Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/25/2011

Question
Hi Dr. Levy,
    
I had an epidural when i delivered my son via c-section fourl years ago.  Almost immediately after the epidural was administered, my heart rate increased greatly, to the point that the anesthesiologist & nurses seemed alarmed.  During the c-section, i was so numb i couldn't even feel my face or speak- arms numb etc.  it was very scary!  I am now 40 and really want to have another baby, but am worried this would happen again. I would be having a scheduled c-section this time - would the process differ??   Thank you so so much for your time!  Greatly appreciated.

Answer
What probably happened the first time is you had a high anesthetic level. Are you sure they did an epidural and not a spinal? In any case, if you are going to have a scheduled c-section, then the likelihood is that they will do a spinal anesthetic rather than an epidural. A spinal is more reliable and gives a denser block. You should not have the same problem the second time as this was not an allergic reaction, just that the medicine they gave you went to high. Make sure to tell the next anesthesiologist what happened in the past but you don't have anything to worry about.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston