spinal and epi?

whats the difference between spinal and epi..?

The spinal numbs you up completely straight away, whereas with an epi they top it up if you need surgery. I think that the spinal goes into a different part of your back as well and they put morphine in it, as OB said that was probably what made me spew up after my c/s and that you can ask them not to put it in if you prefer.

I found the spinal took a long time to wear off and I was too wobbly on my feet to shower until the next day (although they might have been more to do with having had surgery, hard to tell).

Well I had an epi with Caden and thats where they insert a tube thingy in and they can keep topping it up.

I had a spinal with Bella and they just numb the area first then put a big needle in and put the stuff in and thats it, and then I remember my bum feeling warm and fuzzy lol and then I rapidly went numb, it was weird! But I liked it better, and I got movement back in recovery, where as with Caden I was still numb for ages.

Also, with a spinal they put in slow release morphine too(with the anesthtic), rather than having it go through your epi cathater thing.

I had both. I had an epi through labour but it was wearing off when they made the call to do surgery so I got a spinal. I could walk by the end of the day.

I asked the anestist (sp) what the difference was when I was getting a spinal for my elective ceasarian and he said about 2 cms - meaning it goes in a different part of the back and further in.

Also the other things mentioned of cause. Its faster working than a Epi. Never had an epi to compare though.

Both my spinals took less than a few minutes to work.   Fuzzy bum at first then completely no feeling a few minutes later.    You can still feel everything they are doing inside you though, like rummaging in a handbag but no pain which is wonderful after labouring all bloody day and night!

I've heard you can feel quite winded while they're "rummaging around", is that true?

Here's a link with some info about the differences

Yeah it happens very quickly, a warm feeling then when they stick that cold thing on you a few mins later it doesn't feel cold on your legs.

I didn't feel winded until they pushed him out and then I thought they were gonna crack my ribs and push all my insides out along with him. I dunno if they had to use excessive force cos of his position, extended breech, or if it's always like that.

I had a spinal and not sure why, I think it was because they needed it to work ASAP and they couldn't wait for the epi to kick in because of quite bad fetal distress. I couldn't walk for hours (had a vaginal birth).