Should You Have an Epidural During Your Labor and Delivery?

Doctors and midwives have been trying for centuries to find a way to ease labor pains during childbirth. Lamaze and other relaxation techniques can help take the edge off of the intense pain of contractions during labor, but sometimes childbirth doesn't go as we expect or plan. Even if you are adamant that you do not want an epidural or any other means of anesthesia or analgesia during childbirth, sometimes the health of the baby and your own safety necessitates taking steps that you didn't plan. Here are some tips for avoiding an epidural during labor, and why I had to have one anyway.

If you want to avoid an epidural during childbirth, you have to stay healthy during your pregnancy. As difficult as it can be, try to keep your weight around what your doctor recommends. Watch what you eat. Many women use pregnancy as an excuse to eat anything they want - including non-stop chocolate cake, ice cream, and other high fat and calorie treats. If you gain too much weight, and you don't exercise during your pregnancy, you are more likely to have a more difficult labor and may end up needing an epidural or even a cesarean section. Walking daily, pregnancy yoga, and other mild forms of exercise are usually recommended during pregnancy, but be sure to check with your doctor before starting anything new.

Taking Lamaze classes may also help you avoid an epidural during childbirth. Lamaze techniques help you relax, focus, and concentrate on breathing exercises. These exercises may reduce the perception of the intense labor pains of childbirth by giving you something else to focus on. Lamaze is recommended even if you are planning on having an epidural in case of unexpected situations when an epidural can't be given.

If you want to avoid an epidural during childbirth, choose a doctor who believes in a drug-free labor and delivery, but who also will do what needs to be done to make sure you and your baby are healthy, even if it means administering an epidural. Talk to your doctor about pain-relief options well before your baby is due. If your doctor knows you don't want an epidural or other drugs during your labor, then s/he may give you more time during your labor to relax and get your labor pain under control. Your doctor can also use his or her experience to tell you what works and what doesn't to ease the pain of childbirth.

Keep in mind that situations may arise that make some form of pain control necessary. If your baby is breech, if you need a caesarean section, if your labor isn't progressing, or other situations may cause you to need an epidural or some other form of pain relief. When I had my first baby, I didn't want an epidural. My doctor required all of his patients who wanted an epidural to watch a film and sign a paper, so I did this at the advice of my family and some friends who told me that I should be prepared "just in case." After I was in labor for 12 hours, and my cervix had only dilated 3-4 cm, the doctors were talking about caesarean section if I didn't progress soon. The only thing I wanted less than an epidural was a caesarean section! The contractions were becoming unbearable, I knew I still had hours to go, and if I needed a caesarean section I would need an epidural anyway - so I gave in.

Within a few minutes, the anesthesiologist came in and administered the medication. I felt instant relief, and even fell asleep quickly due to exhaustion. Within minutes, the doctors checked, and I was dilated to 7 cm. Before long, I was at a full 10 cm, the necessary diameter required for childbirth! I gave birth to my son within two hours of getting the epidural.

My doctor told me that sometimes the intense labor pains cause the body to not be able to relax, and the cervix won't dilate properly. When I had my second child, I had the exact same experience. My doctor and I thought that, maybe, since I had given birth once before, my body would "remember" the process and dilate properly. It didn't, and I still ended up having to have the epidural and dilating only after the administration of the epidural. He was born in about 12 hours. When I had my daughter, my third child, I asked for the epidural immediately. She was born five hours later.

The most important thing to remember when you are considering your wishes regarding epidurals during childbirth is that we can't always plan our perfect labor and delivery. Unexpected things happen, and we have to adapt as necessary to ensure that we and our babies are healthy and as unscathed as possible after childbirth. As important as our childbirth experience is to us, it pales in comparison to the experiences that come after our baby takes his first breath.