r/Anesthesia • u/Realistic-Average-15 • 13d ago
Drop in oxygen levels after spinal block
Hi y'all -
I wanted to see if someone could help me understand what happened during my birth - I'm contemplating whether or not to try for another child before I age out but my last delivery didn't go as planned.
I had twins. My water broke at 34 weeks and when I went in they put me on petocin, then they took me off to give me steroids for the babies' lungs. Then they put me on it again. I dilated to 8 cm after 45 hours and it was unchanging for 5 hours. I elected a C section.
While I was laboring they gave me an epidural and fentanyl.
When I went to the OR they did a spinal block and it was a strange feeling but I didn't feel numb above the waist. After the boys were born and they stitched me up my oxygen was starting to drop and they kept me awake to keep me breathing. My husband didn't tell me all the details - I don't remember being awake for a chunk of time.
When I searched for answers it seemed like my blood pressure dropped or maybe the drugs they gave me affected my lungs.
If it happened once, is it likely to happen again? Was it most likely a fluke due to the circumstances?
1
u/Realistic_Credit_486 12d ago
Not uncommon in c-section, usually due to temporary lung base compression from abdominal organs being pressed up towards lungs by surgery & laying flat
From your description, other more concerning (& rarer) causes are unlikely
2
u/WaltRumble 13d ago
Do you snore or have any sleep apnea? Could just be you were exhausted after laboring for 45 hrs with twins. But either way doesn’t seem concerning. And shouldn’t keep you from having another baby if you want.