Epidural vs. Spinal?

Hi ladies, I'm posting this over here, since I'm due any second now, lol!

I'm supposedly getting a spinal for the twins birth. I may end up with a c-section and the doc says I'll get a spinal.

This makes me a bit more nervous then getting an epidural since it goes directly into the spine rather than to the side.

Is a spinal any more painful to put in than an epi? I've heard it isn't, but it sounds aweful to me!

Any info you can share is GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

it is inserted the exact same way as an epidural, just the spinal space is at a different depth than the epidural space, so they use the same needle, etc to place it. i've had both and they feel the same. actually a spinal is a little easier to put in than an epidural so it should be quicker. good luck and congrats!
amy

 

They felt the same to me. I had a spinal with my c-section and an epi for my VBAC (vaginal). I received novacaine shot before the actual procedure and other than having to round out your back and leaning forward, it wasn't bad for me. Good luck!

 

I've had both, and my spinal was much easier for me than my epi.

 

Oh wow, thanks SO much everyone! I'm probably worrying myself over nothing, LOL!

 

QUOTE(Twins08 @ Jul 25 2008, 01:22 AM) [snapback]894840[/snapback]
Oh wow, thanks SO much everyone! I'm probably worrying myself over nothing, LOL!

I wouldn't worry too much...easier said than done, right? Anyway, I had 2 spinals (c/s both times) and it was a piece of cake. Personally, I think a bee sting is worse. It's only a sting for a few seconds and then it's done...you start going numb pretty much immediately

Best of luck to you...sounds like your babies will be here soon!!!!!!! Congrats on making it "full-term!"

 

QUOTE(Twins08 @ Jul 24 2008, 05:25 PM) [snapback]894404[/snapback]
Hi ladies, I'm posting this over here, since I'm due any second now, lol!

I'm supposedly getting a spinal for the twins birth. I may end up with a c-section and the doc says I'll get a spinal.

This makes me a bit more nervous then getting an epidural since it goes directly into the spine rather than to the side.

Is a spinal any more painful to put in than an epi? I've heard it isn't, but it sounds aweful to me!

Any info you can share is GREATLY appreciated!!!


My hospital did a combo spinal/epidural, so I had both. I can't compare because they kind of did everything at the same time, but it wasn't painful at all. Good luck!!!! See you over here soon.

 

Thanks ladies, I'm hoping to be here REALLY soon, lol!

 

I had a spinal with my c-section. It was the one thing that scared me to death about a c-section. I made it way worse in my mind than it was. A friend of mine, had her son a few days before I had the twins and she ended up with a few headaches, because of the epi. I didn't have any side effects at all. Other than a little sting at first, that was it. It got warm and went numb. You will be fine I am sure! Good luck with your delivery and your little ones. Looking forward to you joining us over here!

 

I had an emergency c-section with my first and an epidural, and a planned c-section with the twins and a spinal... I would have gone with the epidural if i had it to do over. I had a lot of issues with the spinal and they had a really hard time getting it in, it took 7 times... My twins are 9 months old and I am still in PT for the nerve issues that were created.

 

I had an epidural with my DD1. I hate it completely. It didn't take very well. Then I also had a spinal to correct the 4th degree tear I had with her. That went beautifully. However, I did experience a weird moving sensation for over a year in the area where they were placed. I never knew which one caused the problem my guess is the epi. I also had a spinal with my c-section with the twins. I had a stupid spinal headache which went away on it's own, but the spinal took really well.

 

I had a spinal with my scheduled c-section, I did not even feel a thing, and believe me, that was the only thing I was freaked out about!

GL
alexa