STM's who had epidurals

heart_of_virginia · December 2012

This is a kind of a silly, long question and embarrassing situation, but for you STM's who had epidural with your first...was your S/O allowed to be in the room while they put it in? I delivered DD in a Naval Hospital, as DH was still in the military, and I'm finding out now that military and civilian hospitals/doctors do things completely different from each other. I have heard a lot in the last month or so that they will kick DH out when I get my epidural, I always forget to ask my OB about it. I have SERIOUS anxiety when it comes to being in the hospital and anything to do with needles after being in and out so much in the last three years. It has got to the point that if I'm in a hospital and DH is not right next to me, I'll start to have panic attacks until I'm hyperventilating. I've had to be sedated a couple times because of it. Its bad. And embarrassing. He was right there holding me when I got my epidural with DD, and I still had a meltdown complete with serious shaking, to the point that they had to take out the epidural catheter and place it again. My fear of hospitals is so bad that without an epidural they'd probably end up having to completely knock me out because I just freak out, and pain intensifies it quickly. Really what Im looking for is for someone to say that if I absolutely need him, they will let him stay in the room with me.

sararn2004 · December 2012

I had an epidural with my daughter and her dad(now ex) was right there with me during the insertion of the epidural.

beanersmommy · December 2012

DH was asked to leave the room during my epidural. Never asked if he could stay because I just wanted the epidural...haha.

ajetter · December 2012

DH was in the room with me. Everyone else was asked to leave. Can't remember if I was holding his hands or the nurses though...

tulipblossom · December 2012

I honestly do not remember if he was in the room or not.

I would suggest talking to them way before you want the epidural so when the time comes they know you want him there.

KD79 · December 2012

DC2London:
I know on shows like 'A Baby Story,' they always kick the husband out when they administer the epidural, but my H was never asked to leave. In fact, they had me kind of hug onto him and over his shoulder, which helped get me into the right position for the epi, and helped keep me steady when I had a contraction during placement. I guess I can't speak for all hospitals, but that one never even suggested that he should/must leave.
FWIW, I was so ready for the epi at that point, I wouldn't have cared if Count Chocula himself were administering it, who was in the room, whatever. I just wanted the pain relief

This is how it was for me. Now, when I had my c-section with my second son, they did a spinal and DH was not in the surgery room until after the spinal was placed.

wifeofadam · December 2012

I had one with my first. DH was with me.

bobcatsteph · December 2012

Everyone had to leave the room, including DH. They had me hug a pillow and a nurse hugged me from the front to keep me still and calm.

kat1221 · December 2012

DH was with me for the epi. I would talk to your OB and put it in your birth plan that you would like to have him with you at all times.

Good Luck!

MexiCali · December 2012

H was standing in front of me. Of course the face he made when he saw the needle wasn't so warming, but he was able to hug me through the process.

a13049 · December 2012

I asked this when I went on our tour f the hospital, the nurse giving the tour said most of the anesthesiologist will alow only one person, but a small number in our hospital don't allow anyone. She said if it was a concern to let the nurse know, if there is more than one anesthesiologist at the hospital and there usually is, because its a huge hospital then they will try o get the ones that allow a guest. She also said that could mean waitin a little extra time though, because that particular anesthesiologist could be busy, so we may change our minds when the time comes. You can talk to your OB, but it ultimately depends on the anesthesiologist so your hospital nurses would be more knowledgable.

JuliaBug · December 2012

Yes, DH was in the room. The nurse told him he had to sit where he couldn't see it because they have too many husbands pass out. The nurse was the one holding me while the anesthesiologist put the epidural in.

heart_of_virginia · December 2012

Thanks for all your experiences ladies. It's kinda sad that this issue is what I'm panicking about most at this point in my pregnancy haha.

bdutton0005 · December 2012

From my experience it depends on the Dr/CRNA who does it. At the hospital I go to half of them dont' care and the other half just allow the nurse in there.

IncogNeato · December 2012

Yes, but he got dizzy so I kicked him out and told him to get water and take a walk so he wouldn't pass out.

SHAYD12 · December 2012

We are military (army) but my husband was in the room. They did ask my couisn to step out while I got it. But they did yell at my husband because he kept peeking and watching and they were scared he was going to pass out lol which is so not like my husband but I guess a lot of guys do. I would of threw a huge fit if he couldn't of been in there. But I'm going to a different hospital now since he have move so I hope it's the same here!

pitterpatter129 · December 2012

I don't think DH was in there, but he may have been. I know if he was he wasn't anywhere near me. I had to lean into a nurse while they did it so she could help hold me still if I had contractions. The thing was, I was so out of it and in pain that I could have cared less about the needle. I was nervous too before I went into labor, but after pitocin contractions, I wouldn't have noticed much at the point when I finally asked for pain relief...

KansasFarmMomma · December 2012

DH stood in front of me and held my hands. It didn't help much, I had a contraction while it was being placed and then I jerked REALLY bad when they actually put it in(It hurt. A lot). DH was scared I had paralyzed myself or something.