Jan
I would have thought that this statement was completely inappropriate as a "fact sheet" about epidurals, as it has no discussion of what an epidural is, how it works or its benefits when indicated to counterbalance the risks mentioned. Clearly using this statement as a "fact sheet" takes the presented information totally out of context. It would appear that this statement is an argument from the college of anaesthetists to the health funders (HFA) about the need for an obstetrician to be involved in the care of a NZ woman who has a midwife as her sole carer and requests epidural. I would have thought this a reasonable position, and that once an epidural is used, a labour is no longer "normal" and would be outside the scope of midwife-only care.
David
Dear David
Please do not be concerned about what I share with my clients .. I intend to include the anaesthetists’ statement in my book of ‘fact sheets’ that I keep for clients (alongside my original ‘fact sheet’ on epidurals) for the following reasons.....
I spend much time with my clients discussing the reasons why they may need to access medical care during their pregnancy, labour and afterwards during preparation sessions leading to them making their individual birth plans.
Homebirth clients needing to transfer to hospital during labour cope much better with their situation when they have as much of the available knowledge at their disposal to help them negotiate with the attending obstetrician.
Apart from having a greater understanding of the unexpected outcome and the need for medical management, they are less likely to feel excluded from the decision-making processes and are more accepting of any necessary medical management when they are informed beforehand.
Have a wonderful Christmas and above all, have a restful one. If you do get called out I hope it is for the first Christmas baby and all the joy that baby will bring to it’s family.
Jan Robinson
