Why Skipping Prenatal Vitamins Isn't a Good Idea
Delicious Pineapple Upside-Down Muffins
Is Adele Taking a Break From Music?
Michelle Obama's Tips for Getting Kids to Eat Healthy
Take Action: Stand Up Against Weight Bullying
Things Your Son Can Teach You About Men
Past 'Sports Illustrated' Covergirls (PHOTOS)
Are Egg Donors Really 'Mothers'?
Your Lipstick Could Be Bad for Your Health
Jennifer Aniston Slams Brad Pitt
Justin Bieber's Touching Valentine's Date (VIDEO)
Valentine's Love Advice ... From a Psychic
Kate Winslet's Most Impressive Role Yet
15 Worst Valentine's Day Gifts 
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Having Kids
A Labor and Delivery Nurse once said that when patients get an epidural when they are only one centimeter dilated, nurses think they are wimps.
I have always wondered why women feel the need to suffer through the pain of labor when they don't have to. Are they trying to prove something to themselves? To others?
Why is it seen as impressive that women suffer needlessly. Shouldn't it be seen as foolish?
If you have a headache, should you just grin and bare it instead of taking a pain reliever? How about having a dentist put a filling in your tooth. Should you skip the Novocaine? How about if you have surgery? Would you say, "No thanks. Cut me open without giving me anesthesia. I'm strong." It sounds absurd. Why then, is there a different standard put on pregnant women?
Some may argue that giving birth is a natural miracle. Of course it is, but we live in a modern age where we are afforded convenience. It can also be argued that walking everywhere is natural. But it sure is faster to drive most places. And your feet will hurt a lot less.
I feel like the second you have pain, if modern medicine can help reduce it, why not use it? Why should I suffer through even one minute of pain when I don't have to? Who cares if the nurses are talking about me. During my first birth, I talked about the nurses to my husband and friends right back. Having a comfortable birth was fine with me. I'm not embarrassed, nor do I feel weak.
Of course, there are studies that are against epidurals, claiming that women are more likely to get C-sections if they have the anesthesia. But, The Stir's Julie Ryan Evans, also a huge fan of the epidural, found a study that argues it's safer TO have the epidural.
Does it make you stronger if you wait longer for the epidural or choose not to get on at all?
Image via Gabi Agu/Flickr
Comments (52)
I went into labor at 2:00 PM the day before my son was actually born, and finally grit my teeth and went to the hospital at 4:30 AM the following morning. By the time I got there, I was 5 cm dilated and asked promptly for an epidural, since my water had also broken and I had been in excrutiatingly painful labor for hours. They happily gave me one and informed me that 5 cm is when they start giving them out; I was under the impression you couldn't get one earlier than that. Regardless, women are in LABOR. It is called labor for a reason, it's hard! There are so many bitchy women just waiting to judge one another about their delivery experience and etc, and its just wrong. Yes, I ended up having a section, because my son was TEN pounds, not because of my epidural. Idiotic.
Also would like to add that a mature and professional L&D Nurse would never make a comment like that, even if they thought it... unless they happen to belong to the 'natural birth zealot' organizations I am becoming increasingly aware I can never be part of, since I had a surgery. How dare I! LOL It's ridiculous! I am in nursing and would never make that comment... that's horrible! Especially as a woman!
Of course you wouldn't see the benefits of natural childbirth, just like you don't see the benefits of breastfeeding. Both of those choices are sacrifices a mother makes for the well being of her baby and to give that baby the best start possible.
Epidural increases risks to mother and child. Those should not be taken lightly. We all have to make EDUCATED choices for our children, not just go along and do the easiest thing for us. Our baby should come first.
I am not saying that people who have epidurals don't care about their babies. I am saying don't go in blind and uneducated about the risks.
Chances are, the nurse who made the comment has never been through childbirth herself. The first time around for me, I was pre eclamptic... Severely. I had to be put on magnesium to avoid having a stroke. As I was being induced, I tried to go as long ad I could without it, but due to the other complications, I did opt for an epidural. it helped me relax, which lowered my bloodpressure, and allowed me to sleep and rest. My second pregnancy was considered high risk, but the labor went a lot smoother, and again I opted for the epi once the pain became unbearable. There's nothing wrong with either of my girls as a result, and I see no reason why women can't be comfortable when in labor. IMO, it makes for a more pleasant birth experience.
I know I was very fortunate. All three of my babies were fairly quick labors and I did not end up needing epidurals. I would like to think that if it was medically necessary the epidural is there, but I would not choose to use it otherwise.
I think of it this way-I have some very painful periods occasionally. I would not get an epidural for that! Once that period has passed, I promptly forget how awful it felt until the next time it is that bad. It was similar with labor, once the worst of it was over, I promptly forgot it in the wonder of that little being I held in my arms.
After hours and hours of labor I got an epidural with my first son. This pregnancy I am hoping for a faster labor so I can give birth without it. I think people need to give it a rest and let the mom give birth without guilt!
I have had 2 completely natural births. I do not look down on women who choose to get an epidural. However, they should not be used as routinely as they are. I think a lot of women don't do their own research regarding labor. Doctors should also better inform women of their options for managing birth other than epidural or not. There ARE risks to an epidural whether you choose to believe it or not. And the fact that you might escape some incontinence issues does not tip the scales in favor of epidural, imo. Not at all.
You're being judgemental yourself in this post. You say epidural-mommies shouldn't be called pussies or wimps, yet here you are calling natural-mommies foolish and absurd. Hypocritical, much?
For the record, I know many women who've given birth naturally and have never once heard any holier-than-thou attitude coming from them (at least not unprovoked). Most natural birthers just want to educate and inform others of how wonderful it can be to birth naturally because we want everyone else to be able to experience that indescribable feeling. I think people misconstrue statements like "I felt like I could climb a mountain! I felt like superwoman, like I could do anything!". We do not meant "I'm better than you" when we say that.
On the other hand, I have heard tons of negative comments regarding birthing naturally. Some of which were directed towards me and my own decisions. Crazy? Nuts? Stupid? Masochist?
It's a 2 way street ladies.
No woman should make a choice because she is worried about being percieved as 'wimpy'. MOST natural birthers who CHOOSE to forgo the epi do so because of the risks associated with the epi (far more then just an increased risk for c-sections) and because of the benefits of natural birthing (medicated mothers don't get the same rush of hormones immediatly after birth).
OK, I'm going to say it - YES, women who go the natural route for delivery are stronger and/or better prepared for labor. I don't even know why it's a question - if you ask for an epidural because it hurts, that means you can't or don't want to deal with the pain. Or you need to "relax", which is something I hear a lot instead, claiming the labor wasn't progressing because mom couldn't relax - which indicates to me that she wasn't prepared for labor.
Stronger doesn't mean better here, ladies - how someone perceives and manages pain is very personal - but we do consider people who are able to tolerate more physical pain "stronger". What's the big deal? It's not always a good thing to have a high pain tolerance - take it from someone whose appendix ruptured in the ER waiting room, because I wasn't in enough pain to be considered acute.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Suffering needlessly is silly. Some women who I've know that did it natural, walk around like they want a prize or a medal. I have definitely felt some judgment for using epidurals on all three. All came labors were posterior with crazy back labor and ranged from 14-19 hours. Despite epi? All were healthy, perfect babies with no complications and are still healthy, perfect kids which are very complicated. Teenagers...Heh!
So the last birth?
The arsehole of an anesthesiologist decided to turn off my epi just before I pushed out a 10' 1 ounces, 14.5 cm head baby. They had predicted he'd be 7 lbs. Right! So I was in agony. The nurse said he thought I "knew the deal."
Such bullshit for a male doctor to decide for me. Let me ask you this, do you think any of your husbands' would have a "natural" vasectomy. Hell, no. So why should we?
~Scout/Heather Murphy-Raines