Spinal with a scheduled c-section? Can anyone give me details?

Question

On April 16th I will be going in for a scheduled c-section. I was just wondering if anyone could tell me the process they went through. From arrival to getting their spinal then delivery. This is actually my second c-section, but the first time it was and emergency and I had an epidural...just wondering how they would differ. Thanks in advance for all the great info.

Also, can anyone tell me how exactly the spinal is done?

Answer 1

I've had 2 emergency c-sections and 2 scheduled (most recently 12/1/06). The scheduled ones were much easier - stress wise.

You arrive at the hospital and they do the basic paperwork (consents basically), take a couple vials of blood for the cbc, etc., and start the IV, then you drink the lovely antacid. Then you walk (or I did) to the OR, climb up on the table, lean forward for the spinal then lie back for the catheter and wait to get numb. From there it will be pretty much the same as your emergency section, except your recovery will probably be much easier, as your body didn't have to go through the stress of labor prior to surgery.

One thing I did with each of my scheduled surgeries was to shave the scar area myself with a decent quality razor that morning. The hospital uses cheap disposable ones and it leaves a lot of ingrown hairs - not fun to deal with when you have a wound there too.

Answer 2

I've had 2 c-sections, both of which were spinals. You may also hear these referred to as spinal blocks.

Both a spinal block and spinal epidural are injections into the spinal area. For a spinal block, narcotics or anesthetic is injected once with a needle. For a spinal epidural or combined spinal epidural, a catheter is placed in the epidural space to allow continuous anesthesia.

Personally I preferred the spinal block for my scheduled c-section. The spinal block will numb you from the chest down. You will still retain feeling (such as pressure on your abdomen), but will not feel any pain or discomfort.

I didn't get the spinal until I was already in the OR and the team was all prepped and ready to go. The doctor will sit you up (if you aren't already sitting), when it is time to give the injection. They scrub your back to clean the area, then have you lean forward as much as possible to "round out" your back. Of course it's hard to lean forward with a big belly, but just do the best you can. I found that grabbing my knees helped. Then just take a deep breath and hold still. The injection is fast, but the anesthesia does sting quite a bit (at least for me) so make sure you stay relaxed. The good news is that the stinging goes away in 15-30 seconds and all of a sudden, your legs feel like lead.

You begin to regain feeling, starting from the toes and moving upwards, about 90 minutes after the anesthesia is administered. The pain is blocked for 6-12 hours and you are able to walk around as soon as the anesthesia wears off.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 3

I had an emergency c with my first 13 years ago and had an epidural, I just had my second child emergency c again (5 weeks ago) and had a spinal...I MUCH prefer the spinal and had no after affects like with the epidural, I know the meds are quicker in the spinal and last longer, but other than knowing the epidural gave me horrible headaches and spinal issues for a year after...I only know that I prefer the spinal and if I had another child that is what I would use.

Answer 4

well, i had all three of my boys by c-section and had spinals with all of them... it is a bit of an uncomfortable process... with me they took me into a really cold sterile room, i had to hold my chin all the way down, put my arms as forward as i could while keeping my back strait, i cant remember if i had to hold my legs up and out or not, but i think so. Its a little bit painful, because it sometimes can take a while for them to inject the medicine in just the right spot, but it should only take a few minutes... Just try to stay as relaxed and as calm as possible and it will be over before you know it... you dont even remember it once you hold that baby... I think really the only difference is that a spinal takes a little bit longer to perform because you have to be in just the right position, where as the epidural is just an injection. A spinal lasts alot longer and can only be done one time. After it takes effect, the only thing that you will feel will be pressure, but no pain... if you have a big baby, it might feel as if they are putting too much pressure on your lung area... but they are professionals and know what they are doing. Congratulations in advance on your baby, and good luck!

Answer 5

I went thru the same thing. The Dr & anthesiologiest will come in and talk to you in depth as to what they will do. You won't be able to eat anything after midnite, it's like any other surgery.
After you talk to the Drs, and its time to go in, they'll prep you, and then give you the spinal - I can't remember if they numb the area of the spinal first though. After that, you will feel nothing chest down at all.
They will put the sheet up and perform the operation, if eveything goes well, you baby will be nice & healthy. They will kind of clean the baby up will closing you, unfortunately, you may not be able to hold him or her.
Depending on what med they use, you may feel nautious and itchy. They gave me morphine, and I was so itchy! I also threw up a little (remember, they are moving your insides around). They gave me Bendryl for the itchniess.
You will spend about 2 hrs in recovery. They will monitor you and make sure you are breathing properly (remember they are removing spinal fluid). Once you can move your legs again, you'll go into your room and get to see your baby!
You'll have a cathedar (s?) in for 24 hrs, you may have gas pains because air can get trapped (which may call for an enema - sorry, gross, but may happen). After they take you cath out, you will have to show you can go #1  on your own.
Please, don't let them bully you about pain med, take it every 6 hours if you can, trust me, you need it to rest and heal properly. The above happend to me, that doesn't mean it will happen to you, but be prepared. No one let me know all the unpleasant details. But, you could have a very seamless and easy proceedure. Good luck!

Answer 6

I had a (scheduled) spinal with a c-section in Nov 03. It wasn't bad at all. I checked into my room and got hooked up to the fetal monitor. A little bit later they walked me to the delivery room.

I HATE needles but I barely even felt it when I got the spinal. After getting the needle they laid me down and kept poking my legs until I was numb. The only side effect I had was my nose was VERY itchy. My husband sat next to my head for the delivery and I kept begging him to scratch my nose.

The baby was out in no time. I delivered her at 8:44 am and was in my recovery room by 9:10. Moved to my room at 11AM. But then I couldn't move or sit up for 2 hours because they say you could get a killer headache.

That's about it. It wasn't bad at all and I'm a real baby when it comes to any kind of needles or pain.

Answer 7

A spinal and an epidural are pretty much the same as far as the procedure goes it is just inserted between different vertabra. I believe the epidural is inserted higher up.

Answer 8

I had a c-section in the UK. I suppose they are a little different depending on the country.

I went the day before, had blood tests done, had my blood pressure taken, my chest listened to, got weighed and signed the papers. The following morning I was admitted for 7.30am and I had to get changed into the gown, have two nurses put the catheter in and shave me down there. The midwife put me on a monitor to listen to the babys heartbeat. Then later on, the surgeon came and talked to me about the procedure and the anethetist told me about what was going to happen. Then later on I walked down to the theatre and the anethetist put a needle in my hand that was to stay there, Ihad little pads put all over my body which linked me to a huge machine. My partner was dressed like something out of ER and the anethetist putting something wet on the base of my spine and then inserted a really long needle that didnt hurt but felt a bit strange. Then I had to lie on the bed and every so often he asked me to lift my legs and eventually I just couldnt lift them anymore. I also had something to calm me down. The midwife, felt the baby and listened to its heart beat. I had on an oxygen mask because its harder for the baby to get oxygen when u are lay flat. Then the baby was out in 5 mins!. the midwife showed me him and behind me he was checked over and I was told his apgar scores, 8 and then 9. My partner watched him be dressed and fed him in the theatre. Then they took the baby through to the recovery room while they moved me onto the other bed. I then went into the recovery room and held my baby. It took a few hours for my legs to go back to normal and I had a catheter in for 24 hrs and the morphine was took off me after 24 hrs too.