June 2015 Moms

epidural headaches, support and advice?

After having my LO I experienced a Hellacious headache that just felt like my head was full of pressure and the only time I had relief was when I was laying flat on my back. The anesthesiologist explained that when I got my epidural it must have leaked spinal fluid and it's basically just taking its time to heal. Since the Spinal cord doesn't clot blood it takes longer to heal and if I was suffering too much they could relieve it with a blood patch. That's where they go back in with a needle and inject your own blood into your spinal cord to clot in the holes. The alternative is bedrest and lots of fluids and caffeine for a week or two until it naturally heals on its own. I was just wondering if any of the rest of the new mommies were suffering the same thing?

Re: epidural headaches, support and advice?

  • I do not have this currently from my epidural, however I experienced spinal headaches years ago from a spinal tap and it is easily the worst thing I've ever gone through (yes, I'd rather give birth). My story is long, but it basically lasted two weeks because I couldn't get anyone to give me a blood patch and so I went the caffeine route...caffeine gives me migraines so for one week I had the worst migraine of my life on top of a spinal headache. I ended up in the ER and got an IV of Benedryl to stop the headache. I cannot even begin to describe the misery.

    With a newborn I think I'd definitely get a blood patch!! If not, PLEASE lay down and rest and get lots of help so it heels quickly!

    Good luck!! Feel better!
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  • No experience, but headaches suck. Really bad headaches suck the big one. And the idea of having a really bad headache for an extended period of time makes me cringe and want to cry. Add in the stress of a newborn... Bleh.

    So sorry :(
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I'm so sorry! My neighbor had this win her 7th child and she was just miserable!
  • I had the same thing going on and got the blood patch. The relief was instant. It was amazing. My back was very sore for the next two days but at least the headaches were gone and I could function normally again. I would def get the blood patch.
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • I had the headache with my first and received a blood patch. There was no way I was going to be able to go home and care for my newborn baby with the headache I had. Hope you get he relief you need soon!
  • aj1327aj1327 member
    No experience but I'm so sorry! Hope you get relief soon!
  • I'm used to migraines so I toughed through this one too. Copious amounts of caffeine and the help of my mother for the first week helped me to recover without the blood patch. It took them 5 tries to get the epidural in the first time, I wasn't really confident that they could do a blood patch on the first try. I am gonna put some serious thought into just taking Statol for my next child... this experience isn't one I would like to relive. Thank you for all the support and well wishes, it's about gone on its own now :)
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