pain

How the Dentist and Epidural are Connected

How the Dentist and Epidural are Connected
Have you ever gone to the dentist to have a procedure done, only to find out you can't get numb?  What about the numbing wears off before they get done?  Ever woke up from surgery while they were still operating? Have you ever hard a hard time controlling pain with medication?  You might be one of the lucky ones, or should I say unlucky.

There are a handful of people that metabolize pain medication quicker than the average person.  If any of the questions that were mentioned above have happened to you, then you are one of these people.  Once the dentist or doctor knows this about you, they can affectively treat you.  Unfortunately, this is a trial process.  You get treated like the average person until they find out otherwise.  So I am sure you are asking what does this have to do with getting an epidural.  Much!

Just like at the dentist, you will metabolize the medication used to keep you comfortable during labor.  This same thing will happen with an epidural, spinal or under general anesthesia.  Knowing this ahead of time will save you time and pain during labor.  With an epidural, you should be comfortable within 10-20 minutes.  If your provider does not know you metabolize medication quickly then you will continue to have break thru pain and they will have to adjust your epidural level.  It is frustrating when you want relief and your not getting it.  You would not want to have a caesarean and start feeling surgery before they were done or wake up during the surgery if they put you under general anesthesia.   Let the anesthesia provider know that you have a hard time getting numb at the dentist and they can adjust accordingly with the amount and type of medication they give you from the beginning.  Be sure to let your nurse know as well so she can remind anesthesia if you are not able to speak or think clearly during this time. 

If you don't have this problem at the dentist, please don't tell them you do.  (I know some of you were thinking this because you are scared and want to feel nothing😉)  If they dose you as if you do, then you will be too numb and not be able to push properly which can lead to other problems.     

Getting the epidural allows your body to relax and make the changes necessary to birth your baby (you can still do this without an epidural😉), maybe even get some sleep before the big performance.  Epidurals are not for everyone.  If you are not handling pain well then the labor process will slow and make for a frustrating time for you as you are still feeling the contractions painfully.  In this case, get the epidural!  If you can focus enough and relax during labor then you should do it without the epidural.  This is not to say that you will not feel anything with the epidural, cause believe me, pressure is REAL!  As your baby makes it's way into the birth canal you will feel rectal pressure and the urge to push.  This is a good thing!  It's time to meet your baby!

If you liked this post, then you will love my post about all things epidurals! Click Here!

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Meet Rebekah Clay

 
Knowledge is Power!

All my life I have wanted to be a mom, as most little girls do.  I dreamed of that perfect day when they placed him or her on my chest and I instantly fell in love.  As the day got closer to delivery of my first, I started getting NERVOUS, FEARFUL of what might happen, SCARED that I did not know all the answers, my sense of control was disappearing.  Everything I knew was from family and friends who gave their birth stories.  I was so excited to meet my baby but scared all at the same time.  I was just supposed to go in a trust the nurse and doctor that I did not even know with my life and the life of my child???   Um no!  This was not me, but I did not know what else to do.

I had nurses and doctors disagreeing on my care and I didn’t know enough to say how I felt, or what was right for me.  I felt helpless. I felt alone.  I started doubting if I could even be a good mother because I knew nothing about bringing a baby into this world, breastfeeding or calming a baby (Geesh I could not even calm myself down).   After 3 days in the hospital I finally met my son. It was the most amazing, breathtaking moment.  

After my first child, I knew I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse and help calm the nerves and provide education to mothers preparing for delivery.  So that is what I have done for the last 12 years! I give women the resources to be able to calm their fears, be more knowledgeable about the labor and delivery process, and be able to make informed decisions instead of just following along with whatever the hospital tells them. I empower women to trust themselves and their bodies.  

Did you know that you could tell the doctor “NO”?  What about telling the nurse what you want for your delivery and making it happen, instead of just going along with what they want?  Your labor nurse might be in her first day of labor or her 1,000th you never know.  Take charge of your birth and family now!

How many times have you said, “If only I knew somebody that really understood what goes on during labor & delivery and the truth about how to deliver safely.”?  Have you every thought “I wish I had someone in my life to tell me what to do next in labor.”?  You NOW know someone…ME!!!! 

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