Itchiness
Itchiness of the skin is a common side effect for women who have narcotic medications used in their spinal anaesthetic. These types of drugs are used frequently and can include Fentanyl, Sufentanil and Morphine or Pethidine. The itchiness is not a sign of the woman being allergic to the medication, but just a physical reaction to the narcotic being administered in this way. There is no rash to be seen just the sensation of itching. (Narcotic medications are usually mixed with the other 'local' anaesthetist type of drugs such as bupivacaine or lidocaine).
The itch can range from being mild to quite severe, lasting for up to 24 hours and can happen for around 40 to 80% of women. It is usually all over the body but particularly around the face and neck. The baby is not affected.
Some caregivers will prescribe phenergan (promethazine) for the mother or very low doses of naloxone (which reverse the effects of narcotic medications). The phenergan may make the woman feel drowsy and sleepy, if breastfeeding small amounts may transfer to the baby in breast milk but not enough to show any effects on the baby.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting is generally associated with the use of local anaesthetic in spinals and may be reduced with the mixture or use of narcotic medications. The anaesthetist may give the woman an injection of another anti-nausea medication to help with this. You can read more in
vomiting during labour.
Urine retention
Spinal anaesthetics (as well as epidurals) affect the nerves of the bladder. This often leads to the woman being unaware of the sensation to pass urine and sometimes difficulty emptying her bladder. If the bladder is over full and distended, this can feel quite uncomfortable and painful.
If this happens the women will need to have a catheter passed into her bladder to empty the bladder.