Epidural for Safety??? - Page 2

[Novella]

Originally Posted by attached2mason

you could consider having the epidural set and then not having it connected to meds until/unless necessary (version, section, whatever) - my OB is advocating for me to do this.

I have no personal experience with this route, but it's always sounded a little strange to me. Sooo. . . we're going to stick a needle in my spine, and then I'm "free" to use massage and movement to deal with a drug-free labour?!

Sounds a little like putting a cast on my leg in case I break my leg later, and then asking me to do cartwheels on a trampoline.

Accepting an epidural line is another signal that you expect problems. One is that much closer to conforming to a highly-medically-managed L & D. If that's the kind of L & D one wants, it's a good step toward getting it.

The reasons the OP's OB cited for using an epidural are certainly possibilities. As are a lot of the well-documented risks of epidurals. Is it a case of the "cure being worse than the disease"?

Good luck. Never easy deliberations.

[attached2mason]

I completely agree, Novella. It really doesn't make any sense. I merely mentioned it as an option if one were looking for a way to compromise with an OB.

We won't be doing it. If I need a version/extraction I'll just have to deal. If I need a section there will either be time for a spinal or there won't - either way, having a line set isn't going to change things much.

[Intertwined]

I just want to quickly and respectfully point out that women CAN give birth to breech presentations alone without extractions or versions. Several of us on this forum have done so, and Aja even did it in a hospital. I know it's not the correct decision for every birth (obviously one cannot push out a child who's decided to stick an ARM out ) but it is possible. I'm all about being informed and making choices.

[attached2mason]

Originally Posted by Intertwined

I just want to quickly and respectfully point out that women CAN give birth to breech presentations alone without extractions or versions. Several of us on this forum have done so, and Aja even did it in a hospital. I know it's not the correct decision for every birth (obviously one cannot push out a child who's decided to stick an ARM out ) but it is possible. I'm all about being informed and making choices.

Agreed, excellent reminder.

My OB is open to a breech birth without version/extraction so hopefully that will work out. Unfortunately there are 9 others in her rotation so it depends on who I get. Of course, a mama can always refuse an extraction/version but if the OB isn't comfortable or skilled at breech presentations that makes it tougher.

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by RadTwins

Has anyone been told by their OB that it's "safer" to have an epidural with twins?

I've heard two reasons for this so far:

#1 - If they have to turn the second twin, they'll be sticking their hand way up inside which is quite painful and an epidural will make it easier.

#2 - If they have to do an emergency c-section, especially for the second twin (in the case of a prolasped cord, etc.) there won't be time to put in an epidural if I don't already have one in, and in that case would have to give me general anesthesia. The OB said general anesthesia is harder on the baby and of course there's the aspiration probablem if I've eaten anything recently.

I really want a natural birth (no drugs), but am running into several roadblocks. Midwifes in Maryland won't deliver twins, and the OB's I've talked to all want to put me in the OR as soon as I'm ready to push, just in case. (I've read Ina May's books and she stresses the need for a good environment, which I don't envision an OR will be. Though one doc said at that point I really won't care.) Then of course, if the babies aren't in the right position, they'll just do a c-section outright.

The last doc said that in my situation, it's too risky for me to consider a completely natural birth. I'm 39, these are my first, and it took us three rounds of IVF to get here. He said this may be my one chance at having children and he thinks a natural birth is too much of a risk to take.

Any thoughts?

Yup, yup. Heard the same story from my OBs as well. I told them in the delivery room that I wasn't interested.

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by attached2mason

I completely agree, Novella. It really doesn't make any sense. I merely mentioned it as an option if one were looking for a way to compromise with an OB.

We won't be doing it. If I need a version/extraction I'll just have to deal. If I need a section there will either be time for a spinal or there won't - either way, having a line set isn't going to change things much.

as a momma who had an extraction with no epidural, I can tell you it hurt like hell, but I wouldn't have done it any other way.

[TwinMomPlus]

I was 31 at the time and my twins were spontaneous, but I don't think either of these things makes any difference

I respectfully disagree. It depends on the cause of infertility, but if it has anything to do with the woman- then there are risks to carrying and delivering the baby(or babies) that fertile woman do not face.

My twins are IVF, too, and when we decided to put 2 embryos back in hopes that they both stuck- I set aside all my hopes for a regular pregnancy and vaginally/natural delivery. I knew the risk I was taking and no longer cared if I ended up with a c/s because the only thing I cared about was 2 healthy babies at the end. Not trying to sound high and mighty- just letting you know how my feelings changed once we had to go the IVF route and knew we could end up with twins.

However- it is totally up to you! If things are looking good (no placenta previa, baby A is head down, and you are progressing) then just refuse the epidural. If they do have to do an extraction on baby B, it will be over quick and the pain won't last nearly as long as c/s pain!

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

[Gena 22]

Yup, TwinMomPlus, you are totally right. I was trying to be delicate when I said it didn't matter if your twins were spontaneous or not. It matters, but I'm just not sure it matters regarding whether to use an epidural or not.

Until I see the science, I am not willing to say that there is a relationship between a woman's path to conception and her ability to carry and birth her babes generally. Of course there may be in some circumstances. But too often I hear the capacity IVF moms to have a natural birth dismissed for that fact alone. It doesn't seem right. So I err on the side of assuming drug free birth is possible.

If an IVF mom researched and choose a drug-free birth, assuming there were no contra-indications, I don't know any reason she shouldn't try for one.

[annettemarie]

I'm subbing and taking notes even though this thread is scaring me, LOL!

[Intertwined]

Originally Posted by attached2mason

Agreed, excellent reminder.

My OB is open to a breech birth without version/extraction so hopefully that will work out. Unfortunately there are 9 others in her rotation so it depends on who I get. Of course, a mama can always refuse an extraction/version but if the OB isn't comfortable or skilled at breech presentations that makes it tougher.

Whew, I'm glad you didn't take offense! It's obviously not the correct choice for every birth but I *do* see it as sort of a foregone conclusion here when we discuss breech birth. Of course, we twin moms at least have that option many times. Singleton moms in hospital are usually not even given the option.