https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 08:15:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553620 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 11:29:11 +0000 Madison43 1553620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littleveesmommy: I would think so. When we realized I would need a c section, we set up the epidural. It was only when it became apparent that she didn't have any more time to spare that the topic of knocking me out came up. I remember the anesthesiologist explaining the consent forms to me early on and specifically saying that that the chance of needing general anesthesia was extremely small. Obviously we didn't know what was about to happen,...but general anesthesia first is clearly not their policy. </p> <p>The timing thing is tricky - yes, it only takes 10 mins or so for the epi to kick in, but that's once it is placed, In the event you need one, you still have to get the anesthesiologist to your room, deal with all the consent forms and then have it inserted. I don't know, I'm biased because of my particular situation, but I'd rather have an epi cathedral taped to back and not need it, than to miss another delivery </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553406 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:49:20 +0000 mrsrain 1553406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't respond to the specifics of your hospital, but I would lean towards not getting the epi. If there is a true emergency they can knock you out. Not having the epi line already in will ensure that a c-section only occurs in a true emergency. If something happens and they are "concerned", they can administer the epi at that point-- there should be time, just like with what happened at your first birth.</p> <p>Statistically, it is very unlikely that you will need an emergency c-section, especially if you are not induced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553401 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:47:47 +0000 Mae 1553401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your plan of clarifying sounds good. My main question would be though-- if they put the catheter in "just in case" will that restrict your movement/laboring at all? Can you still be up and around or will it require you to spend more time in bed? If it wasn't going to hinder my laboring the way I want to, I would probably okay it because it makes sense to me to have it there and ready to go if the doctor wants it. If it would mean I'd be stuck in bed/restricted more I'd push harder to not have it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553377 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:43:09 +0000 littleveesmommy 1553377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: I definitely agree in an emergency situation, I would be OK with being knocked out. But my OB just made it sound like if I end up needing a c-section and I don't have an epi catheter in place, then they would just knock me out. In my daughter's case, it was not an emergency and they had time to let me fill out paperwork and such - it was a good 30 minutes from when we decided to when they put the spinal in. I think I just need to ask more questions and clarify that if it is NOT an emergency but just that we decide on a c-section because no progress is made (and everyone is safe), then I can still get an epi/spinal and that in a non-emergency situation a knock-out is not automatic. Sorry if I rambled in my OP but I was so confused by the appt yesterday and ended up spewing it all out. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553362 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:38:17 +0000 littleveesmommy 1553362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Madison43: Thank you so much for responding and I, too, am glad for the medical team at NYU - especially for your delivery with your daughter! It's reassuring to hear. I also would hate to miss on the birth of my daughter. I will have to clarify with my OB but I hope she means that if they had to do an emergency c-section (like in the 1% case of a uterine rupture or other imminent danger situation) then they'd have to knock me out if I wasn't already med accessible via an epi catheter. But in that case, if waiting the 10 minutes for the epi to kick in is too long then having the catheter in already really doesn't make a difference? I'm so confused and want to make an informed decision. I think I was so shocked when she told me that I didn't think to ask more questions, but at my next appt I will have to ask more questions to clarify. For example, in the case of my daughter's c-section it wasn't an emergency and she wasn't in any danger - just stuck - so they decided to do a c-section. I would think in that situation they would let me get an epi for the procedure and not knock me out automatically.... right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553326 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:30:34 +0000 Dandelion 1553326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It makes sense to me. I think it's common when a c section is a definite possibility. That being said, a spinal block works within a few minutes from them inserting the needle. But...that's if you have the few minutes to spare with an emergency c section. Your baby's well being is important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1553315 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 10:26:49 +0000 Madison43 1553315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do it...but only because I had an emergency c-section for LO's birth and had to be put under because everything went bad so fast. I still feel really sad about the fact that my husband and I missed her birth and would want to try and void that at all costs. </p> <p>Also, I gave birth at NYU and had a baby in the NICU there for a week. It's a wonderful hospital and quite frankly, my daughter is alive because of the medical team that delivered her. I wouldn't worry at all about birthing there. As for the epi, your OB is wrong and I would be concerned that she said that. I received an epidural but my daughter was so distressed we literally couldn't wait 10 minutes for the meds to kick in. Also, it was my OB that made the call (with my consent) to knock me out. Isn't your OB or a colleague covering for her planning on being at the birth and participating in your care.? I'd look for clarification on that issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-asked-by-ob-to-get-epidural-catheter-as-a-just-in-case#post-1552820 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:09:11 +0000 littleveesmommy 1552820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Backstory: When I was pregnant with DD, I switched to a midwife practice and chose a birthing center with a tub (St Lukes Roosevelt in Manhattan) to try my best for a med-free natural birth. Long story short, after 16 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing DD was deemed as "arrested decent" due to her posterior position combined with brows-out orientation - she was literally wedged. We ended up getting a c-section and I had to sit still while contractions were on top of one another to get the spinal before the procedure.</p> <p>I am due with #2 at the end of June and this time around, I wasn't eligible for the birthing center since I had a prior c-section so I went to an OB practice affiliated with a separate hospital (NYU Langone). We've been having some talks about birth plans at the last few visits and my OB practice states they are pro-VBAC, which is what I wanted to try for. However, they've been pushing me to get an epidural catheter inserted even though I want a med-free birth because "if I end up needing an emergency c-section, then they can just pump the meds in to do it but if I don't get the epi catheter put it, they will put me under for the c-section". I feel like this is a scare tactic to make me get the epi catheter. Why would I want a giant a$$ needle stuck in my spine as a just-in-case?!?! OB explained there is a 1% chance of uterine rupture because of my prior c-section scar and if that 1% scenario happened, then they would have to put me under to get her out if I didn't have the epidural catheter. But I'm thinking that for the 99% remaining chance of NOT having that happen, I don't want the catheter put in. If I did (*knock on wood but I hope it doesn't happen) have a uterine rupture, then I can accept needing to be put under. But what are the other chances of needing that emergency c-section? Also, my OB says NYU Langone does not do epi/spinals on emergency c-sections and they just knock you out. Is this true? Does anyone else who delivered here know if this is true? That they just automatically knock you out because you didn't opt for the just-in-case catheter? That just seems wrong to me...... :crying: </p> <p>Sorry for the novella... just really confused now and partly wish I stuck with the midwife practice even though I'd be on the L&amp;D floor at St Lukes. :meh: </p>