how common is it for the anesthesiologist to refuse to give an epidural?

[Anonymous]

I would demand a c section if they couldn't do the epi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their insurance and livelihood is on the line if something goes wrong. It's not common but it does happen (drug interactions, tattoos, etc)

Hold up - why would tattoos prevent you from getting an epidural? I haven’t got any, and I thought you couldn’t get an MRI with them? But an epidural?

I believe if the tattoo is where the epidural is to be placed, they often will not do it. A tattoo elsewhere would be a non-issue.

Yes. Many anesthesiologists will not go through a lower back tattoo. (The tramp stamp one). They don't know what's in the ink and it could get into
Your spine.

[Anonymous]

Kinda shocked that women would go into labor without a backup plan if the epidural fails or they're in too quick of a labor to get one. Spend 15 minutes and read on pain management techniques and breathing. You're not guaranteed and epidural.

Wanting an epidural is not the same as needing one for a medical procedure like an amputation or a c section. Yes the pain is excruciating but you aren't going into shock from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kinda shocked that women would go into labor without a backup plan if the epidural fails or they're in too quick of a labor to get one. Spend 15 minutes and read on pain management techniques and breathing. You're not guaranteed and epidural.

Wanting an epidural is not the same as needing one for a medical procedure like an amputation or a c section. Yes the pain is excruciating but you aren't going into shock from it.

I took Bradeley classes and I still ended up needing an epidural for my induction; I can assure you that was a little more than 15 minutes' worth of preparation. What the heck is wrong with some of you? Just stupid easy births and shocking lack of empathy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their insurance and livelihood is on the line if something goes wrong. It's not common but it does happen (drug interactions, tattoos, etc)

Hold up - why would tattoos prevent you from getting an epidural? I haven’t got any, and I thought you couldn’t get an MRI with them? But an epidural?

I believe if the tattoo is where the epidural is to be placed, they often will not do it. A tattoo elsewhere would be a non-issue.

Okay. That makes sense. I thought PP meant tattoos in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the birth of DD, the anesthesiologist was too late to the hospital (our fault -- long story) and by the time he arrived DW was already in labor. He wouldn't give her an epidural because she was already having regular contractions.

It looked like it really hurt. Certainly hurt my ears.

Hope the anesthesiologist is late to your vasectomy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the birth of DD, the anesthesiologist was too late to the hospital (our fault -- long story) and by the time he arrived DW was already in labor. He wouldn't give her an epidural because she was already having regular contractions.

It looked like it really hurt. Certainly hurt my ears.

I think you are a troll. Many women posting here received epidurals during labor, myself included. Find something else to do with your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the birth of DD, the anesthesiologist was too late to the hospital (our fault -- long story) and by the time he arrived DW was already in labor. He wouldn't give her an epidural because she was already having regular contractions.

It looked like it really hurt. Certainly hurt my ears.

I think you are a troll. Many women posting here received epidurals during labor, myself included. Find something else to do with your time.

Why would he be a troll? Lots of docs won’t give an epidural if labor is too far along... Happened to a friend for baby #2 of 3 when her induction went from 0 to 95 in like 15 minutes. Was in so much pain she had trouble bonding with the van at first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was refused an epidural, but given a spinal.

I found the anesthesiologist at Sibley (Dr. Holley) very flighty and she has a bit of a reputation.

You do know there are multiple anesthesiologists at Sibley, right? I’ve given birth there three times and have met many anesthesiologists, and none of them were this doctor.

Thanks for adding so much to my story, and to this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't disagree with what anyone is saying but no one is talking about the fact that giving birth is more than "uncomfortable." It's not like asking someone to just tolerate a headache without Advil. For many women, the pain is completely unbearable, hence why they want and get an epidural.

Being denied an epidural in the throes of labor if you are not prepared or planning on an unmedicated delivery I would imagine was probably very traumatizing for your friend. How is she handling her feelings? It is a real shame that her OB did not recognize this issue before so a plan could have been put into place in advance and that responsibility is really on the OB if he/she was aware of the condition of your friend.

The WHO recognizes that "Many women appreciate some form of pain relief in labour and would like a choice of options."

Was she given any other options for pain relief? The new WHO Intrapartum Guidelines state:

"Parenteral opioids, such as fentanyl, diamorphine and pethidine, are recommended options for
healthy pregnant women requesting pain relief during labour, depending on a woman’s preferences."

Did they offer her anything like that?

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/260178/9789241550215-eng.pdf?sequence=1

I'm sorry but all women should be prepared with pain free birthing techniques. I know A LOT of women who were unable to get epidurals because their labor progressed too fast or they couldn't get to the hospital in time. You should be prepared for a worst case scenario.

It's not like they're performing a csection on you without pain medicine.

In most 1st world countries women labor with nitrous oxide instead of epidurals. Many hospitals around here are now offering that as an option.

As much as no one wants to hear it, Medication durin/ at birth is a comfort measure, not a medical necessity.

Depending on the medical reason for refusal of the epidural, opiates may also not have been an option OR the hospital may have no protocol for using them.

It goes against the grain to say so, but no woman should rely on the fact that she can and will get pain relief during labour. There are a lot of medical reasons not to.

Isn’t this the case for any and all medical procedure and surgeries? I mean if they amputate a limb is pain relief really medically necessary?

Dying is a natural event too. But you can bet the PPs won't be eschewing morphine and anti anxiety drugs when it comes calling for them.

It really reeks of privilege and classism to insist that all women "should" be prepared for birth, as though all women have access to preparation classes, funds to pay for it, or are literate and can read books, or are in a mental position where they are able to prepare. Think: teen moms, drug/opioid addicted moms, illerate moms, moms who are undocumented, abused moms, moms who are pregnant because of a rape, etc.

You can still be a decent human being and have compassion for women who don't get pain relief and wanted it or who were unprepared for an ubmedicsted delivery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't disagree with what anyone is saying but no one is talking about the fact that giving birth is more than "uncomfortable." It's not like asking someone to just tolerate a headache without Advil. For many women, the pain is completely unbearable, hence why they want and get an epidural.

Being denied an epidural in the throes of labor if you are not prepared or planning on an unmedicated delivery I would imagine was probably very traumatizing for your friend. How is she handling her feelings? It is a real shame that her OB did not recognize this issue before so a plan could have been put into place in advance and that responsibility is really on the OB if he/she was aware of the condition of your friend.

The WHO recognizes that "Many women appreciate some form of pain relief in labour and would like a choice of options."

Was she given any other options for pain relief? The new WHO Intrapartum Guidelines state:

"Parenteral opioids, such as fentanyl, diamorphine and pethidine, are recommended options for
healthy pregnant women requesting pain relief during labour, depending on a woman’s preferences."

Did they offer her anything like that?

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/260178/9789241550215-eng.pdf?sequence=1

I'm sorry but all women should be prepared with pain free birthing techniques. I know A LOT of women who were unable to get epidurals because their labor progressed too fast or they couldn't get to the hospital in time. You should be prepared for a worst case scenario.

It's not like they're performing a csection on you without pain medicine.

In most 1st world countries women labor with nitrous oxide instead of epidurals. Many hospitals around here are now offering that as an option.

As much as no one wants to hear it, Medication durin/ at birth is a comfort measure, not a medical necessity.

Depending on the medical reason for refusal of the epidural, opiates may also not have been an option OR the hospital may have no protocol for using them.

It goes against the grain to say so, but no woman should rely on the fact that she can and will get pain relief during labour. There are a lot of medical reasons not to.

Isn’t this the case for any and all medical procedure and surgeries? I mean if they amputate a limb is pain relief really medically necessary?

Dying is a natural event too. But you can bet the PPs won't be eschewing morphine and anti anxiety drugs when it comes calling for them.

It really reeks of privilege and classism to insist that all women "should" be prepared for birth, as though all women have access to preparation classes, funds to pay for it, or are literate and can read books, or are in a mental position where they are able to prepare. Think: teen moms, drug/opioid addicted moms, illerate moms, moms who are undocumented, abused moms, moms who are pregnant because of a rape, etc.

You can still be a decent human being and have compassion for women who don't get pain relief and wanted it or who were unprepared for an ubmedicsted delivery.

Is that the response you all are looking for on this thread? An I'm sorry?

I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda shocked that women would go into labor without a backup plan if the epidural fails or they're in too quick of a labor to get one. Spend 15 minutes and read on pain management techniques and breathing. You're not guaranteed and epidural.

Wanting an epidural is not the same as needing one for a medical procedure like an amputation or a c section. Yes the pain is excruciating but you aren't going into shock from it.

I took Bradeley classes and I still ended up needing an epidural for my induction; I can assure you that was a little more than 15 minutes' worth of preparation. What the heck is wrong with some of you? Just stupid easy births and shocking lack of empathy?

+1

I planned on an unmedicated birth but after I was on Pitocin, forget it -- and I labored for *hours* on Pitocin before finally caving and asking for the epidural. (The doc was giving other epidurals at the time, so I had to wait an hour during which I dilated from 2 cm to 6 cm; it was the worst hour of my life.)

Yes, I can see in hindsight that if the doc had refused an epidural for my health, dealing with the pain of childbirth is preferable to being dead or disabled from a bad epidural. But let's not pretend like women who ask for epidurals in labor are some sort of special snowflakes asking for something unreasonable. Childbirth is extremely painful, and epidurals are a common form of relief from that pain. A woman should only be denied for a serious, potentially deadly/disabling condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda shocked that women would go into labor without a backup plan if the epidural fails or they're in too quick of a labor to get one. Spend 15 minutes and read on pain management techniques and breathing. You're not guaranteed and epidural.

Wanting an epidural is not the same as needing one for a medical procedure like an amputation or a c section. Yes the pain is excruciating but you aren't going into shock from it.

I took Bradeley classes and I still ended up needing an epidural for my induction; I can assure you that was a little more than 15 minutes' worth of preparation. What the heck is wrong with some of you? Just stupid easy births and shocking lack of empathy?

+1

I planned on an unmedicated birth but after I was on Pitocin, forget it -- and I labored for *hours* on Pitocin before finally caving and asking for the epidural. (The doc was giving other epidurals at the time, so I had to wait an hour during which I dilated from 2 cm to 6 cm; it was the worst hour of my life.)

Yes, I can see in hindsight that if the doc had refused an epidural for my health, dealing with the pain of childbirth is preferable to being dead or disabled from a bad epidural. But let's not pretend like women who ask for epidurals in labor are some sort of special snowflakes asking for something unreasonable. Childbirth is extremely painful, and epidurals are a common form of relief from that pain. A woman should only be denied for a serious, potentially deadly/disabling condition.

I had a similar experience - pitocin induction without epidural until 6cm, wait for epidural being horrifically painful. Literally no one is saying that laboring women who get epidurals are special snowflakes asking for unreasonable things. The point was that given the circumstances that prevent an epidural from being administered, whether those circumstances are a medical condition that makes the epidural dangerous or the anesthesiologist not being able to arrive in time to administer it, it would be good preparation to at least consider how you will cope with potentially excruciating labor pain, rather than taking the attitude which I’ve heard from multiple friends and probably dozens of women in this broad that such preparation isn’t necessary because they will just get an epidural.

There are many medical advances that have greatly reduced the suffering associated with physical experiences like labor and delivery and medical experiences like surgery, but the reality is that things like epidurals ARE comfort measures, not medical necessity. People DID get limbs amputated without anesthetic historically. It was awful. I wouldn’t want to do it. But saying that it’s necessary is just ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda shocked that women would go into labor without a backup plan if the epidural fails or they're in too quick of a labor to get one. Spend 15 minutes and read on pain management techniques and breathing. You're not guaranteed and epidural.

Wanting an epidural is not the same as needing one for a medical procedure like an amputation or a c section. Yes the pain is excruciating but you aren't going into shock from it.

I took Bradeley classes and I still ended up needing an epidural for my induction; I can assure you that was a little more than 15 minutes' worth of preparation. What the heck is wrong with some of you? Just stupid easy births and shocking lack of empathy?

+1

I planned on an unmedicated birth but after I was on Pitocin, forget it -- and I labored for *hours* on Pitocin before finally caving and asking for the epidural. (The doc was giving other epidurals at the time, so I had to wait an hour during which I dilated from 2 cm to 6 cm; it was the worst hour of my life.)

Yes, I can see in hindsight that if the doc had refused an epidural for my health, dealing with the pain of childbirth is preferable to being dead or disabled from a bad epidural. But let's not pretend like women who ask for epidurals in labor are some sort of special snowflakes asking for something unreasonable. Childbirth is extremely painful, and epidurals are a common form of relief from that pain. A woman should only be denied for a serious, potentially deadly/disabling condition.

You can get limbs amputated without anesthesia as long as you go quickly before the body can go into shock. You cannot get a csection without anesthesia as the shock would kill you. Obviously women have birthed without epidurals for millennia. It's possible, but it might just be the worst day of your life. And in my mom's group I know plenty of women who did it without epidurals, half willingly and half unwillingly due to conditions outside their control. Second babies come very fast.

Additionally, there are other pain medications and local injections you can get if you can't get an epidural. Nitrous Oxide would be preferable but not all hospitals have it.

I had a similar experience - pitocin induction without epidural until 6cm, wait for epidural being horrifically painful. Literally no one is saying that laboring women who get epidurals are special snowflakes asking for unreasonable things. The point was that given the circumstances that prevent an epidural from being administered, whether those circumstances are a medical condition that makes the epidural dangerous or the anesthesiologist not being able to arrive in time to administer it, it would be good preparation to at least consider how you will cope with potentially excruciating labor pain, rather than taking the attitude which I’ve heard from multiple friends and probably dozens of women in this broad that such preparation isn’t necessary because they will just get an epidural.

There are many medical advances that have greatly reduced the suffering associated with physical experiences like labor and delivery and medical experiences like surgery, but the reality is that things like epidurals ARE comfort measures, not medical necessity. People DID get limbs amputated without anesthetic historically. It was awful. I wouldn’t want to do it. But saying that it’s necessary is just ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

You can get limbs amputated without anesthesia as long as you go quickly before the body can go into shock. You cannot get a csection without anesthesia as the shock would kill you. Obviously women have birthed without epidurals for millennia. It's possible, but it might just be the worst day of your life. And in my mom's group I know plenty of women who did it without epidurals, half willingly and half unwillingly due to conditions outside their control. Second babies come very fast.

Additionally, there are other pain medications and local injections you can get if you can't get an epidural. Nitrous Oxide would be preferable but not all hospitals have it.