Elective Epidural?!?! ELECTIVE?????

(disclaimer- if you're male, you might not want to read this! I'm just saying!)

So, I'm kind of a newspaper junkie, and since I can't do a whole lot right now (due to a broken coccyx) I read a lot! This morning I'm reading the paper and I notice the headline "To save on Medicaid, cut elective childbirth procedures." My interest was piqued since I have worked closely with many many childbirths. So I'm reading the article and it's basically saying that because there are so many college students in Utah having babies who are on medicaid, we should cut elective childbirth procedures such as 'elective epidurals and elective c-sections.' I was dumbfounded! I had to read it again to make sure I read it right. I was sure it was a misprint until I read further. I was not at all surprised to see that all the people in support of this bill were men. I mean, I get cutting elective c-sections because they are twice as expensive as vaginal births, besides most ob's won't do 'elective' c-sections. (I know. I asked when I was pregnant with Jenni because, really, the idea of something that big going through a hole that small just never really appealed to me!) Some ob's consider a vbac elective (vaginal birth after c-section) but luckily for me, my most wonderful ob did not consider a second c-section 'elective' for me since I have a dysfunctional cervix.

Anyway, I was talking to Steve about this beyond stupid idea that epidurals should be considered 'elective.' It reminded me of my first (and only really) labor experience. Jenni was 10 days late. I was at my brother's house playing games when I noticed a little trickle 'down there'. But it was so small I didn't think anything of it because everyone I had talked to had said 'Oh if your water breaks, you'll know! It's like a huge gush!' My brilliant beyond brilliant sis-in-law (props to Janelle) told me that it really isn't always like that and maybe I should call labor and delivery just to see what they thought. I did so and was told to come in and be checked out. Turns out it was my water breaking, and they started me on pitocin. I told the nurse I wanted an epidural, but she told me I had to wait until I was dilated to a five before they would do an epidural. Me, not knowing any better, figured that was just the way it was. I started contracting at midnight, and by 8 am I was only dilated to a 2, and that was only because the nurse came in and stripped my membranes, basically making me dilate. (dumb old dysfunctional cervix) anyway, around this time I was bawling because it hurt so bad, and I was throwing up from the pain. This is what my wonderful ob walked in on. He asked me why I hadn't asked for an epidural, and I told him what the nurse had said. He got SO upset with that nurse, basically saying "how dare you try and push your own belief's on my patient. This is absurd!" Needless to say, about 5 mins later, the anesthesiologist came in and gave me an epidural. What an amazing blessing modern medicine is!!! Seriously!!! It was good that I did finally get an epidural since we ended up doing an emergency c-section (still wasn't dilated to a 5 btw.) If i had waited until I was dilated to a 5 Jenni probably would have suffocated. From what I have read, the idea that you should wait until you're dilated to a 5 is a really old practice, and my nurse was fairly old. Note to self: you are in control of your health care, and if you don't like what is happening, SAY SOMETHING!!! Almost every nurse I've ever had (and I've had a lot of them!) has been more than willing to work with me when something isn't going like I want it to. As much as I love my doctors, the nurses are really what make a health care experience good or bad. I've been blessed to have had (mostly) great nurses!

The idea that an epidural should be 'elective' is ludicrous. Seriously. So I say to you Sen. Dan Liljenquist R-Bountiful, you are OUT OF YOUR MIND!! Steve called me a while after we talked about it to say that Doug Wright was talking about this on his show, basically saying the same thing I am saying. He said something along the lines of "Husbands, don't even try and mention being able to save money by going naturally. You'll probably get kicked in the face."

Seriously. Elective Epidural??? ELECTIVE????? crazy.....

well, ALAS!!! this post is long enough. I've had my fill of venting. I'm going to go see if I can fix the backgrounds on my blog and my mom's blog.

k, thats all!

later cyber-sisters!

chelle