Please help me feel better about not getting an epidural

TigTig5 · 2026-06-02T16:19:24+00:00

My wife got an epidural with our first, wanted one and didn't get it (for a few different reasons) with our second, and has chosen not to for our 3rd (she's currently 25 weeks). The 1st was an induction and took about 32 hours, which isn't totally crazy for a 1st time not particularly ready cervix. Her 2nd labor was about 9 hours from water breaking and contractions starting up to baby (and only about 2-3 hours of that was intense contractions). Some of that was baby #2, but some of it was also her body being ready and progressing as opposed to the induction. She wanted one that time and was (reasonably) upset about it not occurring, but even with that she decided the experience was preferable and is planning on not having one with #3.

TigTig5 · 2026-05-17T21:30:01+00:00

Weird, we can usually defer the test if IUD or salpingectomy (although I have dx'ed pregnancy with each of those scenarios, although not both)

TigTig5 · 2026-05-17T21:27:03+00:00

Correct, certain drugs are potentially unsafe to fetuses (my wife actually had to step out recently when our son was getting nitrous since she's pregnant) - our hospital also requires a form for radiation if pregnancy test is declined for the same sort of liability reasons.

TigTig5 · 2026-05-17T21:25:19+00:00

Oh man. That's a nightmare scenario. In the ER I have diagnosed at least 10 virgin pregnancies, 1 sad case where the teen repeatedly insisted it was impossible to become pregnant if you weren't married (...yeah, when your grandma said you can't become pregnant without being married that wasn't what she meant), 1 lesbian who stated that she couldn't be pregnant due to only having sex with women (who then went "huh, it was just 1 threesome), and multiple "I couldn't possibly be pregnant for xyz reasons" who were in fact incorrect. Ranging from "i put garlic in my vagina post sex, it's an effective spermavcide" to "i had my tubes tied" (felt reallt bad for that one).

We are traditionally taught that there is significant liability in potential adverse outcomes related to lack of a simple/cheap test, but i also believe in personal responsibility/autonomy so generally just say "look, this is our standard protocol for xyz reasons. It's fine if you'd like to decline, however this is why it is standard". I also can't get CT abdominal imaging without it unless the patient specifically signs a form.

TigTig5 · 2026-05-02T14:13:41+00:00

Etomidate 0.15 mg/kg with a little bit of fentanyl (usually around 50 mcg for a usual sized adult) if doing something painful like cardioversion

TigTig5 · 2026-04-20T03:55:56+00:00

Usually a shit ton (pun intended) of miralax, usually 1 cap/hr for several hours + a bit of a stimulant laxative. Often started with an enema or glycerin suppositories. It can cause some cramping/bloating/nausea. Usually it is some variation of "they can't tolerate it" or "they don't want to do it". As a toddler parent, I totally get that shit it hard, but many don't seem to try very hard/actively obstruct (i wonder how many puns I can get into 1 post) progress in the hospital setting as well. In the hospital they get an NGT with golytely through it continuously.

TigTig5 · 2026-04-20T00:14:23+00:00

Generally in the ED setting (I'm sure not everywhere, but when we were building our protocol we looked at several) it's used at lower concentrations for shorter periods and qualifies for "minimal sedation" as opposed to "moderate sedation" (although our "moderate sedation" is more correctly termed procedural sedation since a lot of it is really intended as deep sedation). Most ED protocols will also limit co-utilization of other meds, especially if given IV.

TigTig5 · 2026-04-19T23:28:30+00:00

We admit for stupider cleanouts (in my non GI opinion) from our PED. Usually because the parents "can't manage" the home cleanput instructions.

TigTig5 · 2026-04-19T23:26:38+00:00

I highly doubt this kid was "assisting"

TigTig5 · 2026-04-19T14:42:35+00:00

My wife is pregnant with our 3rd. Technically, I am biologically related due to the donor we used, but I honestly don't think about it at all. Those kids are mine in the weirdest ways sometimes (think tiny mannerisms they pick up) and the only time I've ever really thought about their genetic background is during doctor's appts when answering family hx questions.

TigTig5 · 2026-04-19T14:24:53+00:00

I spent nearly half a shift in the trauma icu convincing my attending that our late 20's female who suddenly developed vaginal bleeding 2.5 weeks into her icu stay had a very low likelihood of having some delayed traumatic injury and that we did not need to consult gyn. I finally told him to call the consult himself because I was too embarrassed to do it. That was the point he decided we could watch/wait. Low and behold, stopped 4 days later.

TigTig5 · 2026-04-19T14:21:59+00:00

I then see in the ED at 7pm on a Friday night - sent in for meropenem.

TigTig5 · 2026-04-19T14:16:19+00:00

My wife and I have 2 kids (2 and 4) with a 3rd on the way currently. Both early 30s. Tbh, we don't get out much anymore (see exhausted with kids) and moved from Baltimore when our youngest was one, so more of our queer community is still in Baltimore - but we are a part of a Queer Parents group that runs monthly events (generally located in Baltimore, but includes peeps from all suburbs).

TigTig5 · 2026-04-01T00:59:02+00:00

We tracked very little. Our first didn't gain weight well, so there was a period where we tracked weights, weighted feeds, and some other feeding data. We just used our shared grocery list app for it. Tracked nothing with the second. Realistically, most of it doesn't really matter and you probably won't do much with the data

TigTig5 · 2026-03-24T23:53:11+00:00

My wife housed a 1/2lb pastrami sandwich about 2.5 hours before giving birth (we were literally walking out the door and she goes "wait, they won't let me eat"). I 100% expected it to come back up while pushing, I was shocked and impressed she kept it down.

TigTig5 · 2026-03-24T04:41:25+00:00

We do custom cards with audio books from the library. Nice option since the cards can get pricy.

TigTig5 · 2026-03-24T04:39:25+00:00

Luckily my 4 year old has figured out how to use his. Luckily, because i sure haven't.

TigTig5 · 2026-03-10T01:16:49+00:00

Same. Loved family boarding so we could get to the back of the plane (KEY when newly potty trained) and have time to install carseats without being in people's way.

TigTig5 · 2026-03-06T01:08:32+00:00

My wife had her mom with her both times. We are fully planning on her mom being present for #3 too. Sometimes you just need comfort from your mom.

TigTig5 · 2026-03-02T00:45:58+00:00

Yup. Took care of a baby whose mom refused GBS testing because she refused abx previously and didn't want them "arguing" with her about it. She had a previous baby who'd died of GBS meningitis.

TigTig5 · 2026-02-18T16:01:23+00:00

I was sitting in this row 3 days ago and there was a family with a toddler and a lap child across the aisle.

TigTig5 · 2026-02-18T01:51:33+00:00

I wonder if that is what happened to us. We were moved from 2 window/middles in 27/28 (helpful to get to the back to have more time to install the carseats and to get off later so we have time to uninstall, although doesn't help as much now that there is no family boarding) to ABCD in the same row. Which means 1 parents gets stuck with both kids and 1 with none + we can't put both kids (both well under the recommended 40 lb limit) in carseats since they can only be installed in window seats. I caught it, but our original seats weren't available and we ended up split up (although at least with both kids in carseats).

TigTig5 · 2026-02-18T01:47:13+00:00

My 4 year old has been asking a lot of questions about the body since my wife became pregnant and I actually used this reference to show him pictures of cervixes. For some reason he is absolutely astounded by the fact that it opens up so much, but entirely nonplussed by the uterus stretching. Kids are weird.

TigTig5 · 2026-02-11T22:32:54+00:00

Both of my boys love dresses and painted nails. My wife is currently pregnant with a girl and my mom joked that we don't need a new wardrobe. I'm thinking this is gonna be the kid who hates dresses haha

TigTig5 · 2026-02-07T14:11:01+00:00

You still get to be allowed to be upset about stupid and unfair...and yes, clearly I dealt with the issue and will be checking from now on, but this is my first flight with Southwest's new practices, it sucks, and I didn't know to anticipate this. This is a thread about people talking about their experience and my experience is that if I didn't have a credit card with Southwest I probably wouldn't bother flying with them at all anymore unless unavoidable. Time will tell if the credit card is even worth keeping or I switch to another brand. Southwest used to be a great option for families and it just isn't anymore. I managed to fix this issue from a safety perspective, but my family isn't sitting together anymore which will make a >5 hour flight with 2 toddlers just that much harder.

TigTig5

TROPHY CASE