c-section=spinal or epi?

MizzBlackmon · October 2008

I'm having a c/s on 11/11/08. I assumed I'd get an epidural but my doc told me that I would have a spinal. Is there much difference in the effects? My mom mentioned something about bad headacheds assoc. w/spinal blocks....?? Any info that y'all have is much appreciated. TIA!!

jellybean529 · October 2008

I was induced and had an emergency c/s. They put a bolus in the epi before I went in for my c/s and it worked like a charm. I think if you're going in for a scheduled c/s they do a spinal though, if I'm not mistaken, it's quicker and stronger.

Good luck!

Sweetrose664 · October 2008

I was induced almost 2 days before I ended up having my emergency c-section. I was given an epi for my contractions but it wore off! I was given a topper which also wore off (I had a bad anesthesiologist) but when they told me I'd have a c-section they asked if I wanted another topper or a spinal and I readily took the spinal b/c I didn't want the epi to wear off again causing them to knock me out during the surgery. The spinal was awesome!

KittyCatBio · October 2008

spinal is stronger and quicker, but doesn't last as long. it's a narcotic as opposed to anaesthetic(sp), or something like that. i think the risk is the same for spinal headache with spinal or epi, but i'm not sure.

Parks2Be · October 2008

I had a spinal and it wore off in about an hour and a half.?

There is risk with the headache but I didn't have any problems.?

GabbyG · October 2008

I have experience here!

A few years ago I had a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) in the ER because I came in with a killer headache. Well I ended up with a "spinal tap" headache for a week after that. It sucked, in no uncertain terms. But it is a common side effect.

I was terrified of getting a spinal for a c-section so in my birth plan I put that if a c-section became necessary, I wanted an epi.

Well, after a long labor I ended up needing a c-section. I'd gone med-free for the whole labor so I did not already have an epi in place. The anesthesiologist came in and was perplexed why I would want an epi, not a spinal, per my birth plan. I told her my fear of a spinal headache again and she explained that yeah, the risk of that headache is high for a spinal tap, but not really any higher than an epi for a spinal block for the surgery. She said it was about 2%. I believed her. I got the spinal and had no headache whatsoever. I had no chills, no shakes, and no back pain at the insertion site.

ashley0616 · October 2008

My C/S was unplanned, and since I already had the epi they just revamped it. I had no side affects whatsoever. I loved my anesthesiologist.

AndysKandi · October 2008

I had a spinal with my scheduled c-sec. A horrendous headache can occur, rarely, but I was told laying down for several hours will help avoid the possibility.

My first c-sec was an emergency under general anesthsia (since that was fastest) so I have no epi experience...

MizzBlackmon · October 2008

Thanks so much for y'alls input. I trust my doctor and I'm sure the spinal will be fine.

JillStar · October 2008

I had a spinal with my scheduled c-section. I didn't have an problematic side effects -- no headaches, itching, etc. The anesthesiologist had hard time getting the spinal block in place in my back and had to put it in a second spot, so they thought I might have had more back pain than normal because of the two spots, but I didn't have any problems with back pain at all.

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c-section=spinal or epi?

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