2Nd C-section - Painesville, OH

A.-
I had a spinal block with my first c-section, and the pain isn't any worse than getting a shot, at least it wasn't for me. It just lasts a minute, not very long at all, and within five minutes you can't feel anything (if they've done it correctly). Good luck! And Congratulations!

Hello! I also had the same situation for you for my first and second child. I was given a spinal for my second C-section and did not take anything before. In fact, it was a little bit of a pain when it went in but in about 2 minutes I felt nothing! Good luck - it is so much fun having 2 little ones at home!

I experienced the same scenario, and I don't remember getting anything for the pain prior to the spinal block. I was very very nervous about it, and to be honest, it was absolutely nothing to be nervous about. They many have injeted a numbing medication before actually doing the spinal, but all I really felt was a pinch for a few seconds and it was over. I remember thinking afterwards that I spent way to much time worrying about it, when it was actually very painless and easy! Try to not to worry!

They will numb the area before they insert the spinal. It didn't hurt at all. Just sit very still when they insert it and you will be fine. Within 30 seconds you will be numb from the breastbone down. You have nothing to worry about. Good luck!

I have had 5 children with 4 births (set of twins). I had a C-Section with my twins with an epideral. Now granted I have a high pain tolerance, but I would never do a spinal block. It is too risky and you have to lay flat for so long afterwards and you get a high chance of a bad headache afterwards. Why aren't you doing an epideral if you had one before? If it is done in a timely manner and done correctly you should not feel any pain or contractions. I only felt the tugging when trying to get the babies out. They were breach or I would have gone natural. I didn't want an epidural. But that is me and everyone is different.

I don't have any advice about C-sections, and of course I don't know your specific situation, but I wonder if you have considered a VBAC? (The "once a C-section, always a C-section" idea is false, and not your only option--in fact, when doctors or hospitals don't support/allow VBAC--vaginal birth after cesarian--it is the only medical procedure that is essentially forced on women, as they are offered no other options, which is really unethical, if you think about it... how many men are forced into a major surgery they would not choose?)

It might be worth talking to your doctor about it. And if you are interested and your doctor is not supportive, I think Dr. Stephen Guy or Dr. James Horlacher would be worth talking to--both are very supportive of natural childbirth. For more info about VBAC, go to:

http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/home

Good luck, however it works out!

I had a planned C-Section with my second son. The is no pain other than the initial prick of the of the spinal similar to that of the epidural. Speak to your ob. They ususally put a synthetic form of morphine in the spinal to help elimiate pain from the c-section itself. (I am allergic to morphine and I had to make sure they did not include it in the spinal).

I had a level 4 episiotomy with my first son. I would gladly go through the c-section again. I was more relaxed and my second son did not suffer the stess and complications that my first son did. I also healed a lot quicker with the c-section. I still felt like my privates were attacked by a lawn mower 10 weeks after my first was born. I was okayed to back to work at six weeks and was still not comfortable sitting in a office chair till I was back at work about 2 months. Just relax and talk to your ob. You'll be okay.

I did not experience much pain from the insertion of a spinal block. They numbed the area with Novocain (or something like it), and that was it. I had a harder time with the epidural, trying to be perfectly still during contractions, while they were inserting it!

Your concerns are natural but you really need to talk about this with your doctor.Every delivery is different.Just as every child is different. Good Luck.

A.,

I'm sure that you could ask for something while you are there, but honestly once the spinal block is in it immediately goes to work so the pain that you feel from it is minimal and very forgettable. Good luck and god bless.

Mel

Hi A., I had a C-Section with both of my children. My first one was induced and after 12 hours of labor they took her C-Section so I had my epidural with her. My son was planned to be a C-Section on July 16th, I was due the 25th and he surprised us by sending me in labor on the 9th. They gave me a spinal block and I could not feel anything. You might want to talk to your doctor about the spinal headaches that can happen. I was supposed to have an epidural with my second one even though it was planned but it was the other doctor in the office that delivered and he gave me a spinal and I wound up with the headache. I am not trying to scare you, but I would just ask the doctor and make sure you get information about the headaches. Good luck.

I had epidurals for my 2 c-sections and I believe they gave me a little injection first to ease the pain of the bigger needle. I'm sure they will do the same for you.

When I was having my 3rd child , C-section, I was on the table and they had already given me my block, I could not feel any pain, but I could feel them touching me, when
the knife went across my belly I said Hey, I can feel that. they stopped and gave me more drugs, they did not question what i could feel, or where they just complied with my wishes. Thank God for drugs. Not once did I feel any pain that was uncomfortable even when they put in the block they numb the area 1st.

hi A., i had the same situation as you. 1st baby included labor, nubane, epidural, then emergency c section. since then i have had 2 subsequent C sections. you will be given a bag or two of saline prior to surgery to keep your blood pressure up (an IV in one arm), be shaved, and fill out tons paperwork before surgery. then you will go into the operating room and you will sit on the edge of the guirney, slumped over a nurse who will keep you still and probably talk to you to you to ease your mind while the anesthesiologist gives you a small shot to numb the area where he will place the block. then he will insert the needle for the spinal. please don't be nervous about it; it is uncomfortable but it is nothing compared to labor pains:) i always ask them to wait to put in my foley catheter until i'm numb (some nurses like to do it in the preop area, but i figure why should i feel that if i don't have too?) i've also asked them not to strap my arms out to the sides while i'm on my back and they agreed to that as well.
i tell you all this because i think it helps us feel more in control of the situation if you know what is going to happen. ask you obgyn the specifics of what you will go through, and don't be worried about the needles, it only takes seconds and you'll never give it a second thought afterwards.
ps, after each one of my C sections, the recovery was so very much quicker than my previous experience. i was much more comfortable after each surgery, provided that my other little onces didn't sit on my belly:) another tip: don't wait for your pain meds to cause you constipation before asking for stool softeners- ask for them ASAP to head off the problem. and if you experience sharp ains in your chest a day or two later, it is only gas pain and an antacid will solve the problem- seriously!
piece of cake!! good luck to you:)

I am the mom of 4 boys - ALL C-sections. The first 2 were epidurals and I was very nervous with #3. I was pleasantly surprised at how 'not eventful' the spinal was. They numbed the area where they were going to put the needle in and that was probably the worst part. After that I just felt pressure. Then I felt nothing. The anethesiologist will walk you thru everything. The absolute worst part - my husband was not allowed in the OR until it was over. The best part is that you don't feel beat up after the surgery because you never went into labor. They also have new medications so your pain level isn't out of this world when the spinal wears off.

Best of luck with #2.

L. Mother of 4 awsome boys 9, 7, 2 1/2 and 18 months.

I had an emergency section the first time and then a planned second section. It was a piece of cake. I was nervous about it, but I felt hardly anything (I was contracting both times, though). I think I felt more the first time. Maybe it is just about who does it. Even at its worst, it is over quickly. I hope yours is easy.

I too have experienced the nervousness of a second c-section. The 1st was an emergency and I was in soo much pain from the contractions that I wanted them to do anything to stop the pain. The second was planned. My Dr was awesome. She let me hang onto her arms and we talked the whole time they were doing it. It was not that bad. There was just a little burning and than it was numb. The minutes leading up to it was so much worse than the actual event for me. I build things up in my mind and make it awful that when it acutally happens it's never as bad as I imagine it is gonna be. Please stop worrying about it. You will be holding your new bundle of joy very soon. Just talk to your Dr about something that will take your mind off of what is going on behind you! Congrats and Best of luck~ J.

Hi A.,
I went through the same thing ~ was in labor from Sun. @ 7 p.m. & had an emergenc c-section on Tuesday LATE afternoon. I needed a 2nd c-section, but wasn't going to be going through labor. I was nervous about the pain of the shot too (since it's pretty much like an epidural). I was more stressed b/c my husband wasn't allowed in the room for the shot like he was for our 1st child. Luckily my dr. came into the room as I was about ready to get the shot. I absolutely ADORE my dr. & he made me feel at ease & helped me to focus on him instead of the shot I was about to get. Obviously there is some discomfort (as there is w/ any shot) but just think what you'll be bringing into the world! :o) Good luck!
H.

i have had three C-sections and no they don't give u anything when they do it. my advice to u is just do has they tell u, don't move i used a pillow between my legs and chest and i also took a washcloth to bit down on. i hope they have new techniques now. but it really is not as bad as u imagine. (sorry) Good luck! and congradulations on your new bundle.

I've had 3 C-sections and you don't have anything to worry about. You'll do fine and the doctors and nurses will make you more relaxed. They already have all the meds you'll need including pain meds. Relax and enjoy the baby. Congrat!
My first was an emergency C - section. The 2nd my pacenta ruptured while in the hospital and the 3rd one was the only one I felt labor pains for and he was born 14 yrs after the 2nd one! Imagine that! My tubes were cut,tied and burned.

I had an emergency c-section the first time and had an epidural while I was still in labor. I know it hurt, but I honestly can't tell you what the pain was like thanks to those wonderful hormones that make you forget all that.

Then, my second was delivered via scheduled c-section. I had a spinal block, but I think they injected lidocaine into my spine beforehand to help ease the pain. Then once the spinal block was injected, I admit it did hurt a bit (my nerves went weird and I felt something like electric sparks down one leg for a few seconds) but it only lasted about 10 seconds before my lower half went completely numb and then I just got to lay down and enjoy the freakiness of anesthesia ;)

Seriously, the end result is so worth the little bit of discomfort that you feel in the beginning. You'll remember it hurt, but you won't remember how much. That's the beauty of it all. Don't worry, it's so much easier the second time.

Oh, and I just read a few other responses - first, like one mom said, be forewarned that your husband won't be allowed in the room when you get the block. That really surprised and upset me, and although my doctor's had was a good substitute to hold, I really didn't feel better until my husband was allowed in. I think if I had not have been such a surprise, I would have done better.

And for the moms that said they had epidurals for their c-sections, I wonder if that's inaccurate? An epidural stops the pain of contractions, but a spinal block makes you completely numb and even paralyzed until it wears off. An epidural will not be enough to get you through a c-section. If you were already in labor and you already had had an epidural, they would just administer the spinal block medication through the same tubes without the need for an additional shot. But you can still feel the touching sensation on your skin with an epidural. There is no way a doctor could cut you open to take out a baby. Yikes! No one said I needed to lay down after the spinal block, either. Minutes after our daughter was born, I was sitting up in the bed, nursing her. No headache either, and no problem at all!

Good luck and congratulations!

I had all 3 of my children via c-section, the first was an emergency after 16 hours of labor!! The next two I elected to do, I have to say the only pain I felt during the spinal was them injecting the lidocane.

You will be so excited and nervous you probably won't notice what is going on!!!

Good luck with everything.

A.

There's nothing they can give you before doing a spinal block, if you're meaning pain medicine, there's no reason for it. They will numb the area of the back where they insert it, if you've had anything numbed before you'll know what that feels like, other than that you'll just feel pressure in your back as they insert the spinal. I don't know if you already know this, but alot of people think the needle stays in your back and that's what your afraid of feeling? It doesn't. Once they've gotten into the spot in your back they put the medicine in and take the needle out. There's really no pain to it, just pressure.

Hi, I just had my 2nd c-section in September and have a gorgeous 3 1/2 month old son. Like you, my first c/s was an emergency, almost 17 years ago. I had a spinal block both times. I don't remember the pain of the first time because I was in hard labor and already full of demerol. This time around, the nurse anesthetist did give a local anesthetic before she gave the spinal block. I didn't feel a thing other than some pressure. But I did start throwing up, because the sudden drop in your blood pressure when they give you the shot can cause nausea and vomiting, so be prepared-this happened the first time around for me, so I was kind of expecting it and asked for a basin before I was completely numb. My OB also ordered up pain meds to take the edge off after my son's birth when he was stitching me back up. Good luck!!!!

Its really not all that bad. I've had 3 C Sections. Like you my first was an emergency with an epidural already in place. My second and third were planned so I had the spinal. It actually works much quicker than an apidural because they inject the medication directly into your spinal cord instead of waiting for a drip form the epidural. They will numb the skin first and the most uncomfortable sensation really is the pressure. It just feels like someone is pushing their thumb into your spine really hard. For me, I really had to concentrate on holding my back in the right position and not moving. I was shaking because I was nervous so I really concentrated on just holding still. It was helpful for me the 3rd time around to ask the nurse to hold my shoulders down to help keep my back right. Honesly there really is very little pain assoiciated with it. Like I said, it is more pressure than pain.

A.,

I've had two c-sections and like your first, both of mine I was contracting with. I really don't remember it being painful when they inserted the needle. Oh, and my second was planned too, my daughter just didn't like the plan and arrived a few days early :-)

C.

Hey A.! I've had three c-sections with spinals. I never had any pain with them at all. The only thing I felt was the sting of the local numbing when the anesthesiologist was going to insert the spinal. I didn't have any problems whatsoever. However, what sucked with my last c-section was that I was contracting like crazy since I was dehydrated from not eating or drinking since the night before. And, my c-section wasn't until around 2 pm. My first c-section was a surprise. The second time I didn't make it to my planned c-section. The third baby just wanted to stay put until the very end, unfortunately. LOL! Best of luck!

A.

I've only had one c-section, but I did have a spinal block instead of an epidural. It was uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt that bad. It was over really quickly too. From my understanding, and epidural and a spinal are not that much different, as far as pain. Just remember to breath and hold very still. I kept forgetting to breath (I tend to go that when I'm stressed) so I kept almost passing out. They had to keep stopping at starting. That was my own fault! I really don't think they give you anything for the pain, sorry :( You can always ask your doctor though. You can tell immediately when the spinal is finished. Your whole body from your breast bone to your toes gets really really warm, then it's totally numb. Again, just remember to breath. It really freaked me out and I started hyperventilating. Again, totally my fault! Just stay calm and you'll be fine!

My first delivery was an emergency c-section and I remember my OB coming in and telling me that the needle prick would feel like a bee sting. I remember my response (after it was over) was, "If that is what getting a spinal feels like, I would have that happen over a bee sting any day." My second delivery, a scheduled c-section, went the same way. It stings for a brief second, kind of like when you get your ears pierced. The anticipation is always worse than the actual action. I am due to deliver my 3rd baby in April and it will be a scheduled c-section and the spinal is the least of my worries. Also, I read through some of the other comments you received and I had two spinals, never received a headache, and NEVER had to lay flat on my back for any amount of time what-so-ever!!! Good luck and don't worry about it!!!

I dont remember getting anything for pain prior to the spinal block. ALthough, I don't remember it being very painful. Once they give it to you, you only have like 1-2 minutes before you are numb. The anestisiolgoist (sp)will be in the room with you at all times and if you start to feel pain or nausea let them know, they can put meds in the iv to stop this. Also, not sure where you are delivering, I delivered at Toledo and they can slide a mirror up so you can watch when the baby is actually taken out. It was very cool. You don't get to watch all the cutting or anything, just the baby part.

Good luck!!