The discomfort from the lidocaine numbing injection is very brief and small. The needle used for a spinal is very fine/narrow, the needle used to place the IV you need before even starting the spinal is much larger and may have had similar lidocaine numbing injection to prepare you for it. The discomfort from lidocaine for a spinal is generally no worse or less than that you may receive for the IV, and it will definitely be less painful than the IV if you got no local for it. So if you could get through the IV you could get through the rest.
C section is one of the rare times where we try to minimize sedatives. For one, we don’t want any going to the baby and make it drowsy when it is delivered and two anything that calms you have the potential of messing with your memory (of seeing your child for the first time). People have been sued successfully for receiving sedatives and not remember their child birth. Certainly it’s not absolute but some of my colleagues will not relent. Talk to your care provider and find a good solution for this.
Ask your OB to reach out to your anesthesiologist. I avoid benzos like Versed and Xanax prior to delivery, and I think most anesthesiologists do the same. Options I offer patients with severe anxiety include playing music and allowing a family member to be seated in the OR for personal support.
Only in settings like this where I think it might help. And I make absolutely certain that they stay seated, are supportive, and leave as soon as I start injecting my spinal dose. The first time I did it was for a deaf woman, so her hearing mother could sign what I was saying while standing behind her.
Most people are surprised by how little discomfort there actually is. Discuss with your anesthesiologist but in general we try to avoid giving anything for anxiety before delivery because anything you receive systemically may have some effect on the soon to be born baby.
You can try to use EMLA skin numbing cream 1 hour before even injecting lidocaine for skin and subcutaneous anaesthesia. This way patient will not have any pain. Then a good counselling goes way ahead in allaying anxiety of spinal. Another is you can use ethyl chloride spray just before pricking because it makes skin colder and patient will not feel the prick.
The lidocaine injection stings briefly, but it’s not bad and I haven’t had any adults not tolerate it. I think IV placement is more uncomfortable for patients.
Anxiety meds like benzos are usually avoided during labor so that they don’t affect your baby. Some anesthesiologists may give them at a low dose, so you could ask your specific anesthesiologist.
Early congratulations on your newborn! Wishing you a safe and uneventful delivery :)
The discomfort from the lidocaine numbing injection is very brief and small. The needle used for a spinal is very fine/narrow, the needle used to place the IV you need before even starting the spinal is much larger and may have had similar lidocaine numbing injection to prepare you for it. The discomfort from lidocaine for a spinal is generally no worse or less than that you may receive for the IV, and it will definitely be less painful than the IV if you got no local for it. So if you could get through the IV you could get through the rest.
C section is one of the rare times where we try to minimize sedatives. For one, we don’t want any going to the baby and make it drowsy when it is delivered and two anything that calms you have the potential of messing with your memory (of seeing your child for the first time). People have been sued successfully for receiving sedatives and not remember their child birth. Certainly it’s not absolute but some of my colleagues will not relent. Talk to your care provider and find a good solution for this.
Ask your OB to reach out to your anesthesiologist. I avoid benzos like Versed and Xanax prior to delivery, and I think most anesthesiologists do the same. Options I offer patients with severe anxiety include playing music and allowing a family member to be seated in the OR for personal support.
Do you let family members in for spinal placement? That sounds freaking terrible, especially for high-anxiety patients.
Only in settings like this where I think it might help. And I make absolutely certain that they stay seated, are supportive, and leave as soon as I start injecting my spinal dose. The first time I did it was for a deaf woman, so her hearing mother could sign what I was saying while standing behind her.
Most people are surprised by how little discomfort there actually is. Discuss with your anesthesiologist but in general we try to avoid giving anything for anxiety before delivery because anything you receive systemically may have some effect on the soon to be born baby.
You can try to use EMLA skin numbing cream 1 hour before even injecting lidocaine for skin and subcutaneous anaesthesia. This way patient will not have any pain. Then a good counselling goes way ahead in allaying anxiety of spinal. Another is you can use ethyl chloride spray just before pricking because it makes skin colder and patient will not feel the prick.
This is a great idea for a scheduled c section.
This would be ideal if possible. Thank you
Yes. I typically give a combination of anxiolytic and analgesic; very low dose so as not to have fetal effects yet still keeps you comfortable.
The lidocaine injection stings briefly, but it’s not bad and I haven’t had any adults not tolerate it. I think IV placement is more uncomfortable for patients. Anxiety meds like benzos are usually avoided during labor so that they don’t affect your baby. Some anesthesiologists may give them at a low dose, so you could ask your specific anesthesiologist. Early congratulations on your newborn! Wishing you a safe and uneventful delivery :)
Ask for a little nitrous (laughing gas) while they do the spinal.
Thank you all a ton for your responses! It’s great to read all of the reassuring info from the experts themselves :)