[babyktchr]

Are you required to keep a patient in bed for a specific amount of time after delivery when a patient has an epidural? We have a new anesthesiologist who wants us to keep our patients in bed for 3 hours after delivery with an epidural. I can't even imagine. I want to do a lit search and see what I can come up with as far as standards go, but wanted to see what everyone else is doing.

Thanks!!!

[JenTheRN]

We have a new anesthetist who has them stay in bed for two hours after epidural is out. The CRNAs usually say when they have full sensation in their legs.

[strn96]

We let our pts up as soon as they get full sensation in their legs. Of course we make sure a staff member is with them their first time up.

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by strn96

We let our pts up as soon as they get full sensation in their legs. Of course we make sure a staff member is with them their first time up.

Yep, which is usually pretty quickly after delivery.

steph

[SmilingBluEyes]

Our patients are able to ambulate as soon as they are able to hold their weight. The rule is, they must call on staff to assist to the BR for first void. This time can vary. Some epi's wear off fast, others take a couple of hours. All depends. But most are able to ambulate and use the restroom within 2-3 hours' post delivery. Nobody is told they "must" stay in bed any set amount of time. We try to get them up as fast as possible and clean up their beds and teach peri care. Also showers are encouraged when they are hemodynamically stable. Usually this is within a few hours of birth.

[HappyNurse2005]

seriously, they want them in bed for 3 hours post delivery if they had an epidural?

we attempt to get them up at approx 1 hour post delivery, sometimes more based on patient, though, usually the attempt is made 1hr-90mins after. i personally stand them up on side of bed, with me having one arm under their arm, one leg between their legs, so if they fall i can sit them back down on the bed and not have them plop on the floor

(with my own 2nd baby, i had the nurse assist me to stand up for first time after delivery and went plop on the floor-thank goodness she helped lower me down...that could have hurt)

if they can't support themselves standing up, back to bed for awhile, or, if busy and we need the bed, they get put in the stretcher chair and taken upstairs.

[futureLPN2001]

I recently had an epidural and I couldn't get out of bed for two hours because I couldn't feel my legs.

[Elvish]

We let 'em up as soon as they can feel and support themselves on their legs. If that's 30 minutes or 4 hours. Usually it's not more than an hour or two. And the first time we always have them call for help.

[mitchsmom]

Same as the others... whenever mom has sensation, can support her weight and someone is available to assist her.

[tntblonde]

we get the up as soon as they have sensation and the ability to move there own legs generally pretty quickly after delivery within an hour or two.