Earlier in the week, between planning our church's annual bible school, picking up spilled Cheerios, and wondering where my sanity went, I had the opportunity to view a video segment re: one person's uninformed opinion about epidurals. I am referring to actress-comedienne, Ali Wentworth's reaction to Victoria's Secret model, Miranda Kerr's decision not to have an epidural because she did not want her baby "drugged up." Ms. Wentworth responded that her babies were not drugged and how dare she! As a childbirth educator I cringe at public personalities further disseminating misinformation.
There is some debate on whether drugs used in epidural anesthesia crosses the placenta . This is largely due to the type of anesthesia administered. But many women are uniformed or misinformed by their health care professionals when making a decision about receiving an epidural. To flippantly say, "an epidural won't affect your baby," is WRONG.
Studies show that epidurals can have the following implications:
- Increased need to augment birth with Pitocin;
- Increased maternal risk of low blood pressure while using epidural;
- Decreased spontaneous birth;
- Increased risk your baby will be evaluated for infection and receive antibiotics;
- Increase risk your baby will be jaundiced.
- fetal malpresentation (meaning baby is not in a good position);
- breathing problems in the baby immediately after birth;
- babies scoring lower on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)
For some women, the risks of these complications are risks they can live with. And often the fear of losing control, and enter the unknown are too much to bear. Too often by failing to educate and inform we fail to empower birthing women. There is nothing more powerful to a woman who will give birth in their life, than the realization that she can learn to dance with the power of her contractions and discover the depth of her strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment