I didn't know this! - Page 2

[wannabe]

Originally Posted by lifescholar

Very true!!

But herbal (I mean NATURAL herbal) stuff is better than "drug" drugs, right?? I really don't have time to research this stuff...I just go by what I hear, and what makes good sense....

Natural herbal just means untested and unregulated.

St John's Wort, for example, is a very strong and effective drug which interacts with the contraceptive pill and with warfarin.

There are certainly situations where I would consider an epidural, but it frustrates me that so often they're handed to women like harmless candy when the woman deserves to know how it may affect both her and her baby.

That. Drugs have their place, but they are massively overused.

I'm always puzzled by people who won't have a glass of wine their whole pregnancy, but get an epidural without a second thought.

[DucetteMama21842]

Originally Posted by stacyann21

Emilie: Swelling is actually a side-effect of IV fluids.

An epidural is a combination of several drugs. They are dangerous for the mother and baby. It's too bad most people don't do research before getting one.

I disagree.. although I could be wrong. I was told by my medical staff with DS1 that I would swell from the epidural.

Originally Posted by Romana9+2

ITA. This is the big one in my estimation. So many women think (and are told by their doctors) that epidural medication will not reach the baby. However, the drugs in the epidural cross the blood/brain barrier and do reach the baby. So it's a risk mothers considering an epidural should be aware of, so they can make a truly informed choice. There are certainly situations where I would consider an epidural, but it frustrates me that so often they're handed to women like harmless candy when the woman deserves to know how it may affect both her and her baby.

Julia
dd 10 mos

[BugMacGee]

Clearly they are over used.

Are you talking about drugs in general or epidurals?

I think if women want them, they should have them. Women have been trying to alleviate the pain of labor since we walked upright. Totally not a new concept.
Epidurals are safer than IV narcs. They do reach the baby to a degree but not as much as the IV route.

If you don't want one, don't have one. I certainly thing women should have the option, if they are so inclined.

The swelling is due to the IV fluids given with the epidural. The amount of swelling is proportionate to the length of time epi is in place.

FWIW, I had one with my first (after exhausting my more natural options). I progressed faster after the epi and got some rest. I had some lower extremity swelling but was able to BF successfully immediately after delivery.

[WinterBaby]

I birthed at home with no IV or epidural and had terrible leg swelling after birth. I think your body starts ditching a lot of it's fluid build up after birth or something. Anyhow, the swelling bit can happen to anyone I think.

[Turkish Kate]

For the original topic, it depends on how you define "poison." For example:

1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison; the poison of pestilential diseases.

2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as, the poison of evil example; the poison of sin.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Clearly, by this definition, nearly any drug or herbal remedy can be classified as a poison, as nearly all have clear side-effects or toxic effects. Even the most natural of herbals can be deadly, such as Foxglove, which taken in even a moderate dose can stop a person's heart.

[moonfirefaery]

Babies born after epidurals are more likely to have breathing problems and may enter the world in a very drowsy, 'doped-up' sort of state. There is speculation that this, along with their effect on mother, can interfere with bonding. Epidurals can slow labor, resulting in the administering of pitocin o amniotomy. Having an epidural inhibits movement during labor, which can speed up labor and help a woman feel more comfortable. Instead she must lay on her back, one of the worst birthing positions. Epidurals can, in rare events, cause spinal injury to the mother. Violent shaking is an after-effect of epidurals, so, like me, you might end up quivering viollently for quite a while as you try to connect with your newborn. Epidurals sometimes contain drugs derived from opium, which to me isn't something I'd want in my child's system. There may be more but that's all I can remember. :P

I don't think epidurals are poison, but I don't think they should be overused either. They can allow a tired mother who has been up for 26 hours some rest so that she has the strength to get through the labor. They can provide temporary relief from contractions. WHether you have one or not you will feel your labor at some point, though.

It's not about the IVs, btw. Epidurals make you retain water; it's an after effect. I was gigantic the day after giving birth, fatter in the face than when I was fully pregnant!

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by BugMacGee

Clearly they are over used.

Are you talking about drugs in general or epidurals?

I think if women want them, they should have them. Women have been trying to alleviate the pain of labor since we walked upright. Totally not a new concept.
Epidurals are safer than IV narcs. They do reach the baby to a degree but not as much as the IV route.

I agree that if a woman wants an epidural, the option should be available, and that for some women it can help greatly.

What I am truly concerned with is how many women are being pushed into it by well meaning (or not) doctors who want to take away their pain, without fully informing the mama of the risks involved. That is the real problem with epidurals.

I don't think my experience was an isolated case- I went in to the hospital very clear that I did not want an epidural; it was written in my birth plan, staff knew this. The staff kept pushing and pushing. They downplayed its effects, only talked about how wonderful it would be. Not to mention the pitocin that I didn't ask for created such horrible contractions, well, I ended up with an epidural, even though I was crying and did not want one. I also did not know at that time that csection rates increase when epidurals are involved. Also, even though the ACOG (I believe that's who) recommends doctors wait until a first time mom is 3-4 cms before administrating an epidural, they are not always following this guideline, since they didn't with me.

[pookel]

Originally Posted by ericswifey27

I don't think my experience was an isolated case- I went in to the hospital very clear that I did not want an epidural; it was written in my birth plan, staff knew this. The staff kept pushing and pushing.

Hearing this kind of story is always shocking to me. I'm not happy with everything about my birth (I mean, I had a c-section!) and some of the interventions that led up to it, but they did NOT push me into anything. When I did the hospital tour, I met with a birth planner who gave me the option of specifying that I did not want an epidural offered. I didn't choose that option; I said I wanted to try natural labor, but they could offer the epidural. They asked me once or twice, I think, with no pressure. Just, "let us know if you decide you want the epidural." (I said yes. But I didn't feel like they would have pressured me to change my mind if I'd said no. They also made me wait until I was 4 cm, which was four more hours of puking misery after I agreed to it!)

[mykidsmom776]

I think it varies from hospital to hospital. I had my first two in what I would call a more supportive "natural birthing" hospital. They had birthing stools, birthing balls, deep bathtubs with jacuzzi thingies. They would let you labor and push in any dang position you wanted. No one brought up drugs, if you wanted it you had to ask for it. They didn't discourage you if you wanted them, but they didn't bring it up, no matter how much pain you looked like you were in.

Now the hospital that I had my last two in, well they claim to be a birthing center and "mother and baby friendly" but as soon as you get there, it's to the bed with the fetal monitor and that other contraction monitor thingie you go. And you get an IV to keep you hydrated right away (you have to ask NOT to have it). No birthing stool, no birthing ball (which saved my second baby's labor -- she was head-down and being pushed into my pelvic bone rather the down the birth canal, I rolled on the ball on my stomach, due to the suggestion of a L&D nurse for about 20 minutes w/contractions and straightened her right out). At the second hospital, no deep bathtubs with jacuzzi jets.... and they wouldn't let you get far from the bed even if you wanted to. They would remove the monitors and let me up and about 10 -15 minutes later it was time for another cervix check and the monitors were back on again. And you could only push laying down with your feet in the stirrups.

So yeah, some hospitals actually do much better at following the lead of the laboring mother and some still stick to their own agendas.