pressured into childbirth with meds?

Question

Does anyone feel like you're almost being pressured into using pain medicine (epidural) rather than natural childbirth? I would like to give natural childbirth a shot...but everyone says I'm crazy and I'm stupid and there's no way I will be able to do it. Then my doctor reminded me at my last visit that they "believe in pain relief and pain management" and whenever I ask questions about natural childbirth on Yahoo! Answers I've gotten responses such as "don't try to be a cowboy" and "the nurses and doctors will think you're being silly"

I feel like I'm almost being pressured into using pain meds...and people think I'm crazy for wanting to try a natural birth. Anyone else feel like this?

Answer 1

Is it too late to change hospitals, or at least to change from your OB to a midwife? You have a right to control your own health care, and the includes deciding how you want to give birth. If you have enought time to switch, you could also consider giving birth at a birthing center rather than a hospital (assuming your pregnancy is healthy and low-risk).

My own philsophy--I am going to try to have a natural childbirth because there are small but definite risks associated with epidurals and other forms of pain relief. But if I get to the point where I truly cannot stand one more second, I won't hesitate to ask for pain relief. But that's a decision I'm making for myself, no one will be allowed to pressure me into it.

Good luck. You have a right to the birth you want.

Answer 2

I've always felt from a nursing standpoint, why endure the pain if you don't have to and would be able to enjoy the childbirth experience w/ the help of pain medication, but I would NEVER try to persuade you to do it. It's a personal choice. If you want to have a natural childbirth, then you should have a natural childbirth. No one can FORCE you to have an epidural or pain management during childbirth. It is a consented procedure and you have a right to REFUSE anything you don't want. At your next appt I would tell your doctor that you are planning on having a natural childbirth experience and EXPECT him/her to support your decision and accomodate your wishes. I have a friend who did natural 2 times and epidural w/ the last and she said that she felt better afterward w/ the epidural b/c she didn't expend so much energy during the experience, but she'd do the natural method again in a heartbeat. You are not crazy. It's your choice and it's a choice that's different for everyone. Good luck and stand your ground. You'll only regret it if you give in w/out trying. Don't exclude the possibility of pain relief though. You may get into it and realize that you want it--it doesn't make you a failure. Just go in w/ the plan of having a natural childbirth and be open to the alternatives if it's worse than you're expecting. GOOD LUCK! HAVE FUN!!

Answer 3

do it! I wish I would have. I did feel pressure. I have scoliosis and was afraid to get an epidural. I expressed these feelings to my healthcare team. My first nurse was very understanding and I labored for about 12 hours without pain meds. My next nurse kept coming in my room every few minutes pressuring me to get an epidural before it was too late. In a moment of weakness, I did it. They missed with the epidural the first time and then stuck me again. It worked for about a half hour and then nothing. I ended up giving birth with the epidural numbing only my left mid-thigh down (obviously not effective where it needed to be!) I had back pain for the first year of my son's life. I regret getting it because it didn't work anyway, and I liked the idea of natural child birth- it's empowering to be able to do it. My next child I will attempt to go natural! My advice, do what you feel comfortable with and don't listen to anyone else. You may go in there thinking you don't want one and then chose to go with the meds. But it doesn't hurt to try without any meds right?! Plus, there are other options, other than the epidural, they have meds they can administer through the iv.

Answer 4

I personally dont think natural childbirth is silly at all, and encourage all my mom's, however, I also know the pain that childbirth brings, and would never try and talk a mom out of requesting an epidural. Unfortunately for some its a necessity, for others labor is a breeze and dont understand the need for pain relief.

Answer 5

Don't listen to the scaremongerers. A woman can be totally capable of giving birth naturally without inducement and without intervention such as epidural. The doctors and midwife are on-hand should you need intervention. But that does not stop you from reading relevant information re: dietary/physical/mental preparation (for right up to and beyond the pushing) for a normal birth, whereby you may need nothing more than gas & air. These preparations are very important and if you are wanting to give birth naturally - then all the best to you.
People may pressure you to have intervention because they themselves did, and it is not necessary to accept this as routine. The hospital may put pressure on you for induction when you are on the ward, and the contractions start but don't proceed 'fast enough', and this is all because they are processing numbers and they want you in and out of there.
P.S. remember your answers are a mix of UK and USA (+ others?): US hospitals, I understand, are more intervention-oriented than UK ones.

Answer 6

it is your birth and you can do whatever you want.

the best advise I ever go was to not make up my mind about to use pain meds or not. So, when I went into labor I decided that I wanted them, but there was no time. And you know-I was ok. I remembered my breathing (at the time of the class it sort of feels silly, but it really does help, mostly the focusing part) and pushed and everything went well.

With my second I had to be induced, I decided to have an epidural, I'm not sure if I would have one again. I don't know.

The bottom line is do what feels right for you. It's true, you don't get a medal for going natural, but if it's what you want than do it. Research the other birthing methods, and if you feel like you want meds, then get them. It's all up to you.

Answer 7

I have had two children and my birth plan for both was "as natural a possible but with medical intervention if necessary". That's all you need to write as you have no idea how it is going to go.

WIth my first, I had nothing until 36 hours in when I was so exhuasted I had an epidural and I can tell you, the relief was ABSOLUTE BLISS.

WIth my second, I had him with just a midwife (nobody else) there who refused me an epidural (witch) and I had him totally with no pain relief whatsoever. 8lb 10oz and my god did it hurt. But I still did it and I was fine.

You do what is right for you at the time and don't feel bad!

Oh and good luck!

Answer 8

That's funny, I feel like there is more pressure to have a natural birth (but I want the meds). My mom, grandmother, etc all tell me about their natural births and I see tons of baby shows with the birthing coaches and water births for women to go at it naturally. I think most people support you either way and the doctors just want you to know and understand your options. Those calling you stupid or a cowboy should just be ignored. Good luck!

Answer 9

You shouldn't feel pressured into doing anything...have you ever been in labor before? If so, then you can speak to your experience...if not, then I say go into with an open mind...keep all of your options open.

Some of the most disappointed pts. I've ever cared for are the ones that are adamant on how things are "supposed" to go. Some want no medication, others want it, some want it quiet, some want NO c-section...etc. It seems those that have this absolute plan on the way things should be, often turn out disappointed.

Once you are actually in labor, NO dr or nurse is going to force anything on you... they simply cannot. When you are there, you can make that call --for yourself..

All I suggest is listen to everyone, that has been there, done that... they have experience and I mean this from all sides...

Good Luck with your delivery!

Answer 10

It is very hard to have a childbirth without drugs in a hospital. One of the reasons is how hard it is on Doctors and Nurses to see how much pain you are in. It is so much easier on them to say here take these drugs.

The best way to refuse these drugs is to get educated on natural childbirth and have a strong partner.

Most of them( doctor, nurses and family) do not realize how pushy they are when they offer the pain medication 2, 3 and even more times.
They are always saying "you dont have to be a Maryter".
Most women are not trying to be a a hero or anything else. They just want what is best for them and their child.
I feel that an epidural where I could not walk, eat, drink or do many of the things I did do would have been detrimental to me mentaly as well as physically.
I LOVED the whole birth experience. I am a stronger woman because of it. I know that I can endure.


I have had 4 children. I was always dead set on Natural Childbirth. With my first I was in a hospital using an OB/GYN. I came in Dilated to a 6-7 and was in a considerable amount of pain. I had no idea how to deal with the pain I was having. Even though I wanted a natural childbirth when they offered me drugs it was hard to refuse. It takes a strong woman to refuse relief at that point.
The drug they gave me was nubain. It made me relax alright. I could not open my eyes, talk of hardly move. I was totally awake and screaming inside! I kept hearing everybody talking about how the drugs helped me and all I could think was how I wish I could talk to them and tell them I needed help. After a couple of hours though it wore off and I refused any more. I was able to sit up and talk ask for drinks from my DH (secretly) and ask for cold wash rags for my face.
The birth was with me sitting in the bed with my legs in stirrups. YUCK! I had an awful episiotomy. That I later learned could have been avoided if I had use a different position like squatting or a birthing stool.

Anyways on to my next birth. It was an amazing pregnancy full of learning about my body and how it works. I had an amazing birth at a freestanding birth center attended by a CNM and a Labor doula. I educated my husband on natural birth the best I could and told him that I did not want any drugs and how to deal with my pain. He was an awesome labor partner. Between him, the doula and the midwife I was very well taken care of. The pain was not bad because I knew of so many different ways to relax and things to do to provide relief. The feeling of his body being born and his warm wet body being placed on my tummy was irreplaceable.


If your getting close to the birth of your child I would reccomend calling a Labor doula and talking very extensivly about your labor plans and hiring her or another doula. As well as reading at least two or three good books. The first one I would reccomend for you is Birthing from WIthin. The second is The Birth Partner- Penny Simpkin. Read it with your birth Partner.

I also recommend reading up on Birth at Dr Sears web site.
www.askdrsears.com

Another favorite web site is
http://www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html

And yet another favorite is
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=213