Epideral Proceedures

My husband was not asked to leave the room when I was given epidural. I sat at the side of the bed. He sat on a chair in front of me and I had my feet on his lap.
I have had some friends who the Dr's wanted the husbands out of the room so they wouldn't "freak" out. I have also had friends who have had their husbands asked to leave because of legal matters. I think it is up to the hospital and Dr.
Good Luck!

I believe a lot of it is up to the doctors discretion. If your doctor has had problems with people getting in the way a little too often in the past this might be why he chooses to not have your husband in the room. Talk to your doctor again and see why he chooses to be like this and respect his decision. My sister was in the room when I had my c-section.

Hi! I had my son just shy of a year ago so I don't think much has changed. My husband was present when I was given my epidural and I was actually holding him (hug position) while they were doing the epidural. We had are son at Edwards Hospital so unless it's a different hospital and times have changed in less than a year, I would say your husband is allowed to be in the room with you. Congrats on your second addition!!

I delivered at Northwestern/Prentice and they made my husband leave the room for the epidural. They told me that sometimes the husbands can get queasy when they're in the room witnessing the procedure and they want to be able to focus on the mother. But I think it's probably for legal reasons, too.

Hi N.,

I just had my third last this past December, and my husband was in the room for the epidural for all three of my kids. It is probably the hospital or doctor that is the reason he was sent out. I think you could probably ask that he stays, he is your support system, and they will probably understand. My husband held me all three times.

Hi N.~
With my first son my husband and mom were both asked to leave the room. They told me that they have a lot of issues with other people in the room passing out or getting woozy because of the needle. But, I just had my second baby 3 weeks ago, and this time they let my mom in the room with me since my husband was out on a food run. I guess it really depends on the hospital and how they feel about the situation. My 2 children were born at 2 different hospitals, so like I said, I think that is what made the difference for me.
Good luck with your second baby!!
J.

Hi N.,

I had 3 c-sections and my husband was there for all 3. He was allowed in the room when the doctors administered my epideral. Your husband shouldn't worry at all. Before they began they asked my husband was he comfortable watching this procedure or if he felt he would be too nervous and in turn make me nervous. As a result he wasn't and he was allowed to stay in the room. As long as your husband doesn't seem to nervous or anxious they will allow him to stay. Your husband should be fine and just remind him to stay calm.

You both will do just fine,
L. H

I had three c-sections with 3 epidurals and dad was there for all of them. It may just be a preference of the anesthesiologist.Good Luck!!

I'm not sure of the legalities of the procedure but I'm a mother of a 2yr old boy. I was induced and tryed my hardest not have an epidural. I couldn't take it so opted for it. My mother and my husband were with me during my delivery. During the epidural my husband left the room because he is absolutely petrified of needles. My mother on the other hand was with me, in fact I was sitting on the side of the bed with my legs hanging over the side. My mother was directly infront of me and I had my arms on her shoulders. I really don't think that it is against the rules to have your husband there. I delivered at Sherman Hospital in Elgin and it was fine. Look into it before your induced. But I'm sure he'll beable to stay with you! Good LUck with everything!!! Congratulations!!!

Hi
I found this web site that shows you everything that happens.
http://www.pattiramos.com/Epidural.html I talked to my doctor about everything before I was to go in the hospital. His advice was if my husband could stand it he could stay in the room as long as he was facing me. If he couldn't stand it or didn't want to try he could stand right outside the door. Its something the two of you have to decide together. Just like if he is going to cut the cord or leave that up to the doctor. Good luck S.

I dont know the legalities of it, but I do know that my husband was there present standing right next to the anesthesiologist (sp?) when I was given my epideral and that was at Good Sam...

I didn't read all requests, but just wanted to add that there were no implications that my boyfriend had to leave during the placement of the epidural.

He saw the needle and simply decided not to watch it being inserted.

I don't know what all hospitals do though.

They sent my husband out both times for sanitation reasons. It was just the dr. and nurse and me, they said while putting it in, it is safer and more sanitary for all other parties to be out of the room. I hope this helps.
M.
mother of 2 great girls
4th grade teacher

During my childbirthing class, we were told that other people were not allowed to be in the room during the epidural procedure due to legal issues. We were told of a story where a father to be was present during the epidural and, while watching it, fainted and fell to the floor, hitting his head on the way down resulting in his death. **Same story as the one Jennifer L. told in her post, and I did my childbirthing class at Rush.

My husband and my mother were both in the room when I got my epidural. It must vary from hospital to hospital so I would ask your doctor about the policy and procedure -- any make any special requests at that time. If anything, I'd INSIST that my husband be in the room since he is acting as my advocate (and as you said -- you're a little preoccupied at that time). If it is due to sanitation reasons, maybe preparation can be made ahead of time to make sure the environment (with your husband in it) is sterile. If they're worried about your husband passing out, see if he can sit in a chair while it's done (and he doesn't have to watch).

First off I live in Kenosha. When I went into labor with my first chil, I got an Epideral. The doctor did not send my husband out of the room. In fact he had me lean into my husband, so he could get to my spine better. I don't know if there is any legalties to it. They may just think he will faint at the sight of the big needle or something. Anyways, I had a healthy little girl & no side affects from the Epideral. My husband & I weren't even married at the time & they let him stay. Some hospitals might have a policy that doesn't allow your spouse to be in the room. Maybe the doctor doesn't want to get disturbed or end up with a second patient. Your best bet would be to ask your doctor about it. He/She would be able to answer it better than I can. I'm not a doctor, just a mother of 2 beatiful kids. I hope this helps a little.

I had spinal anesthesia for my c-section last May (scheduled, baby was breech) and they made my husband leave while they did that. I know it was a bit different since I was being prepped for surgery, but it was at Prentice and I believe they gave the reasons explained by another poster as to why I should be alone. My midwife was there for support, which was nice. Good luck with your birth!!

Hi N.,

Just thought you might like to know that I have had 4 epiderals and my husband was in the room for all of them. You need to let your doctor know that you would prefer to have your husband in the room no if, ands or buts. Ask them straight out is there a problem and if so why. It will not make a difference. My husband held my hands and I put my head on his chest and as long as you are still there is no problem. You have the right to have anyone with you. Good luck and congratulations..

T.

N.-

My husband was in the room all three deliveries of ours when they administered the epidural. I don't thnk it's a legal issue. I wonder if perhaps the aenethesiologist (sp?) asked your husband to leave because it was that dr.'s preferance.

Pat

I work at Prentice and the dads are asked to leave the room. It's a combination of things. One, occasionally dads faint when they see the size of those needles and what's being done. When that happens everyone has to shift their attention to dad while mom is in the middle of a sterile procedure. Two, sometimes things can go wrong in an epidural if it's not in the right spot. Most of these things are easily corrected with medication but some are more dramatic and it's better if adad is not there to see it. Also, there is the fact that immediately following the procedure mom will be getting a catheter in her bladder- most moms don't want dad to watch that anyway. I don't think legal issues really play into it too much, dad probably wouldn't be able to say if what he saw was right or wrong, YKWIM? Good luck with your birth.

I've had two epidurals (and I'm pregnant with our 3rd). For the first one, my husband and best friend were in the room. The room was pretty large, so they just sat in the waiting chairs. For the second one, my husband and 25 month old were in the room. To top it off, she was eating chicken nuggets while she watched! They were asked to go over to the other side of the bed...probably more for spacial reasons than anything. It was never suggested that anyone leave the room.

Good luck!

My husband was in the room when they did my epidural, he didn't watch what they did but he was there.

I had my baby at Rush and my husband was in the room during the epidural. What we were told in the childbirth class at Rush was that your husband is no longer able to be the person holding you while the epidural is inserted because they could pass out and it could cause problems for him and you (and thus the hospital). They suggested that my husband sit on a couch with me facing him while the nurse held me and the epidural was inserted. That way he didn't watch the needle being inserted and I could see him. Plus if he did pass out he was already half-way to the floor : )

My husband was asked to leave the room when I had epidurals for both my deliveries. The second time around, I asked why he had to leave. The nurse at Prentice (Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago) explained that some father in California passed out when he saw the needle going into his wife's back. According to her, he hit his head on a counter on the way down and died of the injury to his head. She claimed that was the whole precident that started the policy of making everyone leave during the procedure. Not sure how true that is, but that is what I was told. Personally, I think if my husband didn't pass out while witnessing the birth of our first child, he could probably handle being in the room for the epidural with our second! Oh well, when you're in pain and want the relief, you're in no position to argue, right?

I'm not sure about the legalities of it because for my first pregnancy, no one was allowed in the room while I received my epideral, but with my second, I requested that my husband stay in the room, and they allowed him to. I would try asking, if he wants to be there, and see what the doctors response is.

Hi N.,

I do not know what the legal aspects are of having the father leave the room. I do know when I had my first child they told my husband to get some breakfast or some coffee while they gave me the epideral. I didn't think anything of it because the nurses were great! One nurse was in front of me talking to me to keep me calm, I believe holding my shoulders to help me from moving. It is possible that They sent him out so I would not get distracted and move accidentally. It could be a thing where they need your complete attention. Just a thought. Maybe your doctor could give you a definite reason?

M.

There is, to my knowledge, no legal reason why he should leave the room, maybe it's just your delivery hospital's policy. My husband was w/ me both times -- the anesthesiologist who applied the epidural was behind me and he was in front of me holding my shoulders. If there are new laws re: his being around during the procedure, I don't know of any, and a girlfriend of mine just had a baby here in IL and had an epidural and her husband was w/ her during, so no, I do not think there is a law preventing your husband's presence in the room. You may want to ask your dr. though.

Hi N.. I am a labor doula and I have always been in the room with my clients if they chose to get the epidural and the dad was also. As a matter of fact, most of the time, the Dr/midwife and/or nurses and anestegiologist has the mom lean into the dad or me for help getting it in and for support and then they can help to keep you really still. During hard contractions that is so hard to do from what I can hear and I imagine it is. I hope this helps. Good luck with everything.
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

I think the reason they send the husbands out of the room is because they don't want them fainting because of the needle. You could probably tell the doctor that you want your husband to stay in the room. I don't think there is any law against having him there.
K.