If you had a c-section was your husband or partner there when you got your spinal? I always thought it was standard for them to let your partner be there but they asked my husband to wait in my room and they took me by myself and then only let my husband in after I was all prepped and the drapes were up.
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I'm still pregnant but one of my best friends delivered on Friday. Apparently when she got her epidural the anesthesiologist was really concerned that a nurse kept an eye on her husband. Apparently a lot of daddies faint if they watch it happen.
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I had a spinal for my forceps delivery and DH was there for it.
ETA: This was at a UK hospital, not a US one.
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I didn't have a c-section, but they made my husband leave the room for the placement of my epidural. I've always heard that's standard. I'm not sure if it's because they're trying to maintain more of a sterile field, or if they're worried about husbands freaking out over those big needles.
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it is standard for the husband to leave. mr. bee left both times!
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@kiddosc: How big are the needles? I already am scared of needles so I tried not to look at anything.
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@Mrsbells: I saw mine. They're pretty damn huge.
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@zippylef: ouch. thank goodness that I didnt see the needles. That would have freaked me out even more and I was already very scared.
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He waited outside of my room!
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@Mrsbells: At that point, I was begging for them to stick me... so yeah, didn't even faze me. They are several inches long though and pretty scary looking.
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@Mrsbells: The needle they use to numb the area is significantly smaller, but the epidural needle is scary big. Good thing they're sticking it in your back and you can't see it!
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DH left the room for my epidural.
I didn't even feel it being administered. -
@kiddosc: wow!
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The first time he did and the second he did not. It was at different hospitals so it depends on the individual hospital regulations. To be honest even when he was there it didn't make much difference. He just stood behind me while they did it. The nurse was the one in front of me helping me into position
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Dh had to stay outside and wait too. I am absolutely terrified of needles too but my biggest downfall is my ticklish back! It took them 4 or 5 tries to get it in because as soon as it went in I would jerk and he would have to start over. I ended up with a fist sized bruise on my back.
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They aren't allowed at my hospital and they mentioned that it was standard at most hospitals for dad to wait outside. The story we were given was that years ago a dad passed out during an epidural and died from a head injury.
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@cyndistar3: Yeah I kind of jerked the first time too. I didnt mean to, they kept telling me to hunch over but when I felt the needle I just arched my back as a reflex and they were like"woah woah" and so one of the guys had to hold my shoulders down and force me to stay hunched over.
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My husband watched my epidural placement both times. From what I've heard from other moms in my town, my hospital also allows partners to be in the room during the spinal placement.
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they took me alone to the OR and did all the prep (spinal shot, put up curtains, basically got everything all ready), and then called my husband into the room.
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He waited outside for me.
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DH was there when I got the epidural. He was the one who supported me and helped me stay still/calm!
I always thought husbands were allowed to stay for them if you were still in a delivery room. I'm so surprised at how many husbands had to leave!
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DH wasn't in the room when I was prepped for my c-section (including the spinal). I don't think there would be any reason for him to be in there until the main event starts!
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I watched my sister get a spinal tap and nearly fainted. If the epidural needle is anything like that, then no wonder they have hubbies leave the room.
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DH had to leave. He was outside the OR in his surgeon getup (I loved that) and came back in when I was prepped and the curtain was up. My OB was the one that helped me through the spinal
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I'm worried about this. I told my midwives that I will absolutely have my husband in the room with me and I will fight whoever argues with me. He is my rock. He doesn't have to watch (nor should he!) - I need his face/voice/hands there to reassure me as I am terrified of the epidural needle and have seen it administered before!
He doesn't care if he has to sit on the floor to get them to agree - he knows that I need him there!
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P.S. I'm not usually a stubborn ass about things but this is something I am totally adamant about!
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Nope. Standard for hubby to only come in when they are all prepped up for surgery. It would have been nice but I don't think he would have liked to see how big the needle was. LOL! I dont' even know how big it was!
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@Shimmer: during a c-section, they may not let him. If its an in-room vaginal birth, theyll likely be more lenient. In the OR where I had my section, my doctor (holding me for support) was standing in the "blue zone" (sterile area) of the OR, and so nobody that hadnt scrubbed in was allowed there. Thats why DH wasnt allowed in for mine, not because of the worry of fainting. From what I understand, thats how and why most hopsitals have that policy for the spinal.
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@LivsMama: I understand the need for the sterile field for the c-section. My stubborn-ness will come out for an in-room epidural placement for a vaginal delivery. I'm delivering in the OR regardless, but I get to labor in the regular room. I'm hoping my doula can be with me during the epidural placement if in fact I need a c-section! Thanks for point that out, though!
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@kiddosc: Holy moly! Glad I didn't see that!!
It's hospital policy (or state law) to not allow the SO in while the epidural is going in so DH didn't get to see it.
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@Shimmer: I thought I would need DH in there because he is my rock, too. But surprisingly, I was so distracted with the intense pain of the contractions and trying to hold still, that I didn't know if anyone was there or not.
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@BabyBoecksMom: That's interesting and good to know. Who knows what will actually happen! I think the anticipation is the worst part of this whole thing!
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I didn't have a spinal but for my epidural if DH had been in the room they would have made him leave. Because you need to hold really still the hospital I delivered at makes everyone leave who isn't medically necessary because they don't want someone to pass out and cause you to jump/be distracted. In addition to the person administering my epidural they had an assistant along with someone who helped coach me through contractions while it was being placed (my LD nurse came in at the tail end because she had been at lunch when I requested it).
The hospital I use won't let DH or anyone else into the operating room for c-sections until I am completely prepped and they are ready to start in order to avoid potential contamination.
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Wagon Sr. was present for my first delivery's 3 epidurals. They just had him sit in front of me (he wanted to stand but they made him sit, in case he fainted) and he didn't see anything. He was also present for my second delivery's epidural-turned-spinal. He was not allowed to be in the room when they did the epidurals for my blood patch.
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