Reasons for medication-free childbirth

[Anonymous]

When I was pregnant, I had decided prior to labor that I wanted an epidural but would hold-off as long as possible so that I don't get the epidural too early. I went into labor, was 5 cm dilated when I got to the hospital, pain was bearable at that point, waited a couple of hours, got to 7 cm and then oh my god, I needed the epidural. Unfortunately, the anesthesiologist was tied up with another patients, and it took about 1 1/2 hours before I could get the epidural-it was hell, literally felt like I was being tortured. Once I got the epidural, I felt so much better. Knowing how painful childbirth is, I started wondering why would anyone want a medication-free childbirth experience? I'm just trying to understand the rationale for choosing being in pain vs. having your pain well-controlled???

[Anonymous]

i also started out my first pregnancy being sure I wanted an epidural, but over time decided that I didn't. now after two medication free births (one in hospital, one at home), i have been very happy with my choice. my main reasons for wanting to have a medication free birth have been:

(1) i was concerned about the health risks of epidurals for me and my baby. and i had learned about how epidurals can negatively impact the progress of labor and can lead to a "cascade of interventions" and wanted to avoid that happening.

(2) I knew that epidurals didn't always work or worked unevenly and I didn't want to risk that happening.

(3) i believed that labor would progress most smoothly when there was no intervention and my body could do its thing naturally.

(4). i was curious to experience birth from start to finish and to be able to feel the baby coming through me.

(5) I knew many women before me had done it thought I could too. I believed that my body would help me cope with labor via endorphins, etc.

(6) I liked the idea of using water, a doula, massage, breathing, sound, and other non medical forms of pain relief because they had no risks.

(7) I didn't like the idea of being numb and not being able to feel what was happening to my body and baby. To me, the idea of an epidural made me feel very out of control -- I didn't want to be stuck in bed unable to feel things. The idea of being able to move my body and stay mobile made me feel much more in control.

There's a very interesting great thread about epidurals on one of my favorite birth blogs this week: http://rixarixa.blogspot.com/
I learned a lot reading this and it was helpful to me to read about why women chose and liked epidurals.

[Anonymous]

My reasons are likely similar to anyone else posting.

Also, pain is very subjective. I never thought I had a really high pain threshold but people are amazed that I was able to labor on pitocin without any pain meds. I think a lot of it is mind over matter. To me, it felt like pain with a purpose that was temporary and possible to work through in various ways (deep breathing, chanting, counter pressure, soft music, etc).

I compare it to training for a physical endurance feat of any type, like a marathon. Yes, it might be really hard (and painful) at times, but it is doable and can be a thrilling experience as well!

[Anonymous]

i naively thought this post, based on the thread title, was a positive one about natural birth. i should have known better. it's just another attempt to get the sides riled up. OP, it's a simple matter of people making different decisions. what on earth is so hard for you to comprehend? natural birth wasn't for you. cool. no one cares what you did, why do you care what others do?

[Anonymous]

8:23 here. I had medication-free births, and I didn't feel like the OP was attacking my choice, more that she was curious about it. Just because we make certain birth choices doesn't mean we can't be curious or supportive about other women's choices.

Up until recently I couldn't comprehend why anyone would choose an epidural. But reading comments like the one by OP, and the ones in that thread I linked to above, helped me understand why some women do choose epidurals. I think OP maybe feels the same way about natural birth as I do about epidurals -- she can't imagine why anyone would want a natural birth, and was looking for explanations from those who had made that choice.

[Anonymous]

I won't lie. I sometimes can't imagine why a person would choose to labor in pain and be exhausted after the end of it all rather than labor without the pain. But I have only experienced labor with an epidural and had 2 amazing, wonderfully quick outcomes with babies who were completely alert and perfect. But I do fully believe it is a personal choice and completely support anybody in whatever choice they make.

What I really don't like though is when people - on either side - start using scare tactics to try to convince other women that their choices are bad for their bodies or babies. Epidurals have been around a long time and are safe. That doesn't mean complications don't arise, but you know what? Complications can arise in any birth - with or without medical intervention. People cite internet research/articles to support their side, but often times, these cites are biased.

My attitude is - do whatever you want, but leave the scare tactics and self-righteousness at home and just agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Normally, I am completely into medicating discomfort away. My husband is forever getting headaches and not taking a dang Tylenol for them and then feeling like crap for hours. I had a cold a couple weeks ago (at end of second trimester) and not being able to just pop cold meds all day was absolute hell.

That said, I have never thought twice about my decision to have a medication-free birth. My reasons are probably the same as a lot that you'll hear - concern about cascade of interventions, possibility that epi would not work, etc.

In the past few months, I've spent a lot of time thinking about this (mostly from reading this board actually) and to me, there is a difference between "pain" and "suffering." Strenuous exercise is painful and exhausting, but it is not suffering. If my labor went from being painful to actually causing suffering, I would probably request some kind of medication. As it is, I have confidence in my ability to use natural forms of pain relief to mitigate the pain.

A question for the OP - when you got to the hospital, did you receive pitocin? It causes more painful contractions.

[Anonymous]

With my first pregnancy, I had a late first trimester miscarriage without a D&C. Did it at home, based on my Georgetown OBs advice to avoid a D&C unless really necessary. OMG. Worst pain of my life. Vomited and almost passed out while curled up on the floor, screaming in pain.

For my next pregnancy, I took a Bradley course and learned what to expect, how to breathe and how to relax through contractions. Went on to have 3 natural births, none of them as painful as that first miscarriage. So I think if a woman has some education and skills, a natural birth is very do-able.

[Anonymous]

8:23 here. Did you feel that I was using scare tactics or being self-righteous? I was just trying to describe the reasons why I personally made the choice that I did, and reasons/information that was persuasive for me. I hope I didn't come off as trying to use scare tactics as that was not my intention.

Anonymous wrote:I won't lie. I sometimes can't imagine why a person would choose to labor in pain and be exhausted after the end of it all rather than labor without the pain. But I have only experienced labor with an epidural and had 2 amazing, wonderfully quick outcomes with babies who were completely alert and perfect. But I do fully believe it is a personal choice and completely support anybody in whatever choice they make.

What I really don't like though is when people - on either side - start using scare tactics to try to convince other women that their choices are bad for their bodies or babies. Epidurals have been around a long time and are safe. That doesn't mean complications don't arise, but you know what? Complications can arise in any birth - with or without medical intervention. People cite internet research/articles to support their side, but often times, these cites are biased.

My attitude is - do whatever you want, but leave the scare tactics and self-righteousness at home and just agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

What 8:23 said, pretty much. Although I do think the OP is awfully close to judging those who don't have an epidural. What I wanted, did, and got during labor means absolutely nothing with respect to you. It's not a judgment, it's not commentary on your choices, so let it go.

[Anonymous]

With my 1st labor, I went in with the mind set of being drug free as long as possible. For me, this mindset was a way of setting myself up for an eventual epidural.

With my 2nd, I went in wit the mind set of "I can do this without drugs". Slight change of perspective and major difference in outcome.

And what was the difference - wow did I recover much faster! I was not in a medicated light fog for a day and a half after DC #2 was born.

I am now pregnant with #3 and will be delivering in a hospital and my plan is once again to deliver without painkillers.

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of us are just quick to feel judged even when we're not. At least I am. To me OP's post didn't seem judgy, just curious. But then, I am pregnant for the first time and had the same curiosity and I have not even been through it yet -- just someone who not only has always planned to have an epidural but actually spends time obsessing over the possibility of not getting to the hospital in time to have one. Anyway, I've tried to post a question like OP's before but always worried others would think I was judging and thus always abnadoned the question before posting. A follow up question I do have is the rationale behind the reason that epidurals may not work or work unevenly--seems to me an epidural that doesn't work well is no worse than no epidural at all, but as I type this I am thinking that reason gets combined with the others (in other words, not worth the risks, even if small, when there is no guarantee of that pain-free reward?). Is that kinda right? Anyway, not trying to start anything here. I guess I am just a wimp and mystified by anyone who would willingly accept that kind of pain!

[Anonymous]

I really am in the middle ground - for my first birth, I was *determined* to have a natural childbirth for reasons aptly captured by PPs. Then I had a child. Really quick birth, but sheesh, that's painful! I might even call it suffering.

Fast fwd to birth 2 and I was willing to consider epidural if labor went longer than first speedy birth. Still had no epidural or drugs for kids #2 and 3 BUT I bring this up since I was open to an epidural and had speedy pregnancies (and I think some pregnant women could use this info) -- apparently there's a window after which you can't get an epidural. Like when I arrived 9cm dialated with kid 2. Just sayin, I never knew there was a window, much less that it could shut!!

[Anonymous]

10:10 I mean speedy deliveries not speedy pregnancies...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really am in the middle ground - for my first birth, I was *determined* to have a natural childbirth for reasons aptly captured by PPs. Then I had a child. Really quick birth, but sheesh, that's painful! I might even call it suffering.

Fast fwd to birth 2 and I was willing to consider epidural if labor went longer than first speedy birth. Still had no epidural or drugs for kids #2 and 3 BUT I bring this up since I was open to an epidural and had speedy pregnancies (and I think some pregnant women could use this info) -- apparently there's a window after which you can't get an epidural. Like when I arrived 9cm dialated with kid 2. Just sayin, I never knew there was a window, much less that it could shut!!

10:01 here. That's what scares me! I'm well aware of the window and terrified of it shutting. Do you feel like you dilly-dallied in getting to the hospital or were you really jsut that quick? Was it so quick you hardly had time to be bothered by the pain as some people keep trying to convince me???