C-section moms, lets talk!

With DS#1- I had a spinal.
After I was stitched (err stapled) and rolled into recovery I was given the baby for about a half an hour...

No one touch,tugged or talked to me during that time...

As soon as they came to get the baby, they put some kind of pain meds in my IV (I dont remember if it was morphine, or demarol- for some reason both stick out in my head). I was told it was to take away the pain from the spinal wearing off...

Well.. whatever it was made me so sick (I never threw up, but swore I was going to). I was completly drugged up, and cant remember anything... I was in recovery for 6 hrs because of it, and all I know is I do NOT want to go through that again. DS blood sugar dropped because I was too sick to feed him, and it was just a big mess overall..

This time, I want to be able to see my baby, see DS#1, and not look like a doped up fool...

Anyways- I have made it very clear NO IV DRUGS this time around... my OB said it was fine, and to just ask for motrin or percaset when I go into recovery...

Last night- I saw a different DR. and like every visit- I gave my speech on how I dont want IV drugs..blah blah blah... and she said I couldnt be given pills on an empty stomach, so they only other option was to have an epidural instead, and just leave it in...

So my questions are this:
Those who had a spinal...what were you given to take away the pain while the spinal was wearing off??? Was it given through IV? Did it make you sick? What was your experience?

Those who had an epidural...what was your experience like? Did you epidural stay in? For how long? What pain meds were you given after it was removed?

Why would I recieve a spinal over an epi anyway??? Whats the real difference???

TIA

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I had a spinal and morphine (which made me soooo sick) I don't even remember the first day my son was born, I see pics. If we have #2 ~ I will not have the morphine since it made me so sick!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I had a spinal. Afterwards, I was given percoset and ibuprofen orally. I did not have any iv once the csection was over.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

They gave me something through my IV when I was still in the operating room after the baby was out. All I know was I was wheeled into recovery and I couldn't open my eyes. I wasn't sleeping (although they all thought I was) but I couldn't open my eyes. Luckily it only lasted about 20 mins and I was able to leave recovery after about 35 mins and got wheeled into my room and Kaydyn got wheeled in shortly after.

Maybe you could ask to see the your records to see what they gave you. Maybe have a talk with your OB and the anesthesiologist (sp?) the day of and see what their suggestions and plans are.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I never had any pain meds in my IV after the c-section was over....I only had percoset and motrin if needed.

I remember them asking me if I wanted anything and I said no.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I just had my C-Section 11 weeks ago. When they gave me the spinal I asked for anti-nausea medication because I did not want to throw up. Then since I have some sensitivity to narcotics, they did not give me a morphine pump in recovery. They gave me dilaudid which is like morphine but a different compound i think. When I had dd, they gave her to me to hold before I left the OR and I had her for a little bit before they took her from me in the recovery room. The medicine made me a bit loopy at first when i would hit the button, but it would go away.
I was scared to take anything becuase I do not like to feel sick, but I was in pain after the c-section and I wanted to be able to get up and breastfeed. And I was lucky that medicine helped so much that when I first got up or moved in bed I really was ok.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I was given anti-nausea meds, which is probably why I never threw up.... but I still felt

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I have always thrown up after surgery, I am not sure what makes me throw up.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I never had any pain meds put into my IV after my C/S but I have had Morphine put in my IV after other surgeries and became VERY sick, that is why I request no pain med s anymore and just used Motrin after the C/S. I would rather be in pain than

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I did not have any meds after c-section.

one dose of ibprofren...that's it.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

Both times, I was given pain meds IN my spinal. The only side effect is itchiness, but otherwise I as fine.

Supposedly, you can have a regular spinal, and then one where they include pain meds with it to help afterwards. I delivered at Southside, not sure if other hospitals/anathesiologists do this.

However, I completely FREAK when getting the actual spinal, so they ended up giving me something additional to take the edge off. When I was in recovery, I was very tired and had a hard time staying awake. I did not get to hold my babies until I was back in my room, which I preferred because I was not in the right mind to hold them.

So maybe you can discuss getting the pain meds in the spinal, which is supposed to last after it wears off and you can move again.

Message edited 2/11/2009 8:45:09 AM.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

They put the pain meds into my spinal - I did throw up and have the shakes. I felt great though the next day!!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I had a spinal which started wearing off during surgery – I could feel them stitching me up on one side. When I got to recovery they gave me 2 shots of something (not morphine – not sure if it was Demerol or not) in my IV, this did NOTHING! I was now very uncomfortable. At which point they put me on a morphine pump. It didn’t make me sick at all. But I was dopey. After the first 24 hours I took percoset once and then motrin 2x but was off all pain meds by day 3.

I will say I threw up during surgery though…

ETA: I was discharged with vicoden as well but never even filled the prescription.

Message edited 2/11/2009 9:26:56 AM.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I hear you on everything..
Ive had demerol for something else and had the same EXACT experience SOOOO when I was in labor I told them I am allergic to demerol ...end of story.
In turn, the epidural was left in over nite and it was perfectly fine. No problems. I held Gilly, felt fine, and was moving the next day.
Totally keep the epidural in and forget all other drugs.Wanted to add...I had the vicodin or percacet button as well...I actually think it was vicodin but you could be right that it was percocet...not sure...

Message edited 2/11/2009 9:21:46 AM.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I had a different experience. I had my epidural and then they gave something in my spinal, but I truely don't know what it is, but I wasn't really dopped up nor was I sick. After that, I was on percasets and then switched to motrin.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

i had a spinal. i had NO pain meds after that for several hours. after that i had percoset twice but i hated it, and ibuprofen the rest of the time, which was fine.

for me, the spinal wore off enough so that i could feel my legs and feet but not so much that i could feel a lot of pain. i would never have thought to ask for pain meds until that night, i just didn't need them. and i have a very low tolerance for pain!

i am so surprised that an doctor would give pain meds "pre-emptively." they did keep my IV in until i was up and walking, but there was nothing attached to it - it was a "just in case."

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I was given morphine as I was being wheeled into the c-section but that was because my epi had worn off during labor and I was vomiting from the pain. I then had a spinal in the OR.

I had my DD in Michigan (right outside Detroit) and can honestly their recovery process there is so great!!. I'm actually concerned this time around because I know the process is different here. After the surgery I was wheeled back into my L&D room- It took about 30 minutes for me to feel OK again but after that I felt great and I did not have any IV. My DD was in the room with me the entire time, as was my DH, my mom the nurses etc. It was great and so relaxing - it did not feel clinical at all.

Anyway - I digress, no I did not have any IV pain medication after the surgery and I was completely lucid and comfortable and attemting to BF within and hour or 2 (can't remember)

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

I had a spinal too. I think the reasoning for the spinal over the epi is that it numbs you better for the surgery, but I can't remember. I was in labor and when we were debating going vaginal delivery or having a C-section, they told me if I was having a vaginal delivery, they would give me an epi, but if I had a section, they were giving me a spinal.

I think they put something in my IV after the surgery, but the next day, I got percoset and motirn. I pretty much only took motrin after the first day. I think the reason they gave me something in the IV was the fact that I hadn't eaten much in the previous few days. I was in labor for 3.5 days and hadn't eaten or slept much at all. I ate 1/2 a sandwich about 7 PM the night before I had the baby and delivered at 3 PM the next day. I also wasn't given anything but ice chips until the morning after I had the baby. I had the IV in until the morning after I had the baby - I think mostly to keep my hydrated.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!

My spinal had morphine in it. I was super itchy but no pain. I dont know what made me want to gag with #3. Maybe it was the morphine in my body. After that I was offered Motrin or Percoset as needed.

Re: C-section moms, lets talk!