Spinal Question...

Phoebe623 · September 2011

Ok, so tomorrow is the big day, and I think I have researched everything I can to wrap my head around this and put on my big girl panties and have this baby!

But one last thing.... when the spinal was taking effect is it scary at all feeling your body go numb or what went through your mind?

I just imagine feeling numbness move higher and higher or something and it freaking me out, so any insight on how you felt as spinal took effect would be helpful to calm some of my last minute nerves.

Thanks!

rdhmama79 · September 2011

I was really panicked about the spinal ahead of time, but it was no big deal. It just kind of feels like part of your body is going to sleep (like when you cut off the circulation). I couldn't tell anything was different unless I tried to move. You probably won't really be paying attention to how numb you are. After all, meeting your baby for the first time is pretty exciting!

Good luck tomorrow!

monica92603 · September 2011

Once I got to the hospital and was on a monitor, I felt truly safe for the first time (late loss the year before) and was just so excited. I couldn't care less about anything else. I just could not wait to meet my team green baby.

I don't even remember how numb I felt. The actual spinal being given was a piece of cake IMHO. I felt warm. Don't think I ever felt it up on my chest like some have said. After it definitely felt weird, especially as it was wearing off. I couldn't lift my legs but just kept moving them side to side and the nurses kept laughing at me and telling me to relax.

Good luck tomorrow!! Just focus on the baby and forget everything else!

+diana82+ · September 2011

It really wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. The weirdest part is not really being able to feel yourself breathing - but obviously you are. That freaked me out the first time but since I was expecting it this time it wasn't so shocking. They also gave me a little shot of something for my anxiety in my IV - I wasn't out of it just relaxed and that made things easier too.

SarahRae812 · September 2011

Don't sweat the spinal; it was no big deal. The local before the spinal hurt a little, but nothing crazy.

Like the PP said, it felt like someone dipped my feet in warm water & the warmth just spread up my legs. B/c no one was telling me what I was supposed to be feeling (my surgical team was preoccupied with their own inside jokes), I kept pestering the nurses telling them what I was feeling and asking if it was normal.

Overall, it was this odd sensation of being aware of my lower body but not being able to move it. I imagined that I could move if I really wanted to, but, of course, I couldn't.

It did take awhile for the effects to wear off completely, and I had some nausea that prevented me from walking the day of my surgery. But, of all the medication I had to take, the spinal was the easiest on my system.

fivesgirl · September 2011

I had to get a spinal because my epidural never worked. I was numb from my chin down and felt like I couldn't breathe. My chest was very heavy feeling but after a few minutes I was fine. I never felt it actually moving up my body, it happened so fast and I was so out of it from the pain and pushing for 4 hours.

Good luck tomorrow!

MDmama519 · September 2011

Congrats and best of luck!

Being perfectly honest, having them re-do the IV prior to the spinal was the WORST part. After they numbed my back, I felt nothing!

As they laid me down, I kept moving my toes around to make sure I couldn't feel anything (out of my own paranoid fear). I did get cold and shaky, which is normal and they put warm blankets on me.

sillypit · September 2011

The spinal was the "worst" part for me. And it really wasn't even that bad. It's just a strange feeling until you go completely numb, only lasts a couple minutes. Good luck!!! Enjoy your sweet tiny baby!

BiancaLaMae · September 2011

I was soo incredibly worked up for mine too. But it was NBD! Really. I'm a huge wuss when it comes to needles and I was crying but then they told me they were done and I said, "You didn't even do anything!?" You feel a little pressure when they give you the shot but it's already numbed so the actual spinal isn't painful. I didn't feel any numbness or pressure in my chest. By the time my legs were so numb I couldn't move them, I was already on to worrying about them getting started on the c-section so I hardly even noticed. It's not bad, you can do it! And CONGRATULATIONS!! I hope you're ready to fall in love with a complete stranger Big Smile

lilydeven · September 2011

it wasnt bad for me at all. like PP, it feels like a warmness slowly creeping up. and then you can't feel anything.

magdalina.h · September 2011

I couldn't feel the numbness. I was talking to the dr and nurses and the next thing I know it gets quiet because Lucas was about to be born.

pepomntpat · September 2011

I didn't have any issues except I got a little nauseated. I got some medication in my IV for the nausea and it was fine. I did notice some numbness pretty high up, but I did not experience the feeling that I couldn't breathe. Otherwise, I agree, I felt really warm from the toes up and then I felt just numb. Interestingly enough it wore off from the top down.

Shoshi10 · September 2011

After my spinal, I remember saying that I wasn't numb yet and scared that it didn't work. Then I started to feel warm and tingly and then went numb. It didn't freak me out to be numb. One of my biggest fears was that it wouldn't work and I would feel them cut me, so once I couldn't feel anything I was relieved and finally relaxed.

ChiTown Bridget · September 2011

I had no problem when they administered the spinal. Felt no pain whatsoever just a warm feeling. I will admit, once I went completely numb I hated it and felt a little panicky but that feeling passed after about 15 minutes.

lovebugkim · September 2011

MDmama519:

Congrats and best of luck!

Being perfectly honest, having them re-do the IV prior to the spinal was the WORST part. After they numbed my back, I felt nothing!

As they laid me down, I kept moving my toes around to make sure I couldn't feel anything (out of my own paranoid fear). I did get cold and shaky, which is normal and they put warm blankets on me.

This EXACTLY!!

Sa039ra · September 2011

I stressed about the spinal and it was really not a big deal. I felt a little pinch and then some pressure 'inside' my back. Next they lay you back really quickly and everything felt warm. I actually thought I peed on the operating table. My c/s was the first day of March Madness so I started chatting with my ob/gyn and the anesthesiologist about our brackets. DH came in and the next thing I knew we had a baby.

It's super scary beforehand because you don't know what to expect. It is not that bad after. Once DS was born I actually said 'This was awesome! Why doesn't everyone have c-sections?' You'll do great! Try not to stress.

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