A spinal block is a type of regional analgesic. An anesthetist injects the drug into the dura, where it then enters the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and reduces sensation from the waist down. Spinals differ from epidurals in that no catheter is used, so the medication can be given only once. The pain relief lasts only a few hours, so anesthetists also give some form of painkiller. Occasionally doctors order a spinal block late in labor and sometimes just before a forceps delivery .
Pain relief is rapid.
You have to hold an awkward position for five to ten minutes while being injected. The loss of sensation may make it harder to push the baby out. In rare cases, the drug may temporarily lower your blood pressure, resulting in temporary decreased blood flow to your baby, slowing his heart. In about 1 percent of cases, using the drug results in a bad headache. Even more rarely, it results in nerve injury or infection.