[Starr33]

Hi ladies,

I am due to have my c-section 1 week from today and I met with the Anesthesiologist today and he was asking me questions and asked if my skin was itchy after the last c-section...I remeber having the legs and face itchy...He said it was the pain medication that they put in the spinal.
He suggested having an epidural, that way I would not have the itching afterwards, and they would control the spidural so I would be frozen longer, so I would not feel the pain. He swaid either way you will not be getting up anyways that evening
What have you ladies had....

[bookworm16_2000]

I've had both and I can't say that I had different effects. I had itching with both as well as uncontrollable shaking. It's odd that he said you won't be up that night (assuming your c/s is in the morning). With both of mine I was up less than 12 hours later walking the halls!

[Starr33]

Well during the day they got me in a wheelchair to go and see my baby in NICU, but they kept the catheder in the whole night so I could get a good nights sleep...without having to get up and use the bathroom....And I was feeling sooo groggy the whole day...Not sure if it was the pain killer that they inject in when doing the spinal....
Is there one that you preferred over the other...Spinal or Epidural...I mean I had epidurals for my first 2 vaginal deliveries, just wondering when having a c-section if there is one that is better then the other....

[bookworm16_2000]

I feel I had a better experience with my spinal- I was up walking much quicker, never hurt, and was back to "normal" in less than a week!

That could have been the difference in circumstances too. My DD was born by emergency c/s after 38 hours of induced labor (34 of which were unmedicated!). She was what is called a snatch and grab birth, my incision was hip to hip so they could get her out ASAP. I was in the hospital 7 days total. DS was a scheduled c/s with a normal (tiny) incision. I was up walking 6 hours later and home 48 hours after surgery!

I'd go for the spinal, just because I had a better experience but I don't think one is better than the other. If you've had a better experience with the epidural- go for it! It's about making you the most comfortable!

[Summerdays12]

I had a spinal with both my c-sections and I just remember it was so painful when the needle went in! Is an epidural just as painful? I have a scheduled c-section this October and I think I have a choice of what I want.

[mommaof4andhalf]

I have only had epidurals thus far. It doesn't "hurt" per say......well, at least mine didn't. I did jump on the last one and was yelled at to hold still. It felt really funky though. I felt everything they were doing and was able to feel the little tube. I had that eeeby jeeby feeling for a few seconds with some uncontrollable shakes. Right afterwards though, when they got me laid down I was pretty numb. They numbed me enough to where I could feel my feet tingle. Other than that, nothing. I have never had a spinal and I am thinking of just sticking to what I know even though I have heard both pros and cons of the spinal.

[ElizMommy]

I had an epidural nd was itchy and had the shakes. I was up and moving that night (within 8 hrs)

[Summerdays12]

Oh yes the shakes. I forogt about those

[mythreesons]

I had spinals with all four of mine. The first two I had the itchy, itchy, itches. There are two types of pain meds they can use for the spinal...one lasts longer than the other. However, the one that lasts longer gives you the itches. I opted for the spinal that wore off quicker and gave me no itches. Talk to your anesthesiologist about that. Duramorph is the meds that makes you itch. I wish I could remember the other drug's name for you.

[Punky.Brew]

I've had both, too and my epidural didn't take. I could feel my belly so they had to do a spinal on top of that. Not fun.

I would go spinal. But for me the itching was not bad at all. Just a bit on my nose. Plus, it's longer and not necessary to control it during or after surgery.

[littlenoell]

I've had epidurals. They were painful.

[oldchristine]

I had a spinal with both my c-sections