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A question for the moms
** I am not pregnant ***
A friend of mine however is pregnant. For being in her 30s she knows surprisingly little about all of this. So we chat. It was fun telling her what an episiotomy was. 
Anyway, the doctors have told her her three options are natural, laughing gas and an epidural. They also gave her the risks associated with each of them. They told her the epidural was the riskiest because it the baby would be born drugged, tired and be very drowzy for a few days. ?! I thought she must have mixed something up, so she showed me the paperwork and yep, that's what it says.
I have NEVER heard this before. Is this true in anyway? This is also the same hospital that told her that if she has to have a c-section she won't be able to pick up the baby for 6 weeks, so she won't be able to nurse ...
Please tell me the hospital is just being cheap and telling her this because they don't want to pay the extra $$ for the epidural and c-section. The other option is Queensland really is stuck in 1950.
Re: A question for the moms
This is completely untrue. It is gas and air (nitrous oxide, or what some people call laughing gas in the US) and it does not cross over to the baby at all. It is much more common in Canada, the UK, Australia and much of Europe, and many women in those countries choose that over an epidural. I hated it, personally, when I had ds in London, but some people like it. It does not pose any risks at all to the baby.
An epidural may cross over somewhat to the baby but I don't think much of what they said is normally true, although I suppose it could be in certain cases. I do think babies who are born med free are more alert than babies whose moms had pain medication.
I just feel so bad for her. It's her first baby and no one has ever told her anything. She finally looked at the doctor and asked why it was that the only person who was telling her anything was the person who had never had a baby! The doctor asked her "so what do you want to know?". And what they are telling her just seems to be so wrong.
Apparently
I feel bad for your friend too! I am not a medical professional and I can't really say that a baby would be born drowsy because of an epi. But what I will chime in and say are most babies if not all are born drowsy and sleep a lot because its big journey and shock to the system to be born. I can't believe that information was printed in the literature they gave to her. Goodness.
I had the gas it wasn't that bad. It takes the edge off but I would have preferred an epi, I'm sure. Her doctor sounds like a loon.
I don't have any kids yet, but I am certainly glad I will not be delivering at that hospital in the next few weeks!
My hospital does offer gas, epi and there were a few other choices for pain relief as well (I am blanking on the names right now). They did mention that one of the other drugs, given through an injection can have a bit of an effect on the baby if it is give too late (but I'm assuming it must not be too bad if they still offer it).
And that is definitely untrue that she cannot hold her baby for 6 weeks! I think you are not supposed to drive for 6 weeks if you have a c-section, but you can definitely pick up your child. That information is so ridiculous, I hope she can find someone who knows what they are talking about.
Also, we are going to a private hospital, and if I choose to have an epi we will be billed for it after. I am under the impression that that same things happens in a public hospital (billed after for epi) but I could be wrong about that.
DH said its like calling for an ambulance, they will bill you later. Of course if you are in a public hospital and you need an emergency surgery, anesthesia would be covered during that, but an epi might be elective so I think you pay for it- at least in NSW.
And I still could be wrong about this!
Sadly no. This is the only hospital around for 4 hours.
Bali, here in QLD ambulance is free all the time for everyone. We used to pay $28 on our electric bill to cover it, but that "wasn't fair to poor people" (because everyone paid the same) so now, they cover it by doubling the stamp tax on home purchases. grrr.
She is using the public hospital. I;'m not sure if it would be any different at a private one.
They said she can hold her baby, but she "can't" pick it up for 6 weeks. So someone will have to pick the baby up and hand it to her every time she has to nurse
And to confirm what someone else said, after the c/s it's: 2 weeks no driving (because of pain meds, I think), 6 weeks no sex or tampons (same as after a vaginal birth), and about 6 weeks of weight restriction or until the dr / midwife clears you.
I'm just concerned now about the level of care people at this hospital receive. H is having two procedures done there (if they ever get around to it, the list is 1.5 years long).
I think I'll check out how we can get him to the hospital 4 hours away ...
I think her doctor is not giving her an accurate description of what's up. In this case, with this being the only hospital around, I think your friend really needs to do her own research.
I don't mean this in a snarky way at all, but if your friend didn't know what an episiotomy was until you told her she has a lot to learn and needs to get cracking. Every woman should feel in control (to an extent) when they go into the hospital and be sure of the kind of birth they want (while at the same time being flexible obviously). Your friend needs to read some pregnancy/childbirth books as well as go to a childbirth class unless the only classes around are at that hospital...they would likely have the same odd bent.
The best, most informative book I read was Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin. It has a slight natural slant, but it accurately represents all of a woman's options in childbirth and even devotes a section of the book to helping the woman figure out what kind of birth she most desires and how to best achieve it. I highly reccommend it for any pregnant woman. It's much better than What to Expect When You're Expecting as far as childbirth goes though I found that book a bit more fun and easy to digest for the pregnancy issues.
Really, if you speak to your friend again please reccommend this to her. Her birth should be something empowering and something she isn't afraid of going into it. If she doesn't do some research beyond what that doctor is telling her she will very likely end up with a birth experience she's unhappy with, especially if she wants an epidural as I hear doctors in Australia are very pro-natural and don't like to give epidurals (hearsay maybe, but something to consider if she really wants an epidural).
Good luck to your friend!
Oh, and I don't know how it is in Australia, but in Spain elective C-sections are not allowed. It has to be medically necessary. If she thinks she wants an elective C-section (not my cup of tea, but hey some people do) she needs to figure out what the stance on that is in Australia asap.
From what I understand the doctor is correct in that you aren't supposed to do heavy lifting, but like PPs said a newborn baby should not be lumped in with that and she should be fine to breastfeed. My advice in my childbirth class was lift nothing heavier than your newborn. I assume that applies to C-section mamas as well. She needs to know this if she plans to breastfeed and ends up with a c-section. She CAN breastfeed and has every right to demand it of the doctors/nurses in case they try to stay in her way.
Oh, and remind her that her SO/DH needs to be her biggest advocate if what she decides she wants is not the norm in the hospital there.
Ok, I wrote a novel, but childbirth is something I want every woman to go into with no fear and really understand it. I hope she finds the answers she needs.
Ladymadrid, I'm sure the hospital pushes whatever they have to pay the least for. I'm sure they are still upset that women are choosing to have hospital births instead of at home they way their grandmothers did. I mean that really is the cheapest way.
But as for backward, I do live in a state where abortion is illegal unless it the pregnancy will endanger the mothers life. And even then when it has been deemed legal, most public hospitals won't do them.
And yes, I've been pushing my friend to start reading and googling. She didn't know she could tear, she didn't know her pelvis was going to spread, she didn't know she could poop on the table while pushing, she didn't know Lamaze was a method of childbirth. I sometimes really wish I could go with her to her appointments and be her patient advocate :-(
I know somebody who did choose to have a C-section in Spain. Maybe, you can if you go through a private hospital.?? She wanted her doctor to be there, and since she was supposed to go on vacation, she actually had a C-section 2 or 3 weeks before her due date.
This was probably someone who was going to need a c-section for a medical reason such as a breech baby. In that case you can choose more or less when it is, but elective c-sections for no reason are not legal (from what I understand).
This was probably someone who was going to need a c-section for a medical reason such as a breech baby. In that case you can choose more or less when it is, but elective c-sections for no medical reason are not legal (from what I understand).
Every book I have read said the gas and air does not cross the placenta and that an epidural can. Regardless neither are harmful to the baby but I have heard that some babies are more tired when the mom has had an epidural
What If I'm Pregnant?
Nitrous Oxide is the most commonly recommended sedation technique for expectant patients. Although it does cross the placenta, it is not metabolized by the body; therefore, it has no effect on most organ systems and is removed from the body in a short period of time. If you have any further concerns about taking nitrous oxide while you are pregnant, you may wish to consult with your obstetrician prior to treatment in this office.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Epidurals have two drugs, a narcotic which does cross the placenta (mine was fentanyl), and a local anaesthetic, which does not. They used to only have the local, so older books will say nothing does.
Apparently you do have to pay the gap for an epi
Termination is not only allowed to save the life of the mother, it's also allowed to preserve her mental health, ie, if continuing the pregnancy would upset you, you can have one. It's not as nice as having one at will, but then we also don't have anyone with any power lobbying to end them.
that's fricin bonkers!
my baby wans't drowsy and I had an epidural
and WTF is that thing about 6 weeks if you have a c-section? that's such old school advice - of course you have to be CAREFUL with your body for 6 weeks or so - but you CAN pick up your baby
does she have the option of going to any other hospitals - that one sounds CRAZY backwards!!
yes gas is quite common as a form of pain relief here
however - not for me - remember I asked for it and they gave it to me and I got REALLY sick - then I NOTICED that they only had it plugged into the oxygen, and the gas tube wasn't hooked up at all *sigh*
I was so sick by then I didn't want anymore and just had an epidural
but yes - its common here (in Australia)