Natural Childbirth Vs Epidural

Childbirth can be scary, wonderful and excruciatingly painful all at the same time. There are several pain management options for women in labor. Some women opt for a natural labor, while others choose to be medicated. The most common drug being used is epidural anesthesia. The deliveries of my children were dramatically different having experienced a natural childbirth with one and an epidural with the other.

With my firstborn Logan, I went into it thinking I would most likely get an epidural. I had seen my sister and my best friend give birth and knowing my low tolerance for pain it seemed natural for me to use medication. I had impatiently waited for my due date and prayed daily that he would come early. My pregnancy had few complications and was pretty much an enjoyable experience, but the desire to hold my child in my arms was overwhelming. Finally a week before my due date, my water broke.

My labor with my son was long and slow. I waited and walked, hoping steady contractions would come. When they finally did, I wanted them gone. I asked for drugs and was repeatedly told it was too soon. Thankfully my mom and mother in law talked me through it and rubbed my back as I cried out in pain. My contractions were strong and I was significantly dilated, so it was finally time for the epidural. I had been nervous about the epidural, frightened by the thought of the catheter being inserted into my spine. But when the time came, I sat up and even smiled, because I thought that soon I will feel some relief.

The epidural was incredible. I felt the tightening of my abdomen with the contractions, but I didn't feel the pressure of the babies head anymore. I could feel when to push and after an hour of pushing my son was born. The downside was it took over two hours for it to wear off enough that I could get up and walk around. I also had minor pain in the area of my back where the catheter was inserted for several months.

With my daughter my pregnancy was hard. I had elevated blood pressure, so my doctor had me on bed rest for the last month. My labor was finally induced, and it was fast and very intense. I felt more at ease because I knew what to expect, so my plan for this labor was to try to go natural. My obstetrician gave me Cervidil, a tampon like pouch containing prostaglandins, to dilate my cervix. Once that begin to work they started me on Pitocin, an intravenous medication given to start contractions.

An hour later they broke my water and told me that if I wanted I could have an epidural. I said no, I wanted to try other methods first. I used breathing techniques I had learned with my son and I also tried sitting on a birthing ball. They both worked. I straddled the ball, which helped take the pressure off my pelvis, caused by the babies head. For a while I was proud, pleased with my success. The nurses were consistently cranking up the amount of Pitocin I was getting, until the contractions were back to back. Then the deep pressure hit my body, letting me know it was time to push. The pain was then unbearable and I lost control. I asked for an epidural, then begged, only to be told it was too late.

My way of dealing with the pain of the intense contractions and the ever growing pressure was to scream. An ear piercing, primal, cave woman scream. Then it hit me. The pain would stop once I pushed the baby out. The nurse was telling me no, wait for the doctor. I thought to myself, the nurse had years of experience she could surely deliver my daughter. Then my obstetrician finally arrived and two pushes later my beautiful, healthy, baby girl was born. The whole experience was only two and a half hours long. My pain was gone. I was up and walking around within an hour of the birth and I had no lasting back pain.

If I were to have another child, I would try to go without pain medication. Despite the intense pain and my desire to have an epidural during my labor, I am glad my daughters delivery went the way it did. I think that without the epidural my labor progressed faster and my recovery was much smoother. I would tell expectant moms to educate themselves about their options and to make a plan, but to realize that the plan was not set in stone. You may change your mind once you are in labor, or circumstances of the birth itself may change your birth plan. Using medication is not wrong, it doesn't make it less of a real experience and it doesn't make you less of a woman. If you prepare and have good support you could have a successful birth, whether it be natural or aided by medication.