An Epidural Disaster

[LMS]

A routine epidural turns deadly

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9818616/


Warning: Heartbreaking.

[Lynette]

How lame is that hospital?! I mean as soon as you get the tiniest fever they give you megadoses of antibiotics after birth because there are so many different ways to get an infection. Stuff like that is exactly why I got a doula who could rationally advocate for me and the baby and then we got the heck out of the cootie-filled hospital 12 hours after Alaina was born.

So sad :(

[LMS]

Luckily my mom was kind of my "coach" so she knew what to keep an eye out for. JR was no help what so ever. He didn't even know Epi's could go wrong till I read him that article last night. :duh

I can't BELIEVE that noone checked on her for over FIVE HOURS!!!
My nuses came and checked on me EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR the whole 24 hours after B was born before we left. I was irritated with it when they'd come in at 2am and check on us, but in hindsight I ruely appreciated their concern for both of our wellbeing.

[Lynette]

Oh Brian was no help either, at first he was a little offended that I wanted a doula like I thought he wouldn't be good enough but I wanted him to be into the birth and not have to stand guard or overeact to things because emotions were running high.

Did you have Brendan in TX? I had Alaina at Memorial and I know while I was in labor the nurse was in all the time but I think after she was born and they moved us they left us alone for the most part so we could sleep. I think in the 12 hours we got 5 visits including the lacation nurse which was fine but I do remember them taking my temperature a couple of times too.

[LMS]

I had Brendan in texas and everyone present said they NEVER had a birth experience like I had. I was induced so my nurse came in about every 30 minutes from 8:00 when they broke my water until 12:57 when I had him. Then when I had him like 5 other nurses came in to hang out (my room was *really* relaxed and we were cracking jokes the whole time. They all got the biggest kick out of me) even though they didn't really do much. After I had Brendan I don't remember anything until I was in my recovery suite and even then I just remember going to bed, waking up throughout the night as the nurse came in (i think part of her visits were checking on Brendan since he was rooming in with us) then in the morning she came in about every hour or so to see if we needed anything, but by that time my family was there so i didn't need anything. LOL, the nurses all liked me b/c there was a girl in the room next to me who was being a realy baby about everything and I wasn't. The morning after I had brendan I got up, showered, put on my own clothes and my makeup, did my hair and got ready for my Doctor. I wanted to look GOOD when he got there. He, the LC and the Pediatrician all said I didn't look just I just had a baby. I said "good, I don't wanna look like I just had a baby" so they sent me home. LOL!!!

[jellybeanmichelle]

Oh my! That is so sad! Makes me hug V even more.
I had her at Memorial, and they checked on me all the time. In part I had a C-section. Always taking my temp. I did get a spinal headache and had to go back a week after she was born for a blood patch. Because of all the drugs I was on, I didn't know I had one till I came home. What a nightmare. I don't really remember much of V's first week.

[Lindsay]

I didn't read the link (because it looked sad...) but I just wanted to add that there are a lot more risks to epidurals than people realize. I am no birth nazi (and I had epidurals with both of my births), but I think it's good for everyone to remain informed.

Here is a great link on the subject: http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/hidden-risks-epidurals.html

I'm so sorry the woman lost her baby :( That is awful.

[LMS]

Lindsay: In the thread i posted the woman didn't lose the baby. the baby was fine and mom died. They said the anesthesiologist wasn't wearing a mask (WTF?!) and was on his pager/cellphone with calls from other rooms while doing the epi. they said the needle was contaminated and basically streamlined meningitis straight into her spinal cord, which killed her.

[Lindsay]

Oh ok. That's just as bad :(

Epidurals can be a risk to both mother and baby, though in this case it seems more like hospital error than a fault of the epi itself. Still very sad.

[justamom]

I Had an assitant manager who worked under me before and during my pregnancy with my oldest (son). She was in her 60's and told me that she lost a child.

Back then the maternity ward was not seperate. After her water broke they had her walking up and down the hall with all those sick people around. Her baby was exposed to something and died before he was born. Because the water had broken the baby was vulnerable and then they had her walking up and down those germ ridden halls filled with sick people.

Not a story I wanted to hear being pregnant with my first, lol!