Different Anaesthetic Types For Your C-Section
A C-section is a major surgical operation, which means you must have anaesthetic to make you comfortable and numb any pain. But the type of anaesthetic you have can vary.
In this article we are going to look at the different types of anaesthetic you may expect to receive during your C-section.
Four different types of anaesthetic for a C-section:
1. Spinal anaesthetic
This is the most common type of anaesthetic for a planned C-section, as it works quickly and is extremely effective. You’ll have a small numbing injection first, followed by a single anaesthetic injection into your spine.
The medication usually takes a few minutes to work and you may feel a tingling sensation and heavy legs. Your lower body and legs should then feel completely numb, but the anaesthetist will check this before the operation.
You’ll be awake throughout the C-section and won’t feel any pain, although you may notice some tugging and pulling sensations. If you do feel any pain at any point, you must tell someone immediately.
After the operation, you won’t be able to feel or move your legs until the anaesthetic wears off, which will take about three hours. You will continue to benefit from pain relief through a drug called diamorphine, which is included in the spinal injection. This gives you strong pain relief for about 12 to 24 hours after your C-section. (See 1.)
2. Epidural anaesthetic
With an epidural, the anaesthetist will use a thin plastic tube to insert a catheter into your lower back. The catheter will stay in your spine and will be used to inject painkilling drugs into your system. The painkilling medicine you’ll be given will take about 20 to 30 minutes to take effect, which is slower than with a spinal injection.
Epidurals are more common with emergency C-sections, as - if you started with a vaginal delivery - you may already have an epidural catheter in place. The anaesthetist will use the catheter to give you enough medicine to numb the pain completely during your C-section. (See 2. + 3.)
3. Combined spinal/epidural anaesthetic
This is a combination of the two methods already described, which may be necessary if you need extra pain relief post-delivery. The spinal anaesthetic is used for the delivery, before an epidural is introduced to provide pain-relief drugs after the operation. (See 4.)
4. General anaesthetic
In certain circumstances – if your baby needs to be delivered quickly, for example, or if you can’t have spinal/epidural anaesthetic - you may have a general anaesthetic, which means you’ll be asleep throughout the C-section.
The anaesthetic will work very quickly and you’ll soon be asleep. You won’t wake up until after the operation, when your baby has been delivered.
You may notice some side effects after a general anaesthetic, such as: sore throat, nausea, muscle pain, and shivering. (See 5.)
Further information:
1. NHS - Anaesthesia for planned caesarean birth https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/Women%20and%20Children_s/Maternity/Anaesthesia%20for%20planned%20caesarean%20birth.pdf Accessed on 30/03/23
2. NHS - Anaesthesia for caesarean section Anaesthesia-For-Caesarean-Section--V5 (2).pdf Accessed on 30/03/23
3. NHS - Epidural https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epidural/ Accessed on 30/03/23
4. NHS - Anaesthesia for caesarean section Anaesthesia-For-Caesarean-Section--V5 (2).pdf Accessed on 30/03/23
5. NHS - Anaesthesia for planned caesarean birth https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/Women%20and%20Children_s/Maternity/Anaesthesia%20for%20planned%20caesarean%20birth.pdf Accessed on 30/03/23
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