I'm normally fine with shots - don't feel like they hurt and know it's only for a short time, so it's fine. I had somewhat of an emergency c-section and they did a spinal. First, they had me put my arms around some random person in the OR (DH had to wait outside of room while they started). They stuck me a couple of times and I just remember screaming out involuntarily at one point because it was a terrible pain, but I think they just hit a bad spot (not sure if that's what actually happened). When they did it again and I guess it worked, it wasn't bad. I'm fine with having another c-section this time, but am worried about the spinal. I also shook the entire time, which they said is very normal. Not trying to be scary, just real.

I don't remember how long it was until I got up. It was 12am when I delivered and I don't remember being up to use the bathroom until later that day. I think the bathroom is the only time I got up during the first day.

When I first took it, I stated shivering. I remember asking the doctor how could they perform surgery when I am shivering so much but as he said, it subsided by the time they were ready for surgery.

There was a little burning sensation when it first went in but compared to the labor, it wasn't much

Good luck.

I've had a spinal and an epidural. My understanding is that which one you get really depends on the anesthesiologist. I had a spinal with my first c-section and an epidural with my second. The first just sort of happened and I had little time to think about it. With the second, a planned c-section, I discussed it with the anesthesiologist. He preferred an epidural to a spinal for a number of reasons (not going into spine means less risk and chance of spinal headache, lasts longer so the surgeon can really take their time). The epidural takes longer to kick. With both I got up to walk around the same time maybe 12 hours later. They don’t want you up to quickly due to your blood pressure.

I would say that I preferred the spinal to the epidural because I could move my legs a lot sooner after surgery, but it didn’t change how soon I was up and walking.

Good luck! The anticipation is worse than the actually epidural. Or so I found.

I hated my spinal. I shook for 8 hours straight after my c-section. I shook so much they wouldn't let me hold my baby, and then they took him away to the NICU. No breastfeeding, no touching, nothing. I am trying to go VBAC just to avoid the spinal.

Thanks for the feedback. Why did they make you wait 8 hours to get up and walk? What is an abdominal binder? I've never heard of that...

I had a good spinal experience. I sat on the OR table with my arms over my spouses shoulders while the anesthesiologist placed the spinal. He said it would feel like a couple bee stings. I'd recently been stung several times by a wasp, and I remember thinking that the spinal really didn't hurt much. I could feel a little pressure during the c/s but had no pain. I was on my feet within 8 hrs-they put me in a abdominal binder at the end of the surgery, and I feel like that really helped me feel safe moving around, which helped recovery.

I am going to have a scheduled cesarean (I find out the date for it next week). Just wondering if those who have had it can share how it went and how soon after were you told to get up and walk? My doctor said it is faster acting and provides more thorough numbness. I had some anxiety about getting the epidural for my vaginal delivery back in 2010. And the anxiety is coming back again for this upcoming cesarean (but I have no choice as far as getting a cesarean. I have to have it for medical reasons).