Natural Birth vs. Epidural
I know that there are great reasons to choose either one. Going in, I was planning an epidural. When I got to the hospital the nurse asked if I still wanted one and, in the throes of labor, I said "lets wait and see." I am strong! I am woman!
...During the next contraction I told her "I was kidding! I was kidding, please give me the epidural!" (at that point I was at about a 7, so I was hitting transition, the hardest part of labor).
I labored 4 out of 12 hours without an epidural, and, if I hadn't gotten an epidural, I'm pretty sure it would've been a 6-hour labor. I was moving along fast and the epidural practically stopped labor. Despite that, I am super happy with the decision I made. I went from total agony and suffering to extremely cheerful and upbeat in under 20 minutes. If anyone tells you that childbirth does not involve agony and suffering, get a fire extinguisher because there pants are most assuredly on fire.
Here's my point: if I hadn't gotten an epidural, I either would have had that baby anyway or died trying, just like all the other women who have been having babies for thousands of years. It seems like alot of women view natural childbirth as a badge of honor - "I'm so amazing, I endured 26 hours of agony!" Really? Why would you do that to yourself? Plus, the reality is,we are all built to do it 'naturally,' and if we couldn't do it 'naturally,' we would just die (happy thought for the day).
I know there are arguments that it's not as good for the baby, or it makes it hard to listen to your body. Maybe those are true to some extent. But the truth of the matter is, having an epidural made me feel so much happier. It helped me enjoy the labor/birth experience- I could focus on the emotions of the moment, rather than the pain I would have been feeling. I will definitely be choosing an epidural for all of my babies.
-Mrs. Smith
P.S.
I know some women can't get epidurals for medical reasons. Those women are awesome and strong and I totally admire them (and feel sympathy for them).
Also, as a side note,
my biggest pre-baby failure
was not buying nursing shirts.
How did I forget that?
Also, as a side note,
my biggest pre-baby failure
was not buying nursing shirts.
How did I forget that?
4 comments:
i have no urge to be "strong woman"! i've gone into this thinking the whole time: drugs are good. for the many women out there who have done birth naturally that's awesome. that's not me. my friend andrea who is 2 weeks ahead of me is going to try the au natural way...but she also thinks she's going to deliver 2 weeks early.
i think another good point with birth: you can only plan so much. and each and every birth is different. a lot of times what you envision isn't what happens. i do have a doula for my birth, and i mainly that's so i can feel one on one with someone compared to the dozens of people walking in and out of my laboring room spending 5 minutes with me.
i'm happy that you were able to find what works for you, and that you were able to enjoy the birth of your son and look back and know that pain was evolved but that it didn't consume the whole process!
I've heard great things about doulas - I can't wait to see how your experience goes! I agree. Planning your 'perfect' birth just leads to unnecessary heartache later. The only thing that really matters is that momma and baby are healthy.
Yep, they're God sends. But. I'm super glad I've done it without just once. Just to know what it really feels like. I'm so proud of myself for it, when I literally didn't think I could do it, and I did. I love that about myself. :) but I'm pro epidural, 100%. When I asked Dave if I should have Zoe naturally he said NO WAY. Why would you do that to yourself?! He said it was the scariest thing in the world to watch me give birth naturally and he begged me not to do it again. Ha!
Way to go, Emily! I'm proud of you! I respect that. I think there are lots of good reasons for going natural. I mean if that permission slip with all the possible side effects of the epidural doesn't stop you in your tracks and make you think for a moment, you might be crazy, but as long as you go into either labor with your eyes wide open and mentally and physically prepared. I mean, you are giving birth... either way... a miraculous and difficult, holding hands with life and death thing. Any momma is a strong woman with no shame. I see the side why go through the pain when you don't have to, but why run a marathon when you don't have to... Just saying it does hurt more but it's pretty healthy for you too. Pros and cons to both sides.
That said, I know I am not a marathon runner. Epidural all the way. My experience with Eve was the same as yours at the beginning. Middle of the night the contractions start, start timing them. I wasn't positive but it was going pretty good come morning. Nathan needed to take some things to work so he left and I was to call him if it kept up or got stronger. He didn't make very far before I called and was like this is real. I sent Jack off to school. The carpool lady was like "are you sure you'll be okay? I can take you." Nathan's work was 45 mins away. He got back and we left. Seriously walked into the hospital and the contractions dropped off. WHAT?!?! Still got admitted and checked out. Pretty dilated, still weaker but going, walked around, picked up then the doctor came in and broke my water, THEN came the epidural. Anyways, point of the pointlessly long story is, I don't really believe every time it is the epidural's fault for labor to slow down. Sometimes it might be. Jack's labor was about the same length, he was induced and I was on the epidural the entire time. Labor isn't a start slow and continually get stronger thing. It is full of ups and downs. Downs, I think, are for the moms to rest. Bodies are miraculous like that.
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