Thanks for the moral support. After awhile you just feel like you are fighting a loosing battle. I have long ago given up the idea that most moms should expereince a drug- free labor because labor is a natural event that a women is made to do ...it's not what moms want (I am convinced this is a sign of our times...pop a pill for everything...but thats a whole 'nother issue) and it's not what the docs do (I would not accept any of that junk in my body but it's not my expereince!!) BUT i feel it is important for them to understand what may happen if they end up taking IV sedation, an epidural or magnesium sulfate for that matter. Some of this stuff is optional....some is given for medical reasons....but either way they may have a "gorky" baby and this is what you need to do to deal with this until baby wakes up. I ALWAYS add that their doc is the best person to speak to about the particulars of their situation as they know more about the mom than I do....and, as someone who replied to me said, this gives the doc a chance to say ... "yes i understand the side effects, but I want you to consider this because......" I WILL QUIT teaching if I am reduced to what they are asking of me which is to say "epidurals are perfectly safe with no side affects at all....don't worry...be happy!!!!" I am supposed to also say ...pitocin is never a problem, continuous bedrest in labor is not a big deal and ya know formula is just as good as breastmilk.....YA RIGHT!!!! I did not really finish the story I posted online about this mom in question....not only did she end up with a planned c/s .... but they did try an epidural prior to the c/s for anesthesia and guess what......they could not get it in....so this doc made a big old stink about nothing. Lori Peters RN/IBCLC *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html