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Epidural or Drug-Free Birth?
Story of Jennifer L.W. Fink
Early in their pregnancy, my brother and sister-in-law announced their birth plan. My sister-in-law summed it up for me with one word: "Drugs!" My brother shrugged. "She has a low pain tolerance," he said.
Before she experienced a single contraction, my brother's wife decided to use pain medication during labor, a choice made by thousands of American couples each day. And why not? With childbirth widely acknowledged as one of the most intensely painful experiences known to humankind, why would someone choose to give birth without drugs? How about because it's more comfortable! As counterintuitive as it sounds, my drug-free third labor was far more comfortable -- and empowering -- than my epidural-assisted first labor, or my narcotics-assisted second birth.
Natural childbirth is definitely not common in our society. C-sections, inductions, and epidurals are closer to the norm today, and many women consider any labor that ends in a vaginal delivery "natural childbirth." The idea of a woman laboring undisturbed, without drugs, seems almost quaint -- if not downright backward -- to a lot of women.
My first birth was fairly typical. I spent most of my labor just wanting it to be over. It hurt. I wanted the pain to stop. I certainly didn't want it to get worse. When my doctor suggested breaking my water 12 hours into my labor to "get things going," I agreed. Anything to speed it up!
Learning a LessonAlthough I'm a registered nurse, I didn't realize then how much one intervention would affect the course of my entire labor. But I knew that breaking my water would make my contractions more intense, so I insisted on an epidural. The cascade of interventions had begun. Soon I had an external fetal monitor around my middle, an epidural in my back, an IV in my left arm, and a blood pressure cuff around my right arm. When the doctor determined that a full bladder was blocking the baby's descent, they inserted a catheter. And when my baby's heart rate dropped while I was pushing, they strapped an oxygen mask to my face and used forceps to pull my son into the world. My back ached for days at the epidural insertion site, my hand was sore from the IV, and I couldn't sit normally for weeks. I didn't feel like myself for almost a month.
Later, I couldn't help but wonder, What if I'd never let the doctor break my water or had the epidural? I started to read books such as The Birth Book by Dr. Sears, and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. What I learned made sense to me: When you work with your body instead of fighting it, labor is marvelously efficient. I learned that each intervention has side effects, often leading to more interventions, a fact supported by my own experience.
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The doctors were surprised cuz I was already 9 they were also surprised because I didnt want drugs. All it took was four pushes 5 mins and he was out. It was an awesome experience. Ask any doctor which way is healthier for my baby natural or epidural garuntee they will say natural. Just sayin :)
5/18/2012 03:24:26 PM Report AbuseWhen I had my son I was at home for seven hours in labor. Seven hours! it started at 9:00 at night I never felt a contraction cuz it was my first but I also didnt want to wake any one so I did my own bath and was walking around the kitchen all night and my body did awesome. I was working with my body to help find a way to relax then when my contractions were 5 mins apart I woke my husband and we headed to the hospitial.
5/18/2012 03:20:54 PM Report Abuseyou all need to watch the buisness of being born its a documentry talking and explaining the difference of natural child birth and getting all the drugs. It shows how harmful it is to get an epidural and how much better it is for you to go natural.
5/18/2012 03:12:44 PM Report AbuseDont be trying to say we are all the same because we are not. High five to all the mommies who had the streath to go natural you are awesome!
5/18/2012 01:44:37 PM Report AbuseTruth is the woman that do it natural are obvisouly stronger. If the other mothers were stronger to why would they ask for an epidural oh because they are in pain and it hurts them lol. So yes mothers that do it natural are stronger then verses the mothers that cry for an epidural. Its the truth.
5/18/2012 01:40:57 PM Report AbuseIm proud of myself. I feel like I can do anything. Im proud to say I am a mother of one who had my baby drug free the way its suppose to be!!!
5/18/2012 01:35:00 PM Report AbuseYou cant compare your teeth to a baby. Your teeth are not affected by the drugs silly its a bone they dont have lungs eyes they cant breath but a baby can. I think your upset because maybe you couldnt handle the pain of labor and there is a small amount of us woman these days who can still say I did it naural including me.
5/18/2012 01:25:38 PM Report AbuseNext time get your teeth drilled without numbing first. Cause its NATURAL WAY.
5/4/2012 04:00:10 PM Report AbuseIm so tired of people making women feel bad about using pain relief during child birth.I was planning on natural birth and I had been in labour for a very long time, before deciding to take the epidural, and it was THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE.So the epidural did not prevent me from pushing him out easily.You would get your teeth drilled without pain numbing, cause they used to do that to in the old days.So next time when you go to the dentist ask to go the NATURAL WAY see what they think.
5/4/2012 03:58:01 PM Report AbuseStop being selfish and lazy and think about your babys wellbeing rather than your own! There are so many ways of preparing yourself and its only a matter of doing it. I had a drug free birth and I have a bad hip, nor did I scream like an idiot, which is what probably helped speed up my labor. I know its everyones choice but I just wish people would educate themselves a little bit more.
4/23/2012 10:22:55 PM Report AbuseNow that I'm getting closer to my due date for my 2nd pregnancy, I'm really starting to like the idea of having a drug-free birth. I had an epidural with my first son, & although my labor was not that long, and there were no major complications, I now feel that I probably could have handled the pain on my own. since I've learned that drugs could slow the process of labor, & it sorta scares me a little bit, I really want to try a natural birth.
12/14/2011 07:29:51 AM Report AbuseI¿m hoping to give birth sans epidural, but mainly because of fear and discomfort. Aside from the fact of not wanting reduced mobility, an IV, catheter, etc; I know two women who have had complications due to epidurals. I like to make informed decisions so I will discuss my concerns with a doctor, but otherwise I am planning on sticking out the pain. I'm just too not comfortable with the disadvantages and potential complications of the epidural.
10/14/2011 01:19:50 PM Report AbuseI am getting a little tired of people trying to tell me how I should give birth. So many people have stuck their noses up at me because I don't feel the need to have a natural birth. Anything can happen and maybe I won't get drugs but I know my pain tolerance and it is not high. Only you know your body so do what's comfortable for you. Neither is better or worse than the other.
8/30/2011 06:34:14 AM Report AbuseI understand that everyone is different and every birth is different; I would like to know if anyone has done a natural birth with a hip (or similar) injury? I really want to do a water birth, which would be drug free, because one, I get sick from pain meds easily, two, I don't want my baby exposed to more than she needs to be, and three, I'm already tired of having needles stuck into my spine! Any support would be great, I'm hoping to not have to go C-section.
8/3/2011 07:05:45 PM Report AbuseI just had my first baby a few days ago. I had decided when I first got pregnant that I wanted an epidural. When it came time and I went into labor there honestly was just no time for an epidural. I was in labor less than 3 hours and it was pretty much "sorry but he's coming now, there's no time". They had given me a small dose of fentanyl mid way through to help take the edge off which it did. The pain of labor wasn't as bad as I thought and was glad I did it w/o and epidural.
5/23/2011 04:35:32 PM Report AbuseI have a beautiful son born NATURAL by a midwife. That is with no medical interventions. It's not that getting these means a woman failed, it's more that society almost expects this, when woman really should be stronger. Suck it up Ladies. We are strong, and we don't need the IV's, EPI and everything else that comes along with it. Our generation can make a difference in the births of generations to come if we embrace our power and GET OFF THE DRUGS.
4/28/2011 06:59:14 AM Report AbuseI had no pain meds when i delivered my little girl back in September. And she was alert and responding great!! I would not have changed that decision for anything..
3/10/2011 10:55:24 AM Report AbuseI have 4 kids and all them natural yes its painful at the time but you have more control over your body and can get it over with faster and when its over its over I have found that with in a couple hours I am up walking around and enjoying my baby with only a few pains and sorness no side affects involved. Just remember to relax and breath through it don't fight it and it will be easier. My babies have been much more alert when they are born than others I have seen who choose to use medications.
2/8/2011 10:37:32 AM Report AbuseI have had two babies my first I had an epidural with and my second I didnt. I almost passed out during the birth of my second child from all the pain he was 9 pounds. I'm pregnant right now with my third baby and due in 2 months. I will be having an epidural this time.
1/26/2011 09:51:55 PM Report AbuseI have had two babies my first I had an epidural with and my second I didnt. I almost passed out during the birth of my second child from all the pain he was 9 pounds. I'm pregnant right now with my third baby and due in 2 months. I will be having an epidural this time.
1/26/2011 09:51:39 PM Report Abuse. A mother is a mother either way she decides to go for whatever reason. She is neither stronger nor weaker just because of how she chose to bring her child into the world. So as you have your opinions and obviously like to state them thats great but no one should be called stonger or weaker because of how they brought their children into the world .
1/5/2011 01:03:19 AM Report AbuseLOL you guys crack me up.. the bickering is funny to me. Im due to have a baby this month and i am going to try it the natural way as i did with my son. I ended up getting one with my son after being in labor for 13 hours. so you guys can all have your opinions as do I. I dont think its worth the argument though.
1/5/2011 01:03:10 AM Report AbuseI want to do the same I am pregnant with my 3rd, I want a epidural free birth! I've had 7 spontaneous miscarriages as well I know the pain can get bad but I was always scared at how much worse it would be with a full term baby so I always got an epidural but with my 2nd it only numbed half of my body which was annoying and this time I really want to try and go epidural free. Thanks for the encouragement!
12/19/2010 03:58:48 PM Report Abuseaspiring_liz you are a very judgmental person and FYI I was NOT high when I got an epidural...READ YOUR FACTS ON ONE FIRST.
9/21/2010 07:41:51 PM Report Abuseget over your highfalutin ability or desire to endure 8 hrs of intense pain vs someone who chooses the medical (i.e pain-free) route apiring_liz. i am a supporter and not a discourager of either. it should be a mother's choice and not be judged by u or anyone else for that matter. and so what if she was high off her epidural joy! she also produced a healthy baby just as you did so what if the avenues by which it was done were different. uggggh!!!
8/31/2010 08:50:02 AM Report Abuseme having my first child had a csection because of medical reasons and i have a low tolerance for pain, so i prefered an epidural. it helped me relax and focus on enjoying this little person that was going to be born.
2/18/2010 11:45:39 AM Report AbuseThe article is two different stories from two different women...the first preferred her 3rd medication-free l&d, and the second was glad she opted for the epidural.
1/11/2010 09:32:27 AM Report AbuseAt least the author is right about one thing--medicated births are the norm because most women opt for the epidural vs. trusting their tolerance toward childbirth. Pity...women are so much stronger than they think!
12/31/2009 03:24:14 AM Report AbuseI guess I'm part of the get-it-over, natural-birthing mothers whom want a fast, intense l-&-d and still-alert-afterward experience. Perhaps I face pain more head-on, and, engaging in outside stimulus isn't important to me while I'm performing the most important womanly duty...but, that's just me.
12/31/2009 03:24:08 AM Report AbuseI don't understand how women can prefer to have a conversation with their husband, read the newspaper, watch tv, and be pain-free alert when baby arrives at least 12 hours later (in most cases) when this author admitted her 3rd l-&-d wasn't as painful as it was intense, and, shorter. Yet, she prefers to have a long delivery and medical technology in her in order to be comfortable.
12/31/2009 03:23:45 AM Report AbuseThis doesn't make any sense and I don't know whether American Baby published it to promote epidurals or if the author didn't know what she wrote. Though she stated her epidurals caused her to have all these other medical necessities to accompany her labor and delivery, and prolong it, she preferred it over the quick and "intense" l-&-d of natural birth!?! She must have still been high off her epidural joy when she wrote the article.
12/31/2009 03:22:46 AM Report Abuse