a section than for a single birth( I know not always the case!)

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 24/06/2005 23:49

I had an epidural for a knee operation that didn't work. The spinal did, however.

I was afraid that would happen again in childbirth, but it didn't. This time, it worked!

starlover · 29/06/2005 19:12

i had 2 epidurals when i had DS... the first one didn't work.. so the anaesthetist relocated and tried again and it was fine!

Hayls · 29/06/2005 19:16

My epidural worked on one side only...
It did take the edge off it but nowhere near as effective as the other side. It was topped up so much that I was still numb and catheterised after 18 hours.

Doddle · 29/06/2005 19:24

My epidural had missing bits during my C-section with DS2, we thought it would be alright as the bits I could feel were mainly in my legs, but when they started cutting it was obvious it wasn't!!! They gave me a massive dose of ketamine and I tripped my way through the rest of the operation. Quite pleasant really!

Whizzz · 29/06/2005 19:48

I had epidural but it took so long that it was starting to wear off at the end. Fine until I needed stitches
Nurse - you won't feel this
me - I can
Nurse - no you shouldn't feel this
me - I CAN give me the gas back NOW

motherinferior · 29/06/2005 19:50

My epi didn't work first go and only on one side second go. But I didn't have a spinal.

Hausfrau · 29/06/2005 20:26

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horseshoe · 30/06/2005 12:48

I had an epi and like some others said...only numbed one side of the body.

Flip