Is this REASONABLE??

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I don't know, maybe its just me. But i think this is STUPID and its freaking me out.

I'm scheduled for a planned c/s in a few weeks. I went in today for prehospitalization. now mind you this is my 3rd child via c/s. So we went thru everything, and they asked if i had any special needs or requests. I told them no i don't really, just that i didn't want to be shaved or cathed or anything invasive below the waist UNTIL i received the intrathecal/epidural. The nurse told me she understood, but the anesthesiologists around here want EVERYTHING done to prep me PRIOR to anesthesia. So they want to cath me, and all that other crap BEFORE i'm numb. ummmmm this may seen silly and trivial to you, but the thought of having a foley freaks me out, i do NOT want to feel it. So i told her i would refuse to have it done any other way, and she encouraged me to do so.

i know its not rational to be worried about it, and i know its not PAINFUL, but not comfortable to have one inserted. But honestly, i'm having my third child via major abd surgery, AND having my tubes tied, leaving my 3 year old and 17 mth old with family for 3 days, so WHY would anyone want to stress out a birthing mother with petty crap like this?

My DH swore to me he'd make sure that my wishes were honored, but now i feel like a trouble maker. :o

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That is how we do it at my hospital also. Before you even go into the OR, you get a foley, IV and shave prep. It just makes things go smoother. As soon as you get into the OR the epidural is done and then the abdomen is prepped for the surgery. We never do foleys in the OR. I have worked L&D at two different hospitals and it has been done the same way at each one. I don't really know the reasoning behind it though. Maybe I'll ask. At my hospital most of our doctors are "rush" "rush" "rush" so they want everything done so they can get in and get out.

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We don't put foley in until pt. is anesthetized when it an elective c/s.We do do the shave pre-op, at the moment. However, we had one OB doc who now just does GYN who would shave pt's herself after spinal was in. No I don't think it's unreasonable, just a case of doc being too impatient to wait! I hope this issue is resolved to your satisfaction. Please complain to your OB doc about it. It can be worked out. Why do they ask if you have special requests if they don't want to work w/ you?

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snowymtnRN stick to your guns. remember it is your body and your baby. don't let some doctor decide on what is going to happen to you.

if you want to be numb before catherisation and shave than that is your right. neither of these things are essential to have done prior to an epidural and neither the baby or yourself will be put at risk by a delay in time between epidural siting and knife to skin time.

good luck and remember no one can force you to do anything you do not want.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I agree with you completely. In 11 years of OB/NICU, I attended plenty of non-emergency C-sections and can't remember ever seeing a patient have to undergo a foley and shave prep prior to an epidural. Most of our anesthesiologists inserted the epidural in the patient's room prior to the patient being prepped and transerred to the OR. It is a matter of respect for the patient's wishes and comfort. I've had foley's twice, and they ARE painful! Any doc who refuses to abide by these reasonable requests should be exclused from your case. Make sure your hubby is ready to be a strong advocate for you!

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Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

It is your choice!!! They need to remember, patient first!!!

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Before you even go into the OR, you get a foley, IV and shave prep. It just makes things go smoother. As soon as you get into the OR the epidural is done and then the abdomen is prepped for the surgery. We never do foleys in the OR.

Thanks for your input! NOT being argumentative, just wanted to comment! :p But WHO does it make things smoother for ya know? Not me. This is the problem i have with it. Like someone said, why do they ask if they already konw how they want to do it? lol DH swore to me he wouldn't let this happen, and he's a VERY persuasive person and patient advocate, especially when it comes to his family! lol I'm going to stick to my guns, but its freaking me OUT. I mean i know its not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but i just don't WANT to feel anything. The shave isn't that big of a deal, but i'm very ummmmm......HAIRY....... :rotfl: and it always takes forever, so why not make it a little easier for me too ya know? UGH i just feel like i'm going in as a troublemaker nurse. Oh well.

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I also had 3 c/s--first emergency (cathed before spinal) and the second two were elective. It was my choice, so of course I elected to have the spinal first. DUH! Who wouldn't?? It should be the patient's choice, if the Doc still refuses talk to a patient rep. It's your last one and scary enough to go through without stressing/worrying about the foley. Good luck to you-hopefully your Doc will understand this surgery is about you and not him.

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I also had 3 c/s--first emergency (cathed before spinal) and the second two were elective. It was my choice, so of course I elected to have the spinal first. DUH! Who wouldn't?? It should be the patient's choice, if the Doc still refuses talk to a patient rep. It's your last one and scary enough to go through without stressing/worrying about the foley. Good luck to you-hopefully your Doc will understand this surgery is about you and not him.

Thanks! I feel better knowing i'm not being totally unreasonable i guess. I'm glad DH is going to be there, and works at this hospital so the docs are familiar with him, so maybe that will help "sway" them from being buttheads. lol

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Only a buttheaded doc would make this a big issue. So what if that's not how it's normally done? It takes an extra minute tops.

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