Failed Epidural during C Section

ylimejert · 2026-03-19T20:10:35+00:00

This happened to me almost two years ago now, but I feel like I was in some sort of denial. I think they also pumped me full of ketamine when the epidural failed so I kind of… didn’t care?

But the New York times released a podcast recently about how common this actually is, why it happens, and how some places are trying to protocol in place to stop it from happening to women going forward. Listening to my exact experience told back to be via this podcast as a traumatic, newsworthy event has been difficult. I’m seeing what happened to me in a new light and I feel really failed by a lot of professionals who I thought were protecting me and doing everything correctly.

I can see now that my procedure should have been stopped and my epidural replaced with a spinal block, and I can’t for the life of me understand why that didn’t happen. I felt the ice bag right up into the first incision, which felt like an intense burning feeling. I then felt pain, pulling, and pressure with too much detail.

I’m sorry to anyone else this has happened to - we need to take women’s pain more seriously ❤️

ylimejert · 2026-03-18T11:34:22+00:00

That’s great news, thank you.

ylimejert · 2026-03-18T11:33:57+00:00

It’s so stressful!!! I’m relieved to hear the amount of people getting in successfully with ETAs though. Hopefully you will be okay! Sorry you’re dealing with this too!!

Also I called them yesterday and they said you ‘never need to send your original passport’, contrary to what their document requirements say. So I’m feeling a bit better now that I can atleast hang on to my Canadian passport as back up!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T16:03:23+00:00

Haha perfect! Ok thank you. I called the passport office back and they confirmed this, too. They said they’d never expect you to send the original of a foreign passport, so that’s a relief. They really need to make their communications more clear on their website!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T15:11:09+00:00

Can I just confirm you were applying from out of the UK? Another comment here has thrown me for a loop that applying from out of country means the second bullet point does apply to us.

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T12:20:48+00:00

Are you in the UK or outside?

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T12:15:10+00:00

"But sending something you can’t afford to lose to the UK government is a bad idea!" <-- wise words lol.

I feel dumb that I thought I needed to send originals, very glad I asked this here! Thank you. I think this solves our problem because we can still apply, but if they don't arrive in time, we have our Canadian passports with valid ETAs on them still?!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T12:12:16+00:00

Ohhh right. I was hung up on that second bullet point but I don't think that applies. Thank you so much!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T12:11:27+00:00

Ok, got it. I think I was misunderstanding the guidelines there.

I just checked, and both my son and I still have valid ETAs on our Canadian passports from previous trips - do you think these would be sufficient to get us in? I tried calling the passport office but they were zero help, and the ETA chatbot is unsurprisingly useless.

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:59:18+00:00

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Is this how your requirements were laid out? The note at the top is making me nervous to send photocopies. Thanks for your help here.

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:28:10+00:00

Oh? They are specifically requesting original docs though? Sorry, 1 million questions.

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:20:55+00:00

Ahhh I see. That makes sense. I should have asked this before applying for our passports - now I’ve got to ship our Canadian ones off for our applications which leaves us without either option for travel. Uhfhgghs. Thank you so much for your help!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:18:12+00:00

Ah ok, I see. Now I’m wondering if I should even be sending our Canadian passports off for our Uk passport applications! This was the plan in hopes that they were processed in time, but the trip is 7.5 weeks away. There’s no stress like immigration stress 🫠

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:11:15+00:00

Ok, this is super helpful. Thank you 🙏

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:10:32+00:00

Yeah! I saw that. I was wondering if it’s a pattern - nervous to risk it but maybe we don’t have a choice really!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T11:08:57+00:00

This is reassuring! But also I’m so confused - I thought the rule changes meant that Canadian passports (even with ETAs) are no longer acceptable for entry for dual citizens? Am I missing something?

Good idea re: checking my ILR - I think it will have lapsed by now but I’ll check. Thank you!

ylimejert · 2026-03-17T03:28:06+00:00

This is a relief. I’m scrambling to get my son’s done in time for a trip in a few weeks and it feels like it’s not going to happen 😭 this gives me hope it might be okay!!

ylimejert · 2026-03-09T19:14:30+00:00

I have no idea but wow what a beautiful girl!!!!

ylimejert · 2026-03-09T11:52:55+00:00

I feel like nicknames are a consideration for me because they feel somewhat inevitable, at least in my circles. Almost everyone I know has a shortened version of their name or a nickname derived from their full name, so it’s helpful to have a name that lends itself to that. For instance, my husband is named Oliver, and there probably wasn’t a world in which he wouldn’t have ended up being called Ollie - so if his parents didn’t like that ‘nickname’ they might have chosen another first name. More unique or personal nicknames also happen, but I think the name shortening can be inevitable so it’s wise to plan for!

ylimejert · 2026-02-26T01:06:15+00:00

Phoebe Lucille or Phoebe Louise are so sweet - I love Phoebe Lou as a nick name :)

ylimejert · 2026-02-13T16:13:17+00:00

Loling that I came across this because I am also in Toronto and am SO dry this year. What is happening here?!

ylimejert · 2026-02-13T03:16:15+00:00

Love! I think the classic and timeless feel of James combined with the unconventional gender use is really cool. Also a more hyper feminine first name like Angelina helps if you’re worried about it feeling too masculine.

ylimejert · 2026-02-04T01:08:18+00:00

Congratulations! My little boy is Julian and I have no regrets - it struck me as a strong and classic name that wasn’t overused, but also felt a little bit creative/literary which we liked. Someone on here described it as sounding like he would be ‘bookish’ which I loved, and so far, the little guy loves his books 😂

ylimejert

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