Drugs or no drugs?

Question

Just wondering how people feel about this subject when going into labor. I have been told that I was a failure for getting drugs during labor and that I didn't get to experience the real miracle of birth. Like I wasn't a REAL woman for not going natural. The way I look at it is, I am not going to go have a root canal without drugs so why should I give birth without them. (Granted, I ended up with a c-section) but I did opt for the epidural before that. I wasn't out of it during labor and delivery and I remember and enjoyed every bit of it. I think it is more important to be a good mother for your children.

I should add that I have nothing against women that go naturally. I just don't like being told what a failure I am.

My kids came out screaming and pink. I pushed for 5 1/2 hours straight for my first son. The epidural didn't work for me. Thankfully his heartbeat never wavered and he didn't go into distress. When they took him by c-section they discovered that his head was too big for me to push out. They ended up using a vaccum during the section.

Answer 1

Im 36 weeks with my first. You make alot of sence. LOL I wouldnt want my tooth pulled with no drugs. I was ganna see if I could "handle" the natural birth. But Now I think I will say gimme the drugs. After all I dont want to try and be a "hero" I just wann get him out!!!

Answer 2

I agree that it's wrong for anyone to tell you that you're a failure for opting for an epidural during labor. I have 2 children -- I had an epidural with the first one but not the second. The first birth I did not hire a doula and the second child I did and there is no question that the doula convinced me not to have the epidural. I have to say that having done it both ways, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Mainly, the epidural made the birth easier, but my recovery was more difficult. Without the epidural I was that crazy woman giving birth, screaming profanity and kicking the nurses (especially at the end); but my recovery was significantly easier. Everybody has to do what works best for them, so long as there is no harm to mom or baby. We need to be more supportive of each other as women, and stop judging one another. Life is hard enough without that.

Answer 3

I had been planning to go natural. I read all the Bradley method books, did all the preperation squating. But then my very large baby was a week late, and I had to be induced. I was on the pitocin for 12 hours before I pleaded for the epidural. My baby waited 24 more hours to come.

I wouldn't have had the strength to push him through the canal if I had been in pain for those last 24 hours. That would have jeoperdized my health and the health of my little one.

That is what is important. The mother and baby's health. So if drugs are going to help with the process instead of add other risk factors they are necessary.

I should add that next time I will try to avoid the epidural just because my blood pressure dropped so low that the nurses and my husband were scared for my life. It passed, but it was pretty scary.

Answer 4

I can't believe someone would utter those words to another human being. Childbirth is a courageous thing, period. No matter how it happened.

And I completely agree with you. I'm not going to put myself through unnecessary pain if I don't have to. I had one with an epidural because I got to the hospital hours before the birth. The second one came so fast that he was delivered w/o pain killers of any type, not by choice but because I went from 3cm to 10cm in about 20 minutes. I'm not aware of any "effects" some people say babies whose mother's have have epidurals. Both of my babies slept for a good 6 hours after birth and behaved the same immediately after the birth and after waking up.

Answer 5

Whoever told you you were a failure for getting an epidural is a complete moron.Why would you want to feel pain if you didn't have to.My wife did it both ways and said in no way did having an epidural take away from the experience it actually made it better.

Answer 6

With the first one I absolutely wanted drugs and got too many and my son was born doped up and not breathing. We had many problems with him after that. But when my daughter was born I refused to have any drugs whatsoever and the birth lasted only 7 hours with relatively no pain but for the contractions. They were painful but they weren't really that bad. She came out howling and screaming and perfect. I didn't feel like more or less of a woman because I didn't use them. I AM a woman and the fact that I even gave birth at all is proof of that!!

Answer 7

With my 1st I was all like oh I have to go natural it's best for the baby lots of woman do it I can do it. Well somewhere during my 25 hours of labor that went out the window. By the time I decided I had to have drugs I was in soooooo much pain and couldn't get them fast enough. They wouldn't offer drugs if they were dangerous or unnecessary. Needless to say when I had my 2nd I opted for pain relief as soon as I could!!!

Answer 8

If you can go all natural, then good for you, but there is nothing wrong with having something to ease the pain.

I tried to go without drugs only because just about everyone woman in my family went natural... I did the best I could and held out as long as I could, but the pain became unbearable, so I took the drugs.

I didn't have much time to enjoy them though because 20 minutes later I went into labor.

And I completely agree, it doesn't matter HOW you have the child - as long as you're a good mother, who cares??

Answer 9

You're not a failure!! Whoever told you that should be smacked up along their thickheaded skull. I'm due in March with my 4th and plan to have an epidural.I had one without an epidural-NEVER AGAIN!!!!
The real miracle is when you get to hold your child for the first time not whether or not you did "naturally" or not. Enjoy your child no matter how they came into your life.

Answer 10

Alright, I am a bit older than most of you and my 3 daughters are grown and have children of their own. But anyway, I had my children back in the early 80's when the thought was "if you breath right, then you won't feel the pain". I had no drugs at all with my first two but ended up having drugs with the last one, who is now 21. If I had to do it over again, I would take every drug that was available to me with out harming the baby.

I don't care who says what, having a baby with out any drugs at all is the most painful thing in the world. The nurses kept telling me I wasn't breathing right. They were crazy.

You wanted my two cents and you got it. Women, TAKE THE DRUGS....