I love this post! I'm a midwife so I work closely with our amazing anaesthetists (aka gods!!) Whether it's siting an epidural or dealing with an emergency cesarean under GA, you guys are awesome!
I was young and naive (maybe 12), I loved babies and was fascinated by pregnancy and I came across an article in a kid's magazine about midwifery... and the rest, as they say, is history! It's been nearly 25 years, no regrets!
Yup, I can imagine. Siting an epidural on a woman who can barely sit still must be all kinds of terrifying! And where most anesthesiologists have their work cut out looking after sleeping patients, the L&D ones ALSO have to talk to their (usually, we hope) awake ones!
Yes — exactly this! L&D anesthesia is such a unique mix of technical skill, urgency, physiology, and communication.
You may be placing an epidural while someone is contracting, anxious, exhausted, nauseated, moving, or in pain — and at the same time you’re thinking about mom, baby, blood pressure, bleeding risk, airway risk, the possibility of an urgent C-section, and how to explain everything clearly in real time.
It is definitely not boring. 😂
And it’s also why the relationship between anesthesia, midwifery, OB, and L&D nursing matters so much. When that team works well together, it makes an enormous difference.
I’m a CRNA with a 25 year career with experience as a CRNA on our Peds Team at a Level 1 hospital and then at an Outpatient Surgery Center that did 50% Peds volume specializing in ENT! I know what Becky is writing about and she speaks the truth!
Incredible!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Looking forward to hearing your perspectives at well! Is there something you wish more people know about giving anesthesia to children??
Really enjoyed this piece. It does a wonderful job pulling back the curtain on pediatric anesthesia and explaining the tremendous amount of planning, calculation, and vigilance that goes into caring for our smallest patients. Clear, engaging, and reassuring for parents while still highlighting the complexity of pediatric care.
Thank you so much — I completely agree. Becky is such an incredible writer and CRNA, and I’m so glad she wrote this piece.
She has a real gift for making pediatric anesthesia feel understandable and reassuring without oversimplifying the complexity of what is happening. It’s such an important perspective for parents, and she captured it beautifully.
I love this post! I'm a midwife so I work closely with our amazing anaesthetists (aka gods!!) Whether it's siting an epidural or dealing with an emergency cesarean under GA, you guys are awesome!
Thank you so much!! And thank you for what you do as well — you are amazing too!! What made you decide to become a midwife??
I was young and naive (maybe 12), I loved babies and was fascinated by pregnancy and I came across an article in a kid's magazine about midwifery... and the rest, as they say, is history! It's been nearly 25 years, no regrets!
Claire, I'm so glad you enjoyed the post. My sister is a nurse midwife too! I always tell her how scary L&D is for anesthesia LOL.
Yup, I can imagine. Siting an epidural on a woman who can barely sit still must be all kinds of terrifying! And where most anesthesiologists have their work cut out looking after sleeping patients, the L&D ones ALSO have to talk to their (usually, we hope) awake ones!
Yes — exactly this! L&D anesthesia is such a unique mix of technical skill, urgency, physiology, and communication.
You may be placing an epidural while someone is contracting, anxious, exhausted, nauseated, moving, or in pain — and at the same time you’re thinking about mom, baby, blood pressure, bleeding risk, airway risk, the possibility of an urgent C-section, and how to explain everything clearly in real time.
It is definitely not boring. 😂
And it’s also why the relationship between anesthesia, midwifery, OB, and L&D nursing matters so much. When that team works well together, it makes an enormous difference.
I’m a CRNA with a 25 year career with experience as a CRNA on our Peds Team at a Level 1 hospital and then at an Outpatient Surgery Center that did 50% Peds volume specializing in ENT! I know what Becky is writing about and she speaks the truth!
Incredible!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Looking forward to hearing your perspectives at well! Is there something you wish more people know about giving anesthesia to children??
Really enjoyed this piece. It does a wonderful job pulling back the curtain on pediatric anesthesia and explaining the tremendous amount of planning, calculation, and vigilance that goes into caring for our smallest patients. Clear, engaging, and reassuring for parents while still highlighting the complexity of pediatric care.
Thank you so much — I completely agree. Becky is such an incredible writer and CRNA, and I’m so glad she wrote this piece.
She has a real gift for making pediatric anesthesia feel understandable and reassuring without oversimplifying the complexity of what is happening. It’s such an important perspective for parents, and she captured it beautifully.
What an incredible post! I learned so much! Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for reading and engaging, means a lot!