epidural in the US - why?????

[zareenawifey]

I feel like hardly any Americans choose to have a natural drug free birth. Here in new Zealand the epidural is avoided unless you really really need it. Why do you all choose to have the epidural? Just wondering :)

[lillythsmommy]

I had one with my first and will have one with this baby I felt everything besides the pain . What is the big deal who cares what who gets . I'm just saying my hooha is n I t pushing something big out being as small as it is without some type of pain reducer plain and simple lol

[allsnowwhite]

This is truly hilarious. There's no need to be defensive. It's a fact that having an epidural makes labor more bearable. It might not be the easiest way out but it definitely is easier than going natural and that is a fact. That being said, I understand what the original poster means. Women in the US probably more than anywhere else I know opt for an epidural ahead of time . I'm Nigerian and back home even though epidural is available, it is usually reserved for worse case scenario. Women who give birth vaginally don't go into labor thinking they will get an epidural.

[koyama83]

It's probably largely a cultural thing. Epidurals are routine and readily available in the US....Birthing practices, like many things differ from region to region and also change over time....one thing that I dislike about tradition American public hospital birthing is that I have never been allowed any laboring position or delivery position other than on my back. I feel confined, constricted...with my first child I progressed too quickly for any pain meds, so I had her naturally and with my son I had an epidural, which failed. Personally, I chose to try an epidural because, well, it was available and I was exhausted by circumstances in my life at that time....anyway, your question is largely a sociology question. Everyone is, of course an individual, but culture has a heavy impact on a person's decision making, as culture changes one's perspective.

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

Let's knock off the arguing and hostility. The original intent of this thread doesn't appear to be an insult, but a question.  There's no need to turn this into an unproductive debate.

[areal10]

xiomyreyes had made the comment on women taking the epi dont want to experience natural labor or want to take the easy way. Thats the comment that is making it hard not to respond. Some women who have never had an epi are assuming that theres no pain at all with it & thats completely wrong. I don't care if i feel some pain, i just don't want to feel the pain of my vagina being ripped open.

[Mimilove3]

WE'RE JUST LUCKY TO HAVE THAT OPTION HERE IN THE U.S.
We still push out a baby from the SAME place u do so untill that changes, which it wont, it wont make us less of a mother/women!!! It sounds like u think ur better than ANYone who chooses the epederal than to go natrual.. Many moms try to go as natural as much as they can and for me thats more admirable than saying u go natrual just because u dont have that option!!

[Chante_Jones]

And again to some of you ladies who saying getting the epidural is the easy way out. I don't see were the original person of this post said those things. There's nothing wrong with getting a epidural or going natural as long as the baby is out safe and healthy! But to be jumping the gun and saying I guess I'm taking the easy way out for wanting a epidural is all in your head. It's your body do what you please with it geesh!!

[Chante_Jones]

Read before you get all on the offensive side! And @djddsmom what are you even talking about? We all no vaginas is tight and hard to enter sometimes during sex. When giving natural birth are bodies vaginas are made to stretch very wide duh. Whether you on a epidural or not. And the response about being a dentist and how u feel about meds with ur patient that's fine. This post is about why do women or most women choose epidural instead of natural. And for the record back in the day there were big babies born... Me I'm not getting a epidural I feel I can do it naturally ftm as well!! Don't hurt to try!!

[mee25]

Here in mauritius they make you go all natural in the hospital if you dont have any health complications otherwise its c-section. Epidurals is only available in private clinics and its expensive. So we dont have many choice.

[Sara_Lee87]

Easy to forget*

[Sara_Lee87]

I didn't get an epidural and I had a natural childbirth even though I had complications. Very traumatic birth it was my son needed a vacuum and was in fetal distress and then got shoulder dystocia. It was close to being an emergency c section. I believe that our bodies know what to do and I trust my body more than the medical industry pushing drugs and surgery. That's not to say I don't appreciate the option because I almost needed a cesarean. I'm glad we have hospitals however the overuse of drugs and surgery is alarming. There's a time and a place in which those tools are useful and necessary. Not everyone believes in the power of their mind and body to do amazing things and I feel like it's giving up an amazingly rewarding and accomplished feeling if you purposely chose to not experiance natural childbirth if your able to. I also believe women who have cesarean and epidural are just as amazing and important because I know that it can be medically necessary and many mothers may grieve their childbirth experiance. Any woman who has given birth is changed forever no matter by what method. I think its easy to go get how capable and amazing we are as women to create new lives!

[zareenawifey]

Forcing a watermelon out a garden hose. Haha that made me laugh. I dont think people need to justify why they chose the epidural but I just think maybe people should consider it natural. My labour was not easy. 14 house plus a 1 hour ambulance ride. But like someone said in the comments it's called "labor" for a reason. Anyways.  I love hearing all these stories. Birth stories are all so different! :)

[Chima7]

It's called "Labor" for a reason! Whether you go all natural or you get some medical assistance, it's still very hard and exhausting for all women. There's nothing "easy" about forcing a watermelon through a garden hose!

[thatsweetboysmommy]

Thats very cool, I didnt know that! I think my hospital must have given me the regular epidural because I didnt feel out of it at all and I didn't get itchy either but thats a great thing to know!:)

[nicholebarber30]

Just an fyi for any pregnant mommies that are unaware you can request an epidural without the narcotic medicine fetanyl in it and just get the lidocaine portion which is the basic numbing agent we get relief from. Even though when I got my last epi I was unaware of the medicine used. Lol nobody thinks about that when they're in pain begging for the epi. Regardless I never felt like I was in a drugged stupor but I did get really itchy which come to find out is a result of the fentanyl. I did a lot of research this time on the epi and I had an anesthiology consult just to know my options and either way I'm still choosing to receive the good ole american epi cuz it worked great my first time. Seeing how I've done both natural and medicated birth, I myself will be getting that epi.

[emi236]

I never had a chance to choose.  They induced both my first two pregnancies. We'll see how this one goes

[mw89]

I personally would never get an epidural again if someone freaking paid me. I dont remember much about my daughter's birth because I was in a drugged stupor.  It effects everyone differently. My back has never been the same. That was with my first. With my second I had an all natural birth and like an above poster stated it was easier! It was way easier. I had control over my body. I moved around and ate food during labor. I was in peace. And it was honestly a beautiful birth.
Our society is very awful at telling women that they cant do it naturally. Some day we will find out the long term effects from all these drugs to induce child birth!

[areal10]

In a post by xiomyreyes, she says "maybe they don't want experience natural labor or choose easy way." Either way, labor is not easy. Women who choose the epidural still feel some type of pain. At a certain point, they reduce the amount of medication being given to you. Just because we choose pain medication doesn't make us any less in the delivery room than any othee woman. Labor is labor, thats it.

[thatsweetboysmommy]

Because it doesnt make you less of a woman if you want meds we are all pushing out a baby from a little space and that alone is incredible lol

[thatsweetboysmommy]

I dont think there is really a feud. One of the women said that its selfish to take meds and some say its the easy way, and yes it takes the pain of a contraction away but I wouldn't say its easier. You still feel pressure and some women do have a long labor and its tiring for all women. Basically we shouldn't put other women's choices done just because our personal views or choices are different. We are all amazing because women in general are amazing and our bodies are all going through the same things and just want our babies in our arms. So all my intent was to just have everyone respect eachothers choices without putting them down, which is what I think all the ladies where trying to say also:)

[nicholebarber30]

Exactly! And I must be "SELFISH" cuz I totally plan to get the epi. This is my 3rd baby my first induction scheduled for this Thursday due to high bp. I had the epi with my first and my experience was truly great. I arrived at the hospital at 7cm with my second and doctor said too late for epi at which point I sucked it up and told myself I can do this. I stayed at 9cm for 4hrs and it was the worst unimaginable indescribable pain I'd ever experienced! I screamed bloody murder and cried the whole time while my nurses told me to shut up cuz I was scaring the other women in labor. I can't remember much about that labor cuz I could only focus on the pain. Either way I've always applauded the women that choose to go naturally, I myself as long as nothing prevents me from getting my epi this time will be requesting it as soon as I can't tolerate the pain

[sabbylopez]

To clear up some fued, no one said taking an epidural is the easy way out. Yes having a natural birth is the easiest way (with minimal medical interventions) for your body. And no one is saying they are better then one another. So please read the comments carefully before accusing women.

[dani0314]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels that way :) i wasn't judging women who do it all natural. I actually applaud them but you can't put yourself on a high horse just because of it b is all I'm saying. We're all mothers no matter what happens :)

[areal10]

I agree with the ladies that have taken the epidural. I had one with my first child & plan to this time. It  not an "easy way out" & just because we choose to have it doesnt make us any less than a mother. All it does is numb you from waste down. You are still aware of everything going on. Its an aid to help with the pain. Just like anyone would take a pain reliever for a migraine or headache then we choose to have it to block the pain.