Hello,
I thought I'd put in a word about the overuse of epidurals.  Last year a young
friend asked me to join her and her husband for their Lamaze classes and at
their baby's birth.  I was very pleased to be asked and  attended all of the
classes with them. We did miss the last class (the one on breastfeeding)
because the baby decided to put in an early appearance.  The teacher of this
class was a RN who was employed by the hospital and the class was taught in
that hospital.  The teacher was also a mom of 4.  She *really* pushed
epidurals.  She explained them, said she had her first birth without one - all
the rest with and would never do it any other way.  She explained what they
were and how they were administered and told everyone that there was no need to
have to feel any discomfort.  Just ask for an epidural.  If there was one mom
in that class who didn't ask for an epidural when she was admitted, I'd eat my
hat.  My friend had one when she reached 4 or 5 cm. and when it was time to
push she complained about some discomfort so they gave her more.  She could not
pull her legs up - her husband and I did it for her and her pushing, though it
looked like she was working hard, was ineffective.  The doc had to push that
baby out with a great deal of pressure on her abdomen.  The next day she was
sore all over :( .
I will be shutting down and going to NOMAIL until Monday night.  It is the
Jewish holiday of Shavuot which we will be spending with our family.  Til
Monday night - Bye :)
Yaffa


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        Yaffa Stark, MA, IBCLC    Los Angeles, Calif., USA
        "We must identify and reduce barriers which keep women
       from beginning or continuing to breastfeed their infants."
       C. Everett Koop, M.D., ScD. Former Surgeon General
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