So I was watching A Baby Story........

[VillageMama]

I would never have a water birth because it skeeves me out. I am glad it works for some but I am not sitting in a tub of afterbirth.

Hee! No, silly! You get out of the tub to deliver the afterbirth. When the baby comes out there's hardly anything icky. You hold baby, relax and then a few minutes later get out to deliver the placenta.

That was the best of all my births.

 

[DebIreland]

I really wonder with the c-sections how many are like my husband's family where they are getting into multi generational patterns. Where these people would have died 100 years ago they are now alive and well passing their genes, and in my husband's case their giant heads, on.

 

[mhsjax]

You ladies are really, really scaring me lol. I've gotta stop reading accounts of labor and delivery. It's not 100% that I'm having a c/s yet so I'm nervous as heck about laboring, lol.

Sorry, I don't want to scare you in what should be an oh so happy time. Really, the back labor was horrible with my first, I went on to have 2 more. I am not going to sit here and tell you that oh it really wasn't so bad with the back labor, it was (you know what) on earth. I went on to have 2 more with no back labor at all, and like I said with the 2nd I went in and was 5 cm. When the nurse saw my contraction she said are you feeling that? (just like the pp said) and I replied yeah, a little. It is so worth it when you see that beautiful little person that just came out of you.

 

[kangareaux]

Hee! No, silly! You get out of the tub to deliver the afterbirth. When the baby comes out there's hardly anything icky. You hold baby, relax and then a few minutes later get out to deliver the placenta.

That was the best of all my births.

Seriously?!? My BABIES were *icky*!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Hee! No, silly! You get out of the tub to deliver the afterbirth. When the baby comes out there's hardly anything icky. You hold baby, relax and then a few minutes later get out to deliver the placenta.

That was the best of all my births.

Well in my experience a lot of stuff comes out when pushing. I don't want to sit in that at all. Also, I deliver everything really fast so I would never have a chance to get out of the tub.
I could just see my DH's face if I asked him to get in that tub with me.

He loves us but everyone has their limits. I will admit though ickyness aside, I wonder if it is less painful. I know people like yourself swear by it and it must work for some but I think you have to be of a certain mindset to do it. Also, not all the hospitals here offer that.

 

[MinnieTink]

Oh epidurals! Didn't have one for my 1st. My 2nd...oh that epidural was awesome. The anesthesiologist was wonderful and I could have been relaxing on my own bed that's how comfortable I was. She just arrived with almost no help from me. I was like, hey look I just had a baby!

Baby 3. And now I know why some people are negative about epidurals. The anesthesiologist put the needle in my back too deep. I "heard" a loud crack inside my head and felt like I was hit with a baseball bat. My blood pressure crashed and the baby's heart rate went down. I could see my DH's face and he was so scared. I was so scared. I dont really remember what happemed agyer that they just stabilized me but i was out of it After a whole I was ok. The idiot dr asked if we wanted him to retry the epi!!! I thought my DH was going to slap him upside the head if not worse. Because of this error some CerebroSpinal fluid leaked and I had to be on medication for a while. And I had bad back pain and had trouble laying on my back because of the bruising. (didn't have this with baby 2). Having had this experience I would be very afraid to have another epi. Thankfully I won't have to worry about that because we are SO done and happy with our 3!

 

[staley7580]

I LOVE that show! I watch it all the time, and even my kids like it.. When I was pregnant with my twins, we would wait for them to have the multiples weeks.. and all sit down and watch it together. It really got my oldest interested in the pregnancy, and what was happening to my body, and what was happening with the babies. He just loved going to my ultrasounds.. Well, the big ones anyways. I had one at each appointment. He was CRUSHED that I gave birth in the middle of the night and he couldnt see them being born.

I had an epi with each birth... Loved it each and every time! I was going to go natural on my third pregnancy. I was going to a midwife, and I was looking forward to doing things differently. But then.. SURPRISE! TWINS!! My midwife was like.. ummmm.. NO! She sent me to a high risk dr. and my dr. said I could go all natural, but baby B was breech... and a breech extraction could be uncomfortable. That just SOUNDED horrid! So i went with the epi on that one too!

 

[mjkacmom]

That was totally uncalled for .

Why? I know many women who decided to have natural childbirth (and many who did it accidently, like my sister). However, it really bothers me when I hear women assume those who choose to be medicated either have no regard for their unborn babies, or not to have the wisdom to research their options. I don't want anyone to be "sad" for me or my children. The same goes for women who think those who formula feed are poisoning their babies, because they obviously don't know that breast milk is the only option.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

OP, you made me laugh. It's true. It's the least effective way of birthing a baby.

DD#1 I wanted to squat. Hospital birth with an old school nurse. Legs in stirrups for hours...pushing...nothing...had to have an epidural and a salad tongs delivery and an episiotomy the length of the Mississipi river. Long slow painful recovery.

DD#2 terrified of doctors and hospital due to the above. Homebirth with midwife. Stood, few pushes, counter pressure with hot cloths and voila! easy birth. Four stitches. Easy recovery and very happy with everything.

Expecting DD#3 and if we have to be at the hospital I know I will be a bad patient. Luckily if we can't have a homebirth I still have my midwife to ensure we do whatever we can do to prevent #1 from happening again.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Why? I know many women who decided to have natural childbirth (and many who did it accidently, like my sister). However, it really bothers me when I hear women assume those who choose to be medicated either have no regard for their unborn babies, or not to have the wisdom to research their options. I don't want anyone to be "sad" for me or my children. The same goes for women who think those who formula feed are poisoning their babies, because they obviously don't know that breast milk is the only option.

I have to say that I agree with you here. Not everyone but many non medicaters are like birth nazis. It's like the BF nazis. I BF all my kids but I don't push it on anyone. Each parent has to do what is right for their family and that doesn't mean they haven't researched.

 

[robinb]

Why? I know many women who decided to have natural childbirth (and many who did it accidently, like my sister). However, it really bothers me when I hear women assume those who choose to be medicated either have no regard for their unborn babies, or not to have the wisdom to research their options. I don't want anyone to be "sad" for me or my children. The same goes for women who think those who formula feed are poisoning their babies, because they obviously don't know that breast milk is the only option.

You are completely welcome to your opinion on issues of childbirth and baby care, but to call people you don't agree with you "nazis" is completely over the top. There is no reason to call people names.

I believe that many women have epidurals because "that's the way it's done" by their friends, family, the hospital and/or their doctor. Having a natural childbirth simply is not on their radar.

 

[tzolkin]

OAN, I had two epidurals and I was perfectly fine and so were my children. I don't understand the need for other people to make epidural wanting mothers feel like criminals. You do it your way and I'll do it mine.

I agree, but I also don't understand the need for other people to make non-medicated mothers seem like sadistic lunatics.

Every time I've seen a thread like this there are always many who had/want epidurals who say that they can't understand what's wrong with anyone who would choose to give birth without pain medication. And every time at least one person mentions that the only reason why women refuse pain medication is because they have something to "prove" or because they want to brag that they are better than everyone else. Seriously? The last thing on my mind when giving birth to my children was what random strangers would think about my experience.

You are completely welcome to your opinion on issues of childbirth and baby care, but to call people you don't agree with you "nazis" is completely over the top. There is no reason to call people names.

I believe that many women have epidurals because "that's the way it's done" by their friends, family, the hospital and/or their doctor. Having a natural childbirth simply is not on their radar.

The first part is exactly the sterotyping/insulting I was talking about.


I agree with the second part as well. My SIL was told by her mother throughout her pregnancy that she "must" have an epidural-- that she couldn't do it without, so she shouldn't bother to try. She told me that I am the only woman she knows that gave birth without one, so she had just assumed an epidural was a normal and expected part of childbirth. She had no idea what she might experience if she had an unmedicated birth other than her friends telling her that she was an idiot if she didn't ask for an epidural as soon as possible because labor is so horrible.

 

[mjkacmom]

You are completely welcome to your opinion on issues of childbirth and baby care, but to call people you don't agree with you "nazis" is completely over the top. There is no reason to call people names.

I believe that many women have epidurals because "that's the way it's done" by their friends, family, the hospital and/or their doctor. Having a natural childbirth simply is not on their radar.

I believe everyone has the right to feel strongly about this issue. I felt strongly that I wanted a medicated birth. I know many women feel the same about having an unmedicated birth. I fully support that. It's when one crosses the line and piously criticizes another woman's choice, calling it "sad," that person becomes a nazi.

I think there are a few women who are over the top with their decision to have a natural birth, to the extent that it puts the baby in danger. On the other hand, I believe there are a few women out there who don't research their options. I think the majority are in the middle.

 

[Freyja]

Why? I know many women who decided to have natural childbirth (and many who did it accidently, like my sister). However, it really bothers me when I hear women assume those who choose to be medicated either have no regard for their unborn babies, or not to have the wisdom to research their options. I don't want anyone to be "sad" for me or my children. The same goes for women who think those who formula feed are poisoning their babies, because they obviously don't know that breast milk is the only option.

I have never stated that all women who choose epis either have no regard for their unborn babies, or don´t have the wisdom to research their options. I have said that many women don´t research their options, and I am pretty sure that every doctor will agree with me. I am not sad for you or your children. If you would have had any of the common complications involved with an epidural, and you would say that you never had a clue that those complications could occur THEN I would be sad for your baby.

And have you honestly ever heard a woman say that another woman was POISONING her baby with formula??? Disagreeing with someone, and/or pointing out that breast milk is in most cases considered the best food for babies does not equal saying that formula is poison.

 

[Freyja]

I believe everyone has the right to feel strongly about this issue. I felt strongly that I wanted a medicated birth. I know many women feel the same about having an unmedicated birth. I fully support that. It's when one crosses the line and piously criticizes another woman's choice, calling it "sad," that person becomes a nazi.

I think there are a few women who are over the top with their decision to have a natural birth, to the extent that it puts the baby in danger. On the other hand, I believe there are a few women out there who don't research their options. I think the majority are in the middle.

You really don´t seem to get what I´m saying. Or do you simply choose not to get it?
Do I think your choice was sad? - No
Do I think that the choice some women make when they choose an epidural just because they don´t want to feel the pain, and don´t do the research is sad? - Absoloutly.

And I have a right to that opinion. Remember, it is just an opinion. But it obviously hit a nerve.

I know plenty of women who feel that it is crazy to have a home birth like I wished I could have had. Guess what? That´s their opinion and I don´t feel threatened by it one bit!

 

[Deb in IA]

Epidurals slow labor down. They are also dangerous. Epidurals cause problems. You're messing with the system. Women who have them have higher numbers of surgeries, and it's also a great way to get women to saying yes to surgery b/c it's all ready to go.

When you have an epidural, you are saying "yes, please increase my risk of complications, surgery, and death for both of us".

Sure, you might be comfy, IF the dang thing takes [I have a friend whose spinal didn't take and her doctors performed surgery on her, REFUSING TO BELIEVE her that she could feel it all. They finally knocked her out at the very last moment. She couldn't walk for a month, because her body had locked up muscularly and wouldn't release.] But if you end up with migraines caused by putting things into a closed system (I took many a health intake from women who'd suffered from horrid migraines post-epidural or spinal), that's not comfy. If the needle misses, that's not going to be comfy. etc etc.

Epidurals raise the risk of everything.

I have not read the posts after this, but I just have to respond to THIS one.

Look, bumber, we GET IT that you are against mainstream medicine. And you can have your herbs and spices and alternative treatment and "adjustments" all you want.

But putting down other women's health care choices is not helpful.

Whether it is breast or bottle feeding, cloth or disposable diapers, stay-at-home moms or daycare, epidurals or not, we are all mothers who are trying hard to do our best.

And what is best for YOU may not be the best for everyone else.

And you have no right to make anyone feel bad for the decisions they make that they feel is in their best interest.

 

[Planogirl]

All I want to post is my gratitude for epidurals. I did my research beforehand and have no regrets that I had one. Kudos to those who can go without but that wasn't for me! And I agree that it's rude to criticize others for their choices.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have never stated that all women who choose epis either have no regard for their unborn babies, or don´t have the wisdom to research their options. I have said that many women don´t research their options, and I am pretty sure that every doctor will agree with me. I am not sad for you or your children. If you would have had any of the common complications involved with an epidural, and you would say that you never had a clue that those complications could occur THEN I would be sad for your baby.

And have you honestly ever heard a woman say that another woman was POISONING her baby with formula??? Disagreeing with someone, and/or pointing out that breast milk is in most cases considered the best food for babies does not equal saying that formula is poison.

I have never met a single woman who was 100% sure of having a medicated birth with her first baby. They've all done the "wait and see" method, as I did with my first - knowing the options, risks, breathing exercises, etc. I knew I wanted an epi with my other children, got it right away with #2, and 24 hours into my labor with #3 (took that long to get to 4). I refused IV medication, because I didn't like the risks with it, but I support every woman who chose it.

And yes, I have seen extreme bfeeders refer to formula as poison.

 

[crashbb]

And have you honestly ever heard a woman say that another woman was POISONING her baby with formula??? Disagreeing with someone, and/or pointing out that breast milk is in most cases considered the best food for babies does not equal saying that formula is poison.

You haven't read much from Bumbershot, have you?

 

[Piecey]

I have never met a single woman who was 100% sure of having a medicated birth with her first baby. They've all done the "wait and see" method, as I did with my first - knowing the options, risks, breathing exercises, etc. I knew I wanted an epi with my other children, got it right away with #2, and 24 hours into my labor with #3 (took that long to get to 4). I refused IV medication, because I didn't like the risks with it, but I support every woman who chose it.

And yes, I have seen extreme bfeeders refer to formula as poison.

I knew 100% I wanted a medicated birth...

Or maybe not, depending on how you meant it.

When I first got pregnant I wasn't positive about medication, but about 4 months in I started having gallbladder attacks. Towards the end of the pregnancy I had the attacks regularly (they came with contractions) so I knew when I went into full-blown labor I would have to have some sort of medication to get through it.

So I'm not sure if that is what you meant, since I wasn't positive at the beginning.