Spinal tap VS. Epidural? Please give personal experiences and advice!!!!!

Question

My birthing center only offers spinal tap, I don't know much about them so I figured I'd turn to this! How was your birth if you had one? Does it alleviate pain as well as an epidural? And please no one get on here and tell me how I should do it drug free, my baby, my birth, my choice, my body. Thank-you. I am giving birth vaginally (as long it's not medically necessary to do a cesarean)

Answer

A spinal is a one time shot they give in your back that works the same way as an epidural. It's mostly used for a few hours of pain relief, like if you need a emergency c section. 
An epidural will leave a line open to your back to constantly supply pain relief to your lower half. They will just change the bag out on your IV line when it empties.

Answer

It's very important to be able to know when and feel when you push. Otherwise you will end up in csection. I'd vote for epidural because they can stop the meds when it's time to push so you can get baby out. I don't think they offer blocks unless you are preping for a cs, I could be way off though.

Answer

I had the epidural with both of my babies, they did not stopped the medicine when it was time to push. If you can not feel it, it does not really matters because they have a monitor attached to your belly, so the screen tell you when you are having a contraction and you push. My babies were born in less than 20 min. ;)

Answer

It's way better then epidural . I had 2 csections and the first I had an epidural bc I was in labor and they almost had to do. A spinal cause it didn't conpletly numb me but the second was planned I had a spinal tap and was completely numb right away !

Answer

At my hospital they said spinal taps numb you from nipple line down and epidurals numb you from belly button down. They also said spirals were only used for cesarean section or if you were at high risk of needing a cesarean section but we're trying for vaginal.

Answer

Spinal only lasts a few hours.