A hospital practice around here (& I've heard elsewhere) that encourages
the use of epidurals etc. is a requirement that you must have an IV and
you must be constantly monitored so you can't get out of bed.  So even if
your intent was to go w/o drugs these practices lead to epidurals.  Most
moms don't know to refuse, (although my hairdresser would go in & tell
the nurses they could get a "test" strip and that was it...she was going
to walk around!)

There's no way I could have gone epidural-free if I hadn't been able to
freely move around, (I was with CNM at a freestanding birth center).

Melissa Kirsch, JD, LLLL

             ***********************************************
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