I was talking to someone today who was trying to decide if an epidural was right for her in her upcoming labor. She was well read and still had some concerns on the topic. But in part of our correspondence she said something that made me realize that she felt it was the epidural or do nothing. We had a long talk about how women who choose to go without an epidural don’t just sit there writhing in pain until the baby suddenly falls out – they prepare and actively participate.
I explained that if she had any intention of going without an epidural, even a slim chance, that she should find a childbirth class that was designed for women who did NOT want an epidural. Then she would be prepared, but that if she changed her mind and wanted an epidural she could always have one. I told her that there were many things that women do to cope with pain in labor including:
- positioning
- movement
- massage
- relaxation
- encouragement
- water
- heat
- cold
- TENS
What would you have told her?
WATER all the way…. But honestly, the best thing for me was birthing away from the temptation. I wanted a natural birth but wouldn’t have gotten one if I’d birthed where epidurals were available. I birthed away from the ability to have one (at home) and got 2 very satisfying all-natural births!
This is an important concept – women do need to realize that they don’t have to suffer if they decide to avoid or delay an epidural. It is interesting, though, to read this post the same day another post popped up in my Google alerts – this birth story of someone who was disappointed with her Lamaze preparation. In her case, it seems, she really *did* seem to have only two options – sit there writing in pain or get the epidural. But this choice presented itself only after she had accepted other interventions that made it much harder or impossible to use many of the helpful methods you list.
So I would add to your list “avoiding interventions whenever safely possible”. Also, a good doula is priceless, especially if she will do early labor support at home, which most of course will.
Agreed, how some see it as ‘HORRIBLE PAIN’ or epidural and pain-free.
I think many don’t realize that having an epidural does limit alot of ways to progress labor and manage pain such as changing postions walking etc.
I will describe my epidural-free labor as manageable pressure, not pain. I think it helped me have good and often chiropractic work most of my pregnancy and focused on the last half more. The last 2 months I was readjusted once a week or more. I think having my body and baby lined up helped my body work efficiently. I also worked hard on mental training (a sort of self hypnosis)giving my body permission to do what it needs to do to birth the baby. Birthing affirmations did help me A LOT. Those two things in concert helped me have a great HBAC (homebirth after c-section.)
Even if you do have less common presentation, back labor or other issue, staying active not only helps the baby but helps Mom feel what is going on. Mom may not be able to feel pain but will feel nothing else and will dislocate from her body sensations and may not realize a problem.
I think I am hyper sensitive to the medicine used for epidurals and think I reacted unfavorably so am biased against them!
I know one lady who had a quick, easy labor with her son and her one regret was she was not able to get an epidural. She did not express any pain or discomfort with her labor so I was very confused about this. I understand the appeal of them but it is certainly not an either/or situation. It can be very helpful for some people but adding or taking away an epidural in a hypthical labor does not equal the same labor but no pain….it will affect other things.
I would have given her the same list as you did, with the addition of hiring a doula as the very first thing. Of course, people could say I’m biased because I am a doula. But it has been shown to make a tremendous difference.
I’d also help her evaluate what types of pain-coping strategies would best fit who she is as a person.
It’s definitely not either/or, as you said. I always tell my clients that they can keep the epidural in their “tool box” but we won’t use it until there’s no other tools left to try. Some – like Diana above – might need to birth where they don’t have that option, but for others the fact that they can have it if they really need it is enough to get them through.