OK, where is my MEDAL?!?!?!?

Question

THIS comment directed at women who want to birth naturally/have birthed naturally.........

'You don't get a medal, you know'

What the heck is that supposed to acheive? Will the pregnant mother say 'No medal? Oh, well, I'll change my plans then and get an epidural. It's not worth going natural without that medal!' I DON'T THINK SO!

How about the women who have already done it? What are they going to do? Say 'I know - and I never would have done it if I'd have known I wouldn't get one!'

What the heck?

There are many many reasons to give birth without drugs or plan to - and not one of them is to do with bragging rights or medals?! Why say this? Is it jealousy? Feeling inferior?

Who has had this said to them and what did you say back?

Answer 1

They are saying "you don't get a medal" because many women have been made to feel guilty for having medicated or surgical births, when that should never be the case. And they are trying to remind women who act superior about having a natural birth that they should not be so prideful and judgmental.

Every birth story and circumstance is different. What's important is a successful delivery, how ever that is accomplished.

Answer 2

Don't let people get you worked up over this.
In my country its still not even optional to have a medicated birth. So its kind of frowned upon if you have an epidural.
Like your too weak or so. But this is all nonsense.
In the old days people would aputate their limbs with no sedation. (just booze) Because their was nothing else.
Giving birth is a dangerous thing. Women used to die allot more , but thanks to medical advances we have so much better healthcare today. In the past we could do ultra sounds.
Should we stop doing them , because its unnatural?
Should we not use the pregnancy tests?
The thing is we don't have to,.. We have a choice to let nature run its course, or we hava a choice to be be more in control.
Newsflash, epidural or no epidural, you still feel pain, only reduced, so you can just concentrate better on the delivery.
No one can MAKE you take medication and no one can tell you NOT TO. Its your choice and your choice only. Cause ist Your body and YOUR Child.

Answer 3

IMO, by saying to a woman "you don't get a medal", it's not mean-spirited, or meant to discourage anyone from going for a natural labor, it's just a way of saying "no one way is the RIGHT way, either route you choose you end up with a beautiful baby".

There are many women who would like to try a natural birth, but for various complex reasons are unable to do so, or they change their mind once they are in labor.

I have seen firsthand how *some advocates of natural labors (not all!) can often get very condescending towards women who choose to have pain relief, acting as though they are selfish for wanting to be comfortable and as if they are putting their child in harms way because of their ignorance. I think that's ridiculous. Those are the women who act like you SHOULD get a medal for giving birth without interventions, as if they deserve to be congratulated, while the mom's who choose interventions should be scolded.

Birth is a precious time that each woman needs to create for herself in a way that is right for HER.

Answer 4

I gave birth naturally 3 times and my medal was healthy alert children at birth (apart from my 3rd there was some complications)

I really dont care if i have a epidural or not it just didnt happen for me at least i was in control with some drugs your not

Answer 5

You may not be one of them but there are certainly alot of women who look down on others for accepting drugs or other interventions. There are also alot of women who look down on others for not breastfeeding. To lower a woman's value based on such things is heinous and a little misogynistic in my book. Don't get offended if someone says that, it may just be that they couldn't go that route and had to deal with people saying they weren't a true woman because of it.

Answer 6

I would tell them that I did not do it for the medal, however a little acknowledgement would not be inappropriate. Giving birth is a mircle in itself and to be able to endure the enormous discomfort, hell I will say it PAIN for the the benefit of a drug free labor for your child is well worth some respect. So until you have tried, your opinion means absolutely nothing to me.

Answer 7

my nan said this to me AFTER i had my son - she couldnt understand that although i was in labour for 5 days, you only get serious pain relief when you are in established labour - and i was only an hour with that.

Answer 8

emm not sure

im pregnant with triplets and im havine a c section!