Ladies Who Got Spinals...

Okay i am getting close now to my c-section date and of course all i can think about is the spinal. I am not afraid of needles but i am of a big one they put in my back.

Can you all tell me when they do it, how they do it, was DH with you, how it felt and how long it lasted for after the surgery was over.

Are my legs going to be numb for a long time?? I am afraid of that.

Thanks for any advice.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

DH was not allowed in the operating room yet and I was crying before they did it since I was so nervous about everything.

Let me tell you though, it was nothing!!!!

I felt her feeling my back and then it was done, I didn't even realize she did it, because her feeling around hurt 100x more then the needle going in, and her feeling around was only a minor discomfort.

They have you sit on the table and you are hunched over. The nurse was there and pretty much held me in the hunched position and made sure I didn't move.

I was so nervous when I saw that needle in lamaze but it really was nothing for me.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

i'm guessing the spinal is the same as an epidural???

My husband was not allowed in the room, my legs went numb, but it wasn't bad, it felt like a little pinch..mine lasted a while..I was induced and it started to where off at 6cm..then they gave it to me agian, but through the tubes..i didn't have to get stuck again..then we decided on the c-section and i felt no pain at all...it was great..i had a great experience..although i felt weird after the surgery when the nurse gave dd to me..i felt like i wasn't strong enough to hold her..

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

I first got the epidural and my dh wasn't there. I had to get a spinal in the OR during my c-section because the doctor said I had a hot spot or an area where I didn't get numb. So they leaned me over and they put it in...I didn't see or feel a thing. The doctors kept touching me and asked if I felt anything. When it was in, they finally let my dh into the room for the c-section. Afterwards my feeling came back right away and I started to move my toes and then my legs. They put this thing on your legs that massages you to get the feeling back. It was quite annoying when I was trying to sleep.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

Isn't it sad that I am more worried about this then the actual c-section. I think because i had a series of blood tests this past weekend and i made myself so ansy that the spinal is now all i can think of.

Message edited 7/26/2006 2:26:26 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

Dh was in the room when i got mine, the nurse tried to kick him out but he refused to leave, and the anesthesiologist came in and said he could stay. The needle is not that big, it hurts but not a lot and they numb it first.
I was afraid too about being numb- but it is not a scary numb, just nice.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

The did mine right after I was brought i to the OR. But I didn't feel a think because I had already been given an epi and had that topped off 2x (my c/s was an emergency bc the baby was in distress and so was I).

DH wasn't with me but shortly after that he was allowed in.

It lasted for a long time, I didn't feel any REAL pain until the next day and by then they had me all set with percoset (loved those)!

You're legs will be numb for several hours but it's really not bad, you are laying in bed and you can't move anyway because they wont let you. The following day though, they will take out your cathader and get you walking around a bit.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

my husband was in the room with me. i didnt feel a thing I thing personally it is how you deal with needles and pain. your legs are numb for a bit id say i had my csection at 8:05 and my feeling in my legs came back at like 11

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

DH was not in the room with me for it - but the nurse was awesome and took care of me...it didn't hurt one bit and I was having conversations with the doctors and nurses while on the operating table.


I don't remember when I got the feeling back, b/c I went to sleep pretty much right after - when I woke up I felt everything.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

Dh wasn't allowed in the room with me but I had a great nurse that stayed with me. I was so nervous. I was crying my eyes out because I was so scared of the needle and the pain.

It was NOTHING!!!!!!!! I made such a big deal over nothing. It was a slight pinch for a second and then it was gone. Shortly after I started going numb. Not feeling anything was the hard part for me.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

My dh was not in the room for that part, but really, it was nothing.
I think I was numb for the rest of the day, it seemed like a long time.

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

For me the spinal felt a little weird, didn't really hurt. DH was not aloud in the OR until they were ready to open me up. I was soooo scared/nervous. When they let him in, I already had my arms strapped down and the oxygen thing in my nose, etc. They will do it pretty much when you first go into the OR. As soon as they're done they tell you to lay down fast because it kicks in right away. I was already getting numb by the time I layed down. I guess when they actually did it, it kind of hurt, but it didn't, if that makes any sense? It's over pretty fast. I was numb for a while after I was given the shot. Then after the c-section unfortunately my reaction to the spinal was shaking. I was shaking sooooo bad that I was afraid of holding the baby. I was also very cold. That's the other thing I remember was that the OR was VERY cold? They also give you a catheter. I've never had one. They do it when you're numb though. Overall, the spinal was the easy part. Good luck and try not to worry about it!

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

Ooh yah the shaking was the worse part for me. I was so nervous because I couldn't stop shaking

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

This is a great post!! I will be having a spinal with this c-section and I had a panic attack when I had my first c-section, with the epidural when I couldn't move my legs. I so afraid it will happen with a spinal too

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

I was in such severe pain from contractions that i would have taken the needle in my eye! It didnt hurt a bit, or maybe it did, but i didnt notice? The contractions were much worse. My DH was not there at the moment they gave it, i think he ran to get coffee. It was soooooooooooo delish after it started working. I was numb from the waste down and it was a beautiful thing!!!

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

DH was not allowed in the room when I got my spinal and it took about 30 minutes for them to get it -- they are VERY careful --- but the doc was just having a hard time getting it in right. They actually called in another anestesiologist and just as he walked in the guy got it ....

The nurse does hold you in place so you can't move ---- not holding you down but holding your shoulders while you are hunched over.

The only complain I had about it was that when they were wheeling me into my room I got very very very sick and they said it was from the meds in the spinal, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Re: Ladies Who Got Spinals...

DH was in the room with me when i got it...honestly i never looked or saw the needle...and the contractions I felt at the time they were doing it hurt allot more than the actual needle in my back. your legs are numb for a long time...expect that it seems like forever....i was afraid I would never walk again....but the worst part was the shaking...it was uncontrollable!!!!