The woman's participation when receiving a spinal anaesthetic is similar to when she has an epidural. The woman will usually be asked for verbal consent. She will need to have a drip inserted into her vein so that the anaesthetist can administer fluids and medications if required.
The woman is helped to lie on her side (right or left) or to sit up on the side of the bed leaning over a pillow on her lap, with her legs over the side of the bed, feet resting on a chair or a footstool. She will need to curl up on her side (or over the pillow) to curve her back and help separate the spaces in the bones of her spine. This helps to allow the spinal needle to be passed between them.
This position will need to be maintained for about 1 to 3 contractions (the woman staying as still as possible), while the anaesthetist inserts the needle and the anaesthetic. It may be that the partner or another caregiver will help to gently 'hold' the woman in that position while the procedure is being performed. The anaesthetist will usually try as much as possible to carry out this procedure during the rest periods between the contractions.
Image 8-14shows the woman curling up in preparation for the insertion of the spinal.
The woman's back is washed down with cool antiseptic solution and the anaesthetist feels the bones in the woman's lower spine with their fingers. The anaesthetist then injects a small amount of local anaesthetic under the surface of the woman's skin (this may sting for a few seconds). After a few minutes (waiting for the local to take effect) the fine, hollow spinal needle is inserted between the lower backbones.
The needle is inserted until the anaesthetist feels a small 'pop' sensation and a small amount of a spinal fluid can be seen coming back up, out of the end of the needle. This indicates that the needle is probably in the right location. The medication is then administered and the needle is then removed.