This American Life 864: Chicago Hope
Jul 20, 2025
Susan Burton, a seasoned producer and editor known for her work on The Retrievals, joins labor and delivery nurses Mindy Figueroa and Clara Hochhauser from UI Health, along with Heather Nixon, head of obstetric anesthesia. They dive into the emotional and painful realities of cesarean sections, highlighting Clara's traumatic experience of feeling surgery despite anesthesia failures. Heather challenges the medical community to address pain management inadequacies during childbirth, stressing the need for systemic change in healthcare to improve women's experiences.
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Mindy's Passion for Nursing
- Mindy Figueroa, a passionate labor and delivery nurse, loves watching every birth and monitoring blood loss carefully.
- Her intrinsic interest in healthcare and blood makes her a vital presence in deliveries at UI Health in Chicago.
Clara's Twin Pregnancy Journey
- Clara Hochhauser, a labor nurse, unexpectedly became pregnant with twins via IVF at age 40.
- Despite initial plans to avoid a C-section, she faced complicated delivery circumstances at UI Health.
Epidural's Unexpected Failure
- Clara received an epidural administered by Heather Nixon but soon felt inexplicable severe vaginal pain.
- Despite top-ups, the epidural failed to fully relieve her pain, signaling complications in anesthesia.