Reasons for medication-free childbirth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm actually one of those people who is "really excited for [my] epidural from the word 'go' with [my] first baby." I just think I have a really low pain tolerance and, to be honest, and sorry if this is TMI, but I sometimes find sex painful if there is not PLENTY of lube and foreplay so I am thinking a baby pushing its way out would be INCREDIBLY painful! Oh, and I've stayed home from work because of menstrual cramps before! So, yes, I am a big wimp, but to me the knowledge that I can get an epidural is about the only thing that made me comfortable getting pregnant in the first place! I totally respect people who want to and do go natural but I know I'm not cut out for that.

Hey PP -- I just noticed this little bit and wanted to tell you what my midwife told me. Do you get really bad, painful menstrual cramps? I did, and she told me that women who have experience with very painful menstrual cramps often handle labor better than anyone. That's because we are just used to really bad cramps -- and the contractions felt a whole lot to me like bad mentrual cramps, but no worse than that until about transition.

And they went away after about a minute, and no one expected me to be able to hold down a job or talk on the phone while experiencing them -- unlike when you get bad menstrual cramps, and you have to just suck it up and keep working.

In fact I first called the midwife when I was about 9 cm along, just because I was waiting for the cramps to get worse than menstrual cramps! Up until then, yeah, it hurt -- but just like cramps hurt. Not unbearable, just not pleasant. So -- not trying to convince you of anything, but just wanted to share that thought -- you might feel like a wimp, but you might be cut out for more than you think, just because of your experience.

Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. I had dealt with endometriosis and blood-curdling cramps half my life--going to school, work, etc because I had to--and even this chronic condition did not prepare me for the EXCRUCIATING pain I felt after my water broke. Sure, I labored for a long time in pain, but when the rubber hit the road I felt like someone was ripping me in half. Several hours later, my son actually did. Also, my epidural did not numb me from the waist down; I could feel my legs, toes, etc--I could have gotten up to go to the bathroom. I felt every contraction and pushed at every one. No one had to alert me I was having one; trust me, I knew it. The epidural just took the pain down from stroke-inducing agony to pretty painful.

[Anonymous]

22:10 - the PP's midwife said "often" this was the case for people with bad cramps, not always. Geesh, that doesn't make it "bullshit."

Also, as I'm sure you know, epidurals vary widely. Your experience of feeling and movement is near one extreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who got an epidural though -- you're like the "marathon" runner in NYC who took the subway.

I think you meant to put "runner" in quotes, not "marathon". That makes more sense, doesn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:22:10 - the PP's midwife said "often" this was the case for people with bad cramps, not always. Geesh, that doesn't make it "bullshit."

Also, as I'm sure you know, epidurals vary widely. Your experience of feeling and movement is near one extreme.

And people who float through the experience w/o the same kind of pain are another extreme. Unfortunately, they "often" assume everyone can earth-mother through the pain.

[Anonymous]

So self-congratulatory, the women who are so proud of themselves for giving birth without pain medication. It's not an accomplishment: it's a biological event that would happen even if you didn't take your Bradley classes. It makes as much sense as being proud of taking a crap without a laxative. Oooh, wow, something came out of your body that is SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OF YOUR BODY, and it came out even without medicine...which it was going to do anyway. Great for you that you've "accomplished" not taking drugs. But really, giving birth drug-free isn't special - it's commonplace, it's a plain old biological function, you're not a superstar.

Signed,
Mom who birthed without pain medication, but doesn't think it's The Greatest Most Amazing Miraculous Accomplishment Ever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So self-congratulatory, the women who are so proud of themselves for giving birth without pain medication. It's not an accomplishment: it's a biological event that would happen even if you didn't take your Bradley classes. It makes as much sense as being proud of taking a crap without a laxative. Oooh, wow, something came out of your body that is SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OF YOUR BODY, and it came out even without medicine...which it was going to do anyway. Great for you that you've "accomplished" not taking drugs. But really, giving birth drug-free isn't special - it's commonplace, it's a plain old biological function, you're not a superstar.

Signed,
Mom who birthed without pain medication, but doesn't think it's The Greatest Most Amazing Miraculous Accomplishment Ever

That's an interesting comment, considering the 99% epidural rate, and 30%-70% cesarean rate, at most of the area hospitals.

Signed,
Mom who birthed with drugs and still hopes for a drug-free homebirth one day soon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It makes as much sense as being proud of taking a crap without a laxative.
Signed,
Mom who birthed without pain medication, but doesn't think it's The Greatest Most Amazing Miraculous Accomplishment Ever

natural birth compared to shitting w/o a stool softener --you take the cake for the most idiotic comparison i've seen on dcurbanmoms, and believe me, you had some competition. i don't believe that you are anything more than a troll. there's no way you birthed naturally and would come across as so angry toward women who feel proud of what they did.

signed,
a natural birther who did think that her experience was one of the greatest, most amazing and miraculous accomplishments ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So self-congratulatory, the women who are so proud of themselves for giving birth without pain medication. It's not an accomplishment: it's a biological event that would happen even if you didn't take your Bradley classes. It makes as much sense as being proud of taking a crap without a laxative. Oooh, wow, something came out of your body that is SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OF YOUR BODY, and it came out even without medicine...which it was going to do anyway. Great for you that you've "accomplished" not taking drugs. But really, giving birth drug-free isn't special - it's commonplace, it's a plain old biological function, you're not a superstar.

Signed,
Mom who birthed without pain medication, but doesn't think it's The Greatest Most Amazing Miraculous Accomplishment Ever

That's an interesting comment, considering the 99% epidural rate, and 30%-70% cesarean rate, at most of the area hospitals.

Signed,
Mom who birthed with drugs and still hopes for a drug-free homebirth one day soon

Well, that may be true of this area (and country) b/c women may be more likely to choose meds or a schedule c-section, etc. They have a choice. But if you contrast it with the rest of the world and human existence before epidurals were invented, pp has a point.

[Anonymous]

Well, that may be true of this area (and country) b/c women may be more likely to choose meds or a schedule c-section, etc. They have a choice. But if you contrast it with the rest of the world and human existence before epidurals were invented, pp has a point.

I think I am missing the point. It used to be that people had to grow, kill, prepare and cook everything they ate. That's still true in large parts of the world. But in this country, where many of us get take out or quick heating of prepared foods, aren't we impressed with the person who cooks an elaborate tasty meal?

It used to be that people had to run and move a lot more to escape danger and gather food. We don't have to now but the people who choose to run and workout out get praise from me. I just don't see how the fact that labor without pain meds is now a choice, but didn't used to be and isn't for many, affects the equation at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes as much sense as being proud of taking a crap without a laxative.
Signed,
Mom who birthed without pain medication, but doesn't think it's The Greatest Most Amazing Miraculous Accomplishment Ever

natural birth compared to shitting w/o a stool softener --you take the cake for the most idiotic comparison i've seen on dcurbanmoms, and believe me, you had some competition. i don't believe that you are anything more than a troll. there's no way you birthed naturally and would come across as so angry toward women who feel proud of what they did.

signed,
a natural birther who did think that her experience was one of the greatest, most amazing and miraculous accomplishments ever.

I think most women who have children, be it naturally, with epidural, or a c-section, think that the moment of giving birth was the most amazing and miraculous accomplishments ever.

[Anonymous]

Ladies! We're all pregnant and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our babies. Who the stink cares how they get here?! Can we all just agree we're excited to be having a baby (or babies) in the next few days, weeks or months?! Let's put this thread to bed and talk about baby names or creative sex positions for third trimester sex or something--anything--more fun and les controversial!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies! We're all pregnant and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our babies. Who the stink cares how they get here?! Can we all just agree we're excited to be having a baby (or babies) in the next few days, weeks or months?! Let's put this thread to bed and talk about baby names or creative sex positions for third trimester sex or something--anything--more fun and les controversial!

I actually think this has been an interesting thread. For the most part, it seems like this is has been exactly the type of conversation OP was hoping for. Yes, there are a few posters who got carried away, but overall I have enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes as much sense as being proud of taking a crap without a laxative.
Signed,
Mom who birthed without pain medication, but doesn't think it's The Greatest Most Amazing Miraculous Accomplishment Ever

natural birth compared to shitting w/o a stool softener --you take the cake for the most idiotic comparison i've seen on dcurbanmoms, and believe me, you had some competition. i don't believe that you are anything more than a troll. there's no way you birthed naturally and would come across as so angry toward women who feel proud of what they did.

signed,
a natural birther who did think that her experience was one of the greatest, most amazing and miraculous accomplishments ever.

I guess that baby emerging from my vagina sans drugs must have been a very realistic and continuing hallucination, since he is now almost 2 years old. I just think it's at least a little bit silly to be so fantastically proud of something that happens world wide, around the clock, without women giving themselves the dramatic pat on the back that seems so common here. So many women act like they deserve a medal for merely participating in an unstoppable biological function. Giving birth is certainly hard on the body, drugs or not, but it's not prize worthy. You'd think there was a secret Birth Experience Olympic and many women are vying for the Gold Medal of Most Amazing Human Ever for Letting Nature Take its Course.

[Anonymous]

didn't say you didn't have a child so the fact that you have a two year old, doesn't really change my view - i just don't believe anyone who did decide to birth naturally would be as bitter as you about it. i know a lot of pro natural birthers, and have met none like you. or maybe you're just a sad soul, who knows. in any event, i stand by my statement that i think you're simply a troll who likes to do the online equivalent of hear herself talk and be contrary for the sake of it. and hope that she gets a good hearty laugh from anonymous readers for the oh-so-clever turns of phrase, like Gold Medal of Most Amazing Human Ever for Letting Nature Take its Course.

[Anonymous]

I guess that baby emerging from my vagina sans drugs must have been a very realistic and continuing hallucination, since he is now almost 2 years old. I just think it's at least a little bit silly to be so fantastically proud of something that happens world wide, around the clock, without women giving themselves the dramatic pat on the back that seems so common here. So many women act like they deserve a medal for merely participating in an unstoppable biological function. Giving birth is certainly hard on the body, drugs or not, but it's not prize worthy. You'd think there was a secret Birth Experience Olympic and many women are vying for the Gold Medal of Most Amazing Human Ever for Letting Nature Take its Course.

Well, other cultures celebrate the power of women in childbirth too, this is hardly an American invention. In fact, it is only in our over-medicalized view of birth that we give the woman little or no credit and think birth is something doctors do to her. So for eons women had to give birth without modern drugs and they were celebrated for it.