Spinal vs. epi

ashcart01 · May 2012

My doctor told me that I may get to chose between a spinal or epidural. I've had epidurals before, (4 with surgeries) and they went o.k ( two of them had to be done twice). Im not a fan of the spinal because you are required to lay flat for 8 hours. After I have surgeries and I'm on pain meds, laying flat makes me vomit a lot.

What would you chose and why? Tia!

MrsCali_Bride · May 2012

quinncat:
I had a spinal and didn't have to lay flat. I just had to stay in bed for 12 hours, but I was able to sit up in the bed.

Ditto this. I was sitting up in the bed in recovery less than an hour after my surgery. I couldn't wait to sit up. Staring at the ceiling was boring. Lol

gapgirl972001 · May 2012

I had the spinal and didn't have to lie down. I could sit up and then they got me out of bed the next morning at 5am, I had the baby at 9:45pm the night before

pepomntpat · May 2012

I had a spinal. I lay flat for probably around 3 hours, but had the bed elevated after that to feed DD. I had no unexpected issues with the spinal. I was a little nauseated but didn't vomit and I had some pretty good shakes for a while when it started wearing off. Both symptoms were pretty short lived. I have no experience with an epi.

RN0107 · May 2012

I had an epi and it started to wear off while I was being stitched up. I felt everything on my right side. Next time I'll definitely want a spinal.

Daisy22 · May 2012

I had an epi both times and will this time. My hospital places a pain pump in the epi spot during surgery. You keep the pain pump for 24 hours. I was under the impression they are almost the same thing except with the epi they leave the cath in your back so they can add more meds. The spinal they take everything out after they inject the meds - one and done type thing

Temp200154562509288 · May 2012

I've had a spinal for my past 2 sections. With my last one, I was up and walking as soon as the numbness wore off. My section was at 1:30 pm and I was up and walking around the room around 9 that night. I've never had to lay flat, they've always let me sit up in bed as soon as I'm out of surgery.

katmacwv · May 2012

I had a spinal and didn't have to lay flat either. DD was born at 8:15pm, so I didn't try to get up until the next morning, but I moved from one bed to another, and I know I didn't sleep totally flat that night. I've never had an epi to be able to compare the 2, but the only issues I had with a spinal were feeling extremely cold which caused me to shake and scratching my face all through the night feeling like there were bugs on my face. They gave me Benedryl for that last symptom, but it didn't help much.

HarrietNJMommy · May 2012

I didn't have a choice. Scheduled c-section = spinal in my hospital. I've had a spinal all 3 times and will have a spinal again.

appylovee · May 2012

They sat me up in recovery as soon as i asked. and i was up and walked to the bathroom ( with help) 6 or 7 hours later.

Debra4love · May 2012

I also had a spinal but didn't have to lay flat. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and plan to ask my doctor if I will be having a spinal or epidural.

RayRay007 · May 2012

quinncat:
I had a spinal and didn't have to lay flat. I just had to stay in bed for 12 hours, but I was able to sit up in the bed.

I was sitting up reclined in my hospital bed as soon as I got to the recovery room, and was out of bed walking within 6 hours, and sitting in a chair after that. You should clarify about the laying flat, or staying in bed for 12 hours. I don't think either are necessary.

BananaPancake · May 2012

I've had both and definitely prefer the spinal! I was flat until about a half hour after delivery and then they gradually let me start coming back up. I was TERRIFIED of the spinal headache, but it all turned out fine.

LaurdaJean · May 2012

I had an epi and hated it! I could feel everything including all 12 staples they put in. I'm definitely going for the spinal next time.

Worcbride · May 2012

I didnt have a choice...had a spinal both times and loved them. Had my kids at 11:58p and 1:01am so stayed in bed anyways until the next morning when I was able to get up (trust me, didnt want to get up any earlier than was allowed). Could sit up in bed tho.

annabelle.27 · May 2012

I wasn't given a choice- I was given an epidural. It wasn't the best experience. It didn't take completely and I felt them make the incision (however, I was mostly numb, so it just stung like the mother of all paper cuts). They pumped some more meds into me and it was okay after that.

Jen0204 · May 2012

They didn't give me a choice, I had a spinal. But as soon as they moved me from the operating table to a bed they let me sit up (reclined, but still not even close to flat). I was reclined the entire time I was in recovery, and once I was in my room they let me adjust the bed as I saw fit and never said to try to lay down.

JLDillon17 · May 2012

I had a spinal and DD was born at 2:37pm...they had me up and moving 8:30 that night. I will def. have another spinal for the next one

princesst92703 · May 2012

BananaPancake:
I've had both and definitely prefer the spinal! I was flat until about a half hour after delivery and then they gradually let me start coming back up. I was TERRIFIED of the spinal headache, but it all turned out fine.

Same here... With the epi it felt like some one was standing on me there was so much pressure. With the spinal the only thing I felt was a sudden sence of being able to breath deeply again lol. I will deff do a spinal again. The only thing I didn't like was feeling cold at first after getting it, thank goodness for warming blankets lol

mysticcrystal84 · May 2012

I actually got both. Story is that I was going to try doing natural and than if I couldn't I would have a c-section. So i got the Epi during natural and it honestly didn't hurt that much at all. And than as we figured I could not have a natural birth and my Epi was low so I had no choice but to get a Spinal. I did not enjoy the spinal because I was more scared of it than anything. It is a weird feeling being numb from your neck down. What I did not like about the spinal was that I was not able to hold my DD right away, but I am not sure if with the spinal and a c-section if you are able to hold your baby right away.

But if I had the choice I would say have a EPI.

cottonlily84 · May 2012

3 spinals and never had to lie flat afterward. If I knew for certain I had to have another c/s and needed pain meds I'd pick the epi. They leave that epi catheter in and can give you more juice if you need it. Some places put you on a pain pump with an epi after delivery too. I had a spinal, which wore off on the operating table. Nothing they could do about it but hurry up and finish. The end of my scar is different from the rest of it he was going so fast and it was not a fun experience moving from there to the bed and having nurses mash on you after the feeling is back.

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