to give birth without medical intervention? And no, I don't mean out in a field or in the woods.
I'm curious because I feel alot of answers on here are reccomending women have cesarians and epidurals and episiotomies as routine practices.
Are there women on here that have been / would be comfortable just giving birth the natural way - no meds, no cuts, no injections - unless there was a legitimate problem?
Why or why not?
2006-10-16 06:43:37 · 16 answers · asked by Emily O 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
Jep, if you're reading judgement in this, you're out of your mind. I don't believe I've said anything disparaging about women who do not or cannot have a natural childbirth, but let me say this - your attitude stinks, and I'm looking "down my nose" at you for that reason.
2006-10-16 14:43:56 · update #1
I want to try to go without any kind of meds, but that is because I know that there is a risk of slowing down labor too much with an epidural, and also some meds can make either myself or the baby kind of out-of-it...and I want to be as present as possible. I have absolutely NO issue with pain control otherwise. And, this is a decision that, ultimately, I will make when I get there. If I can do it, fine. If I can't, fine.
I am well aware that women gave birth naturally for thousands of years. But...people also did amputations with nothing but a hacksaw and a strap of leather to bite down on for thousands of years as well...there is something to be said for medical advancements and intervention, IMO! Also, if you take a look at both infant and maternal mortality rates for thousands of years...again, something to be said for medical intervention.
Ultimately, a healthy baby and healthy mother is the "birth experience" goal. If that means an epidural because the pain isn't letting me relax enough to get the job done, then fine. If it means an emergency c-section, fine. No woman is "cheated" out of the birth experience if, when it is done, there is a beautiful, healthy baby in her arms.
2006-10-16 08:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by p.helen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both of my kids (ages 9 and 2) were born without pain meds, no epidural, no cesaerean, and (thank god) no episiotomy. The labor is the worst part, I had back labor with both. The thing about labor and delivery though...women have been doing this for thousands of years with minimal medical intervention. Of course there are times when it is unavoidable.
The pain of labor and delivery is excruciating! It is the worst pain imaginable. BUT...unlike some cronic ailments, you know that it will be over before too long and when it is you will have a beautiful little person to show for all your trouble.
I had no problem making the decision to deliver naturally because there were no chances of side effects for the babies. Also with epidural sometimes (according to my friends) you can not feel if you are pushing so your delivery is less effective and you may be more likely to have an short-notice cesaerean. After having my first child I will say this...you don't jump for the Tylenol as quick for little things because there is little comparison to what you have already been through.
(Added thought) For any who thinks women going through natural childbirth are just looking for a badge of honor...It is persol choice, just like your choice for pain meds. There is nothing wrong with either choice as long as you have a healthy baby at the end of it... :-)
2006-10-16 06:51:43 · answer #2 · answered by Pixie Dust 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I didn't have an episiotomy or cesearian, but I did elect for the epidural. I just felt like "why have so much intense pain if there doesn't have to be"? There is no bad effects on the baby or me, and I enjoyed the birth more because I was mentally "present". Before the epidural, I was in so much pain I couldn't think straight. After, I felt I was more a part of the process and was able to reach down to feel the head, be excited, etc. I don't think it is some sort of badge of honor or something because you can go "all natural". I am sure I could have if need be, but if I have the choice, why choose extreme pain? My baby and I are as close as close can be, so no one can say "ffeling it" would have made us closer. I actually enjoyed the process of him coming out - you can't beat that!
2006-10-16 06:50:45 · answer #3 · answered by In Luv w/ 2 B, 1 G + 1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely!!!
I think women encourage other women to get the epidurals because child birth DOES hurt.. and many believe now that medicine has a way to make labor painfree.. why go through all the pain when the end result is the same?
You also have to keep in mind that alot of those routine practices are there to save the docs and hospitals butts from lawsuits.
If people don't have the perfect happy healthy child, they sue.. and they get millions..
People like that are driving the great doctors out of states and the country because they can't afford to pay the malpractice insurance.. Plus the care we get is suffering because instead of keeping labor/birth as natural as possible, there's lots of pressure for interventions to prevent lawsuits.
You go girls! The ones who go au natural!
2006-10-16 07:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by SassySista 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When having my son I didn't have an episiotomy or cesarean but I did have an epidural. I was in labor for seventeen hours before I began to push. The epidural wore off by the 14th hour and I could feel everything when it came to the last hour or two. I feel very confident in my ability to give birth naturally but with this day in age I don't find it necessary. Is it that big of an accomplishment to say I delivered naturally--sure but does it really make a difference--no. The baby still comes out one way or another regardless of episiotomies, epidurals or cesareans. Next delivery I have I'm going to try natural birth because my husband (hopefully) will be able to attend. I personally don't feel it's that big of a deal but I know I can do it.
2006-10-16 06:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by .vato. 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would love to say I could, but I definitely could NOT give birth without medical intervention. I have never had a labor without pitocin, which I heard causes more painful contractions. For me, the pain was something I could not manage for hours on end. I needed the epidurals. As for the episiotomies, I had eight and a half pound babies. Even with the episiotomies, I tore severely. So, no, I'm not doing it without medical intervention. On with the epidural!
2006-10-16 06:50:06 · answer #6 · answered by momof3 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have given birth to 3 children
With the first I had alot of medical intervention due to allergic reaction to meds etc.
With the other two, I had 1 shot of a mild take the edge off muscle relaxant... With contractions twinning ( A new contraction beginning before the previous one had ended) I needed something to take that claw the ceiling edge off...
Wile I will agree c-sections, and epidurals are used alot and probably entirely too frequently and without exploring other options first, there is no reason anyone should have a negative experience with labor because in someone elses mind there isn't legitimate reason to have other things..
Someone else might have endured the discomfort of twinning contractions without medication, I felt there was a legitimate problem and need for intervention just like others may feel there wasn't...
Each of us is different and each of us has a different pain threshhold.. what one person may see as a fully legitimate problem and reason for intervention may not be what another sees as legitimate... Who other than the woman going through labor has the right to decide what is and is not legitimate and what is and is not appropriate for her? Surely you are not thinking it is you because if that's the case I would volunteer to be the judge of your pain for your labor...
I had a compound fracture of my left femur (bone sticking out of my thigh) and a compound fracture of my right wrist (yes bone sticking out of the skin there too) after a car accident, I medicated with over the counter tylenol from day 1 even when the Dr. prescribed morphine to use should I decide I needed it, would you like me making the decisions about when your pain is great enough to warrent pain killers or an epidural during labor??? I didn't think so...
2006-10-16 07:05:42 · answer #7 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'd like to give it a try at least. My daughter was delivered via c-section because she was breech so that was not my choice. I'd like to try an all natural vaginal delivery (scary as it sounds) for my next if I am able to. My mother had 4 of us, actually, most of the women in my family have delivered vaginally without medication, so I feel I should at least try if I can.
I don't think there's any reason c-sections should be routine practice - they should only be done when necessary - which is why it's so sad to see celebrities opting for c-section on demand. episiotomies don't help either. the vagina will stretch and tear on it's own and there have been studies done to suggest that spontaneous tears heal better/faster than episiotomies do. epidurals come with their own risks as well.
God made us to bear children and we as a species went thousands of years without any medical intervention, so if it's not necessary, why do so now? I understand that there are cases where a c-section is necessary but episiotomies and epidurals are not necessary for a vaginal delivery and should not be routinely done.
2006-10-16 06:56:38 · answer #8 · answered by smarty pants 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
personally, i'd rather be cut then to let tear on my own. i have big babies so no...there would have to be a cut. if it is warranted for the life of the baby, then yes! a c-section is necessary. i have yet to have an epidural, but i do reserve the doctor just in case.
I have had both my boys as naturally as possible. i had no meds, no epidural, no c-section. but the cut was a must. I plan to have this third one the same way. but then, both my boys fell out after 4-5 hours of labor. it all depends on how long this next labor lasts.
2006-10-16 06:58:43 · answer #9 · answered by Bella 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mother gave birth to 13 children...12 totally natural and 1 by C section. She said she didn't like the C section because she could not feel anything and it took away from the birth experiance. I have had 1 child, with an epidural, and i would not under any circumstance want to try natural childbirth.
2006-10-16 07:23:23 · answer #10 · answered by missyhardt 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋