Epidural Wet Tap. Anyone else have experience? (I do.)

mnspringbride · December 2015

If anyone has questions about this, feel free to ask.

Other moms who have had a Wet Tap with their Epidural: will you be getting an epidural again, or going without?

After having a wet tap the first time, I'm terrified of getting an epidural. But also equally terrified to go through labor without it. My birth the first time went so smoothly with the epidural, I can't imagine going without. But dealing with the blood patch afterward, and having to be on pain meds and lying flat on my back for half a day in tears.... which resulted in not being able to breastfeed and my baby getting formula on day 3... And the general fogginess of those first few days due to it... I just don't know if it's worth the risk again. But the probability of it happening again is so small... I don't know. What did you decide?

MississippiCatfish · December 2015

I didn't, but I had 3 epidural tries with no pain relief during my first birth. My left leg was numb and unable to move from the thigh down, so I felt kind of paralyzed in bed. Couldn't move to get more comfortable or get baby out of its bad position. It was awful. So, with my second I opted to go unmedicated, did the hypnobabies home study, and had a birth that was 100x more peaceful and comfortable. I don't have anything against epidurals, I'm not a very "natural" person, but I couldn't imagine taking an epidural knowing that it could be so awful again. I could understand you wanting to go either way:)

Knottie1456889319 · December 2015

What is a wet tap?

I have had a bad reaction to a spinal tap in the past where I could not stand up straight for 2 weeks without an intense headache. I never got the blood patch.
I'm assuming that you are stating an epidural can also cause this.
This is my first so I haven't really thought about the correlation.
Do tell!

KateLouise · December 2015

What is a wet tap? Never heard of it? I've had 3 pain med free births so I have no experience to share.

oceanchild · December 2015

@lanatalia it is absolutely possible that an epidural could lead to having a spinal headache and needing to get a blood patch - any time one has a spinal puncture procedure it is a risk. So sorry you experienced that!

Kiek · December 2015

I don't know what a wet tap is but I did have an epidural with my first and it wasn't a good experience for me. I couldn't tell when to push or if I was even pushing and I ended having to push for 2 hours while my DD's heart rate started to drop and the OB used a vacuum 3 times before that failed and DD was born with two hematomas from that. Also I've had back pain in that spot ever since (over two years later). So I'm having an unmedicated water birth this time. Tons of women have no problem with the epidural but my body just doesn't mix well with it.

kynbar5 · December 2015

I've never had one because of the epidural. I have had one because of a spinal tap but to avoid a blood patch I was told to drink a large amount of caffeine and it would patch itself. A large coffee and 2 mountain dews (which I hate) later it was gone. Yep, then I had to get over that sugar crash but the migraines and pain were gone after all that.

oceanchild · December 2015

@katelouise and @lanatalia, a wet tap is just one of the risks of spinal taps, lumbar punctures, and spinal anesthesia/epidurals (both kinds - for labor and for pain management of neck/back problems). it causes a HORRIBLE spinal headache, which can be much worse than the worst migraine, and quite often requires an autologous blood patch to resolve. basically cerebrospinal fluid is leaking from the cord, and the anesthesiologist will take the patient's own blood and try to inject it back into the hole to clot the leak. having worked years in orthopaedic surgery and also with patients receiving epidurals for spine problems, it is something i've seen happen to patients all too frequently, and i wasn't even in anesthesiology!

(sorry i couldn't complete my response before; had to go take care of the kiddos!)

BabySeaTurtles · December 2015

I will be the one to tell you I had a VERY good epidural experience with DS. I was admitted at 3 cm, got the epidural, fell asleep and was woken up some time later by the nurse telling me it was time to push, pushed DS out, then was told to get up and go pee, so I did. Super easy and simple labor because of the epidural and no side or after effects. I am going to get an epidural again this time as well.

Knottie1456889319 · December 2015

Looks like this is something I need to talk with my doc about further. Thanks for the info and heads up!

sanayeli · December 2015

With my first I had an epidural and it went great . No pain no side effects . My second one I had an epidural and omg it hurt and afterwards I had awful back pain. I could not lay on my back for months because I would get unbelievable pain. I'm not sure if it was the person who applied it that just hurt me or what . This time I'm going to do it with no epidural.

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Epidural Wet Tap. Anyone else have experience? (I do.)

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