At age 42, I just gave birth to beautiful baby #3 on May 15 by cesarean
delivery. (#1, Nat, turned 5 on May 2nd and #2, Abby, turned 3 on April
28th.) Her name is Nora and she is a dream. Breastfeeding is going very
well, she has an incredible mellow personality and she is a great
snugglebug!
I am posting to thank everyone for all that I have learned from Lactnet
posts since I began subscribing in November, 1999. The wealth of
information here was invaluable in terms of helping me to write a
comprehensive birth plan. I've had 2 previous c-sections, so I had some
idea what to expect, but the information posted here helped to empower me by
reminding me that I could still direct my medical care.
For example, I wrote out all of my requests, made multiple copies and sent a
copy in with my preadmission paperwork to the hospital, gave a copy to my
pediatrician and discussed it with her in detail (she signed off on all of
my requests) and also my OB (she also agreed to my requests and was a
powerful advocate for me). My requests were simple, but not routine for the
hospital where I delivered e.g., NO separation of mother and baby, no
"routine" testing for hypoglycemia (this was very useful since my baby was 8
1/2 lbs at 38 weeks, just meeting the criteria to be tested!), no bath until
breastfeeding was established (this met with more than a little resistance
as Nora was covered with thick vernix, but I persevered!), no lab tests
without my permission, etc. All of my requests were honored.
And yet, a circumstance arose which managed to interfere with our early
attempts at breastfeeding. I am writing this in the hope that this can be
avoided by someone else. At the point just prior to being stitched up, when
my uterus was being "put back," I became very nauseous. The
anesthesiologist gave me some IV Droperidol, without taking any time to see
if the nausea would pass, or to explain side effects of this drug. Well, it
cured the nausea, but it also nearly knocked me out!
All of my birth-planning had been focused on avoiding interventions directed
toward Nora but I had failed to consider the effect of drugs (other than
those normally associated with anesthesia) on ME. The tranquilizing effect
of this drug lasted for 4 hours, but we did have a few, brief attempts at
breastfeeding during that time. I was led to believe (by nursibg staff)
that I was experiencing a "side effect" of Droperidol. When I got home and
looked this up in my copy of Hale's, I of course discovered that the primary
use of this drug is as a (powerful)tranquilizer, though it is also an
antiemetic. Thankfully, with the help of my husband and two wonderful
doulas, I was not separated from Nora during my "tranquil time" and
breastfeeding went well once I was alert.
I was simply amazed that this particular drug was chosen. On the bright
side, my OB prescribed IV Metoclopramide as the post-surgical GI stimulant!
Thankfully, all is well now and I know of at least two doulas who will
caution moms to ask about possible antiemetics used by their
anesthesiologist!
Again, thanks for all I have learned from you all so far and all I will
learn in the future as I continue to read your posts!
Sara Dodder Furr, MA, LLLL
Lincoln, Nebraska
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