{"id":2790,"date":"2018-08-03T09:33:26","date_gmt":"2018-08-03T13:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/?p=2790"},"modified":"2022-05-01T11:56:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-01T15:56:48","slug":"how-to-maximize-a-desired-epidural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/how-to-maximize-a-desired-epidural\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Maximize a Desired Epidural"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">How to Maximize the Desired Epidural<\/h1>\n<p>Some common recommendations for all laboring mothers include: say home as long as possible. Arriving in active labor or when your provider tells you to arrive.\u00a0 Use upright positions, shower, <a href=\"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/tens-unit-rentals\/\">TENS units<\/a>, and a balance of rest.\u00a0 A good rule of thumb is to rest for 20-30 minutes and use upright active positions for the next 30-40 minutes. Playing music, dancing, walking outside, going to the movies, cooking, and eating are excellent ways to help pass the time.\u00a0 But if the mom is managing well resting or is asleep, <b>do not wake her<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>For many women, these strategies combined with the support from a<a href=\"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/our-team\/\"> doula<\/a> are enough.\u00a0 But where you are in acute pain, scared of the pain, or just exhausted the epidural can be what gives you the energy to move forward.<\/p>\n<p>When the epidural is desired help mom stay focused on her labor, breathing through each contraction using the comfort techniques from above.\u00a0 It can take an hour to verify blood work, run the necessary IV fluids, and get anesthesia in the room.\u00a0 For many women, this is the most stressful part, as the contractions appear unbearable when faced with relief.<\/p>\n<p>Clean and organize the room, as anesthesia may need more space than you realized.\u00a0 Collect all your items and organize them in the corner next to the chair or couch.\u00a0 The partner should have something to eat or drink, in the event they are allowed to stay in the room.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2791 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Screen-Shot-2018-03-23-at-9.39.41-AM-300x170.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Screen-Shot-2018-03-23-at-9.39.41-AM-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Screen-Shot-2018-03-23-at-9.39.41-AM.png 345w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>During the epidural placement:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The most important thing is to listen to the nurse and the anesthesiologist. As they will be walking you both through the sterile procedure. Many hospitals do not allow the partner to stay in the room during the placement. If this is the case, this is excellent advice to grab a bite to eat and get some fresh air.\u00a0 However, if you are allowed to stay, expect to be sitting facing the mother, not touching her but offering her your silent support.<\/p>\n<p><b>Right after the placement:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The nurse will be in the room for the first 20-30 minutes.\u00a0 She will be charting, taking blood pressure, checking in with the mother, and preparing the next steps.<\/p>\n<p>The mother will be laid on her back with a wedge under one hip.\u00a0 The epidural is gravity fed and the laboring person needs to be flat to get equal coverage.\u00a0 Once she is numb, the nurse will place a Foley catheter to drain the mother\u2019s bladder as she can no longer get up to pee.<\/p>\n<p>She may need her partner&#8217;s bedside, holding her hand, or chatting with her. After the Foley is placed, encourage her to sleep.\u00a0 Lower the lights, cover her eyes if needed, and prepare to take a nap yourself.<\/p>\n<p><b>Resting with the epidural:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The nurse or doula may adjust their positions after the Foley is placed and the mom is comfortable.\u00a0 Many hospitals use peanut balls to assist when with epidurals.\u00a0 The peanut ball positions may seem awkward, but most women sleep well with the ball. If a ball is not available use a pillow between her knees and at her back for support. Your nurse or doula may come in to adjust her position as needed.\u00a0 She may also come in to adjust the monitors and prepare the room for delivery.<\/p>\n<p>If the mother is unable or not interested in resting she may need distractions to pass the time.\u00a0 Watching TV, massage, fluids, handholding, daydreaming, and all form of love are helpful.<\/p>\n<p><b>Pushing:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Most hospitals practice \u2018laboring down\u2019. This means giving the mother 30-60 minutes after she is found to be complete or 10 cm, to help her bring her baby down further into the pelvis.\u00a0 The nurse or doula may change the mother\u2019s position again to a gravity-bearing position.<\/p>\n<p>Pushing can take longer than expected with an epidural due to the lack of sensation.\u00a0 Some women may request the epidural to be reduced to facility pushing.\u00a0 A variety of positions can be used even with an epidural, such as side-lying positions, hands and knees, and even tug-of-war to assist with delivery.<\/p>\n<p>She will need sips of fluids between pushes and even chapstick.\u00a0 Fan her face, lay a cool wet washcloth on her forehead, and be supportive and positive.<\/p>\n<p>Once the baby arrives focus on the baby. Count fingers and toes.\u00a0 Note the hair and facial features.\u00a0 Offer mom sips of fluid and something to eat once the medical team clears her to eat.<\/p>\n<p>The epidural can take 2 hours to wear off.\u00a0 Getting up to pee can be challenging and it is important to follow staff guidelines until mom feels herself.<\/p>\n<p>If you are at all unsure, at any time, call your <a href=\"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/our-team\/\">doula<\/a> or nurse and ask for assistance.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Image credit: Almay<\/p>\n<span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Epiruals offer pain relief in birth.  They are effective with pain and exhaustion.  It can be what gives you the energy to move forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[58,175,23,176,177],"class_list":["post-2790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birth-you-desire-blog","tag-birth","tag-epidural","tag-labor","tag-pain","tag-pain-medications"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Maximize a Desired Epidural - Birth You Desire<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Epiruals offer pain relief in birth. 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