Choices in Childbirth: Volume 1--Epidural Anesthesia

I once had a pregnant friend who couldn't resist telling the world that the only way to really "experience" having a baby was through natural childbirth. Three tiny hours into active labor, after banishing her coach (hubby in tears) from the room, my friend the Earth Mother screamed at the nurse "give me drugs NOW damn it, move your ass sister, NOW...owwwwww *%#@#&!" Suffice it to say, pain management is a personal choice, and one should never predict another's threshold. This non-judgmental, well organized program helps guide viewers through the process of choosing (or not choosing) alternative pain medication during active labor and childbirth, outlining the benefits and risks, as well as explaining in detail how an epidural works, as we follow the step-by-step procedure as two couples share their experiences during the course of labor and birth. Touching on a wide range of topics, from insurance coverage and signing consent forms to medical risks for mother and baby, such as low blood pressure (which can reduce oxygen to the baby), and side effects, such as post-natal headaches and back pain, this short, yet very comprehensive account of the choices available to women (and partners) interested in using epidural anesthesia is highly recommended. A second volume in the Choices in Childbirth series, Induction and Augmentation, is also available at the same price. Aud: C, P. (N. Plympton)