Med-free labor trend

[Anonymous]

I don't really get why there is so many women these days 'excited' labor without epidurals. I understand a first time Mom not really knowing how much pain for how long that labor involves, but more and more 2+ Mom friends are telling me how excited they are to try without an epidural.

Personally, I had an epidural and it gave me some relief, but not all that much relief toward the end and my birth turned out as great as it could be. Given that, I would never want to labor med free - it was absolute torture at the end. A woman down the hall going med free was screaming at the top of her lungs for hours on end.

I almost feel like this trend makes many women feel like they are failures if 1) they 'give in' to an epidural or 2) labor ends in c-section for various reasons. Modern medicine is a blessing for many reasons, it strange to feel like people are pushing back against pain relief that wasn't available to women not too long ago.

[Anonymous]

I would never in a million years try for a pain medication free delivery. But I don't see how others decision to do so impacts me at all.

To each their own.

[Anonymous]

OP, assuming this is an honest question, I suggest you educate yourself about the history of obstetrical anesthesia in America. A superb book is "Deliver Me From Pain," a fascinating and accessible medical-social history. There are plenty of other excellent books, such as "Gentle Birth," "Immaculate Deception," "Orgasmic Birth," and "Pushed."

As someone who has had one late epidural and seven unmedicated births, who is looking forward to her third blissful homebirth, I urge every mother-to-be to learn as much as possible about the physiology and psychology of birth. When women experience birth in privacy, with loving support and respect, they often experience the greatest moments of pleasure in their entire lives. There are benefits to the baby and the mother when birth is allowed to unfold unmedicated, as the body's custom-made hormone cocktail works to ease the baby out with just the right mixture of work ("labor") and rest.

In many countries, throughout history, birth was not feared or experienced as torturously painful. A lot of work, yes, but also blissful, gorgeous, celebrated. It is a shame many women miss out on that experience. Every woman deserves to birth surrounded by love, deference, and respect.

[Anonymous]

My first was unmedicated. I was great! I went with an epidural for my second (my midwife suggested it, in fact, to get the baby to descend), and I thought it was great as well! Each way, same same. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, assuming this is an honest question, I suggest you educate yourself about the history of obstetrical anesthesia in America. A superb book is "Deliver Me From Pain," a fascinating and accessible medical-social history. There are plenty of other excellent books, such as "Gentle Birth," "Immaculate Deception," "Orgasmic Birth," and "Pushed."

As someone who has had one late epidural and seven unmedicated births, who is looking forward to her third blissful homebirth, I urge every mother-to-be to learn as much as possible about the physiology and psychology of birth. When women experience birth in privacy, with loving support and respect, they often experience the greatest moments of pleasure in their entire lives. There are benefits to the baby and the mother when birth is allowed to unfold unmedicated, as the body's custom-made hormone cocktail works to ease the baby out with just the right mixture of work ("labor") and rest.

In many countries, throughout history, birth was not feared or experienced as torturously painful. A lot of work, yes, but also blissful, gorgeous, celebrated. It is a shame many women miss out on that experience. Every woman deserves to birth surrounded by love, deference, and respect.

Uh? You realize up to 50% of women died in childbirth, right? Many still do.

[Anonymous]

Just because something is available now doesn't make it the superior choice.

I had a med-free birth and didn't find it to be "absolute torture" as your birth with an epidural was for you. Was I lucky? Crazy? Who knows, but I went med-free with my second also. Different baby, different birth experience, but also nowhere near torture.

One take-home from my birth class was that I felt that I had options to deal with the pain without going straight for the epidural. I think that the experience might have been worse for me if I were relying on an epidural which then didn't perform fully. I also think the experience might have been worse for me if I didn't have that birth-class prep.

As for your woman-down-the-hall example, who knows what was going on with her? Do you know for sure that she was unmedicated? Had she prepared for the birth or was she just trying to tough it out? I don't know, and probably you don't either. For all we know, she looks back at that birth as an exhilarating, empowering experience.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 med free and my last one an epidural simply because I wanted to give it a try after having experienced the other 3 times. It was still work and certainly not pain-free. The pressure feeling with an epidural was more unpleasant than without meds. I'm glad I tried both. We're done having kids but I go med free next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, assuming this is an honest question, I suggest you educate yourself about the history of obstetrical anesthesia in America. A superb book is "Deliver Me From Pain," a fascinating and accessible medical-social history. There are plenty of other excellent books, such as "Gentle Birth," "Immaculate Deception," "Orgasmic Birth," and "Pushed."

As someone who has had one late epidural and seven unmedicated births, who is looking forward to her third blissful homebirth, I urge every mother-to-be to learn as much as possible about the physiology and psychology of birth. When women experience birth in privacy, with loving support and respect, they often experience the greatest moments of pleasure in their entire lives. There are benefits to the baby and the mother when birth is allowed to unfold unmedicated, as the body's custom-made hormone cocktail works to ease the baby out with just the right mixture of work ("labor") and rest.

In many countries, throughout history, birth was not feared or experienced as torturously painful. A lot of work, yes, but also blissful, gorgeous, celebrated. It is a shame many women miss out on that experience. Every woman deserves to birth surrounded by love, deference, and respect.

Uh? You realize up to 50% of women died in childbirth, right? Many still do.

Actually, among women with mature pelvises (not child brides) and intact genetalia, not that many die in childbirth--postpartum infection has historically been the big killer.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why you think it is on the upswing. If there was a shift, it was back in the 40's.

[Anonymous]

First was an epidural the minute I felt pain....very relaxing times!!! Self-medicated pump. I was laughing the entire time.

Second one was fast and furious with no time for any meds. It hurt like sh*t, but luckily was very quick. I preferred the drugs. Recovery was identical for both. I was up and walking after both very shortly after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get why there is so many women these days 'excited' labor without epidurals. I understand a first time Mom not really knowing how much pain for how long that labor involves, but more and more 2+ Mom friends are telling me how excited they are to try without an epidural.

Personally, I had an epidural and it gave me some relief, but not all that much relief toward the end and my birth turned out as great as it could be. Given that, I would never want to labor med free - it was absolute torture at the end. A woman down the hall going med free was screaming at the top of her lungs for hours on end.

I almost feel like this trend makes many women feel like they are failures if 1) they 'give in' to an epidural or 2) labor ends in c-section for various reasons. Modern medicine is a blessing for many reasons, it strange to feel like people are pushing back against pain relief that wasn't available to women not too long ago.

Not everyone without an epidural screams. I've had medicated and unmedicated deliveries and I prefer to avoid the epidural. We're all different.

What I'd like to see is women not judging one another for their birth choices.

[Anonymous]

OP, your question is a stamp of ignorance on your forehead.

You should know by now that every single person has a different tolerance level to pain...

And just because some are more tolerant or make different choices than you it doesn't make them inferior to you.

[Anonymous]

I basically was med-free with my first b/c it only numbed me on my right side. I felt all the contractions on my left.

It was pure misery. Although I didn't scream, I was in pain.

With my second, the epidural worked perfectly! I felt nothing!!!!!

[Anonymous]

There are risks and benefits to both. I personally had an epidural and I'm glad i did because it probably saved my son's life. I had to have an emergency c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped two times. It probably saved some time in the OR. However, the majority of the women probably don't NEED it as much as they want pain free birth (I was one of those). The meds certainly do pass to the baby through the placenta and I experienced a high number of side effects from it (problems with baby's heart rate, prolonged labor, itchiness, nausea, etc.). I can certainly see how some healthy women chose not to take the drugs.

[Anonymous]

Doctors really hate the non medical crowd. Why not just squat over a diry hut floor and shoot the baby out that way? Disregard all of our medical progress and first world healthcare. You don't get a special prize for not using medicine, you actually will suffer more and age yourself.