Can You Get Two Epidurals?

Did you get two epidurals for your labor or C-section? It's not uncommon in anesthesia, affecting around 1 in 10 women before delivery. It can happen if the first epidural doesn't deliver local anesthetic medication to the right nerves. That can result in women feeling pain when they labor!
This is partly because we can't see where the epidural is going, and we may need to adjust the tip of the catheter in your back. Sometimes, however, we need to replace the catheter altogether.

[@barbie91766]

Thanks for bringing this up - thought I was the only one. Four MDs tried for an hour to get that damn epidural in place ⁷but I was a hopeless cause. Finally, the head of Anesthesiology arrived not looking very happy, gathered around his seasoned staff and was able to start my line. My OB is a friend of mine so when he started cutting, I said "OMG! I thought it worked!" He was mortified and I was laughing hysterical. 16 yrs later, his nursing staff see my chart and are like, "oh! We know ll about you and the epidural!"

[@MedicalSecrets]

Oh my gosh!

[@straighttalknomessing3934]

I remember when I was given Epidural during my C section and it wasn’t put in right my left leg started to move up and down by itself .. I was traumatised as the Anaesthetist had to insert the needle again which was very painful . My Anxiety was through the roof but these was this Anaesthetist from New York who kept calming me and his voice really helped calm me as I had high bp and preeclampsia so it was important for me to stay calm ..

[@maryannkom299]

I’ve never had a baby, but I’ve had a lot of surgeries that happened below the waist. I got an epidural, or a spinal , I don’t know how much difference, there really is. But it’s been good for me, because of my auto immune disease, and a commone malformation of the upper palate, it’s extremely had to put in a breathing tube. All my joint replacements have been done under spinal anesthesia. They give me a bunch of feel good drugs too, but not so much I couldn’t breathe on my own. The great part, is that can continue with spinal anesthesia after you get out of surgery, so that first day doesn’t have to be so uncomfortable. I’ve been glad it was available for me.

[@katherine_marcotte]

I had a spinal before major surgery and I had so much post op pain, they re did the spinal, that one worked. I wasn’t in pain when the first on was placed and too stressed to follow instructions on dropping shoulders, relaxing etc.. maybe thats why.

[@MedicalSecrets]

I'm happy the second one worked!

[@katherine_marcotte]

@@MedicalSecrets when / where do you do your lives? I always miss them now 😔. I want to ask you in a live, because Im starting soon, if you’ve heard of a patient being loaded up on Propranolol then doing EMDR for PTSD. Is this safe & effective? I tried EMDR conventional way and I shut down. With a slow heart rate, am I in a suggestible state?

[@MedicalSecrets]

@@katherine_marcotte hi, haven't done any lives in awhile, hopefully again soon. You ask a fantastic question. Outside the real of "evidence based practice" but certainly worthy of discussing!

[@katherine_marcotte]

@@MedicalSecrets Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist yesterday and he referred me into the program. I should be starting soon, so I can share my “mind and body” experience/results during your next live? Send a shout out whenever that will be ☺️🇨🇦East Coast Montreal, Quebec! Bonne Journée docteur Kaveh!

[@MedicalSecrets]

@@katherine_marcotte I look forward to that! Thank you and wishing you the best!

[@twistedara]

Two epidurals during pregnancy at the end of it they had to put me out for stitching after the birth. OB that I probably metabolized it too fast. Buuut.... I also have slight scoliosis. Thanks for this short.

[@MedicalSecrets]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. How did the rest of the recovery go?

[@darajanebrook9653]

Please correct me if I am wrong. I'm not sure if I have 4 epidural in one delivery? 1st epidural (3pm) failed because I'm too swollen. He's not sure if it went to the right spot, so he re did it again. 3rd shot (8:30pm) my right side, both tummy and legs can feel pain. I feel ice cold, when they try to put ice on me. 4th shot (12am) end up having emergency cs. I got 4 scars on my back from the injections. Hopefully you can read this

[@harmonywilkinson5370]

How much epidural is in one dose?

[@sabakhelashvili3124]

Does blood pressure drop significantly in case of spinal anesthesia? Epidural is more dangerous but less traumatic

[@MedicalSecrets]

BP can drop, but epidural isn't necessarily more dangerous. From what perspective were you thinking?

[@sabakhelashvili3124]

If the provider damages the spinal canal, 20ml of anesthetic will mix with the liquid

[@sabakhelashvili3124]

I am havving spinal on tuesday. May BP drop kill me?

[@sabakhelashvili3124]

It is called a total spinal blockade as far as I know

[@hetbadancin4404]

After FIVE epidurals and no progress, I told them to just take him out. Turns out my runway is too narrow for natural childbirth. I wonder what all those drugs did to my baby. Redheads biology rejects anesthesia! People say you forget the paid & trauma of childbirth, but not me!

[@shewolfee4247]

Mine took..but moved..causing pain on one side and numb on other...but doc was anle to fix it!

[@alondradelgado5292]

My 3rd labor they had to do it twice and let me tell you both times the doctor did it it hurts so so bad nothing compared to my previous labors which I only had to get it once I literally screamed so loud because I could feel the needle hitting like a nerve I know for a fact the doctor was doing it wrong both times and at the end it never worked so I felt everything worst labor ever I’m traumatized from the epidural and labor worst pain ever

[@MedicalSecrets]

I'm so sorry you had that experience, but I greatly admire your vulnerability in sharing that. Be sure to mention your experience to your doctors in the future if you ever need another one

[@gabim3093]

Are there alternatives ? Like are there other pain meds that we can use to help with the pain of delivery?

[@Wndrlnd9]

Curious as well.

[@papamarban2185]

There are other alternatives to an epidural. Many hospitals offer nitrous oxide and potentially a remifentanil (short-acting narcotic) patient controlled analgesia (PCA). Most narcotics have to be held as you get closer to delivery, as they can be sedating to the neonate after delivery.

[@munchkinm6929]

Yes I just had to do this for c section. My last c section she did it once and it was fine.

[@KelsiChristine]

They had to do it twice on me because the first ones catheter was broken. So I had to go through that horrible pain twice. My back is still really messed up from it. And it barely even worked, I felt everything by the time I delivered and I had back labor so I was in excruciating pain.

[@beautifulqueen3454]

I had to get 2 epidurals done during labor

[@throbinhood6930]

It aaaaaall goes away after that successful stick though. Pain can be temporary.

[@heidi5462]

Thank goodness I only needed one, I 🤔 think…

[@MedicalSecrets]

😁

[@heidi5462]

I had a huge electric feeling from head to toe very quickly and it made my body jerk automatically, what does that mean? It freaked me out because you are supposed to be completely still and that happens.😳

[@MedicalSecrets]

@@heidi5462 the spinal cord is relatively insensate, but the nerve ROOTS can cause the twitches if the needle rubs them. It's not your fault!

[@heidi5462]

Thank you for replying. It was so scary at the time. I wish I knew this at the time, all I heard was “you are fine”.

[@qmartanveer-qq3et]

I was given many a times

[@melissachristie4788]

Took 7 tries to get mine in on my last baby.

[@MedicalSecrets]

7 tries? Oh my! I'm happy it worked eventually

[@lupeh1289]

I did got it twice on my fourth pregnancy 🤰🏻

[@MedicalSecrets]

Hopefully it worked in the end!

[@sarahusman6123]

My back hurts ever since, every day.

[@MedicalSecrets]

I'm so sorry to hear that :( how did the rest of the experience go?

[@RM-yf5sg]

I got 3 epidurals.. the first one I felt relief but I was still huffing and puffing when contractions came and the anesthesia person said he can do it again cus it seems like it could’ve been done better….the second one I felt like it only went to one side Because he injected me laying sideways. So I felt no relief … only on one side I felt the numbness. I asked them if it was okay to do it and they said yea. But I feel like they weren’t working effectively I feel like they never reached me fully… I was still in pain with all three. Not in full pain but enough to be in tossing And turning cus of the pain. Now I’m hoping it wasn’t a mistake. Im looking into seeing if there is detoxes for them..or hoping since they didn’t “reach” me that I won’t feel side affects of 3 epidurals

[@MedicalSecrets]

I'm so sorry you had that experience, but I greatly admire your vulnerability in sharing that. Epidurals can't always be placed 100% accurately without X-ray :( that's why it might take more than 1 attempt

[@paulpoppenfuse7071]

Loving ❤️

[@ayshasaeedkhan5235]

I take epidural in my labour pain but now I have to much pain in my back can you give me same advice

[@sarahusman6123]

Same here :(

[@tinishawilliams3635]

This happened to me

[@ashleymarie6682]

Spinal headache sucks 🤮

[@MedicalSecrets]

It does... It sounds like you had one?

[@Brittneykhaleia]

It really sucked for me because they kept insisting it was impossible for me to feel as much pain as i did

[@Tigerprowltactical]

That is scary

[@MedicalSecrets]

Which part?

[@Tigerprowltactical]

@@MedicalSecrets Will you get a local anesthetic before having this inserted into you?

[@MedicalSecrets]

@@Tigerprowltactical I do inject the skin first with local, yes!

[@kaseywinter3286]

What causes hotspots with epidurals?

[@MedicalSecrets]

What do you mean by hot spots? Spots that are not covered by the epidural? Like painful spots?