Epidural or local anaesthetic

They generally just give you a spinal block as it lasts 6 hours and no longer is needed it’s one injection and done where as an epidural stays in your back to be topped up which in used during labour as labour can last more than 6 hours I had the spinal block and literally 6 hours later I could stand up and move around and didn’t have to have anything removed from my back which I’m glad of so I would recommend that x

I had a spinal block! I didn't realise there were other options! Xx

@Lauren oh brilliant! This sounds great! When I was reading the information they only had those two options on there so I’ll hopefully have that option instead as I’d prefer to be able to get up and about quicker

Just realised that is a local anaesthetic

I had epidural but only because I had been induced but wasn't progressing so they topped my epidural up

@Lauren that makes sense! Given your situation anyway x

Never get the epidural it messes up your back

I had a spinal which I was grateful for, the epidural and other pain relief didn’t work for my failed induction! Spinal took the previous pain away and I felt confident that I wouldn’t accidentally feel too much during the emergency c-section 😮‍💨

I had 2 c sections. Both times I had spinal and epidural

Thanks everyone this is really useful and pretty much answers my question, I just didn’t want to get in there and have no clue 🤣

Had a spinal and it was the best thing didn't feel a thing and lasted a fair bit of time. Goodluck

I wasn't given the choice 😅 they just gave me a spinal block

Honestly feel like it depends on everything leading up to it e.g risks, BMI, previous complication if any or whatever and stuff like that in what they decide. Most people it's usually spinal unless it's an emergency then heard it's just epidural if already given. Both of mine were elective and got given both both times but then I'm a nightmare for getting needles into when needed

I had an epidural with my first, and spinal block with my second. I preferred the spinal, which i think is standard for a planned csection. My first i labored for 13 hours and then ended up with an emergency csection, so they just pushed the meds through the epidural line.

Generally they will only do a general anaesthetic if for some reason they can’t do local because of the risks involved and the longer recovery time. It’s unlikely you’ll be given the option tbh unless you have a really good reason for wanting general anaesthetic for an elective. Personally I would deffo prefer it 😅

@Kim I don’t think they do general unless they absolutely have to because that puts you to sleep and I wouldn’t want to be asleep. I also can’t have general because I don’t take it very well which I found out when I was 16. My c section information says epidural or local and based on everyone else’s information I definitely think it’ll be local anyway which is great x