Strollerderby : epidural

They Say: Just Get the Epidural Already

JeanneSager — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:01:00 GMT

Oh no they didn't!

A bunch of Swedish medical researchers have come out with a study that calls BS on the natural birth community. Basically, they say, get the epidural.

Full disclosure here - after hours of saying, "no, no, I can do this," I got the epidural. But before you call this one a victory for those of us who love us some painkillers, I don't see what was so scientific and exacting about this study.

They took one thousand moms-to-be and split them in half. One set went though classes on natural birth, learning breathing exercises and other natural methods to get them through the pain of labor. The other half got the "drugs are good" talk from their instructors. But once they got to the hospital, the numbers of women who said "get me drugs" was about even out of the two groups.

The scientists say this means the drugs work better.

I agree. For SOME people. Because if you ask any mom who made it through natural childbirth drug-free by choice, she didn't NEED the drugs. Ask a mom who chose the epidural (hello, over here, raising my hand)? She's going to tell you she DID NEED the drugs.

Can you tell either one she's wrong about her own body? Didn't think so.

Because it's totally subjective folks. We all have different pain thresholds. My brother broke his arm when we were kids and all he said was "ow," a few times. I broke my foot (well, he broke my foot), and I was whining about it for weeks. Walk into a pre-school, and you'll see the same thing. Two kids collide face first, and one bursts into tears. The other brushes herself off and runs off to play.

I'm also not ready to write off all breathing techniques for the reduction of/help with pain. Because as most pregnant women know, you don't get an epidural the moment your first contraction starts, and they don't last through the entire process (yes, folks, we do feel it when we're giving birth - they are not the wonder drug those who haven't had one think they are, or at least mine wasn't). Ever gotten a massage where the therapist told you to take long, deep breaths while they worked on a particularly tight knot? Or even just banged your knee particularly hard and had to breathe through it?

Unless this study is going to encourage health insurance companies not to play games over the rights of a woman to have an epidural (which, believe me, they will challenge - when the only anesthesiologist on call doesn't take your insurance, they don't have to pay the doctor, despite your NEED for that needle), what purpose does this serve?

Image: BBCNews

Mother Sues OB Who Said She "Deserved Pain"—And Gave It to Her

Miriam Axel-Lute — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Catherine Skol, former Chicago cop and mother of five, is suing her OB for abusive treatment during the birth of her fifth, nine months ago. If you've heard of the case, and the arguments that she's "just suing over rudeness" and should quit it because she's going to make malpractice rates go up, I suggest you go here, and read the details of the allegations.

I don't suggest you read it if you are pregnant and about to head into a hospital delivery however.

According to the suit, defendent Scott Pierce, who was filling in for the Catherine Skol's primary OB, was so incensed that she hadn't called him before heading to the hospital (an instruction her main OB had never given her) that he decided she "deserved" pain, refused an epidural, put her in intentionally painful positions, insisted she push before she was sufficiently dilated, kept telling her she was going to hemorrhage, wouldn't give her enough anesthesia before stitching her up and told her husband to "hold her down" instead, and talked loudly and crudely on a cell phone about an abortion in the room. There's more. It's truly astounding, in a nauseating kind of way.

(Confidential to "Linka" who called Skol a wimp for complaining about not getting her pain meds: I'm no fan of routine epidurals and had my kid with none, but I would never claim to know out of context when one was appropriate. And I'd like to see you get stitches for a severe laceration on your vulva without anesthesia, not mention all that other crap.)

As much as I've heard plenty of horror stories about OBs and their attitudes, I have to say that this is a category all its own, and sounds to me like the sort of extremely aggressive behavior that arises when people are on something illegal or are having, shall we say, certain brain chemical imbalances. Not that there aren't people out there who are just that awful, but they don't generally keep a job like doctor very long.

In fact, his behavior bothers me less than the commenters who say that because she and the baby are physically healthy, she should shut up and deal. Aside from being cruel, the behavior described was dangerous. If it's anything like she described, he should have his license revoked. People sue all the time for doctors failing to prevent problems they couldn't have prevented—that's one of the reasons our c-section rate (and malpractice insurance) is so high. Here's a case where the doctor was actually in the wrong rather than just getting the blame for a tragedy. This is what lawsuits are for.

Photo by Bloomsberries.

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Pain in Childbirth May Be, Well, Pointless Now?

Kelly Mills — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:33:00 GMT

Hmmm, this is real interesting. Some natural childbirth advocates suggest that the pain in childbirth adds something valuable to the birth process, helping mothers bond with their babies and even bringing um, sexual pleasure (in some cases, but not mine, oh lordy no!) However, a study discussed here in Salon (via Jezebel) suggests that theory may be backwards. Instead, labor and delivery pain might have served to signal to the mother that she should seek assistance, and in fact drive her to desire "companionship and security" from others. From an evolutionary standpoint, this could have meant people who sought help and protection during times like childbirth and illness were more likely to survive. (Hey, if the degree of labor pain indicated individual evolutionary fitness, I would have totally had it made! Um, it doesn't, by the way.)

So, if pain has simply functioned to drive delivering mothers to seek companionship (personals ad, anyone?) then perhaps it's a perk we don't really need any more. And it could be that people are suffering without it serving any real need. Cough.

Okay, I'm sorry, but I like this take on things, curmudgeon that I am. I do think in some circles there's a strange sort of romanticism attached to labor pain, and even the idea of "natural" childbirth as being somehow noble or righteous. Buuut, that said, there are risks attached to the interventions designed to alleviate the pain of labor, and women should be informed of those as well before making any decision. I think the problem is that childbirth is so fraught with anxiety for so many of us---not only because it hurts, but because lots of us want to make the "right" choice for our babies and ourselves. Turns out "right" for me was an blessed, welcome epidural administered after I tried to go natural for a long time, but I would not think of telling you it ought to be the right way for you.

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Related on Babble:

Insufferable: Why do people talk about managing birth pain, not eliminating it?

Weekly Check-Up: Natural Birth Like the Dutch

Kelly Mills — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:29:00 GMT

There's an interesting report on the Dutch tradition of giving birth from the perspective of a Reuters reporter. Basically, the Dutch believe birth optimally happens at home (30 percent of births happen this way, compared to a tiny fraction in the U.S.,) no pain medication is necessary, and that labor pains are part of the way the mother bonds with the baby. (If so, I ought to be practically fused to my child.) The bottom line is that birth is not seen as a medicalized process. Oh, and get this: A maternity nurse takes care of the family at home for a week and does cooking, cleaning, and infant care. Sign me up for that part!

While I've never been a convert to the notion of natural birth as essential--at least, not since the epidural became my BFF--I will freely admit that the Dutch system makes the whole thing sound kinda nice. However, it does sound like some feel that pain relief should be more readily available to moms in labor. As it stands now, there's no guarentee an anesthesiologist will be available, since it isn't seen as necessary. However, even those who want more options for women say it would be a shame to lose the Dutch perspective and practices in labor and delivery. But this is nice from an ob-gyn professor: "Giving birth at home, a unique Dutch tradition, should not be a goal in itself. What really matters is a good result of the pregnancy for mother and child." You said it.

Childbirth Smackdown: It’s Called The Natural for a Reason

makeitadouble — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:00:00 GMT

We are a Nation doped up on hypocrisy and anesthetized to the double-standard wherein one group is pardoned for the same actions for which another is condemned.

One where the reputations and records of baseball immortals like 7-time Cy Young award winning pitcher Roger Clemens, All-time Home Run Champion Barry Bonds and former Viagra Spokesperson Rafael Palmerio are tarnished forever for a SINGLE positive drug test or for the ALLEGED use of performance enhancing drugs; yet it’s the same country in which women can openly, knowingly and brazenly take drugs during labor to enhance the performance of their delivery.

Am I pushing your buttons yet? If I am just know I’m pushing the natural way; without an epidural.

Natural child birth was all but abandoned in the 1980’s (the beginning of the Epidural Era) and by the early 90’s nearly 50% of all American women used epidurals during child birth; a number that is today closer to 90%. Is it a coincidence that this increase in delivery room drug use parallels the so-called Steroid Era in Baseball?

The hallowed halls of America’s National Pastime echo with the outcry from both the media and public claiming that performance enhancers such as Steroids and HGH have ruined the game, but if that is true than the floral printed halls of maternity wards nationwide should be echoing with the same critical chorus of disapproval condemning women who use Prostaglandins and Epidurals for ruining the miracle of childbirth.

Deep breaths now, there’s more.

Players who never once tested positive for drugs were nonetheless subpoenaed to testify before congress in 2005 and now again in 2008 about performance enhancing drugs in baseball, yet where are the subpoenas, the indictments, and the Grand Jury Testimony from woman who took shortcuts during labor to delivery the baby faster, avoid pain and essentially dishonor their unborn children?

The movie was called “The Natural” for a reason ladies. Roy Hobbs named his bat Wonderboy not Demerol. I’m sure Robert Redford agrees with me.

I demand that Congress get involved to rid childbirth of drugs once and for all and institute mandatory testing for woman one week prior and one week following the delivery of their babies. For mothers who test positive for drugs their children’s birth records should expunged from the public registry and an asterisk legally placed next to their name.

Maybe then expecting mothers will think twice before juicing during labor. Maybe then we can finally clean up the game.

Expecting Moms Not Expecting To Take A Class

Amy S.F. Lutz — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:55:00 GMT

I have to say, I didn't get much out of the childbirth class I took almost a decade ago - except for two lifelong friends and the astonishing fact that many Brazilian women give birth in the squatting position.

I guess more women are coming to similar conclusions about the utility of childbirth classes, because attendance has dropped.

Experts attribute the decline to several factors. More women are working right up until their babies are due, so they have less time for classes. Most women also approach birth having already decided to have an epidural, so they feel they have little use for breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and other natural coping strategies they associate with childbirth classes.

Although studies have shown no difference in outcome between those who take classes and those who don't, experts fear that those who neglect to take a class will be unprepared for the kinds of decisions that may have to be made in the heat of childbirth, including those involving induction, episiotomies, and C-sections.

New Years Babies Timing Questioned (And Answered)

Madeline Holler — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Quick. What's one "news" story guaranteed to be featured in Tuesday's local news? That's right! The annual "First Baby of the New Year" story. Snore!

But I do have some questions about the whole "time of birth" thing anyway, even though I had mine waaaay past any new year in March. How do you tell who the winner is for those citywide contests? I mean, do hospitals synchronize their clocks? Are nurses required to look at the clock? And when, officially, is a baby born? Head out? Feet out? Cut, swaddled and Apgar scored? Do laboring moms watch the clock to ensure their win all those great door prizes (and is holding the baby in any longer than necessary worth any amount of money?)

Thanks to Slate for handling these important New Years babies questions.

To be born, the whole body must be out. And the time is whatever a nurse calls out after looking at a clock on the wall. (So official!) As for holding the baby in, it's not likely. Though an epidural does dull the urge to push so ... if you're working the system, go for the javelin. On the flip side, hurrying the kid out just for some free diapers won't likely work either. Damn that Mother Nature! And if you're going for the c-section, well, you'd better schedule it at a very rural hospital. It's not likely doc will agree to surgery at 11:59 p.m. So you'll want the lowest traffic maternity ward you can find.

Is any of this worth a bag of free diapers and a post-partum interview on Channel 7?

Childbirth Classes? No Thanks

Amy Kuras — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:40:00 GMT

Ahhhh, birthing class. Breathing exercises that made me feel like a (lightheaded) idiot, the uncomfortable chairs, the truly horrifying videos ("There is a BABY'S HEAD sticking out of that woman's LADY PARTS!") -- let's just say the fact I can skip them this time is yet another thing that makes the second pregnancy so much more pleasant than the first.

According to this article (citing another one in November's Fit Pregnancy) many mothers-to-be are choosing to skip childbirth classes entirely. Media depictions of birth as dangerous and pregnant women's busy schedules are somewhat to blame, according to experts cited in the article. So is a growing acceptance of pain relief such as epidurals.

Although my instructor was lovely, my childbirth class was essentially useless and not just because I had an emergency C-section. We talked more about the hospital amenities than about actaully having the baby. Not to mention I had this wackadoo German couple in my class who challenged the instructor with "But we don’t do that in Germany" on such items as the wearing of any clothing during the birth and the use of any sort of pain relief. My husband and I developed a running bet over what would trigger the Deustchland Uber Alles comment during each session.

Although I didn’t get a ton out of my class, I am still glad I took it. One excellent point from the Fit Pregnancy article: No matter what your birth plan, things can change and change fast. Being well-informed about monitoring, pain relief and medical procedures can help you make the right choices and be your own advocate, or at least not have the daylights scared out of you when something comes up.

Just watch out for wackadoos.

5 Bizarre Things About Newborns

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:21:00 GMT

Well for starters, where the hell do they come from? Not literally, of course, though my knowledge with all the ...look away from the bad bloody things philosophy is more from those labor class movies than my first-hand experience. But isn't it all strange? How did 20 minutes of goat-lust result in a smelly screamy pile of human flesh and bones who will some day call you Daddy and ask for the keys. How?? Did?? This?? Happen?? And let's say you adopt instead -- isn't there something just surreal about the whole experience? Is it fucking weird in here or is it just me?

So newborns... They have some strangenesses that have been logged and reported at CNN and can now be clif's noted to you (pretend I'm the Mommy bird and you're the hungry Baby Bird). Brand new baby weirdness includes crossed-eyes, baby boobs, swollen private areas (theirs not yours), cradle cap, acne, and even a 3rd (or 4th) nipple. As if being a little teeny tiny baby forced from the comforts of the warmest swimming pool she'll ever experience isn't sufficient. Poor kids.

Being a brand spanking new parent is a wondrous time, and also can be horribly difficult. So being educated about some of these normal abnormalities can help bring that blood pressure back down to defcon 3 is very helpful. Even when my sweet twin daughters gazed up at me with their crossed little eyes, I thought they were the most beautiful children in the world.

U.K. Gives Laboring Moms More Options for Pain

Madeline Holler — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:25:00 GMT

I assume most adults, parents or not, know there is more than one way to give birth. There’s vaginal delivery, with or without the epidural, there’s c-section, planned or emergency. There’s birth at a hospital, birthing center, convenience store or at home.

We make our choices, we have our babies.

Problem is, this list is hardly exhaustive, a fact that becomes apparent when we look at other countries. Even some of the options mentioned before are available only if you happen to live in the right state. Homebirth, or a hospital birth attended by midwives, or vaginal births after c-sections, for example, aren't legal or available for every American women who may want to safely attempt one.

Jennifer Block, author of “Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care," blogged about childbirth in the U.K., where experts are encouraging homebirth for healthy pregnant women. She also makes this shocking revelation: many, many of the pain relief options available to laboring women in the U.K. are unheard of here in the States.

Apparently, women there can hook up to a TENS machine the size of an iPod, which delivers little electric shocks to muscle tissue and helps in relaxation through early labor contractions. Laboring Brits may also be offered hits of nitrous oxide for pain (that's the stuff in the dentist's office). The idea is to delay the epidural so women are able to move into different positions while laboring and also keep them free to sit in tubs, also widely available there.

Yeah, who isn’t a little sick of hearing about how much better healthcare and birth outcomes are in other countries – you know, like Bosnia – than in the U.S. It's just all the more shocking to know that the few variations on birth and labor support here in the States are truly very few.

Access Motherhood: Nancy O'Dell Gives Birth!

Alisyn — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:56:00 GMT

Access Hollywood host Nancy O'Dell gave birth to her first child today in L.A., a 7lb., 9oz. little girl named Ashby Grace (dad is husband Keith Zubchevich).

"We are beyond elated and look forward to appreciating today and every beautiful day to come with our new daughter," the new mama said in a statement. "It is even more special given she is named after her great-grandfather and was born on my father's birthday. She made for quite a birthday present to her new grandfather."

She then added: "Also, I love epidurals."

Amen, sister! Don't we all? Congratulations to the new family, on a job well done, and a baby well named.

Midwife-Assisted Homebirth? Wussy.

Kelly Mills — Wed, 23 May 2007 15:34:00 GMT

Just when you thought your midwife-assisted homebirth was about as natural as you could get, enter the freebirth. (And this birth you cannot change... What?) Freebirthing (not to be confused with freeballing or freebasing, though I'd much rather do either) basically means having your baby at home, with no attendant. Proponents feel birth has been hyped up as a scary thing, when in fact, we've been doing it for thousands of years. I mean, it's not like women have been dying in childbirth for thousands of years...oh. But advocates contend that the main dangers of childbirth come from "poverty, intervention, and fear". If you've covered the first, an unattended birth is a matter of dealing with the latter two.

There's this quote from one freebirth practitioner: "Birthing uses the same hormones as lovemaking--so why would you want anyone poking and prodding you, observing you and putting you under a spotlight?" Number one: I'll give you the same hormones, but if (ugh) "lovemaking" felt anything like birthing, I'd be a virgin. Number two: doesn't lovemaking involve poking, prodding, and spotlights? Just me?

In any event, I don't really care that much if someone wants to give birth without a doctor, as long as I don't have to help. But as someone who imagined this natural birth and in retrospect wishes she got the epidural on arrival, I'm so not in the "beautiful, natural, just do that special breathing and find your woman-power" camp. I like doctors. I like midwives. I even like western medicine, especially when it can prevent lots of suffering and agony. And I don't think the fact that my birthin' crazy-insane hurt was in the least bit empowering. I was really grateful to the anesthesiologist after he gave me the epidural. Next time my wonderful doctor can chloroform me in the hospital like they used to do in the old days.