I’ll be honest. I love epidurals. I had them both times I gave birth. The first one worked better than the one I had for my second birth. I will sing the praises of epidurals with no qualms.
Miranda Kerr, the Aussie supermodel said she didn’t avail herself of an epidural during the birth or baby Flynn because she didn’t want a “drugged up baby”. (I asked this question of the anesthetist at the time I was getting an epidural & he said it was safe.)
Good for you Miranda. You’re a stronger woman than I am.
I had my first baby in London and dutifully did my National Childbirth Trust classes, learnt baby massage and labored over my birth plan (“just gas and air”). So when at 3cm dilated, I decided it wasn’t a lot of fun ( I had been induced and spent what seemed like the LONGEST night going from 1cm to 3cm) and I begged the midwife for an epidural.
“What about your birth plan?,” she asked.
“I’m flexible,” I groaned.
I got the epi and it was lovely. I slept, caught up on reading OK! and Inside Soap and was feeling good. Obviously when it got to the pushing end of things it was harder but I wouldn’t do anything differently. I was mobile during my labour and was able to try different positions. Both my babes went straight on the skin and the breast and it was fine.
For the second birth, I wanted to try for no drugs but realised quickly that my window for an epi was shorter, so I got one. I didn’t care how much it cost. Turns out it wasn’t as effective as my first experience but the labour was shorter anyway.
I don’t need to fully experience or embrace the pain to know I’m in labour. I think birth choices are up to the individual.
Good for you if you had your baby drug-free, in water, at home and hanging off a trapeze.
I think people who don’t get epidurals are bat shit crazy…but it’s your choice!
Absolutely Em!! As long as you have a healthy baby at the end of it, it doesn’t matter how or with what ‘aids’ you come in to the world!! As a mother who had an emergency caeserian, a planned caeserian and two babies in intensive care – the entry in to this world is insignificant!! Some of these so called ‘super mum’s’ really need to be put in the position of having to be a ‘super mum!!’.
Em – loved this post ( as I do all of your posts).
Seriously, the new age ‘Mama’ world does my head in. Everything from the do’s and dont’s during pre conception, on the night of conception (because clearly, we all know when the exact moment occurs – doesn’t everyone…? oooooh you just ‘know’ and should immediately drink a glass of asparagus juice, freshly squeezed – STAT!’ and whilst pregnant. We’re not idiots, if you smell the milk, and it’s a bit on the nose, don’t drink it. If you are offered salami from a street vendor in 50 degree heat in Thailand, don’t eat it! But seriously, what has happened to good old common sense. If it’s not right – our inner instincts will tell us. As for epis – well, unfortunately I wont ever be in the position to know thanks to a spinal fusion. Cant have one. So! Do I trust that I can manage ala natural? Or have to succumb to a GA. GA??????? Now that will REALLY get peeps talking!
Fully agree with you Emily, I know someone who is always banging on about her 8 hour drug free labour with a private midwife, implying that if it was any different for you then you just didn’t try hard enough. As neither of mine was anywhere near 8 hours – more like 23 and 24 respectively and in the first instance with fetal distress and monitoring, an epidural was a Godsend!