Molly Sims may not be the most high-profile pregnant woman in Hollywood, as stars like Jessica Simpson seem to soak up most of the spotlight, but she is one of my favorites. Though she's an excited first-time mother, she also has a refreshingly laid back attitude about the whole pregnancy thing -- especially when it comes to pain management during labor.
In a recent interview with Access Hollywood, she talked about how she's preparing for the arrival of her baby with producer husband, Scott Stuber. “We’re just reading and taking it all in. I’m definitely going to do a birthing class, which we’re just about to start. I’m going to learn how to breathe and be zen."
Which sounds great, but also made me roll my eyes a little, until I read the rest of her statement.
“Or I’ll just get an epidural!” she said.
She said advice from her friends on whether to get one has been mixed:
“Some people are like, ‘You’ve got to go with the pain or you’ll never remember it,. Others are like, ‘No [expletive] way!’”
That pretty much sums up the extremely strong feelings that surround this often controversial issue. I'm glad to see Sims take a wait-and-see approach, however -- not something many women will admit.
While I think birth plans are great, I also think they can lead to loads of disappointment down the line. While an epidural may be the last thing you think you want and you vehemently commit beforehand to refusing it, it may be just what you need to get you through the experience. There should be no feelings of failure when any woman chooses to request help with pain management ... but too often there are.
There are certainly benefits to a "natural" birth, but plenty of babies are born with the use of epidurals, and they're just fine. While I applaud women who do it naturally, there are no points to be lost for those who don't. So leaving that decision open -- even if only in one's own mind -- is the best way to go into labor.
Do you regret your decision to use an epidural or not? Did you have a birth plan, and if so, how closely did you follow it in actuality?
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Comments 51
Hell no I don't regret getting epidurals with all 3! The warrior women who can go without are definitely my heroes though! I honestly don't know how they do it!
I didn't get an epidural with either of my kids and I don't regret that decision one bit. I'm so glad I went without. That said, that was my informed decision for my birth and what I wanted. I'm not going to look down on anyone who gets one.
I have zero regrets about my epidural with my first baby. I'm 7 months pregnant right now and people keep asking me "Are you going to go natural with this one since you had an epidural with your first?" with this cringe like my epidural experience was bad. Which drives me crazy, because it wasn't bad! I know some women have bad epidural experiences. Some women have bad "natural" birth experiences too. People have bad experiences sometimes. But not everyone has the same bad experience. Your experience is your experience, my experience is my experience. End of story.
I've only had one child, so one epi, but I'm glad I did it. It made it easier and faster when the doc suddenly said, "C-section. NOW." The C wasn't in the plan, the epi was, if needed (which it was... I asked the anesthetist to marry me!).
We didn't get offered epidurals when I had my boys. I had nothing and lived to tell about it. I didn't find it so bad. You really do have to learn to breathe though and stay on top of it. I didn't ever have an ultra sound either.
LOL Pony!!!!
@PonyChaser When my anesthesiologist walked into my hospital room I sat up and said "I am SO happy to see you!" and he cracked up. :-) Apparently not all his receptions are that enthusiastic!
I get leaving the possibility there but why, if a woman absolutely doesn't want one, does that invoke eye rolling and other comments? I don't get it....
It's no one's buisness, but I think people should be more mellow about women who say they aren't getting one, I was met with constant scorn, like I couldn't go without. I don't care how anyone gives birth, I just think people should be informed about what they are really getting.