From: rollo@Xylogics.COM (Dena Rollo)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Use of drugs during labor (and herpes question)
Date: 29 Jul 1992 08:23:24 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


I've been reading all the posts on the pros and
cons of various interventions during labor and,
while I don't really disagree with any of them (I
think it's important to be informed and have an
idea of what you want or don't want BUT I also 
think it's important to remain open to changing
those ideas if labor doesn't go as you'd anticipated)
none of them really speaks to my experience:

Up until we got the iffy amnio results, I was
all set to have as little intervention as possible,
even with a pretty discouraging family history of
difficult labors and emergency c-sections. I
chose my obstetrician partly because of her low
c-section rate (and I still think it's important
to do this, as I believe a low rate reflects a
pro-woman (for lack of a better term) attitude).

Once we got the amnio results, however, my feelings
changed *completely*. All I wanted was a healthy
baby, and I would have gone through *anything*
(delivery-wise) to get one. I decided that a c-section
would be safest for the baby, based on:

1) aforementioned family history
2) my small pelvis (according to OB's exam)
3) the fact that I have herpes

But basically, I just didn't want any more surprises.
I felt strongly that if the baby *was* healthy, and
something happened during labor to change that, that
I just wouldn't be able to cope.

My OB and I fought about this for the entire last half of
the pregnancy. She was not going to do a section unless
she felt it was medically indicated. She finally told me
just to lie and say I had active herpes if I felt that 
strongly about it, which I didn't want to do, because I
was superstitious about it.

Luckily :> I did get a herpes outbreak 10 days before my
due date, and had a c-section. Maybe it was because I was
so thrilled to have one (a section) but the recovery was
no big deal (except for that first time up!) - I was
showered, dressed, up and about by the 2nd day.

And when I looked over and saw my beautiful, healthy girl,
and see her now at six months laughing and playing, labor
and delivery seem pretty unimportant.

So I guess my 2 cents is (are?): pick an practitioner (OB, mid-
wife, whatever) that you like and trust; try to deliver somewhere
you feel comfortable; be informed; and then remember that the
*point* of all this is that baby you'll be meeting soon!

-Dena

PS - oh yeah, the herpes question. I haven't seen herpes
discussed here, which I find a bit odd as my OB said 40% of
her patients have herpes (and no, she doesn't specialize or
anything!) and it *is* a consideration in terms of delivery.
My understanding is that thinks have changed somewhat: they used
to be much more conservative about culturing for herpes and not
recommending vaginal delivery if there was any sign of active
infection. Now, my OB doesn't culture, and feels that there is
very little risk to the baby even with an outbreak, so long
as the mother had her initial outbreak prior to pregnancy, and
not during.  I'd be interested in hearing what others have heard
about this, just in case I lose my mind and decide to have
a second child!

Newsgroups: misc.kids