Difference between spinal block & epidural
Hi
I've been talking to some friends who have recently had babies and one mentioned she'd had a spinal block.
Does anyone know what the difference between a spinal block and epidural is?
Thanks
Danielle
I've been talking to some friends who have recently had babies and one mentioned she'd had a spinal block.
Does anyone know what the difference between a spinal block and epidural is?
Thanks
Danielle
0
Replies
They automatically wanted to give me an epidural. I think they only really use the spinal if it is an emergency one or there are medical reasons ( as with me) that mean the mother can't have the epi.
With the epi you just go numb, and it takes a bit longer, but the spinal makes your feet etc go all hot b4 it numbs it. Odd feeling apparently. Also the recovery of feeling is quicker with a spinal.
During my labour I had an epidural (I laboured up to 6-7cm dilated) and it took effect instantly. I could feel my legs as normal and move them around (probably couldn't have walked though), the only difference was all the pain vanished - yay!
An epidural is not as strong as a spinal block - they actually limit the dose when you need to push so you can feel when to.
I had an emergency section in the end and had a spinal as I could feel it with the epidural (or at least I was paranoid I could!). The spinal completely paralyses you and you cant move or anything until it wears off (in my case about 4 hours.) after that I was walking around etc. Spinals are more used for c sections & sometimes for forceps/ventouse delivery. x