An Epidural Birth can be just as gratifying to a mom
Chiqui Brosas on Oct 29 2007 at 12:35 pm | Filed under: Childbirth
I woke up 4:30am to find a message in my cellular phone. It is time for me to go to the hospital! One of my student’s, let’s call her by the name of Doris, who had asked me earlier to be her doula, that’s a birth coach, had admitted herself in Medical City. I called her and she said she was going to be induced with the drip at 6:00am! I asked her to wait for me and to not have anything done without me. I wanted to be with her when the going gets tough. Oxytocin drip is familiar to me, I had one in my last birth. Boy the contractions get very strong, constant and predictable!
I called her when I was near so as not to worry her. At around 6:30am I was in the hospital. She was still allowed to eat so I bought her 2 glazed honey and one chocolate glazed donuts from starbucks, upon her request. Thank God they have coffee shops and restorants in the hospital itself! It makes it easier for us visitors to grab something to eat and have different varieties to chose from.
She was asleep when I got in the private Lamaze room so I waited. She was 3cm and 60% effaced. Pain was very tolerable. At 7:30am we were eating our breakfast together. I knew we had time. The room was so cold! I asked the midwife who was with us why was that so. She said it keeps the bacteria from setting in. That made sense, I never thought about that.
I was surprised at the special and constant care the staff had over Doris. They never left her alone. There was either a midwife or a nurse, an intern or a resident who would be with her all the time. It made things easier for us because of the constant care, monitoring and support. All of Doris’ questions and needs were met. She had the fetal monitor on.
Her OB came at around 10:30am to check on her. Doris discussed with her regarding the cateter. She wanted it inserted in her back while it was still early so that they don’t panic and have a difficult time putting it in when she’s in hard labor. The anesthesiologist came to explain what she was going to do. Since the effect of the drug would only take 5 to 10 minutes, she said to notify her once the pain reached 4 in intensity, if 10 scored the maximum, so that the anesthesia would take effect when the pain was at its peak. Shortly after an IV was inserted on her right hand and the epidural was in. A test run was done to see if the cateter was in the dura space. The oxytocin was started, 12 drops a minute. All was well. Her OB said she would not be allowed to eat or walk any more. We would observe how the contractions progress.
Her OB came back and after an internal examination, she was 4cm and 80% effaced. She said if there was still little progress, she will come back at 5pm to break the bag of water. She did and that’s when the contractions got very strong, regular and very difficult. Doris never lost her cool. She was so brave. It made me proud of her. She quickly moved into transition. Her body responded well to all the medications given to her. Doris asked twice for a dose of more epidural. She started to have tremors from the medication. She felt like vommitting a few times and going to the bathroom. The pitocin was stopped and oxygen was given to her. She was given demerol and was able to sleep for a short while. In about 30 mins. she woke up and felt the pressure of the baby’s head on her perenium. When an IE was done, she was already 10cm! I called her mother to come quickly because she would be pushing soon. Fortunately she was on her way. When she arrived, she peeped several times to let us know she was there and to see what was going on.
Everything was quick from that point onwards. All the doctors and staff were in the lamaze room preparing her. The birthing bed was converted to a delivery table. The OB told me not to take pictures anymore. We had several pushes. The voice of the doctor who called out the time while Doris pushed was loud and so, she could not concentrate on bearing down. She asked the OB to do it. Eventually the anesthesiologist did fundal pressure. At that point, the baby’s head came out. That was 6:34am! A healthy bouncing baby boy. His apgar score was 9/9! He only cried a little and was cooperative with all the procedures done to him. After he was checked, he was wrapped and given back to the mother to breastfeed. I stepped out so that the mother of Doris could go in and see her grandson. It was a joyous event for all of us!
This is the second time I had witnessed an epidural birth. It isn’t a bad idea after all if the mother really wants it and understands the restriction that came along with it. Another benefit is that mom gets the benefit of partaking in the birth, being awake the whole time and not having to feel the pain nor get tired. The amount of anesthesia that could be given to her was available any time and it’s strength was according to how much she needed to feel comfortable at any given time. Birth could be just as satisfying to a laboring mom. Although, as a childbirth educator and as a naturalist, I would still very much prefer the natural way. The way mother nature intended births to be. I still feel it is the safest and most gratifying means of giving birth!