A friend of the family is booked in for her c-section a week on tuesday and I was saying they won't know exactly what time she's having it because the 9.30 will be the appointment time not the delivery time and it could be delayed for example if the anaesthetist is on an emergency or theatre is blocked or suchlike.

Sorry if this all comes out as gobbledygook but he insists on talking to me even though I'm clearly not listening to a word he's saying....

Anyhoo, the conversation went on and I said they would do an epidural and he said no they won't they would just use a local anaesthetic. Once I'd picked myself up off the floor laughing (well it's hardly like having a tooth out is it!) I suddenly thought, well maybe they don't do an epidural if you don't want one because of the risks etc.

So what do they use?? What are the choices??


Thanks
x Em

I thought it was a spinal block in elective c-sections, but not entirely sure what that is - another word for epidural or something different?

Completely unhelpful reply

Thanks for your informative response Shell

I'm pretty sure for an elective its a spinal block although if you're an emergency (like mine) its an epidural

A better response...

"The regional anaesthetic will be given into your spine (called an
epidural). You may be offered a pain-relief injection at the same time
that will come into effect after your operation."

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Caesarean-section/Pages/How-is-it-performed.aspx

don't know if it's helpful but as i understood it at out antenatal classes last year an epidural (the modern ones) are a milder type of anasthetic, or at least a lower dose, so you still have sensation and regain use of your bladder/legs sooner afterwards - this means they can be topped up if labour takes a long time.....a spinal block is slightly different in that it fully 'numbs' the lower half of your body (as in, blocks all nerve messages) and i *think* that means its a slightly longer recovery but it cant/doesn't get topped up (i guess during a section you don't want your anasthetic to wear off!)...

not sure if that made sense but im sure that's what they said at antenatal....that in a natural labour they don't do spinal blocks as such but they do have top-uppable (haha good word) epidurals........i would imagine other than a general anesthetic that's the only option though?!

Thank youuuuuuuuu.

I was just trying to imagine how much lidocaine they would have to get through to do a section with a local anaesthetic. And a very long needle too - bleugh!

That makes sense Mari. I had an epidural when in labour with Immi and it was topped up loads but I still had a lot of feeling (maybe it just didn't work) and was moving my legs pretty much straight after I had her so it definitely wasn't a complete block

I had an elective section and its a spinal block, which is basically an epidural, but it goes straight into the spine and doesn't get topped up like an epidural. You're numb for a set amount of time, I think I started to regain feeling after about 2 hours. You can't feel any pain from the chest down x

i have two elective sections and had an epidural both times, well thats what they told me it was! x

Here you go, found this
The area of your back where the needle will be inserted will be cleaned with a special solution. Most of the time this shot will go in your lower back. This area may also be numbed with a local anesthetic. You may receive fluids through an intravenous line (IV, in a vein). You may also get medicine to help you relax.

For an epidural:

The doctor will inject medicine just outside of the sac of fluid around your spinal cord. This is called the epidural space.
The medicine numbs, or blocks feeling in a certain part of your body so that you cannot feel pain. The medicine begins to take effect in about 10 to 20 minutes. It works well for longer procedures. Women often have epidurals during childbirth.
A small tube (catheter) is often left in place. You can receive more medicine through the catheter to help control your pain during or after your procedure.
For a spinal:

The anesthesiologist will inject medicine into the fluid in your spinal cord. This is usually done only once, so you will not need to have a catheter placed.
The medicine begins to take effect right away. It works well for shorter and simpler procedures.

I had an emergency c-section and I had a spinal block.



x

I've had 3 sections.

First was emergency and was general anaesthetic.

Second elective I'm sure it was an epidural

Third was emergency with a spinal block.

The spinal and epidural seemed to be the same thing from my point of view (obviously they're not) but they stick it in your back and you lose all feeling in your lower half.

My niece has had spinal problems and surgery when she was a child. She's now pregnant and her baby is breach and her consultant has told her she'll probably have a section with a spinal as because of her back problem she can't have an epidural. I was quite shocked because I thought they were exactly the same.

I was going to say you can have general anaesthetic maybe that's what he meant not local lol.

Ive had 2 cs both with spinals x

Hmm,, I'm not sure as I spent more of my labour shrieking than listening to the midwife But, when they still wanted me to try for a natural labour but the pain was quite bad they gave me an epidural, but it didn't really cut out the pain at all, and I was still able to move a lot It took the guy about 10 tries to get it in, so it might not have gone in properly though. Then when I was wheeled through for the c-section I remember the midwife saying they were going to do a spinal block and after another 10 tries it finally went in and worked!

But yes, I did lol quite a bit at the idea of doing it with a local anaesthetic!

Ive had 2 cs both with spinals x

I always though a spinal block was an epidural lol

I had a general because I had a crash section x