Having a spinal...on the 12th September2006?

Question

I am having my 2nd c-section on the 12th September.
I got knocked out with my first after 10 hours of labour.
Now i am having a spinal and i am so scared, i just wanted to know if the spinal block hurts as bad a people say??

Answer 1

oh, good god. please don't listen to the woman who said not to go to your doctor anymore, and not to listen to anything they say. she says she's not militant - sounds pretty militant to me.

i am an anesthesiologist and a mom, so i feel i can speak knowledgeably about this. spinal anesthesia is very commonly used for elective c-sections. you'll feel stinging as they give you the local anesthetic at the skin, then pressure as they use the spinal needle. as soon as they inject the medicine, you will start to feel warmth and tingling in your bottom and legs as the medicine starts to work. you will be numb from below your boobs on down. you will not feel any incisional pain, but you may feel movement and pressure - this is normal, as the medicine does not take away that sort of thing. it is not unpleasant.

the other option is to go to sleep, but your anesthesiologist would advise against this. first, all the medicine you get, baby gets, and she may come out sleepy. second, the risks of general anesthesia are higher with a pregnant woman because of the changes your body has gone through. third, you don't get to hear the sound of your baby's first cry!

good luck to you - it will be a piece of cake. just relax, and know that you are doing what's best for you and your baby!

Answer 2

I had have two spinals before with my other c-sections I will be having another one with this baby Oct. 25. I won't have a epidural because the catheter can fall out and i would not want for that to happen during surgery. I am going with the spinal block.
Compare them:

Spinal Block VS Epidural

With a spinal, the medication is given only once (as compared to an epidural). It begins to relieve pain almost immediately. A spinal anesthetic involves the insertion of a needle, usually in the lumbar (low back) region, followed by the injection of a local anesthetic solution. The needle is then withdrawn, and the anesthetic effect occurs quite rapidly. Spinal anesthesia has been around for a long time, and is recognized as a safe and effective means of providing anesthesia for cesarean section. Because the onset of anesthesia is very rapid and reliable, some centers use spinal anesthesia routinely for elective c-sections. The alternative method, epidural anesthesia, tends to be a bit slower in onset, and may result in a slightly less “dense” block (that is, sensation is at the surgical site is not eliminated as completely as with a spinal anesthetic).

Answer 3

The very same thing happened to me. My first c-section was a general (I was put out). My second was a spinal block. Honestly, I didn't think the spinal hurt at all. Overall it was a much better experience with the spinal than the general. They numb the injection site so it is just slightly uncomfortable when they do the spinal block.

You could hardly feel it at all. Plus, of course you have the bonus of being alert and relaxed during the delivery.

The only thing to be aware of is that some women get what is known as a spinal headache. It occurs when the injection site doesn't "seal" and you leak spinal/cerebral fluid. It causes the loss of fluid around your brain which causes your brain to rest somewhat against your scull. I got one and it was AWFUL pain. BUT the good news is that it is an easy fix. It just requires a blood patch (where they take blood from your spine and inject it at the site of your spinal block- not nearly as bad as it sounds) and it clots and you're fine in a matter of 15 minutes.

Just relax (as much as you can :) and it will be just fine. I plan to have another spinal block with my third baby.

Answer 4

Hurts? Who told you it hurts? What's the point of an anesthetic if it hurts?

No, I had a spinal with my first (it was a forceps delivery on the dining room table). I didn't feel a thing. Well, a little pick when the needle went in - and then, nothing. So relax. A spinal numbs all the nerves from the waist down. And you'll be awake to hold your baby!

Answer 5

the spinal block will hurt a little but the pain after delivery will be worse, i had an epidural during labor with my son and then a spinal block for my surgery. i was knocked out after delivery as well good luck

Answer 6

A planned C-section, the anesthesia can give you several options, you could be fully awake, numb from the waist down. Depends on your condition....I've had a spinal, the worst was having to lay flat on my back for hours afterward.

Answer 7

aussie_female1981,

Don't even read the other posters or doctors or nurses or any others in healthcare field as well above or below here and their answers because they are definetly wrong for sure. The reason why is because medical birth hasn't been around since the beginning of time and has been here for since medival, spl times as I think. Personally, I'm not for this kind of birth, but when it is truly a medical necessary and not made up to medical necessary and scaring you and your family, friends, and etc. I'm not even milant as well as holadoc referred me to, but just wanted to you to aware of traditional birth as well. I know I haven't been pregnant or give birth yet, but that will happen in the future. Since ever subscribing to Mothering Magazines and like how I see things now from the past. Also, I volunteer in Maternity Department at the local hospital by me, so I see, and etc there as well. I recommed you don't show up for your the rest of doctor's appointments or don't consult the doctor or its office or the hospital either pre regisation or admission test or the section, and so on. Definetly don't listen to your dh or any of your family or friends or doctor or others . Definetly get a midwife that's isn't mainstream or stuff like that. Also, please try to breastfeed afterwards because it's it much more better then formula. Breastfeeding as around since the beginning of time and formula was introducted last half century so breastfeeding is way better then formula again. Also, do attactment parenting more then mainstream parenting because again it has been around since beginning of time and not like mainstream parenting when it has been around for at least a century now. Think thats it and good luck with it.

Answer 8

If you are talking about an epideral, honestly I didnt think that it hurt. Compared to the pain from contractions of child birth, it is nothing. I am a whimp when it comes to pain but this was so quick that it really didnt bother me. Good luck.

Answer 9

I agree, compared to the pain of natural child birth, the epidural was not that bad. It's more scary than painful. Happy new baby to you.

Answer 10

I guess it all depends on the person giving it. When I had mine all I felt was literally a pinch. Good luck!!