how can anyone honestly say that there is *NO REASON* not to have an epidural?

Question

i can understand why people get them, people have different pain during labor (both levels of pain & tolerances) and there are definitely reasons TO get them, i'm not saying that there aren't.

BUT, as with ANY medication or intervention, don't you agree that there *are* risks, there *are* potential side effects? wouldn't avoiding any of the potential risks & side effects be a very valid *reason* to opt for no epidural?

when people say that, aren't they basically invalidating the reasons and the choice to have a natural birth?

(links about risks & side effects, if anyone is interested)
http://www.kimjames.net/epidural_risks_and_side_effects.htm
http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmepidural.htm

i'm not trying to bash anyone for getting one, btw, just saying that there *are* resons not to get one, and the decision TO get one is often made because in the person's situation the reasons TO get one OUTWEIGH the reasons NOT to... right??

yes, there are risks to everything. being pregnant itself is a risk. giving birth is a risk, and the more unneccessary interventions one has, the riskier it becomes.
(note that i said "un"necessary, i do acknowledge that there ARE necessary interventions that will reduce the risks to mom & baby, and if mom is in too much pain or fears the pain too much to progress, an epi *is* a necessary risk to take)

one won't know until AFTER getting one whether or not they will have the side effects though....

it is the risk one takes, in favor of the benefits

bijou-
yes, i'm beginning to notice the competition thing... and i do try to avoid it! if i ever do happen to come across that way (which i hope i don't!) it might be because as i'm learning all these new things and in talking to people, many don't even KNOW risks or alternatives exist to some things, and i just want to share what i've learned... not to push it on anyone (i hate when others do that, & i certainly hope i don't ever do it!)...

i'm just one of those compulsive researchers & the type that just has to know every option & alternative & every risk before i decide on anything, and i forget some people aren't as concerned about it as i am. (different priorities & all that)

MaryRose- and the thumbs down keep coming!!
i got lots of thumbs down in another Q (the one inspiring this) for saying i wanted to go natural, because i wanted to avoid any risks if they weren't necessary. or maybe it was posting what the risks were along with that... oh well, i guess some people would rather not know i guess. (it baffles me tho, i like being fully informed when deciding things)

Answer 1

I guess it all comes down to each individual case, just like with morning sickness. Sure there are risks with every medication but for many women medication is the only feasible route given their particular situation.

For the woman with severe morning sickness, the benefits of taking drugs outweigh the positives of going drug-free.

For the women with labor complications or who CANNOT cope with the pain of labor and is not progressing at all, the benefits of an epidural outweigh the positives of going natural.

Answer 2

There are all kinds of good reasons NOT to have epidurals. They are encouraged and pushed for in hospitals because the staff has less to do with mom not in pain and they get to charge big $$$ for them.
Reasons I chose ALL natural 4 times included:
Being able to FEEL if something was wrong
Being able to FEEL when I was pushing
Being able to push effectively
Less Risk for episiotomy and pitocin
Not having my babies go through possible ill effects
Baby was awake and aware and nursed within minutes

I believe birth shouldn't be treated like an illness and there should only be medical interventions when necessary. I had back labor 4 times and my 1st was a 24 hour labor. If I can do this without epidural, I think most could if given the chance and encouraged!

Answer 3

When you talk risks, those risks are not independent of the benefits. They are intricately intertwined. Each woman needs to weight those risks vs. benefits and decide what is "worth it" for her to risk. What one person believes to be an acceptable amount of risk in relation to the amount of benefit to be gained is going to differ from person to person.

Every action we take at any given moment comes with risk. Some are very avoidable, some are not. But there are a lot of risks we take without even thinking about if for the sake of our personal comfort and convenience. It isn't like an epidural is the only potentially risky thing a pregnant woman chooses. Getting in a car and driving around your neighborhood is risky - far more risky than getting an epidural, yet you'll do it everyday, even when you sometimes don't really need to do it.

Answer 4

I honestly didn't think I wanted an epidural and with my first child we got to the delivery room with that in mind . . . But, circumstances change and it turned out to be necessary. BOY! Did I enjoy the experience much more after that medicine started. Before hand I would climb the walls when anyone checked to see how far I had dialated, but after the epidural it didn't bother me to have them check.

With my second, there was no doubt, I wanted it as soon as they would alow.

Everyone is different obviously, but both my daughters turned out just fine. One is now eleven and the other is just now six months old. They are both healthy, happy and thriving!

You do what makes you the most comfortable and don't worry about what others say.

:o)

Answer 5

just like there are reasons too there are reasons not to, it is all in the eye of the beholder... personally, with people I know, and my sister is a nurse with Women and Infants in RI, which is the number 5 hospital in the country for obstetrics, and she explains that in women who have a low tolerence for pain it actually helps them to move along faster, sometimes when they are in such pain they are stressing the baby out which can be very dangerous as well. but it is each womans own decision and I suport whatever. I went with drugs last time, but dialted so fast they turned it off but i didnt deliver for 2 more hours (emergency down the hall) so my meds were gone, I am going to attempt natural this time, just so I can say I did.

Answer 6

Yes I agree with you. I have read many things about it and heard from different people about side effects. This is my first preganancy and believe me I am scared to death about the labor. I am 32 weeks and I see nightmares every night about labor. In this situation, whenever I go to labor my first questions would be how can I reduce the pain. I am sure my body is designed to handle it but the fear of labor will make it untolerable.
One of my cousin was so much scared of the side effects, she did not take epidural for both the pregnancy. She was in labor for 48for first one and 36 hours for second one. But let me tell you everyone is different. If I was her, I would have taken the epidural in first hour of labor no matter how much I am educated not to have it.

Answer 7

I, too, am going to try my dangest to go natural. I don't like the idea of anything being stuck in my spine for one thing, but I also dont want the risk of slowing things down..I dont like the idea of not being able to get up and walk around...and for some people they get the "windows" so there is no guarantee of pain being gone anyway...anytime you put something into your body, there is going to be some kind of risk associated. So I agree with the person asking the question: how can it be said there is "No reason not to have an epi"...

Answer 8

I think there are people who honestly don't know what the risks/side effects are. People believe their doctors would not offer them anything that had any risks. What they don't understand is that the doctors know all about the risks and have made the decision *for them* that the benefits outweigh those risks. I believe it is every woman's right to be completely informed before making a decision (hello, that's what "informed consent" means) -- she should be the one deciding what risks are worth it. But, unfortunately, that's not how the medical profession in the US works. So, to answer your question again -- I think that some women are being completely serious and honest when they say there is no reason not to get one.

I plan on going natural. I will GLADLY suffer to have the peaceful and safe birth that my baby and I deserve, and to keep my baby drug free. (And nothing about having a natural birth actually INCREASES the risks of childbirth, unless you have complications).

p.s., yes, they are invalidating the natural birth route - and it probably makes them feel better about their decision.

Answer 9

You're right, every woman's pain tolerance is different. I'd personally like to go natural for as long as I can, but I'm not opposed to an epidural if I need one. There are risks with everything (even a natural, pain med-free birth), but since there are pain management options for labor it's nice to know they're available if we need them.

Answer 10

I dont think "there's no reason not to get one" is a literal translation. I think its just a generalization, that if you dont have side effects and your goal is NOT a natural birth, "theres no reason not to get one".... but obviously any well educated person in teh area of child birth understands there ARE risks.