Spinal, then general

[butterflydragon]

Hi. I had an ECS last year to give birth to my baby.

I had to have a c-section because of medical reasons. I have Arthritis and the hole in my pelvis is way too small to push a baby through...

I was given a Spinal Block to numb me from the chest down, but it wasn't given enough time to work and I felt them pulling around with my insides. Yuck, I know. Luckily, I didn't feel the cut. So they had to put me under general.

When I woke up, I couldn't feel the wound because the spinal block had fully kicked in.

What I am wondering is, when I have my next one, I know I am going to be put straight under general. Will I be in a heap of pain when I wake up from the op?

I have never experienced this, because, as I said before, the spinal had kicked in and I couldn't feel anything from my chest down.

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused: :confused:

TIA.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

Why would they put you under general next time? :confused:

I would think that instead they should TEST the anaesthetic before they operate next time...

[threepigs]

You know that's interesting because I an an emergency c/s with a topped up epidural (ie NOT a spinal) and I had no idea they had cut me but I certainly felt them tugging around to get DD out. It didn't bother me in the least because I'd been told to expect it (and by then I'd been in labour with a posterior baby for so long I was a total space cadet anyway). Are you sure the spinal hadn't kicked in?? If you didn't feel the cut then it must have been working on some level....and spinals are meant to be quicker than epis because the anaesthetic dose is right onto your nerves...

Anyway, it's all curious but when you're under the general they'll put the appropriate painkillers into your system so when you wake up you won't be in pain.

Good luck!

[butterflydragon]

I have requested to go under general next time... Only because when they were tugging around and stuff, it really, really hurt. I was screaming it was hurting that bad.

Thanks for your replies.

[Zoey]

I wasn't in pain after I woke up from a General as they have you on pain relief before you wake up, but having GA isn't an option to take lightly... I missed the first 4 hours of my daughters life, while everyone else got to see and hold her before I did. Also because of the drugs used in a GA she had quite low APGARS at birth. Would you consider going for either an epidural or spinal again if they waited a little longer before starting the actual operation? If its just the fear it might be worth seeing a counselor who specialises in birth trauma to work through that, since its better for both you and bubs to avoid a general if possible.