Spinal or Epidural?

[fludo]

Do they normally give a spinal or epidural? What's the difference? And do you get a choice? I think a spinal is one injection, and the epi you can top up?

[3'llhavetodo]

I think I had a spinal with all 3 of my c/s but not too sure and I don't know what the difference is sorry.

[sunshine_kat_86]

I had a spinal, and then was put on Morphine afterwards where i could just dose my self one when i needed for the pain after my c- section. My sister had a epi with her two kids, what is still a needle in the spine, Im not sure if their is much diffrence

[second time mumma]

Dont quote me, but I think that the spinal is placed in a different position so that it 'covers' more of your body.

I know when I had my c/s I was meant to have a spinal (but I ended up with a GA), and I was told I would be numb from the chest down. Im pretty sure that an epi doesnt make you numb all the way down from your chest.

I may be totally wrong, as this was 3 years ago, but this is what I seem to remember.

[Mummy2Kobi&Hailee]

I have had both a spinal and an epi.

I personally would choose the spinal if i had a choice.

Hailee i had a spinal and it worked so well and so quick for me i couldn't believe it.

Kobi i had a Epi and it was horrible it didnt work right from the word go and i ended up havin a GA so i missed the whole c-sectiona nd my sons first cry.

With Spinal i was able to move after bout 45 mins with Epi/GA i was out of it for almost 2 hours after.

:flowerz: Broni :flowerz:

[Guest]

This is what I found on on the difference:
The spinal cord and the nerves are contained in a sac of cerebrospinal fluid. The space around this sac is the epidural space (see section on 'Regional anesthesia'). Spinal anesthesia involves the injection of numbing medicine directly into the fluid sac. Epidurals involve the injection into the space outside the sac (epidural space). Spinals and epidurals have the same effect (i.e. numbs a large region of the body) because they both involve numbing of the nerves as they branch off the spinal cord. Since the spinal injection is more "direct", the effect is immediate. Spinals are usually the first choice of anesthetic for women who are not in labor but need a Cesarean delivery. Epidural anesthesia takes a little longer to establish desired affect. Because a small tube (catheter) can easily be placed in the epidural space, repeated doses of medicine can be given to maintain anesthesia as long as needed. Epidurals are the primary way of relieving pain in women that request analgesia for labor. A combined spinal-epidural involves a spinal injection followed by the insertion of an epidural catheter. Quick onset can be achieved with the spinal part. Further maintenance of the anesthesia is achieved through the epidural catheter.

You should definately speak to the anaesthetist beforehand and see what your options are and what he does so to answer your questions thoroughly and be comfortable as possible before you get there.

[MyCheekyMonkey]

I had a spinal for my C-Section, and was told by my OB a spinal was much more reliable than an epidural (I also didn't even feel the spinal being put in!).

I was also only numb from my stomach down, not chest down, so it obviously depends where it is injected.

[fludo]

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know if one is safer than the other?

[Fuchsia!]

I had a spinal. He showed me the needles and before i nearly passed out, i noticed the spinal was just a thin needle like a normal needle. The spinal almost made me vomit, its was huge and i could see hole in the needle it was that thick.

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know if one is safer than the other?
The only thing I've heard is a spinal has a greater chance of headache through leaking fluid. Not sure how true that is? But I think they're both equally safe, pretty sure it's the same medicine they use, but just administered in a different spot.

Oh no Fuschia! I never saw the needle, thank god because I had to have 6 all up as he couldn't find an opening in my spine. But dh fainted, he was a great help :rolleyes:

[lizeyhud]

Dont quote me, but I think that the spinal is placed in a different position so that it 'covers' more of your body.

.
spot on totally right when i had DS my ob told me she only does spinals as she said some past patients found they still felt sensation with an epi dont know whether that accurate i had a spinal and didnt feel a thing its a weird experience

[fludo]

I had a spinal. He showed me the needles and before i nearly passed out, i noticed the spinal was just a thin needle like a normal needle. The spinal almost made me vomit, its was huge and i could see hole in the needle it was that thick.

ooh! I wouldn't be looking at any needles! I never saw my epidural needle and I had no intention to! Maybe when I know I'm not having any more kids, then I'd like to see it! But not while I still might have to go through it!

[Mummaholic]

I asked for a spinal, as I had researched it beforehand and asked friends and family, this seemed like the best choice for me.

I had no adverse reaction whatsoever. No headache, no itching. I also like that it does not stay in your spine like an epidural does.

[Nettie67]

Hello
I've had both spinal (twice) and an epidural once and I would take the spinal over the epidural any day. My belief is that the spinal is safer than the epidural and you get some morphine in with it to assist with the after pain of the surgery. I stayed awake for all my c-sections. It is quicker to feel your body after a spinal than an epidural. From what I thought is that spinal is preferred for planned c-sections and you can't have them if you have already gone into labour whereas there is a small window for an epidual if labour has started. Although, it is better all round if having a c-section if labour hasn't started. Not that I would really know but I think it takes longer to recover.
Hope that helps
Nettie

[3already]

I had a spinal for a planned C section and hated it, i don't know if they had trouble getting it in but i had about 5 minutes of excrutiating pain, like i had a knife in my spine :( Was completely numb from chest down, I got feeling back down one side of my body after an hour or so but the other side took several hours and i was panicking that i was paralysed!
Got horrific itching on my face from the morphine for a couple of hours afterwards, i was literally clawing at my face to try to get some relief. Spent the first couple of hours vomiting and just completely missed out on those special first few hours with bub :no:
If i have to have a section this time i'll be going for the epi!

Seems everyone has a different experience really!

[grugwashere]

I had both, my family metabolises anisthetic really fast so I had a spinal and an epidural incase they needed to top it up.

[jewelzy]

Ive had 2 Epidurals and 1 spinal.

I thought they were both ok and didnt feel anything during surgery.

However the spinal was my 3rd C Section and I found you recover quicker with a spinal.
I was sitting up and out of bed very quick with the spinal.

Ive since spoken to lots of ladies who have had both. They too think you recover quicker with a spinal.

For this reason Id go for the spinal.

J

[iMischa]

id say spinal all the way. i had a spinal with my first ceaser and they give u a local before they do it and then u just feel pressure in ur back when they are putting it in.

i had an epi for my second, and it was patchy, it didnt work, they toppd it up 5 times and it still didnt work so after they cut into me (whilst i could feel it) they knocked me out.

it was awful.

[JoJoMart]

I asked my OB this the other day and he said I would have a spinal for a planned caesar.

[Pulp Fiction]

I've noticed some people have a morphine drip after their c-section, and others don't. (I didn't.) Just wondering if this is related to whether you have a spinal or an epidural?