Not sure 😅

Okay I feel like this might be a dumb question but if I give birth via C Section… do I still get the epidural? If so how does the epidural work I know it makes you numb but when does it wear off? Does it actually work to make it numb?

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If you have an elective section you get a spinal. You might get an epidural if you’ve been in labour and need an emergency but if you have an elective pre labour it’s just a spinal. My spinals both wore off after about 2 hours. I could move my legs and feet in recovery and then at the 12 hour mark I was up and walking around normally, showering and carrying baby around the room. Not sure on the science but the anaesthist is the most qualified person in the hospital, it’s so impressive. You sit on the table in theatre sideways and they give you a quick needle to numb the area, a tiny scratch. Then deep breath and sit still. They will distract you chatting rubbish about tv and the weather and it’s done. Honestly doesn’t hurt. Within seconds they will get you to lie down and it feels like you’ve stepped into a warm bath up to your boobs. You can move your arms, feel your chest, everything up from the nipples. You’ll feel holding baby and have full motion, just not your bottom half

They spray you with an ice spray to see if you can’t feel. She sprayed my husband’s hand and he yelped from the cold then she sprayed me. She said “can you feel that?”, couldn’t feel anything at all. “I’m spraying your nipple” 😂 literally nothing but when she sprayed my arm I felt it. Spinals wear off faster, generally are easier and less side effects.

lol sorry but this did make me laugh. Of course it works, they wouldn’t do a major surgery without making sure you’re completely numb. If you opt solely for the c section then you’ll get a spinal block which is essentially like an epidural. If you try laboring first then you can have an epidural (like I did) and if it ends in a section then they will usually top you up with a spinal block. It wears off after around 12 hours, maybe less I can’t remember for sure! You absolutely don’t feel an ounce of pain during the section, only sensation of them pulling and tugging. I was really scared of having a section but honestly it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be and I’m opting for an elective this time round x

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