A c section without an epidural?

[Sweetpeabec]

I really don't want an epidural, but if there are complications during birth and I have to have a c section I still wouldn't want an epidural.

Has anyone had a c section without an epidural given? What pain killers have been given instead?

I had an epidural with ds1 (vaginal birth) and a spinal with ds2 (planned csection). I can't say I noticed any difference. Both involved a needle in the spine but the only bit I felt was the sting of the local anaesthetic going in first. I think if you're at the point of needing an emergency csection you really won't care.

I was due Friday. So trying to get my head around every eventuality. Every nurse who has taken my blood through pregnancy knows I'm squirmish with needles. Had to have OH present each time and not look at what's going on.

If I didn't have an epidural then something happened and had to have a CS and have a spinal, would i be too far gone for the spinal to work?

When I was having my leg surgery I was chatting with the anaesthetist. He was saying that normally people got a bit anxious when he turned up (even without a phobia not many people like needles) but when he did his obstetrics rotation he was greeted like a returning war hero by the labouring women who were thrilled he was about to ease their pain.

Very rarely OP. Most problems needing a CS are spotted with enough time. It doesn't take long at all to get the spinal in place.

The spinal works very fast and you can't see the needle going as it's in your back (stating the obvious). Unfortunately you might still need a canula.

If I was you I would download a natal hypnotherapy track. It will help you take yourself out of what's going on, excellent in labour and if needles are needed. You can give the visualisations a few practice runs before you go into labour. www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk

I have a needle phobia. I went into my labour without a plan . The pain totally got to me and I had an epidural in desperation.

I honestly felt the drip going in my hand more than the epidural. They give you two small needles either side of the spine before the big one and I didn't feel the big one go in.

I had a canula in my hand many times and never bruised. I had two emergency sections and both times I had an epidural and a spinal, and have had no side effects, pains, headaches. There are people out there who will be very quick at talking about their horror stories but both my c section births were beautiful, and I had no issues with establishing breast feeding (although I hadn't realised, with first baby, just how long it takes for the milk to come in... so I gave formula for a few feeds in hospital which had no influence on establishing breastfeeding, which I did for 18 months for Ds1 and 10 months Ds2).

I had an emergency csection with spinal. No side effects. I couldn't imagine going through major surgery without it tbh.

Sweet I have a big needle phobia, honestly in the throes of labour you will not give a shiny shite about who sticks what where.

I requested an epidural (DS was back to back and I'd been labouring for around 36 hours at this point), which is something I said I'd never be able to cope with. You will be fine

I had an emcs with full anasethetic. The anaesthetist wouldn't give me an epidural because I have MS and she said injecting in the spine would be too risky. I was just glad that the baby was delivered safely and in fact I was given great care, probably because of the MS, now I think about it.

Even with a GA you would still have a cannula in your hand. I had to have one as I needed fluids through a drip. It can just be part of childbirth I'm afraid. I didn't really care at the time.

I had an EMCS with GA because the top up epidural they gave me wasn't working - certainly, I complained I could feel the knife - not sure I actually could). I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it. Not only do you both miss the birth, but also it takes ages for you and the baby to get the GA out of your systems which makes you both drowsy and feeding harder (I think looking back this was a substantial part of why breast feeding never really worked for me, although there was a lot more to it).

I am having an ELCS this time round and will presumably have a spinal. I have no idea what the difference is between a spinal and an epidural but I know that, like you, I am not looking forward to the needle in the back part.

Last time, I had exactly the same feelings before labour and put no epidural on my birth plan but, by the time the epidural arrived, I was in so much pain they could have stuck it in my eye and I wouldn't have complained. I honestly think that if you get to that point you will feel much the same.

They wont take you in for a c section without a working spinal (they will check) and the only alternative would be a GA - they will not let you have major surgery without an anesthetic (the pain would be extraordinary)

A canula is your other needle possibility - you will definitely have one if you have a c section. I had one with my second birth for antibiotics after my waters went and it was without an epidural.

The thing is no matter how much you plan for all eventualities in your head childbirth has a habit of not following the plan

Okay thank you to everyone who has posted. I think I'm more at ease with a possible CS if needed.

What's everyone's experience of being on the ward pre and post birth? If I have to be induced or have a CS then I have to be consultant led and be on the ward.

Try to relax and focus on the fact that you're going to have your baby soon. I promise, that even with a needle phobia, if you require an emergency c section - you're not going to even notice the needle as labour and concentrating on what is actually going on will be taking up all of your focus.

I was induced with DD2. Didn't go in until the morning of the induction and we were in a bay with only 2 beds. The staff were lovely. I had the six hour pessary, once in and I'd been monitored I was free to do what I liked as long as I stayed in the hospital. Being up and active helps things progress and stops you from going crazy. The staff were wonderful, I had severe PTSD due to a traumatic labour with DD1 and the staff were great at keeping me calm and explaining what was going on and why.

Depends on hospital policy but I think the general rule is that if you are induced it's a transfer to consultant led ward, and post birth there is a recovery room where your blood pressure and other vitals are monitored, then transfer to a regular post natal ward.

There are still midwives on a consultant-led ward, and the midwife with you in the birthing room comes with you in the operating room if you have a c section. The person I had the most contact with during the c section was the anaesthetist, as the others are at the feet end but the anaesthetist sits next to your head. I have found them to be very helpful answering questions and having a chat whilst the other doctors are busy with the operation and the baby.

Each hospital has its own policies though, so please ask during your next appointment, for the, to run through the emcs procedures with you.

I had an emegency c-section after 22 hours of induced labour (my waters had gone but nothing happened for 2 days previously). Since I didn't have an epidural throughout labour (I was worried it would slow labour down - haha!) I had a spinal for the c-section. It was the least bothersome thing about the whole experience, truly it was. You can't see it, once it's in you can't feel it. I was so desperately ready to have my baby by that point I didn't care.

I think recovery is very individual. I found it hard but I suspect having such a long, hard labour as well as c-section added to that. I never got breastfeeding established, but that's just me, I know plenty of c-section mums who have. I was able to pump and provide breast milk for several weeks that way. Having a c-section in no way diminished my milk supply - I had loads!

Being on the ward afterwards is a mixed blessing. If you need the help, it's the place to be, and I couldn't get out of bed for a while after my birth so I needed the help. But it's noisy and it isn't home. I stayed for 3 nights post birth. You can leave whenever you want though.

One thing to warn you about, it's quite common to require daily injections into your arm for a week after a c-section. It's due to the risk of DVT. My husband did mine for me.

The spinal works very fast, and don't forget your body will be full of adrenaline too, you'll be so excited cos you're going to meet your baby in a few minutes that the feelings and thoughts you're having now are different to what you'll be feeling if you need to have surgery.

I had a spinal, it did'nt hurt, the atmosphere in the operating room was great, I had 3 midwives and two doctors in there all chatting away then another midwife came running in shouting wait for me! I had been in for 3 days, met all of the midwives, they would finish their shift and then be back for the next one and I was still there, waiting, and that one did'nt want to miss the birth.

Honestly it was fine, I would do it again and again and again, it really did'nt hurt, like I said I think adrenaline had a lot to do with it.

I had 4 children and 4 different births! First was emergency cs under ga and was as scary as hell. All was fine with both of us but I did feel sad no one was actually there to see her come into the world and breast feeding was so hard for me (not baby!) as I take ages to come around from ga. Also on a busy London ward and wasn't allowed to pick her up so had to ring a bell to get them to bring baby to me for first 24 hours, was horrible. So please use this as the last option if possible. I had 2 'normal' births after that although one was ventouse and then forceps. Last one was another emergency cs but this time just epidural. I had a fear of this too but I can honestly say I cannot remember the needle bit at all! They gave me gas and air to help and it made a big difference. And I was able to hold baby as on as he was born, so much better than first time. Please don't worry, it will be fine whatever way it goes.

Oh yes Edgar I had to inject at home too, but you don't see the needle, it's like a trigger, you just press the top of the pen type thing and the drug goes in.

I used the tops of my legs, it stung for a few seconds but did'nt hurt.

OP well done on deciding to work on your needle phobia. A CS without anaesthetic - general or regional like a spinal - simply isn't an option. I remember reading an article once about a small U.S. hospital in a remote rural area, with no maternity facility, where a woman unexpectedly arrived in labour with a stuck baby. Transfer to another facility wasn't an option and the only anaesthetist was an hour away, making her way in. Due to the extreme distress of the baby and unstable condition of the mother, they began the c-section before the anaesthetist could get there, using the limited tools at their disposal - local anaesthetic (more injections) and powerful opiates. The whole thing was so traumatic that the STAFF ended up with PTSD - imagine what it must have been like for the mother. There is a reason it simply isn't an option.

I'm an anaesthetic practitioner and work in theatres where we do emergency and elective caesarean sections.

If you come to theatre because you are not progressing in labour then a spinal will be your first line of analgesia. This is a very quick/pain free injection in the back and believe me you will thank your anaesthetist after! They become your best friend once you cant feel those contractions anymore!

A GA will not be offered to you as maternal request. It puts baby at risk and also takes mum longer to recover. Not to mention both you and your partner missing out on an amazing experience!

Of course spinals and epidurals come with their risks which the anaesthetist will explain to you beforehand but these risks are so small and is just something they have to warn you of.

I have worked in theatre nearly 10 years at it is so rare to see complications from epidural and spinals. 99% of the time they work beautifully and once you have that baby in your arms you won't be worried about how they arrived and whether it was on your birth plan or not.

I'm the complete opposite and am pro epidural! I feel like I would benefit not only from the pain by having one in, but if something does happen and I am whisked to theatre as a crash caesarean then I have more chance of being awake and experiencing the birth as my epidural can be topped up (sometimes the obstetricians don't allow the anaethetist to put in a spinal as they want the baby out asap) rather than having a GA.

I know needles are scary but local anaesthetic is used and all you will feel if pushing/pressure (just like when ypu have treatment at the dentist) and nothing sharp in your back.

I hope this has helped. Good luck with whatever you chose at the time!

Thank you to everyone who has posted. It has really helped and put me more at ease xxx

Hi OP, I understand your hesitation about the section and epidural because of the needles - I am not great with needles but you won't even see the epidural needle, or feel it if my experience is anything to go by!

I had a section and I was scared of the injection but it was really nothing... As PPs have said, I was so excited about finally meeting my baby I just wanted them to get on with it! I am a complete wuss with pain and jabs - anything like that but I am likely having another section with DC2 so it can't have been that bad.

I think another thing that might help you is that while at the moment everything seems a bit scary as it is an unknown, it really is just a day - before you know it you will be home with your new baby!

If you do end up with a section, my tip is to keep OH around as long as possible - overnight if possible in your hospital - as your legs will not be working for a while after and you won't be able to get out of bed to see to your baby. You can call for help from the midwives of course but if OH is there it is really useful. When you are up and shuffling about again (usually after a few hours) sleep in a reclining chair if your hospital has them, rather than the bed. Much easier to get in and out of.

Good luck with everything.