Bad experience with epidurals...

alr5

Just wondering if any of you ladies who have had experience with C-sections know if they use a typical epidural for them or something a bit more strong. I've had two vaginal deliveries, both of which I had bad experience with the epidurals. The first time I had one it hurt like crazy going in and bothered me for several months after I had LO. My second one just didn't work like it should have and only numbed one side of me. For my third my husband and I are considering going with an elective C-section so i can be "fixed" at the same time and only have one hospital stay versus two: one for having baby and then one for a tubal. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated, I'm one of those paranoid people that worries about what may happen should the epidural not work and they start cutting...

magdalina.h

They wouldn't cut if you can feel it. You'll probably get a spinal or they can knock you out with a general.

RumbleLina

I had an epidural during my labor and delivery but it didn't numb me on my left side. Because of that I had to be put under general anesthesia. They did test pricks prior to cutting which is how I alerted them I wasn't numb.

ConnieRob

I had an epidural during labor that didn't take. When I went in for the c-section they gave me shots of morphine until I couldn't feel the contractions anymore. It wound up taking 4 shots. The anesthesiologist was shocked that it took so many. If the   4th didn't take they were going to put me under. They won't start cutting until your numb. I started crying when I first heard DS cry and the anesthesiologist was at my side in 2 seconds thinking that I could feel them cutting and was ready to knock me out.

Kdonn15

I had two emergency c-sections.  I labored to 10cm with both deliveries but my first c-section I ended up needing general anesthesia because my epidural hadn't started to work and I started feeling pain during the surgery.  Second time around my epidural worked fine (I was trying for a VBAC) but once we decided a section was necessary (due to high position, meconium in the fluid and low fetal heart rate) I'm pretty sure they jacked up the meds in the OR to be sure I wouldn't have to have general anesthesia again.

shibby00

I had an epi with DD during labor, but it only worked for a couple hours.  I was feeling everything for several hours before we went with the c/s.  I got a spinal shot in the OR and literally felt nothing, no pressure, nothing.

brandicrawford22

I had a scheduled c-section because my LO was breech. They gave me a spinal block and I was scared I was going to feel them cut me. I didn't really feel numb just kind of that pins and needles feeling like my legs were asleep. I can assure you I felt nothing. I had hired a doula around 30 weeks because we planned on a natural birth and after finding out we had to have a c-section she stayed on with me to give me advice and make sure I had the best possible experience. She is also a labor and delivery nurse and she advised me to ask for duramorph (sp) in with my spinal block to help with pain for the first 24 hours. I did not have to take anything for pain during that time and did not have to be hooked up with the pcp pump. This was probably way more than you were looking for but I hope it helps! Good luck!

alr5

Thanks Ladies! Appreciate all the feedback

holly321

magdalina.h:

They wouldn't cut if you can feel it. You'll probably get a spinal or they can knock you out with a general.

That isn't true.  My spinal didn't take properly, my left half went mostly numb.  When they started my section, I was cut left to right.  I thought the left side was rather intense, then they got to my right side and I wasn't numb AT ALL.  I had to get knocked out.

From talking to some medical professionals, my anesthesiologist hit a nerve in my back.  My back hurts and is really stiff on a regular basis.