I could not resist adding .02 on this issue of mothers who get lots of
analgesics/anesthetics when giving birth.  This is based on my (very
recent) gallbladder surgery.

When I was wheeled into the pre-op area to have the iv hooked up, etc., I
met with my anesthesiologist of choice and immediately raised the issue of
what I would be given.  This included something to raise my pulse (resting,
it was 40) so I wouldn't croak on the table (I agreed to this!), but made
very clear I did not want something like Demerol.  He assured me he was not
going to use that.  Fine.  Next was what about pain relief post-op? I said
I really didn't want anything; I planned to go home right after I was able
to be released (this was out-patient surgery, after all, even if conducted
at the hospital), and I wanted to have my wits about me.  After this
conversation, Peter did his thing, I felt some warmth, the room began to
spin and that Fentanyl did its work; next thing I knew I was in post-op and
someone was calling my name.  I think I answered, but could not swear to
it, but I do distinctly recall hearing two people talking.  One said, "What
do you mean, she didn't want something? No morphine? She's postop!"  The
other person (a male; don't know if it was Peter or the operating room
nurse who hooked up the IV,etc) then says VERY FIRMLY, "She said she did
NOT WANT ANY."  I then faded into oblivion again, but obviously never got
anything, as was confirmed when Peter came into my room a few hours later
to see how I was doing, offer a script for Percoset and some advice about
other pain meds if I chose not to fill the Percoset script (which I did
not).

My point is, until mothers start insisting on the kind of care they really
want by way of AWAKE birthing (and they will not do this in an era where
practically everyone else tells them that medication is necessary; nay,
even preferred), we will continue to see medicated births.

Back int he dark ages when I had a baby, women were insisting on NO
medication and they did not die of pain.  They had babies who were pretty
alert and far less likely to exhibit the problems we see all too often now.

I know that gallbladder is not the same as having a baby.  But, believe me,
I'd much rather have had a baby than the lap chole!  I am now finding
myself waking up scratching the stitch areas that are obviously healing.
Even after experimenting with a variety of things that soothe the skin but
do not mess with the wound areas.... :-)

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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