I had an epidural for a c-section about 5 month ago and I felt everything. How often does it happen?

I had an epidural for a c-section about 5 month ago and I felt everything. The whole surgery was a nihgtmare, I was screaming the whole time. Its my first baby and I can't think of having another one just because of this incidence.How often does it happen?

I had an epidural for a c-section about 5 month ago and I felt everything. How often does it happen?
Not very often at all.





Was it an emergency section? Usually they will not begin surgery until they know you are completely comfortable, and if they cannot get you comfortable my hospital then will use general anesthesia, because a women feeling her surgery is totally unacceptable unless it's a matter of life and death and the baby needs to be out immediately.





Epidurals don't always work. I haven't heard of it happening for sections, but for labor they definitely have some problems sometimes, especially when labor progresses very quickly.





Are you sure you felt everything during the surgery, as in the pain of cutting? Or did you just feel the pressure, pulling, tugging, touching, feeling of separation and everything but pain? Because THAT is totally normal. Numb does not = total lack of all sensation.
Reply:While I know that this happens, I find it unbelievable that they did not put you under. Where was the anesthesiologist? I had a spinal that didn't take and they put me under immediately even before they cut.





There was just a thing on ABC news about people who wake up during surgeries, but I missed the report.
Reply:You must have been in some kind of emergency situation for them to be in such a rush to get the baby out! That normally doesn't happen. Yes sometimes epidurals fail but they test you repeatedly before they begin cutting and usually won't being cutting until they know for sure your numb.


I had my epidural fail and all they did was sit me back up and put a spinal block in place instead. The anesthesiologist would use an instrument and scratched down the side of my thigh to see if I felt it. Also the OB uses a clamp to pinch your abdomen to see if you feel it before he begins cutting.


I'm so sorry you had that happen. To be honest I had a fairly traumatic delivery with my first child 4 years ago. It took time but I got over it and thats why we went ahead with a c-section this time around with our daughter.


Give it time and if it doesn't fade in your mind and you can't seem to let it go you should get some councelling for PTSD.


Also don't forget there is usually a chance to have a vaginal birth even after a c-section delivery. Just be sure to ask your doctor what his policy is. It depends on how your c-section was performed.