https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 21:07:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1901699 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 10:05:02 +0000 autumnlove 1901699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nskillet: Awesome!!! :) Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1901683 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:58:56 +0000 Nskillet 1901683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Spinal FTW. I had an excellent experience! And no headache!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898515 Sun, 12 Oct 2014 19:25:03 +0000 MamaBehr 1898515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had one epidural and two spinals, and I couldn't tell you the difference. In terms of pain management they all worked, but it was who administered them that makes a difference. With my epidural (and my first experience) I got the attending anesthesiologist, so it was so awesome. With my most recent one, I'll never forget, he dug the needle in until I felt "fire" to one of my feet (I think it was the needle, I guess it could have been meds). That sucked, and I told him I didn't want morphine because it makes me itch really bad, and he basically said that was a bad choice and pushed me to get it again. But once it was in and flowing it was fine and the morphine effects this time weren't as bad as the second time.<br /> Good luck Monday!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898176 Sun, 12 Oct 2014 06:42:02 +0000 Dandelion 1898176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Spinal was way easier to me. I had it for my elective c section. It takes less time for them to get it into you and for it to take effect. Epidural was way harder, BUT I had it during labor, so I'm sure that had much to do with my opinion on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898172 Sun, 12 Oct 2014 06:28:37 +0000 Nskillet 1898172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmrlady: Yep, scheduled for Monday! I was stabbed several times for an epidural with my first pregnancy and the result was a horrible headache for several weeks. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898169 Sun, 12 Oct 2014 05:58:54 +0000 pmrlady 1898169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nskillet: are you thinking that you will have a C-section? </p> <p>Usually for the purpose of labor, an epidural is given because with that one they can insert a catheter to give you a constant infusion of medication. A spinal block is a one-time shot into the actual cerebrospinal fluid (it goes in deeper than the epidural) so that one is used for C-sections because the medication only lasts for a certain amount of time (ie an hour) and then wears off. There is no catheter left inside so this is not typically used for labor since labor can go on for many hours and the spinal block can wear off too early. </p> <p>A spinal block typically works faster and is more effective in numbing everything because the medication is administered deeper than the epidural, another reason why it's used for surgeries. But the side effect of headache is slightly higher with spinal blocks because it goes directly into the spinal fluid.</p> <p>There is also a technique known as a combined spinal-epidural block that can be used for labor because they do leave a catheter in but it's a more complicated procedure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898108 Sat, 11 Oct 2014 22:10:12 +0000 Nskillet 1898108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: I have no idea which I will be having but my biggest fear is another headache following!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898106 Sat, 11 Oct 2014 22:07:45 +0000 wonderstruck 1898106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chiming in because I just had a spinal done after having an epidural the first time around....and holy crap, I HATED THE SPINAL SO MUCH. Unfortunately I think it's one of those things where you just don't know until you experience it - my doctor said most people find the spinal to be less painful and give better numbing, but that was not the case for me at all. I felt absolutely nothing with the epidural and wish I would have just insisted on having another, because the amount of sensation I still felt with the spinal was really unnerving - no pain, but it was just scary for me. I also felt like the needle hurt a lot more, but that may have to do with the fact that I got the epidural between contractions and had been in labor for 24 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1898100 Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:55:09 +0000 Nskillet 1898100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Praying I don't get a spinal headache this time!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1854590 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:26:39 +0000 tequiero21 1854590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Epidural for my first pregnancy since we were attempting vaginal on my csec day! Spinal for my second. My second csec was sooooooo much better. My hubby thinks it's cuz of the anesthesiologist. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1854566 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:15:42 +0000 loveisstrange 1854566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had both. Epidural wore off quickly but it did kill the pain from waist down in the couple hours it was functional. I could still move. It was followed by 2 totally failed epis. Spinal block deadened my whole body from armpit down. I couldn't move anything until it wore off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1854561 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:13:18 +0000 autumnlove 1854561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Epidural during labor for LO 1. Failed spinal during my C section.</p> <p>Just a spinal for LO 2-RCS. No issues! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinal-vs-epidural#post-1854553 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:11:10 +0000 Nskillet 1854553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone had both? What's your experience? </p>