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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

I anyone else absolutly petrified about spinal c-section?

43 replies

mummytopebs · 21/12/2009 20:56

I am having a c-section 20th jan and i am absolutly petrified of having the spinal. I have had a section before but had a general and i found this fine. I have spoken to the anathetist who has went through the pros of the spinal and i know it will prob be best, especially seem as i sufferd from post natal depression with my dd cos didnt see her so didnt get the bond.

Can anyone give me any advice or encouragement cos its already keeping me awake at night worrying about it

OP posts:

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WewishyouaNORTYxmas · 21/12/2009 21:00

I had one on Feb 2nd this year and it was fab! You can be given a sedative to calm you down if you ask (I was).....so much better than my previous epidural and miles better than a general I should think!

You'll be fine

defyinggravity · 21/12/2009 21:02

I went into labour and found out my baby was breech, so ended up having a cs. The spinal seriously was a peace of cake. I lost all feeling from my boobs down for a number of hours but had no side effects. It didn't hurt me as it was put in and I had no headaches and have had no backache or anything similar since, and that was nearly 2 years ago. You'll be fine.

FabIsGettingReadyForXmas · 21/12/2009 21:04

I had an emergency section with ds1 and that was by spinal block. I wasn't able to hold him until he was over 3 hours old and had no trouble bonding and also had pnd so don't assume you will have both.

MrsMattie · 21/12/2009 21:07

I've had two.

With my first I was sick with fear and thought I would pass out. It turned out to be painless and totally fine.

With my second I was once again white with fear and very nauseous as I thought maybe I'd just had some sort of lucky fluke the first time around, but again, it was fine. Very weird hot and cold sensation in my spine and legs, but didn't hurt and took effect very quickly.

The feeling of being numb from the chest down is utterly bizarre, but I honestly felt no pain at any point.

Meglet · 21/12/2009 21:18

Are you scared in case it hurts? Or are you worried about being awake during the cs?

It really won't hurt. I have had 2 spinals (2 cs's and a hysterectomy). Not sure if your hospital will be the same but in all of mine they sprayed an icy cold spray on my back, which I think is a local anaesthetic. Maybe I'm weird but each time I found it hilarious as it made me jump nearly a foot off the table . Then when that took effect they put the needle in for the spinal, I could feel the pressure from them inserting it, but only a little prick as it went it. Yes, its a weird sensation but they will know what they're doing. Then after a minute your legs will go numb and you can lie down as it takes effect, you may feel it slowly working it's way up your legs and it stops just below your boobs. And thats all you need to do . You may feel a bit of pushing and pressure when they get the baby out, but it doesn't hurt at all. I was happy being awake during both my cs's (1st was an em cs) the staff were calm and chatting away to me and each other then baby was out, checked and passed to me and my then DP, took about 40 mins to stitch me up then back to high dependency ward.

I was very nervous before my 2nd cs as it was planned and I ended up very tearful and shaking but the theatre staff were wonderful and the midwife held my hand while they prepped me. If you are nervous let them know and they will talk you through it as they go.

SleightiesChick · 21/12/2009 21:21

I had both a spinal AND an epidural for my planned CS earlier this year (don't ask, medical intricacies) and it was fine. No pain, didn't feel anything while baby was delivered, and I was able to hold him and feed him not absolutely immediately, but pretty quickly, in the recovery room. I have breastfed since then so no problems there. If you have any more specific questions, ask, but hopefully the posts here will help with your worries.

makkapakkamoo · 21/12/2009 21:23

meglet I have had both like you and it was exactly like your account.

the only difference was they used something that felt like warm water being poured down my back instead of your cold spray, although i had the cold spray to test numbness in 1st (epidural emcs).

I also cried going into theatre wonder what that's all about?

ImSoNotTelling · 21/12/2009 21:23

Also poting to say don't worry about it hurting.

When I had both my emcs and elcs, they gave me local anaesthitic jab in both hand and back before doing the proper ones so you can't feel a thing, honest. Just pressure, nothing hurty.

I had a spray too, mine was to check that I couldn't feel it though, to check the anaesthetic had taken.

Honestly try not to worry. I have had a lot of OPs and the best advice I can give is when they give any jabs to look the other way - it's somehow worse if you see the needle

It doesn't hurt. And is very very low risk of things going wrong.

What specifically are you worried about - hve we covered it?

SazzlesOnASled · 21/12/2009 21:24

I have had two and they were fine . With the second i just concentrated on the heart monitor and played games calming my heartbeat down just by concentrating on it and then letting it rise again. Took my mind off the anaesthaetist

defyinggravity · 21/12/2009 21:25

Forgot to mention. I remember having the absolute shakes once I got into the recovery room. I just couldn't keep my arms still. Not sure if itwas relief it was all over or a side effect of the spinal. Still got to hold my little one shaking him like crazy mind you!) and breast fed him.

MisSalToeKisses · 21/12/2009 21:25

I had a spinal and epidural combination too, and honestly, it was fine! Don't worry.

littlemisslozza · 21/12/2009 21:26

I was terrified - thst was what I was most worried about before my elective CS too. DOn't know what I was worrying about, it was fine. Get the midwife to talk to you throughout, keep you busy.... and I also deliberately didn't look to see any needles. DH sat in the corner watching the whole thing, he was fascinated! Good luck!

ImSoNotTelling · 21/12/2009 21:26

I also BF both mine in recovery and BF both for ages.

Me too for spinal/epi combo with elcs. Was fine.

bexaa · 21/12/2009 23:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

thedollshouse · 21/12/2009 23:40

I was shaking when I had mine as I was so scared but it was fine. The Anaethetist really tried to put me at ease and took my mind off it by throwing my legs in the air a few times. It really doesn't hurt much, it just felt like a little prick.

violethill · 22/12/2009 09:09

Totally agree that it doesn't hurt. As with bexaa, it seemed to take a while going in, but was honestly no problem. You lie on your side and sort of curl up a bit, and tbh it felt like someone behind me fiddling around with my lower back and pushing for rather a long time - nothing I would call pain. In fact the canula going into my hand hurt more.

The sensation of being numbed up is a bit bizarre. You will feel pressure and pulling to get the baby out, and don't be surprised if they pull you around quite a lot, but the strange thing is, it really doesn't hurt.

My baby was in NICU so I wasn't able to hold for a while anyway, but had no problems bonding.

I had CSection with dd2, sandwiched between two natural births, and tbh it was the easiest one of all. At the absolutely worst I would say some aspects were uncomfortable - but no pain at all.

CocoK · 22/12/2009 09:13

I agreed to let the student do it... which was idiotic. It really hurt so eventually the main guy took over and then it was fine, hardly felt it. So just refuse to be a teaching object and you'll be fine I'm sure.

Highlander · 22/12/2009 14:54

I've had 3 spinals and scared myself silly each time. daft, as you don't feel a thing

jellybeans · 22/12/2009 17:00

I have had 4 and they were really easy and not painful even though one took 3 attempts!

Original poster

mummytopebs · 22/12/2009 18:09

Thanks ladies you have put my mind at ease a little. I am worried as i suffer from panic attacks and feel that i might start to panic. I am also worried about the feeling numb part for some reason and i am worried that it goes wrong and i cant walk or something after it. Dont think i am worried about it hurting just what is going on around me and starting to panic

OP posts:

nappyzonecantrunfortoffee · 22/12/2009 18:15

I had a spinal after ds to get stitched back together again - i always ruled anything like this out as part of my birth thingy but having had it it was fine - no pain , no worries and mild amusement that my legs were vertical without any effort. Hope it goes fine and imsure it will

5inthesleighbed · 22/12/2009 18:28

I've had three sections, two of them were spinals. You'll be fine, honestly. The only bit of the spinal that hurts is when they inject the local anaesthetic. You can't feel the rest. When they start injecting the actual spinal, it does feel like you're wetting yourself . It is a bit strange not being able to move or feel anything, but it isn't a panicky strange.

When I was getting tranferred from operating table to bed after my first section, I can remember seeing a pair of legs getting taken across with me, and wondered why a pair of comedy legs were in theatre, and why they were coming with me. They were my legs lol.

nappyzonecantrunfortoffee · 22/12/2009 18:30

the comedy legs are funny i agree - i actually comented on the legs asking who they belonged to as the toenails needed cutting

Original poster

mummytopebs · 22/12/2009 19:35

5 in the sleigh looking forward to the feeling like im wetting myself part!! Very strange. I am a bit concerned about not feeling my legs, does it not feel scary? x

OP posts:

5inthesleighbed · 22/12/2009 19:50

Its hard to describe.

Have you ever done "dead mans finger"? Feels a bit like that.

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