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VBAC
Epidural "hospital procedure for VBAC"?
My doctor told me this tonight and I am not happy. My blood pressure crashed hard after the epi with my first and I'm pretty sure that's the reason I needed a section to begin with.
Doc has agreed to let me try VBAC but states that an IV and an epi are required to attempt it at the hospital where I am delivering. I've never heard of such a thing and part of me thinks she's full of sh*t because she's a little bit of a control freak.
Has anyone ever heard this before? I think I may call the hospital tomorrow and make some inquiries about their "procedures".
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Re: Epidural "hospital procedure for VBAC"?
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
That is ridiculous. I know that lots of times they try to talk you into the epidural because "if you need an emergency c/s then we won't have to knock you out". However, in a true emergency, they will still put you under general anesthesia. They aren't going to take the time to adjust the epi, test/poke you to make sure you can't feel anything, etc. I only know of one person who has had a true emergency c/s, and she was put under general despite already having an epi.
Sounds like your doctor is trying to micromanage you. I would ask for this requirement in writing along with the reasoning behind it. You can always decline it.
Are there any statistics that an epidural leads to csection more? I have been curious about this myself.
It sounds like your OB is just prepping you for a csection by giving you the epidural.
There is somewhere. That is why many doctors try to get women to hold out to 4-5 cm at least before administering an epi. Before that, labor isn't really moving and an epi can space out contractions or make them not as effective in early labor (stalling labor, and off to the c/s!)
Also, epis can lower blood pressure to the point that they do a c/s for the safety of the mother and some babies don't handle them well. In my case, I was so exhausted I just needed sleep and I was sort of stuck at 5 cm. An hour after I got the epi, I was ready to push. My midwife said I was probably so exhausted that I just needed to relax more so the contractions moved along. So it worked in my favor in my case.
Thanks! I got my epi with DD at 5cm but still wonder if that affected my labor. In the end my DD got her arm stuck in the birth canal so who knows, but if I can improve my VBAC odds I will do whatever but am afraid to go natural!
You always have the right to informed refusal of any procedure.
And once you're in labor the hospital can't do anything because by law they can't refuse you care for any reason.
As for being afraid of natural birth, there is no reason you can't get an epidural later in labor (after you reach 5 cms, which most studies show that the slowing of labor issue is less likely to occur) IF that's what YOU want.
There are pros and cons to an epidural during a VBAC that you need to consider and decide what's best for you. But the "just in case" reason is BS because as others have said if a true emergency they won't have time to adjust it (unless they intend to have it at surgical strength the whole time which would make effective pushing near impossible so here comes a c/s) and if it's not a true emergency they have time to place one.
If you decide to go natural I highly recommend Hypnobabies, I haven't used it yet but a lot of the moms on my other VBAC board have and loved their births with it.
They also have a VBAC cd that I have (got it from someone on the other board because it was a great deal) and I previewed it and it's wonderful. They also have a change of plan script for if things change and you need a c-section to help you be more relaxed and calm during it if you are awake.
Here's the amazon link!
https://www.amazon.com/Hypnobabies-Childbirth-Hypnosis-VBAC-SUCCESS/dp/B004GYECBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339794069&sr=8-1&keywords=vbac+success+cd
My hospital requires an IV, but I don't think an epi is required. My ob did tell me that they need to get a bag of fluids into you before the epi so a (likely) dehydrated laboring mom's blood pressure doesn't drop.
Chk to see if you can just get the cath in and no epi, so they can be prepared for an emergency c/s if needed. Hopefully all will go perfect and you won't have to worry about that!
ak 99% of the time in an emergency they won't use an epi because it takes too long to up it to surgical strength, there is no reason to have an epi catheter placed "just in case because it's useless in a emergency.
In a true emergency like rupture they will use GA because they don't have time for an epi, in a non-emergency the have time to place an epi.