Since becoming pregnant, I've realized that there's a huge debate out there on natural childbirth versus childbirth with pain medicine/epidurals. I understand that there are some women out there that are extremely passionate and proud of the fact that they gave birth with no medicine! And good for them! They should be proud. I've come across several articles in which these women go on rants about other women who electively have C-sections or choose to have an epidural without a second thought. I can see their point when it comes to scheduled C-sections. Obviously, there are instances in which that is a mother's ONLY option. But then there are the ones whose pick a date months in advance (around the time of their due date) and plan the birth of their child around their busy schedules. Some women go so far as to have a tummy tuck immediately following the C-section. They have been dubbed "Designer Births." Yes, that is completely ridiculous.
But what I'm more interested in is how people judge other mothers for choosing to have pain medication or even the controversial (among natural birth women) epidurals. It is a decision that is COMPLETELY up to the woman. The woman may be a little (or very much so) nervous about the fact that she is about to push a watermelon out of her. So, I would never judge a woman for choosing a less painful labor process. But I feel that the more I do research, I'm made to feel bad that I would even think of having anything synthetic to assist me in labor. There have been articles published about the short or even long term effects an epidural or even Pitocin can have on the infant. I read this quote that stood out to me:
"Pitocin is administered to speed up labor, but the increased level of pain requires medication that slows it down. In addition, pitocin often has no effect on cervical dilation even though the contractions are much stronger." (More from that article)
That is why I go back and forth on how I want my birth to go. More and more research comes out about what those pain meds really do to you and your baby. But then again, I've know plenty of children that have been birthed via C-section or vaginal birth while the mom had an epidural and they've turned out wonderful and with no obvious effects of being delivered from a mom who had an epidural.
I've also thought about having a water birth. I've just always liked the idea of it. I also can't help but think that being in warm water while having contractions would help ease the pain a little bit. I'm pretty sure that the hospital I will deliver in has the option of a birthing pool. It would be great to think about even a home birth, but with my first child I don't know if I want to take the risk of not being in a hospital in case an emergency arises. My husband also agrees.
I will continue to do research and contemplate what could be best for me and my baby. As long as the baby is delivered safely, that's all that matters. In the end, whether you arrive to the hospital with a birth plan in hand or not... the decision is ultimately up to God. No matter how much you plan and hope and wish, you will get the birth you are supposed to have.
No comments:
Post a Comment