The second labor pain workshop

Tuesday night we went back to Alta Bates for the second labor pain workshop. This one focused on medications and was the main reason we wanted to do these classes. We were looking for any reason to *not* go for a natural childbirth.

The class was taught by an obstetric anaesthesiologist who works at Alta Bates. We knew up front that he would be "pro" medication, since that's his job, and of course he's going to feel it is safe. Our concerns were mainly around the phenomenon of "epidural fever", the ability to deliver in non-lying-down positions, and the risks associated with narcotic pain meds.

Although we got plenty of chance to ask questions, we walked away feeling as though the risks had been glossed over. He portrayed epidural fever as "a slight elevation in body temperature" which is contrary to what K had heard from an acquaintance, whose temperature had gone so high that the baby had literally had to be vacuumed out with a special tool.

We did have one question answered though, which is "is there enough compelling evidence to dissuade us from pursuing natural childbirth" and the answer was an unequivocal "NO".