I sometimes watch the program "a baby story" on TLC, i have never seen someone refuse an epidural. I live in the eastern Caribbean and most hospitals here don't have such luxury. I gave birth to my son with no pain reliever, i'm curious to know if there are any American women out there who refused it? It seems to me that Americans have a very low tolerance for pain (i may be wrong)
2007-05-18 05:27:55 · 23 answers · asked by nicky 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I birthed both my babies without pain medication, and I intend to do so with the third in a few weeks time. I'm not American though, I'm English, and were not routinely offered pain meds. They are there if you need them, but most of the time your encouraged to go as long as you can without drugs! I have watched a lot of the American birthing programmes on Discovery Health, and I dont think it's American women who have a low pain threshold, I just think it's the doctors who are too keen to administer drugs.
I was reading something yesterday that said no more than 10% of the world population should need Pitocin (to speed up labour), but on average 36% of Americans recieve it! That was by far the highest percentage of any other country!!
2007-05-18 06:13:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm getting the meds. Its a personal choice. That's what the meds are there for. I don't know if it has anything to do with tolerance for pain. If that's the case then is a woman weak when she takes midol and crap for period pain or when a person breaks a bone and say "No thanks, I don't need the morphine, I'll just handle the pain." Most women refuse it for better reasons, like bonding better with their new precious ones and I think that's a noble reason to go through the pain of it. At the end of the day all women epidural and natural deserve a pat on the back for a job well done!!!
2007-05-18 06:03:55 · answer #2 · answered by CeeCee19 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't always have to do with the tolerance of pain...i was told i have an extremely high tolerance for pain and i wouldn't ever go without the epidural, just because i can stay more relaxed during labor and focus and just enjoy it more. Why put yourself through all that pain when it's not necessary and the meds are perfectly safe? Also you don't wear yourself out like you do without it, those are my reasonings for taking it. But there are plenty of women who refuse it (american women). I applaude those women, but i myself wouldn't ever go natural.
2007-05-18 05:34:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only did I refuse during my first birth I have had three more naturally. The last two at home.
TLC baby story is not an accurate picture of all american births. THey mostly show women that are fine with being pushed into a high tech style birth.
2007-05-18 08:51:46 · answer #4 · answered by Carla R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I refused an epidural both times but I did accept a shot of Demerol to calm me down. The 2nd time around the Demerol didn't even take effect before I gave birth...I napped afterwards! I declined the epidural because I'm scared of having a needle shoved in my back!!!! Millions of women have given birth without it, I figured I could too...and I did!
2007-05-18 05:37:08 · answer #5 · answered by PK211 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had my son last March and I am American stationed in Germany but I had no intentions of getting an epidural and would not if it was offered. I was asked but refused it. Hey my mom had all four of us without it so....I am now due for my second son soon and I will not be getting pain medications or drugs.
2007-05-18 05:48:37 · answer #6 · answered by sahero11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, lots of people do. There's another show on TLC (I think, or if not Discovery Health) called House of Babies and it's all about midwifery. No one on there has epidurals, etc. and it's in the US. There's no way I could have made it without the epidural though, so I personally thank whoever for the anethesiologist!!!
2007-05-18 05:37:29 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I refused pain meds during labor. It was hard and incredibly painful but I got through it. But having a baby is different for everyone. My mother-in-law said she didn't have any pain during labor and she didn't use medication either. It hurt for me but it was a choice I made. I thing women now a days don't see the point in going though tough pain unnecessarily when there is an option to use pain killers.
2007-05-18 05:34:57 · answer #8 · answered by connerito 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My wife refused to have an epidural with our first child and she said it was a fine experience and made her bond more with the child. Unfortunately due to complications she had to have an epidural for the second of our children.
We are in the UK though so I dont know about any women in the US.
2007-05-18 05:32:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Canadian woman and when I had my son I refused any pain medication. I wanted to do it all on my own. And I did. It didnt really hurt until the pushing part, which didnt last too long. When I have my next one I dont want pain medication either, unless i am in labour for a long long time and it is unbarable. Wait and see I guess.
2007-05-18 05:32:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋