Question about Epidurals

[Mom2Ashli]

Dunno...but I'll find out tonight. I have my hospital tour scheduled. I think I'll ask them the epidural question too. I just found it curious that it was okay to have the dad watch an 8 lb baby being squeezed out of a 125 lb mom, with all the accompanying blood and ooze, but not to watch the epidural. Seems odd to me.

I think because if you move while they are putting the epidural in it could cause big problems. And if your SO drops on the floor you might move. Not good. Honestly I don't do big needles and I didn't want people messing around my spine. So I went natural - less fear for me.

 

[luvmydogs]

The nurse told my dh, "Hold her hand. The anesthesiologist will say that it won't hurt. It will." I was being prepped for a c-section and not in the pain of labor if that makes any difference.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think DH was in the room for mine. I think I leaned on him, too, come to think of it.

I never saw the needle, and it's probably a good thing. Then again, they could have stuck a 50 ft. needle in me at that point, and I wouldn't have cared. Oh, sweet relief! The anesthesiologist is your friend.

Denae

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've had four of them and my dh has always stayed in the room with me. In fact, they would have him stand in front of me and I would rest my head in his chest while they did the procedure.

 

[froglady]

My husband left the room when they started the IV or drew blood. No way was he going to stick around for the epidural (which turned into a spinal)

And he's a SURGEON!!!

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

My DH made it through the 1st 3 deliveries and epidurals but the 4th the anesthsiologist looked up and told him to sit down and the nurse put him in a chair before he passed out. You'd think he would have been used to it by then. The next one to have the pleasure of needle sticks and legs in stirrups is him.... so we don't have to see if he can make through the 5th epidural... Amy

 

[laurie31]

We were very concerned abotu not being separated so we asked about it in our childbirth classes. They assurred us we wouldn't be separated and then offhandedly mentioned that dads were asked to leave during epidurals as so many of them fainted or got weak in the knees.

With DD1 we chose natural childbirth so it wasn't an issue. DD2 was breech and therefore a c-section (I know you can have breech babies the "regular" way but she wieghed 9lbs 12 oz and no way was that gonna happen!)

We were prepared for them to ask my DH to leave and had our response ready. Instead of me freaking out (as I would have if I'd been unprepared for that) I calmly looked the anesthesiologist in the eyes and said, "YOU want him there. Otherwise you'll be peeling me off the ceiling. I am terrified of having this thing. We went through natural childbirth together with our first baby and he is the only one who can calm me." They guy was speechless for a moment then said DH could stay. He was in front of me so I could lean on his chest. He didn't watch, and thus had no problems, and I would have never made it without holding on to him.

Don't hesitate to make your wishes known to the staff. Most of them want you to have the birth experience you want. I asked for local anesthesia for my IV, both dd's had newborn care delayed so I could hold them first, and I was never separated from my baby or my DH

Laurie

 

[Alicnwondrln]

yeah my DH was not there for either sof my boy
they did it right before i they took out the baby
im not sure why they do it

 

[browneyes]

With our dd, my SO was asked to leave the room. He was more than happy to do so. When we had our ds, my SO was indisposed at the time (he was being sick in the lavatory), so it was like he wasn't even there. I don't know why they asked him to leave the first time.

 

[ahutton]

DH stayed with me for all 3 - two of the three he was my hunch over and hug person so he saw up close. He thought it was cool - he's into science type stuff, medicine, and doesn't get squirmy.

Now when they took me away for the emergency C-Section he was waiting outside, and because they had to put me all the way out (DS and I were both in major distress) they left him in the hall. Knowing what he does now I think he's glad, it would have been hard to handle the time passing with the problems.

 

[Alice28]

Mine was not asked to leave. Although with #1, he brought out the needle and DH said, "Whoa." And the nurse immediately asked, "Are you okay? Do you need to sit down? Step out?" He said, "No. It's just uh...." and he didn't finish cause he didn't want to startle me. After it was over he told me what a huge needle it was and that the nurse was probably scared he was going to faint!

 

[Annette_VA]

DH was there for both of mine.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

My DH was in the room with me. He even helped me stay in position.

 

[m&m's mom]

I've had four of them and my dh has always stayed in the room with me. In fact, they would have him stand in front of me and I would rest my head in his chest while they did the procedure.

My experience was the same. The whole time I am getting the epidural my Dh was telling the Anestheologist about the time he assisted his Uncle who was a Veterenarian, giving the equivalent of an epidural to a hippo. He said it wa supposed to take my mind off the pain. Silly boy!

 

[va32h]

My husband was never asked to leave. I used him to lean against for at least one - I'm a little fuzzy on the other two....

Each hospital has different policies for all sorts of things. Each of my three children was born in a different hospital. In one, I was e.couraged to walk around during labor, in another, I was not permitted ou. of bed. When my sone was born, they wanted me to bounce on a giant ball to speed things along, and the nurse was trying very hard to talk me out of the epidural. Thank goodness the anesthesiologist stepped in and insisted that they honor my wishes.

 

[Buckalew11]

My experience was the same. The whole time I am getting the epidural my Dh was telling the Anestheologist about the time he assisted his Uncle who was a Veterenarian, giving the equivalent of an epidural to a hippo. He said it wa supposed to take my mind off the pain. Silly boy!

I seem to remember a similar conversation pertaining to cows and afterbirth. Gee, I wonder why I haven't forgotten that in 11 yrs???
Farm boys!!

 

[tiggersmom2]

My husband passed FLAT OUT when I had my epidural!!! When the baby started coming I yelled at him to get back.....but he was able to weather that!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hubby stayed both deliveries for the epidural.

I do know that different hospitals have different rules. That sounds like a crazy one to me. DH was there before--having him leave doesn't take away any germs he may have left behind. Unless they hosed down the room or something. But what one hospital does that I find rediculous, my hospital will do something that someone else finds rediculous.

 

[Music Mole]

My DH was there for mine - I couldn't have held still through the contractions while they did the epidural if he hadn't been there. I was induced and the contractions were about a minute apart from finish of one to start of the next by the time they did the epidural and quite intense. I remember thinking that I never thought about the fact that this would take the anesthesiologist some time to do and that I would be having contractions in the mean time. I needed both the nurse and DH to hold me still while he was working. And OMG how much better I felt once it kicked in - I was actually able to sleep for a little while (had to rest up for the two hours of puching that was yet to come ).

Good luck with your hospital tour - you are wise to think of these questions in advance so you can find out the hospital policy and know how you feel about it.

 

[magicfan]

They had me hug my husband while they put the needle in my back. They never asked him to leave.