WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for February, 1998: Re: epidurals ... and NY C-section rates

Re: epidurals ... and NY C-section rates

From: Amy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 28 Feb 1998 11:48:45 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: Geffrey H. Klein, MD: "Re: epidurals ... and NY C-section rates"
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Reply: Geffrey H. Klein, MD: "Re: epidurals ... and NY C-section rates"

At Sat, 28 Feb 1998, Geffrey H. Klein, MD wrote:

>
>I would agree with a hospital's 92% epidural rate. What that means to me is
>that 92% of the women who labored and delivered at this hospital requested
>a service and received it. It was a patient decision to have an accepted
>and useful medical procedure. Just because one person believes that labor
>pain is tolerable without anesthesia does not mean that everyone agrees.
>It is a personal choice based on cultural beliefs, education from
>colleagues, personal experience, and informed consent.

Dr. Klein,

Thank you for your straightforward answer! I agree with you, that it is based on cultural beliefs, education, and experience. I wonder, then, if the problem (if you believe that a 92% rate is a problem... and I think it is) is with women, and what kinds of backgrounds they are coming from. I think that the majority of women today are coming from a background that teaches them that birth is a painful, fearful event. I know this was the case for me, and I also had an epidural. But I also think that this was the start of the cascade of interventions that led me to a cesarean. Perhaps if I had been raised to believe that birth was normal and not to be feared, I might have gone into my situation without fear, and not have had an epidural...

I believe that education is the key. I hope that I can help women along that path, to self confidence, and self discovery, so that their choices may truly be thiers. I hope other caregivers feel the same, and are willing to take the time with their patients to help them find out what is right for them.

Thanks again for your reply.

--
Amy
Birth Works student

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