"The doctor says you can have your epidural now Mrs Williams", the nurse says. I grit my teeth and GLARE AT HER. "I'm doing this natural, I'm NOT HAVING AN EPIDURAL" and stare at her with "get the hell out of here" eyes. She goes.

I've been in labor for 20 hours and only got to 3 centimeters. I'm grunting like a sea lion on heat and can't stop. OK, this HURTS. On a scale of one-to-ten, it's an 11 plus and I'll rip that smiley/grumpy face chart up with my teeth if you ask me again. I'm waiting for the President himself to arrive in my room and congratulate me on my bravery. I'm having a baby with no drugs!!!

Hold on! There's no President, medal or certificate. Who will even care apart from me that I did this without drugs…. Why have this pain?

"Get the anesthesiologist. NOW!!!!!!!!!"

"Sorry, Mrs Williams he's with another patient now, you'll have to wait about 20 minutes", the nurse says.

I could cry.

Several LOOOONG contractions later, he breezes into the room with his cart, enormous needles and fabulous drugs. He could have stuck the Eiffel tower in my back and I wouldn't of cared. The Lamaze breathing helped with keeping still as the needle went in. Within about 15 minutes, I had no pain at all. "NO PAIN", I said. I cried with joy. He could have asked me to give him one million dollars and I would have done right there and then (if I had it). As quickly as he came, he left. I was in love with him. It was right there and then that I knew I had to become a doctor!

Now, working on the labor and delivery wards I love to watch the anesthesiologists work their magic. I love the way they almost glide into the room full of screams and leave with adulation and happiness (most of the time). I like to watch how they are in constant contact with their patients in the operating room during a c-section. It's up to them when the operation begins, and they control what that patient will feel. The patient is almost oblivious to the fact that they are in fact doing an important job, of handling their pain, airway and breathing. The ones I've seen always go with the patient after surgery to the recovery room, they talk to them and check back later. As important as your obstetrician will be during the delivery, your anesthesiologist (if you have one) will be an unforgettable person in your birthing history!

As I said above, "Arggghhhhh!!", "Ahhhhhhhhh", "Anesthesiologists!!

More soon, Sandra

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