Spinal or Epi?

MarnieMS · February 2012

Which have you had? Do you think there is a plus or minus to either?

Dukes8286 · February 2012

I didn't do either, I was to scared so I went for natural bu...t ended up having an emergency C-section because my son had his hand wrapped around his cord cutting off his own air and the doctor I had they gave me medicine to knock me out. So I don't really remember anything.

Houstonmom · February 2012

I've had both.

The epi placement was a breeze b/c I was I serious pain with contractions. However, the epi wore off and or got dislodged after 6 hours so I was completely numb on one side, had full feeling on the other. When it was time for the emergency c-section, there was no time to redo the epi b/c dd was in serious distress, so I had to go under general anesthesia since I had full feeling on one side. They took the epi out after surgery and the recovery pain was quite significant and debilitating in some instances.

The spinal placement was more uncomfortable b/c it was a planned c-section and I wasn't contracting. Not terribly uncomfortable, and it lasted a few seconds, but it's a different sensation when you're not in pain from contractions. I loved the spinal b/c it didn't wear off and my memory is fuzzy but they either kept the spinal in and turned it into a "walking spinal" after surgery or injected dura morph into it. My recovery was an absolute breeze the second time around, due in large part to good anesthesia,

stemms8810 · February 2012

I had a spinal with my first but not sure what they will give me for this one. I remember the spinal started working quickly. I am not sure if it was quicker than an epi though. I didn't have any problems with my spinal.

ChiTown Bridget · February 2012

I can't speak about epi's since I have never had one. I had an unplanned c/s and ended up with a spinal. I won't lie, I hated the feeling of being numb and I remember having a mini panick attack on the OR table.

rbytsdy · February 2012

I've had both. Preferred the spinal.

I had an epi b/c I was laboring ahead of time. During the c-section, they just shot a bunch more medication into the line and it traveled up my spine and made me feel like i couldn't breath.

With the spinal it was just 1 shot and started working very quickly. I don't remember it being any more painful than the epi. It didn't travel up my spine and I could breathe okay.

faeriequeeneonwow · February 2012

I've had both and loved my spinal. That's not to say that the epidural was a bad experience - it did its job and I have no complaints about it - it was the circumstances of a very quickly scheduled c/s combined with massive amounts of swelling from pre-e that made it an unpleasant experience in terms of recovery. With my epi I didn't get full feeling back to my feet and legs for over 24 hours (again major swelling/fluid retention) and was miserable not being able to move or go to the NICU to see DD.

My spinal was with a planned c/s and it was wonderful - I got feeling back in my legs within a few hours after surgery and finally got rid of the tingling/leg fell asleep sensations 7 or 8 hours out; I would have been up and about if they would have pulled my catheter that night. The only thing that was weird to me was that my legs felt like they were asleep the whole time - anytime anyone would touch my leg it had those weird pin-prick, tingling sensations, but I felt no pain and couldn't move so all in all the spinal did its job as well.

harmonicbabe26 · February 2012

I am going in for my c/s on Monday and just had my pre-op consult with the anesthesiologist.

For a planned one they do a spinal block which differs from an epi that they use a very thin needle to deliver the meds instead of a cathether attached for a period of time. In a planned case they will know how much pain meds to give and how long they need to work, so that is a better option than an epi, which is typically used when they don't know the length of time it will need to proviide pain relief etc.

An advantage of the spinal block is that there is no risk of it not working symmetrically (as in - one of your legs may still have feeling... that may happen with an epi).

This is my first so I don't know a ton, but based on what I was told, I don't see why they would even allow people to have epis (the kind you get with a vag delivery) for a planned c/s...

MarnieMS · February 2012

ChiTown Bridget:
I can't speak about epi's since I have never had one. I had an unplanned c/s and ended up with a spinal. I won't lie, I hated the feeling of being numb and I remember having a mini panick attack on the OR table.

This is what I am very afraid of. I am prone to panic attacks in general, and I am horrified I am going to freak out from the spinal

meg1974 · February 2012

I had an epi with DD #1 b/c I was in labor for a looooong time before the c/s. I had a spinal with DD #2 b/c it was a scheduled section, and spinals are most often used with those. With an epi you still feel the urge to push, but with a spinal you don't. You are more numb with a spinal, and it also doesn't last as long b/c it's a one time injection vs. a continuous drip.

I honestly don't know the difference as far as what I felt. I was more alert with DD #2, but that was probably b/c I hadn't been through a long, hard labor. Your hospital might have a policy on one or the other.

Mistym05 · February 2012

I had both placed in OR. They left the epi for 2 days following my c/s and made it a PCA pump with Fentanyl, they call it a walking epidural since there was a continuous low dose and then the option for more medication by pushing the button and I was able to get up and move around once the spinal wore off. This is my hospitals way of pain management and it was wonderful!!

RaeAnt · February 2012

I had an epi with DS because I was originally doing a vaginal birth and started to until his heart pretty much stopped. So i had an emergency c/s then. This time around, because of the reason behind the emergency c/s last time, I'm having a scheduled c/s. My doctor said i will get a spinal for that one. It sounds like that is more of a single shot vs having something inserted and taped to your spine.

edingse · February 2012

I had a spinal for my first pregnancy. I never went into labor so I didn't need the epi. I felt like the spinal made my back hurt a great deal while laying in the operating room but I could also feel my feet the whole way through. I remember telling the dr that I could feel my feet and he said that was okay because he wasn't working on my feet

I don't remember how long the numbness lasted but I don't think it lasted too long.

Want a personalized experience?

Spinal or Epi?

Re: Spinal or Epi?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards