My best friend in the whole world Alia has recently found out she is having her third baby! (I know I am super excited too!) We got to talking the other day about her birthing choices. She had her first two babies with the help of an epidural and was talking about the possibility of having this baby natural.
I have personally experienced both avenues and cant say that I have a preference. Both experiences were completely different and special in their own ways... I will say that if it weren't for Nick my natural birth would not have been possible. He was an amazing labor partner, birthing couch and overall a great "doula", he was kind, loving and patient. The only two things I would ever suggest to a women who wants to attempt a natural birth is labor in the tub, and have an amazing partner.
With not having been much help to her... I took it to my readers. I opened up a Facebook Discussion Board and got some amazing feedback on both avenues. Here is some of what I got back:
I had both of my girls with an epidural, but both were still very different experiences. With my first, Lexi, I was induced, so I got my meds before I experienced any true labor pains and the epidural worked so well that I couldn't even tell she was born. Amazing. With Madison, I went through hard active labor for about three hours at home before going to the hospital and during that time, all I could think about was the painful contraction that was happening or preparing for the one that was about to happen, NOTHING ELSE! Once we got to the hospital and received my epidural, I was able to relax, smile, and enjoy life again! lol I always hear no med moms say they don't want to be out of it while they have their baby, but it was not like that for me at all. I had complete presence of mind the entire time and after was all there. haha. I just think of it like this, if you knew you were about to go through any other painful procedure in life, you always take the meds! I don't know anyone who would get their wisdom teeth taken out with out meds, or try to pass a kindey stone without some pain killers. Having a child hurts, we know that, why go through that if you don't have to and it has no affect on your baby? -Bekka
I had both my babies with no meds and would do it again. If baby number three comes it will be no meds for me. I want to be up and moving untill it is time to push. Both times I labored standing up either swaying or walking. I just tried to relax when the contraction came and did not fight it. I did some practicing before the labors. I just put myself in a zone and don't talk to anyone and try to keep a clear mind. Walking through them helped me. -Jill
I got an epidural with both my kiddos. I must say "good for you" to all the mommies that have gone natural but it definitely is not for me! With my 1st I was in labor for 18 1/2 hours and got my epidural 12 hours into it. It was the perfect epidural, I LOVED giving birth and was able to enjoy each moment. With my 2nd (6 weeks ago) I was in early labor for 2 days! Then when I switched over to active labor it hit HARD and FAST. In the 12 hours I went without meds during my first labor, I never experienced pain like I did with my 2nd.
As soon as I got admitted I was begging for my epidural, in fact I couldn't wait and asked for IV meds before the Epidural lady could get there! ( I would not reccomend this, it made me groggy between contractions but didn't do a darn thing to ease the pain!) Well I got my epidural and again it was perfect. 6 hours of labor this time and I was able to sleep since I hadn't slept n 2 days, then 2 1/2 pushes and he was out. I was laughing because I couldn't believe how fast it went, and just kept saying how cute my new lil man was! The atmosphere was so happy and light and I enjoyed every single second. If I was in SERIOUS pain from natural child birth I know I couldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. Knowing that the epidural doesn't affect the baby make me very much PRO epidural :-) You don't get an award for going natural and God gave man wisdom to create the epidural so I am going to take full advantage! -Seana
As soon as I got admitted I was begging for my epidural, in fact I couldn't wait and asked for IV meds before the Epidural lady could get there! ( I would not reccomend this, it made me groggy between contractions but didn't do a darn thing to ease the pain!) Well I got my epidural and again it was perfect. 6 hours of labor this time and I was able to sleep since I hadn't slept n 2 days, then 2 1/2 pushes and he was out. I was laughing because I couldn't believe how fast it went, and just kept saying how cute my new lil man was! The atmosphere was so happy and light and I enjoyed every single second. If I was in SERIOUS pain from natural child birth I know I couldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. Knowing that the epidural doesn't affect the baby make me very much PRO epidural :-) You don't get an award for going natural and God gave man wisdom to create the epidural so I am going to take full advantage! -SeanaI think every mom should get to hear "good for you" and "i have a lot of respect for you" REGARDLESS of if they had a natural, epidural, or C-section. I hate that it's looked at as this noble act when moms go all natural when the reality of it is, we are ALL noble and deserve praise for bringing a baby into this world. Notice how no one said to someone who had an epidural "GOOD FOR YOU!" I am reading all these birthing stories of women trying to JUSTIFY why they got an epidural... when in fact, they shouldn't even have to explain! It is still just as beautiful and wonderful a process as a natural delivery. Notice the women who did it "all natural" only typed a sentence or two and you can just hear it in their typing (yes, HEAR, lol) that they feel more proud than the rest. It tears me up inside when a woman gets an epidural and feels like she has failed somehow. I think society (mostly moms) need to be a little more supportive of one another of whatever route they choose. So as for me, I am PRO natural, PRO epidural, and PRO C-section -Kristin
So I am extending the question to you fellow mommies and birth partners, Is it completely Unnatural to go natural this day and age when drugs are so readily available?
I would like to take a second to agree with Kristin and congratulate and say "good for you" to every mother out there. Each and every birth story is miraculous and amazing in its own way.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
PS If you are a mommy reading this post ... I hope you will check out my current It ends this week and there are very few entries... (which means there is a good chance to win *wink *wink)
9 comments:
Ha! I love the responses from other Mommy's out there! Especially the one that praises ALL women, no matter their birthing method :) I had an epidural with my first son, that did not take AT ALL, so we went natural for about 12hrs, pushed and there he was. It was HORRIBLE. I have to be honest and say I thought I dealt with pain pretty good until then...I could not focus on breathing when I was in SO much pain! Sorry "natural" mommies out there, it H-U-R-T! Second baby boy, delivered c-section for several reasons and I cannot believe that I thought it was MUCH easier. Major surgery was easier for me?! Yep! The recovery was better, I felt better and even though it took a while to get feeling back in my tummy, it was a much less painful process in my opinion and with my experiences...
I don't have any children (yet)... I wouldn't even know where to begin with making this decision, but this definitely helps shed some light on the subject!
Cabin Fever in Vermont
I had my children back in the dark ages, but epidurals were still available! I had an epidural with No. 1, "What's all the fuss about childbirth, it was a breeze." With No. 2, it all happened so fast there was no time for an epidural. And, believe me, there was a huge difference!!!! Let me say, "O-U-C-H!!" With No. 3, again. very fast. They broke my water, and an hour later, my daughter was born. This is sad, but I honestly can't remember which way I went. I would have to assume natural, but, the memory of the pain isn't there. hmmmm. Any way, I would have to say, "Go epidural", unless of course, you don't want to.
I am ready to have my baby any day... dilated to a 3 and just waiting for my water to break!! I want to go as long as possible before my epidural. The reason is not because I am a crunchy granola mom (even though I totally am, ha); it's because I had a terrible experience with my epidural the first time. I basically had every possible side effect and it was not a great experience. When people ask, I say I will go until I can't take the pain or I completely fatigue. I am actually extremely nervous about how it will go but I'll have my husband AND my labor coach and all I can do is hope and pray for the best!
I never had an epidural with any of my three and my last two were completely natural. I do get both sides...some women say why go through the pain when you can have the meds? And others say why get the meds when you can survive the pain?
My take on it is that it is up to each mother to decide, but every decision should be an informed one. Medications and epidurals are not without risks to both the mother and baby. It can slow the baby's heart rate or the labor itself, causing a very high increase in the likelyhood of a c-section. It can make recovery from delivery harder for both mother and baby, and can affect the breastfeeding relationship. Or it could be a breeze with medication/epidurals...but you never know which route it will go.
When doing the natural route, it is best to have a birth plan so the doctors/nurses know what you want if there are no complications barring it. Walking around helps speed up labor and does make the contractions a bit more manageable. Laboring in water (whether the shower, tub, or birthing tub) reduces the pain quite a bit. Honestly, by the time that it REALLY hurts and is almost unmanageable is the time when pushing is very near, so I can always stand those 15-30 minutes when it is intense, knowing it will be over soon enough.
Whatever route you take, the end result is always the same goal - a happy and healthy mommy and baby. With that said, trying for a pain free medication does reduce your likelyhood of complications drastically. Our bodies were designed for this and sometimes going with the flow is the best bet. Once those babies are out I forget about the pain completely and know that it was all worth it! :) Good luck to your friend!
I haven't had kids yet, but I know 100% that I WILL have an epidural. This girl doesn't handle pain well :) I might even ask for 2! Awesome topic- thanks for sharing!
I loved reading all of these...with 5 more weeks to go I'm thinking epidural..its the right choice for ME...I have 0 pain tolerance. I do believe God gives us no more than we can handle and this is getting me through my labor anxiety!
I had one C section with a spinal after leaking membranes with no labor and induction didn't work, one forceps delivery with a paracervical block and a pudental block (stuff they used to do before epidurals were common) , and seven unmedicated spontaneous deliveries. I usually walked during labor right up until it is time to give birth. The times I had to be lying down or in a bed at all, the pain was much worse. For my fifth I had a midwife who wanted me in bed, and it is the only one where I really remember the pain. I bit my husband at the height of one contraction, not because I was mad at him but just in a response to the pain. Yet I never thought, I want pain meds, or I want an epidural. With my third, a hard and fast labor starting with ruptured membranes, the anesthesiologist stopped in my room and asked me if I wanted an epidural. I thought "he must have the wrong room-why did my doctor let him come in here?" I was 7 cms when I got to the hospital, and I threw up shortly after that, so it wasn't as if I weren't in hard labor. For me, being in control of what went on, and experiencing what there was to be experienced came way before pain avoidance.
I think that if you can arrange to walk around during labor, and/or labor in a pool, changing position at will, you will experience much less pain and you will be able to handle what pain is left. It is the safest for the baby not to have anything, and it is also the course most likely to lead to a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Also, try to avoid being induced. Only if you are really for sure significantly past term or there is really a good medical reason for induction, should you consent to it.
Don't be induced because you are tired of being pregnant or because it would be convenient to know what day your baby will be born. Induced labors are really harder to handle.
In short, I say that we women are stronger and braver than we know, and that we can experience in its fullness the power and joy of giving birth.
Susan Peterson
What a wonderful discussion! I agree with Elizabeth insofar that the decision should be totally up to the mother, and that she should be fully informed. My doctor told me about the potential effects of an epidural on my baby before I went into labor, and I decided to go natural as a result. I didn't want to take any chances. I recall after laboring for several hours, my Dr walked in and wanted to give me the epidural, when I told him no, he looked at me like I was crazy. Unfortunately, things didn't go well and I had to have an emrgency C-section.
Every woman should do what is best for her. What's important is that precious life that comes after.
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