Spinal block
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For me, I was so tired by the time I got round to having a section due to being in labour but I just didn’t dilate quick enough. I also had Pithidine which not that I regret but it spaced me out so much. That had me sit on the bench and hug a pillow so your back is arched you then feel a scratch but I honestly feel like Chloe said, injections have been a lot worse - as soon as it was done they helped me lay down and almost immediately you feel your legs begin to get heavy. They sprayed me with a cold spray to make sure I didn’t have any feeling and that was it off they went - overall my whole section went perfect although it was something I absolutely never wanted, I can’t fault it x
I dreaded the spinal the most but honestly it wasn’t that bad! The anaesthetist was amazing and made me so at ease, definitely let them know you’re nervous so they can support you. For me - once I was sat on the bed and leant over a pillow they cleaned my back and put a drape/sheet over it. I remember feeling a cold spray and then a bit of a scratch but it lasted just seconds as they put the local anaesthetic in. Then for the actual spinal, I just felt a little bit of pressure in my back and it didn’t last long at all. Then within about a minute my bottom felt warm and it spread down my legs, starts with a warm fuzzy feeling and then my legs just went dead. They laid me down at this point and I couldn’t feel anything! Hope everything goes okay for you x
They numbed my back and I couldn’t even feel it!
Everyone always gets hung up on the spinal, it’s like having any other injection, just a bit of a scratch 🤷🏼♀️
The only thing I felt was the pressure in my spine for a split second and then my lower body got hot and then numb
They numb you and it hurt a little but wasn’t terrible. The nurse that was putting in my IV caused more pain.
I honestly don’t even remember feeling anything. I had gone through 10 hours of labour leading up to the c section so I think I was just so relieved the pain had gone that the spinal felt like nothing at that point. But honestly if I don’t even remember it, it can’t be bad.
The cannula in my hand hurt more. Didn’t feel the spinal at all and it wore off really fast after surgery so I was up and walking in hours. No back issues after either surgery.
I had an epidural with my first pregnancy since I was laboring and had a spinal with my 2nd as it was a planned c section. Very similar process, similar injection site, spinal is a smaller needle. First they used an ultrasound machine and marked on my back where they need to put the needle. Then I hugged a pillow and curved my back. Honestly the worst of it is stinging which lasts maybe 30 seconds. Not even close to the worst pain. If you've been to the dentist and had any numbing done you'll be fine. They are very nice and explain what they are doing and all the sensations before hand so you know exactly what's happening and what to expect. Don't worry it'll be okay, good luck!
Honestly just don’t look at the needle close your eyes if you want to see it after which I did you can but I would just not look it’ll make you more nervous. Tbh it didn’t hurt that bad
It was honestly the hardest part of the whole process. That being said, that means it’s all pretty easy, at least with an elective! I had a pretty impressive bruise on my back and that was more painful than my belly while laying down in recovery for those first couple days. Try to find comfortable ways to get the weight off it and lay on your side when your doctor allows you and make sure you have help getting into position. I was very nervous about it and I think it made me tense and that didn’t help. I will tell you they can wear off. Mine wore off and I had to be put under in order for the doctor to finish my stitches. Don’t be afraid to voice if the pressure starts to feel worse or starts to get unbearable. If it’s not actually wearing off you should not feel any abnormal discomfort. The description of “feeling like someone is sitting on your chest” is accurate. As for your belly you can feel them working, it feels like they are pushing on your belly hard but not enough to hurt!
Have you had an epidural? It feels the exact same going in, but then you get tingly and warm throughout your legs, then after MAYBE a min, youre completely numb. Also, you dont have anything left (like the epidural tube), and it wears off after just a few hours.
You will be brought into the operating room. Different anesthesiologists have different recommendations for how you sit. I sat with my legs dangling from either side of the table and held the arms of someone in front of me. Hunched my back over and if you’re familiar with yoga poses, did a cow shape. They scrubbed my back pretty well to clean and laid out some tape of some sorts then did a series of pokes as they placed some topical analgesic and the spinal medication. No part of this “hurts.” Some slight pinching and pain like a vaccine. From there you are laid back on the table, they put oxygen in your nose and butterfly your legs out to insert the catheter and clean you up really well. You’re like completely naked except for your chest by the way. They will put up the protective field and over the next 10-15 minutes, your lower half will become numb. For me, it felt like it took forever. It was prickly and uncomfortable and intensely out of body. I honestly felt horrible but it was
Like I was incapacitated and couldn’t ask for help. I kept thinking how do they not see that I’m struggling here? Eventually I couldn’t feel my toes and that out of body feeling went away. They then did a prick test and made sure I couldn’t feel anything and then got started. I hated the spinal process but the horrible feelings only lasted a few minutes and it wasn’t about the pain but feeling out of control of your body. People say that you go numb within a minute and this may be the case for some but isn’t the common experience. Average is 10+ minutes fyi. Good luck you got this!
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I was terrified before mine and I still would be now if I needed another one. I've always had a fear of people touching my back/spine area but the doctors, nurses and midwives were all incredibly supportive and did an amazing job of supporting me through it. They numb the area first which is a tiny prick like a regular injection so the actual spinal block didn't hurt but I had a few strange sensations before the spinal block kicked in like the feeling of a mini electric shock in my bum cheeks which I wasn't quite ready for but honestly, once you meet your baby you'll realise it was all worth it.❤️
I was TERRIFIED for my spinal that’s literally all I was nervous about my c-section. I was worried it would make me feel sick as I had HG my whole pregnancy and was really fed up of feeling sick. I literally felt fine. The insertion was easy it just felt like a scratch on my back (I’ve had worse injections/vaccines) honestly just felt a sharp scratch for max 10 seconds. Then your legs go numb gradually and to me it felt a bit like when you’re drunk and your body starts to feel warm and fuzzy. They laid me on the bed and after about 10 mins (c-section had already started) I started to feel a tiny bit dizzy, I told my anaesthetist and he gave me some medicine in my cannula and I felt instantly better. The spinal can make your blood pressure low and can make you feel dizzy but if that happens just let them know and they’ll fix it for you with medicine. I wish I knew what it would be like before as I wouldn’t have felt nervous at all. You will be fine❤️❤️