Epideral Headaches - Need Opinions or experiences

mckayleesmom wrote: Okay...when I had my c-section with Mckaylee the epideral didn't work and they had to put me completely to sleep. When I got out of the recovery room they asked if I wanted to breastfeed right away. I said yes and they gave her to me, but they wouldn't allow me to sit up at all. Not even a little bit. I have the biggest boobs in Minnesota and it was completely impossible for me to breastfeed her. My boob was 3 times bigger then her head, plus I was pretty out of it. When the lady called and pre registered me for tomorow she asked if I had any special requests. I asked if they could possibly allow me to sit up to breastfeed her this time, for the first time...then lay me back down after. She said that I would have to ask the anestesialogist (SP?) because they all have different views on it. She said that alot of them will allow it and have only known a few that got the headaches. She said that about 7% get headaches and she knows some sit up right after and have no problems...Does anyone have any experiences. Im just curious.

aspenblue1 replied: as far as the headaches. I had them after my epi and I didn't sit right up I had to go back to the hospital a couple days after being release to get aother epi to block the spinal fluid leaking. I can tell you that it was the worst pain. I couldn't even get up to get Isabella if she was crying.

sweethrt'smom replied: I have had 2 epidurals. With both I sat up while I was getting them, after they took them out, and never had a problem. I know some women who have had the headaches, but I think it is fairly rare.

paradisemommy replied: i had an epidural and sat up after and didn't experience any headaches at all.

kimberley replied:
ditto and i've had 3

superlydia replied: I've had 2 epidurals and didn't have to stay laying down with either. If it were me I would just do whatever the anisthesioligist said to do anyway.

momof2girls replied: I have had 2 and never had a problem
I do remember them telling me to be careful and not to drag my back on the bed because for some reason that would give you a awful headache.

Never had a problem though

jdkjd replied: Generally, the headaches only occur if there was a spinal fluid leak during the insertion. And that usually doesn't happen unless there are multiple attempts to insert the epidural.

I had three attempts (I guess the anesthesiologist was new...) and had a severe leak. The headache is resolved by them injecting some our your blood (from your arm) back into the spinal column. In 99 percent of the cases, that resolves the problem.

However, apparently, I was in that 1 percent and had to get another blood patch (yes, that's what they're called-ugh) the day after.

The reason they have you stay laying down is that it is a positional headache. When you sit up the lack of pressure in your spinal column causes your brain to sit on your spine. (FUN!)

Moral of the story, if you do sit up and your have a bad headache. Tell someone immediately and they can fix it. If they give you pain medication and it still doesn't go away. Be persistent.

I thought I was just being a pain and it turned out to be this crazy thing I had never heard of.

ammommy replied: 2 epis here and no headaches, either. Why is there a concern over a simple headache? It seems to me that nursing your newborn would be more important than a headache. Or is the headache a symptom of something more serious?

jdkjd replied: I just nursed laying down when I had my spinal headache. No need to sit up...

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I never heard of getting a spinal headache from an epi. It just dawned on me that is exactly what I had after Ethan was born. I've never been so sick in my life. They didn't give me a blood patch, though. They gave me phenergan (b/c I was throwing up) and some really strong pain meds. I was knocked out COMPLETELY all night and rested SO good, but still had time to enjoy bf'ing Ethan. They took such good care of him (and me) PLUS (big PLUS) my mom was there.

Of course this info is useless to you now b/c you have already left to have the baby.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Well, mine certainly wasn't a "simple headache" by any means, but it also didn't interfere with me nursing or spending bonding time with Ethan.

mammag replied: 4 EPI's here, no problems with any.