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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

C-section under a spinal, what are you aware of?

32 replies

Nymphadora · 09/05/2010 18:42

My previous 2 were under GA and I feel I should try a spinal again (dd1s didn't work). BUT I am terrifed of hospitals.

If I am awake I'm likely to be panicing although DH is v good at calming me it depends how far gone I get.

What were you aware of feeling ? I have heard people talk of 'pulling'

and what were you aware of happening around you?

Dd1 was a planned section and I know I wasn't out for very long so a GA doesn't scare me as much but I would like those first moments.

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GoodGolly · 09/05/2010 18:47

I felt completely alert and wide awake.

The spinal didn't hurt going in (have had two sections), just felt a weird, 'fizzy', hot and cold sensation going down my legs, which wasn't pleasant but not painful at all.

Very quickly began to feel numb. For me, the fact that you are completely - and I mean totally - numb from the chest downwards is the weirdest and perhaps scariest thing about the whole op.

The anaesthetist checked how numb I was by using a cold spray on different parts of my body. They didn't start until i could no longer feel the spray at all.

I felt absolutely no pain whatsoever during either operation. With my first child - a big baby - I felt a weird tugging. It felt like someone was shaking the bed beneath me and pressing against my lower back. With my second baby I hardly felt a thing. The 'getting the baby out' bit is over very quickly, and once that's done, I honestly cannot remember much about the stitching up bit as I was too busy looking at and cudling my baby.

My second section (elective) was a wonderful experience.

Happy to answer any other questions you have.

callmeDave · 09/05/2010 18:49

Its like a sack of cats fighting inside of you but it doesn't hurt and it doesn't last long.

ticktockclock · 09/05/2010 18:53

I was totally alert and wide awake. They had to have two goes at the spinal though as it did not work the first time.

When the second one finally kicked in (took 20 mins - but very unusual)could not feel any pain from chest down. You feel movement and sensation but not pain. It is strange and it is a scary thought of someone cutting into you and putting their hands inside of you when you are awake but it is ok. I felt pressure and like they were shaking me around and pulling me about the table when they took DD out, but no pain.

Then when they brought DD over to me I was just in awe of the whole thing and did not notice any of the stiching or anything. Although I did shout out to the surgeon that I wanted nice neat stitching and a straight scar!

Before I knew it I was in a recovery area with my DH and DD for the next 5 hours til I was moved to a ward.

It will be ok!

elmofan · 09/05/2010 19:00

I have had two c-sections both by spinal , didn't feel a thing tbh just a bit of pulling when getting the baby out , no pain what so ever & they put the needle into my spine whilst i was concentrating on a contraction so i didn't even notice . you will be fine .

mosschops30 · 09/05/2010 19:02

Great sensation, absolutely numb from the neck down, I was quite sick with low BP but once the anaesthetist had sorted that out it was fine.
One of the nurses told me it would feel like someone doing the washing up in my tummy, and thats exactly what it was like.
No pain at all, ds2 out in 3 minutes then about 20 minutes re-suturing which I didnt notice because me and dh were so in love with ds2

abroadandmisunderstood · 09/05/2010 19:09

I was talking to DH during mine, to distrac myself from the pulling sensation. The one thing I have never forgotten the feeling of was that, mid sentence me talking, the surgeon reached in with both arms, and it literally took my breath out of my body. Not in a bad way, but it meant I still really "felt" the actual delivery.

I found it more emotionally amazing than DS1's birth which was natural (albeit horrid)

bellabelly · 09/05/2010 19:18

I asked the anaesthetists (who were standing by my head) to tell me when the doctor started making the incision - there was a screen between me and the doc so I couldn't see. The anaesthetists looked at each other and said to me "erm, she's nearly finished, DT1 will be out in a second!" I honestly couldn't feel a thing. Approx 3 seconds later, the screen was lowered and DT1 was held up for me to see! Followed 2 mins later by DT2. It was an amazing experience. The only bit I hated was a very annoying midwife faffing round my tummy trying to get a heartbeat reading while the fab anaesthetist was trying to do the spinal.

nickschick · 09/05/2010 19:23

This is true!

Ive had 3 c sections the last one under a spinal.

I heard a baby cry and having only been in theatre about 10 mins and still being able to feel things thought theyd brough another baby in - 'can you just deliver my baby im getting a bit stressy' I said feeling rather nervy .......ermmmm it is your baby !!! here he is they said I had a very interesting debate with the surgeon about the works of Professor Winston (my hero) as he waited for him to stitch me up as he kissed me on the cheek and said goodbye,i asked him who was going to stitch me up.....your done he replied!!!

I was in recovery chatting to dh cuddling ds3 a few minutes later and can honestly say I was stunned.

Original poster

Nymphadora · 09/05/2010 19:23

Last time my spinal was difficult to get in (I have a slightly curved spine) and then it didn't workand they pricked my toes and I kicked out. So am a bit wary of the injection anyway.

What do you see/hear from the staff?

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chipmonkey · 09/05/2010 19:26

Weird but not in a bad way!

With ds1 I remember saying to the surgeon "I can feel everything you're doing!" in a panicked kind of a way but he said, "Yes, you will feel what's going on but there's no pain"
which was true!

I had a GA with ds3 ( EMCS for placenta praevia) and what shocked me when I woke up was the pain from the scar in my lower abdomen. With the others there had been no pain until the anaesthetic wore off so I hadn't been expecting it.

nickschick · 09/05/2010 19:26

The staff were just chatting casually the obstetrician who came in with me (dh wouldnt ) was telling me about Saudi Arabia where hed trained ....there was no emergency or panic it was very relaxed - they played my cd 9which they borrowed off me) and ds3 was born to labbi siffre 'something inside so strong' - the next ladies baby was born to 'sex on the beach' .

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 09/05/2010 19:31

Before they start they will usually do some checks to make sure the spinal has worked, I think they sort of prick different places on your tummy and ask if you can feel it.
When I had mine, I could partly feel it on one side, it wasn't completely numb; so I just said so and we had a discussion about how bad it was and they said I could opt for GA instead if I was feeling it too much. But it was not that bad (it wasn't like completely feeling it, it was toned down so still just a bit sore) and I didn't want GA so told them to just go ahead.

After the incision bit, which was obviously a bit sore then - but less bad than some of what had gone before - then I just felt loads of pulling and rummaging feelings. It was quite strong (DS was a big baby) and sometimes uncomfortable, but not painful.

Once he was out, they topped up the drugs so I was completely numb, so I didn't feel any of the stitching etc after that at all.

I was aware of everything around, though obv couldn't see or tell exactly what they were doing "down there" cos of the screen. But I could feel the cold in the theatre, hear the chatting and radio, see most things except behind the screen (and your view is a bit restricted by being flat on your back, so it was a bit harder for me to see DS being checked over and dressed for example just because I was too low down!). It wasn't particularly scary, as everyone was quite calm and matter-of-fact (it was EMCS but not a real "emergency" one).

BikeRunSki · 09/05/2010 19:36

Exactly as GoodGolly has described. Totally numb from chest down, but fuly alert.

Mine was a "real" emergency CS - I was 8 cm dilated and DS on his way out when they realised that he was undiagnosed back to back, footling breech. I take my hat off to the anaethatist who did the spinal, got it in in between contractions 20s apart and told me jokes all the way through!

Original poster

Nymphadora · 09/05/2010 19:47

Am v concerned that I will just lay there crying. I tend to cry at hospital appointmnets and last time they had a job getting me into the room for the anestetic (not c-section) I'm working on the motivation of a long-awaited baby.

Dd2 was a GA after a v long labour with no progress but I was pretty hysterical when they put the mask on.

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isthatporridgeinyourzone · 09/05/2010 20:06

Had one VB and one elective. Elective was the most fantastic experience. My anaethetist was totally wonderful. The rest of the operating theatre staff know that people are likely to be apprehensive and really work hard, in my experience, to relax you.

Felt a bit of rummaging but nothing that was uncomfortable or painful.

elmofan · 09/05/2010 20:13

Nymphadora - i have had GA in the past & i always panic when they put the mask on my face , its a horrible feeling but trust me a spinal is much better as you can still feel in control iyswim , the nurses & surgeons in the theatre will talk to you while they are delivering your dc & put you at rest . on my second dc they all took bets as to the sex of the baby lol , it was all very relaxed .

whomovedmychocolate · 09/05/2010 20:16

I could feel my feet which was weird. Couldn't feel anything below the shoulder or above the knee though. I chatted to DH and the surgeon's continually.

LowLevelWhinging · 09/05/2010 20:17

Nymphadora, I think I can empathise somewhat. I'm prone to anxiety and having had one EMCS under general and one elective, I think I would prefer to go back to general if I had to have another baby. I was so anxious from start to finish and hated the experience. The team were brilliant, skillful and charming (!) but I'm just too freaked out by having things done to my body .

Original poster

Nymphadora · 09/05/2010 20:21

Its not the mask that panics me , I'm ok about a GA its the hospital that panics me!

lowlevel (great name btw) thanks I don't think people get why I'm bothered.Original plan was a GA but have been thinking about last time and I missed loads (not all through the GA , some through being ill)

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mtor · 09/05/2010 20:25

Don't remember feeling a thing - not even the pulling others have spoken of. And no pain afterwards either. This was after 40 + hours of labour as well so I am sure that I would remember if there had been anything bad. It will, as others have said, be fine.

girliefriend · 09/05/2010 20:27

only slight problem I had with a spinal is that it only lasts a couple of hours an after that I was in pain until the oral painkillers kicker in and I needed a shot of morphine! If I had another c section I would personally ask about an epidural as I think they last longer pain relief wise!!! Will the spinal was working I felt nothing - it was great! And like the earlier post asked when they were going to start only to find out they had about 10 mins ago!!!

Original poster

Nymphadora · 09/05/2010 20:32

They are v quick. I went down at 2pm with dd1 and was woken at 2:45 in recovery.

Thats one of the things I'm focussing on!

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decafgirl · 09/05/2010 20:42

Hi Nymph I remember you from the ttc threads, pleased to see you're getting on ok! How's your DH?

I had an EMCS with DS and it was fine, the needle went in without me noticing, I didn't feel a thing but I can understand an elective would feel different. It was strange waiting for them to stitch me up (it took about 45mins) but apparently that's totally normal as there are so many layers to stitch IYSWIM.

Hope it all goes well for you hon x

Ninjacat · 09/05/2010 20:50

I had an EMCS after being at 10cm for some time so was just glad it was all going to be over soon.

I felt a little shaky and I think I remember my lip trembling like I was cold.

There was no pain just pulling and tugging.

Original poster

Nymphadora · 09/05/2010 20:59

Hi decaf , how are you getting on? I'm 17 weeks this week & things seem to be going faster. Dh job has settled down and things weren't as bad in the end but he is still working far too much!

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