Anyone had an anaesthetic review? what should I be asking?

[comeagainforbigfudge]

I have a slight fear of epidurals (some knowledge of them being inserted/not working effectively which is causing irrational fears)

So I have an anaesthetic r/v coming up and now it's near I seem to have lost my ability to think clearly about questions to ask.

Obviously this will be incredibly mute point if all goes swimmingly easy.

But what would you ask?

Any pain related thoughts welcome.

Note - I'm well aware when it comes to it, if its that bad I will be screaming for an epidural BUT at the moment I need to calm my silly mind by getting info-tastic on its ass

Thanks lovely mnetters

Hmm...I haven't had one myself but I may be due one (alongside zillions of other appointments!).

I'd want to know the general risks - what could go wrong? The specific risks - what is your hospital's record with them? And what they would recommend - they've seen it thousands of times with all kinds of women, I'm a first timer.

You could also ask what the contingency plan is if the epidural does indeed go wrong in some way. The impact on the birth and recovery. After-care. Then you can assess the risks and make an informed decision that's right for you.

Personally, having read the labour thread on here and not yet having discussed this with any HCPs, I'll take whatever pain relief I can get and just have to make do without a medal ;)

Thanks teeste
Sound points to raise

I'll give you a medal full stop.
Reckon we all deserve one, just because.

Do you know why you've been referred? The appointment is mainly about your risk factors that have triggered the referral but we take the opportunity to talk about pain relief options if you wish. If you want to know about the risks/benefits of the different methods of pain relief then this leaflet written by anaesthetists will help.
If you are considering an epidural, you might want to know if they offer mobile epidurals.

I have MS and had too many questions for my obstetrician so she just referred me for anaesthetic r/v

Plus as I've mention, see too many going in/failing

I think it's more for reassurance re my MS as I've found contradicting info on Internet that I just don't trust basically

Thank you for the link. I've strangely not come across that one might need to hone my searching skills!

I has an anaesthetic review because I have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, so might be resistant to local anaesthetic. We discussed my history and then what order anaesthetics would be attempted in.

So for a vaginal birth they'll try for a local then epidural, but if the local doesn't work they'll go for drip with a button that I can self administer rather than trying the epidural.

For a c-section if the epidural didn't work they'd try spinal and if that didn't work they'd put me under general.