Epidural - Do you think it's cheating? (except medical reason)?

Answer 1

Hmm...It really depends on the woman giving birth but for me I would feel like I was cheating. I had one with my first child but only after 12 hours of trying to do it by myself and in the end the docs said that I needed one so they could cut me to get him out as we were close to both (possibly) dying.

With my second 2, they came fast and I didn't need anything as they just slipped out. I wouldn't have had another epi though.

My sister has had epidurals from the beginning as she was induced and she didn't feel one thing. She slept thru most of her labour. i know you don't get a medal for being in the most pain or anything but think she missed out on what birth is all about!

Also, although epidurals are considered safe...there are still risks associated with them and would rather not have to worry about that while I am giving birth on top of my labour! But if the need arises in the pregnancy I am having now...and my baby or myself are in danger without one...I would definately have one.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I went into labor (induced) thinking that I could handle the pain. I'm a tough girl, lifted weights in high school, ran quite a bit for exercise, etc. etc.

Labor pain is completely different than anything you'll ever feel again in your life (save for future labors if any). If you've ever had bad menstrual cramps, multiply that by 100. Maybe more.

It's not something you'd like to go through everyday in my opinion. Some women are different though, and I heard that being induced hurts a lot more because the contractions are basically mechanic.

I tried to go through it without anything at all. Ten hours into the labor, I asked for something, anything to help me sleep! They gave me Statol. All that did was make me feel drunk and only worked the first two times they injected it.

Five hours later, I was begging for an epidural. It was a Godsend. I passed out as soon as the drugs hit me, and I would have been rearing to go and push the baby out if the pain hadn't come back tenfold. (The anesthesiologist did not plug my epi line into the drip bag... talk about a let-down.)

I ended up wigging out and having a Cesarean section after almost 20 hours of labor.

My point being, is pregnancy may be made for a female body, but labor is definitely not for all of us. If you can't handle the pain, don't be afraid to ask for something. And make sure all your lines are plugged in!

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

That is an interesting question. In the western world we are conditioned to believe that labour is a terrible, bad thing, that everything will be ok if we stuff ourselves with drugs. However, our bodies know what to do naturally, without the help of drugs, and it has been proven that medical intervention can actually alter the course of labour and make it longer and far more un-natural. Having said that, if there are drugs avaliable then u could say "why suffer"? I don't know the answer really. Im 38 weeks pregnant with my first and intend to try and do it naturally in water. Ive been brushing up on yogic breathing, gravity techniques, visulisation, positive thinking. However, Im not stupid enought to remove all my options and will have the option of epidural on stand-by should i need it.

Answer 5

No way is pain relief cheating. It's wonderful that we now have so many options for pain management. I had an epidural with 2 of my 4 deliveries. I preferred the epidural. It is a personal choice, but I opt for as little pain as possible. Nobody is going to judge you in the hospital for getting an epidural. In fact, they may encourage it if you are very uncomfortable. FYI, the most common side effect is a decreased blood pressure. so they give you a bolus (IV fluids- fast infusion) prior to the epidural.
Good Luck sweety!

Answer 6

When you have bad cramps is it cheating to take Tylenol? Why is it such a controvesial thing to take pain relief for pain? Especially when pushing out something the size of a football and weighing nearly as much as a sack of potatoes? If you feel it connects you to your child more, I say all the power to you. As for a woman who had much trouble getting her child here pain was something I expected but, without it I was more able to appreciate what was going on. By the way, drugs don't work the same for everyone. FOr me the eppidural didn't "stop" the pain, it just lessened it. I still felt everything.

Answer 7

I don't think having an Epidural is cheating. I have had five Epdiural's, and it helped me get through all five pregnancies. I really tried to go through them all as long as I could, but, I couldn't. You shouldn't feel guilty at all. It's very common thing for woman to have when they are going to have a baby. I hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 8

Epidurals are fine, if they work. Do what you gotta do to stay as pain free as possible. I had an epidural last June and it just made me uncomfortably numb, as the song goes. I still felt the pain of her coming out. My first bith experience I had Demerol and barely felt anything. It was great. Nubain is also great. Good luck.

Answer 9

No girl I dont think its cheating. Everyone has their own level of tollerence for pain. I myself have a very low tollerence, and am not ashamed. You do what is best for your body and for your piece of mind. You are the one that is going to be going through the pain, so dont let anyone tell you that if you decide to have pain relief, that you are a whimp and are cheating!!!!! I had to have csections with both of my boys and was told that I took the easy way out by a girl that I know when she was pregnant with her FIRST child. Needless to say when she went into labor she ended up having to have a csection. To this day she said that was the worst recovery pain........so this just goes to show that people will try to make you feel bad, but you have to do what is best for YOU!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Have you ever had a baby? i understand some women don't get them and thats great. If i felt I didn't need one I would not have gotten it. I dont think its cheating at all. you still feel pain, at least I did. And you still do all the hard labor of pushin that baby out. So no its no cheating at all.