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Nasty childbirth story ... not my own.
I have not reproduced.
So, this friend of mine, who is an EMT and paramedic is giving birth.
She had already had two vaginal births, and expected a third.
No such luck.
The umbilical cord was wrapped around her daughter's neck, the doc wasn't able to get it unlooped, and the pressure of every contraction on the cord was causing drastic drops in fetal heart rate. The baby was way in distress.
The anesthesiologist was brought in, and my friend was given an epidural.
All the while she is watching the fetal monitor, knowing exactly what each skip and blip on the thing means.
The anesthesiologist relies on the patient's report that the epidural has taken effect.
My friend watched the fetal monitor closely. The signs were getting worse.
The OB kept asking "can I cut? can I cut?"
My friend said "Yes, cut."
The only person, other than my friend, who knew that she was NOT anthesthetized was the gas-passer ... and he didn't know it until he saw the monitors go crazy.
As soon as the baby was out and declared healthy, he knocked her out with an IV sedative, though.
Yeah, women can take a lot more pain, if they have to.
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