Pain relief in labour

[hotchocolate86]

Just one question here. Is the injection they give you when you have a c section the same as an epidural?

Sometimes it's an epidural, sometimes a spinal block depending on the situation

I had an appointment with the anaesthetist last week due to possible c-secion for breech and I asked her the same thing. She said that they usually administer a spinal block which is different from Epidural. It makes you more numb for obvious reasons and is only administered once ...where as epidural remains in the back. She said that spinal block needle is much smaller and isn't as painful ...apparently.

Thank you. That’s helpful. I think I must have had a spinal block in that case when I had my c section.

Why do you ask, OP?

I was wondering if it’s the same thing as when I gave birth the first time I didn’t like the pethidine I was given or gas and air. I was considering an epidural this time if I have a VBAC but my mum had a severe allergic reaction to an epidural and nearly died which puts me off a bit. I was thinking if I had an epidural when I had my c section last time then there’s no need to worry about that. I hope that makes sense.

Just to clarify I’ve had one vaginal birth with pethidine and gas and air, one c section due to breech baby and hoping to have a VBAC this time.

Ahh I see! They often ask if any family have had an allergic reaction in pre-assessment I think. Hope it all works out!

Epidurals are slightly different - they’re basically very strong painkillers delivered to that area, while a spinal uses anaesthetic.

I'd ask the midwife or consultant if you're consultant led to give you advice /information if your mum was allergic - they may be able to trace which drug it was and perhaps give yo alternative

Block is a block one injection which lasts for for a shorter period of time, epidural is administered over time so you have a tube for administering more drug over time

Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ll definitely discuss it with my consultant nearer the time but this has helped a lot. It would be lovely if I could avoid the pain relief but I expect I’ll need something and just trying to get my head round what might be the best thing to ask for.