What are your opinions or thoughts about epidurals?

What are your opinions or thoughts about epidurals?
I've had a overall very easy pregnancy with Xalia, but then came labor... It was the worst pain I've ever felt. But my family kept pressuring me into getting an epidural, even my hubby. But I was like," NO, I want to experience NATURAL childbirth, which is happens to be the way nature intended it." In my own very personal opinion, I really think epidurals are for pussy's who are afraid of pain. Yes, I am very aware that this may offend some of you softies out there, but I don't care, this is my PERSONAL opinion. Therefore, your feedback on MY opinions are not needed from you. Yes I know, I know, the pain is 'unbearable', I myself, was in labor for 20 hours with killer contractions, but that's a mothers job, to go through this pain if she wants a baby. I TOTALLY understand, if you need an epidural for medical reasons, like passing out etc. But if you didn't need it, why did you do it?


I'm not trying to be rude, I'm asking a simple question. I'm not TRYING to offend some of you by being vocal with my own thoughts, but Miss Elephant lover doesn't believe in drugs to aid with mother nature.

If you're gonna be pissy please for your sake and mine don't answer!!



But don't you women want to experience REAL childbirth the way it's meant to be? Please go ahead and comment as you would like, it's not going to make me change my mind or opinions.

I said nothing about c - sections. I said, if you have a natural birth, with no complications, or medical reasons to have an epidural, then why did you do it? '


I'm not respecting anyone out there. I'm not asking for your opinions about my opinions. My opinions are just as they are, and I don't have to respect 'anyone'. I don't care if you have an epidural or not, but I was just wondering what your VIEWS were on them. I gave you my views. I'm reporting anyone who doesn't answer my question, but chooses to complain about my vocality on my beliefs and opinions.

I've I was a chick I'd probably use an epidural. That crap looks painful. But then again I'm a pussy.

I have had three natural births with no pain killers or epidurals I just prefer to do it natural but if someone needs an epidural they should get it after all everyone has a high pain tolerance. I myself just do not want to get a needle in my back and have the possible side effects. My labors weren't too difficult because I had did so much walking.

I agree with you. Pregnancy and birth has, for some reason, become so medicalized. It's almost like it needs to be "treated" like it is a disease or something. Here is a site about the risks of epidurals:

http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona...

Im scared of epidural lol. Ive been thinking about the gas's and stuff, my back ache at the moment is mega painfull, and i dunno if id be able too cope but im making the choice than and there. No edpidural unless a c section though. Ive herd all of the storys about it and its turned me off well and truely.

Why ask for people's opinions when you already know your views on this topic? What are you just looking for internet friends to bash on people who choose to get epidurals?

epidural or no epidural does not make more or less of a woman or mother....at the end every ones a mother!!!Cheers!!!

I didn't want to take the pain any longer. I had no interest in knowing what natural childbirth was like.

I got a glimpse and that was enough for me,

Your not trying to be rude, but you call people who want an epidural a pussy and a softy???Your question is "What your opinions or thoughts about epidurals?" but you dont want feedback on YOUR opinion, while you have already given an opinion on those who are for it????
I dont think its anyone's place but the mother's to say if she needs an epidural...It may be like nature intended it, but did nature intend the baby to be born into a hopital? under medical supervision? with assistance? unless you were in the woods squatting your baby out, the old natural way is not commited. Dont get me wrong, more power to ya if you can do it! I think it is wonderful, but i also think the fact that humans being able to give birth alone is a beautiful thing, and as long as baby comes out healthy as well as momma, its not my business how its done. When i go into labor, if i feel like i can do it without exceeding my limits, then great. If not, Oh well....its not a show, im not trying to prove myself to the world, the focus is that the baby gets out.

PS(You have no right telling women that they havent experience REAL childbirth because they had an epidural! Get off of your high horse, give these mothers some respect!)

I personally Choose not to get a epidural but I don't believe that makes me a stronger women because of it. I believe to each their own. If they want a epidural to make it better for them, than they have the choice to do so. I have good friends and family who have had epidurals and I myself did not.. and don't try to make them feel less like a mother because they DID NOT HAVE as much pain as me.. I think maybe you should just step off you high horse for a moment... Now women who immediately say they are going to get one.. I think are being a little childish.. because if you get it before you even feel much pain than how do you know if you could not handle it? I think that women who go in with a open mind about what they want is a good thing.. but don't make them feel bad because they choose a epidural it will make them more relaxed which will help with their birthing process.. The is a reason why there are choice it out there.. because not ONE SHOE FITS ALL!

I totally agree with you! I am 18 and hoping for a baby myself, and please don't say im too young! LOL! I do realize all of the responsiblities and consequences that comes along with having a baby and am willing to accept them. But anyways, back to your question. I think it is ridiculous to have an epidoral unless you need it for a medical reason. God for some reason intended us to have babies the way we do and you should accept that. It isn't that you can't handle the pain, it's the fact that you have to learn what helps relax you and the best way to handle it, because child birth is a natural thing. I know I definatly want to have a natural child birth no matter what, unless an emergency comes up, and I have also thought about a water birth. Water can help keep you from tearing also and it can help soothe you and can benefit the baby also. And before going straight for the epidoral, why don't you read up on some of the negative affects of it. Such as, harming your back causing life-long pain, causing the baby to be somewhat drugged when it is born, a baby that crys more, and other things. Go to babyzone.com and find the article about having natural child birth and read it. Not only that, when you are laying there in labor and with almost unbearable pains, think of your little baby that is soon going to be in your arms, and if you have an epidoral, you just may have to wait to hold the baby.

I was in labor just as long as you were. I agree with your opinion for the most part, however I don't care if other people get one. One of my main issues with epidurals is that when I went in to be induced, someone came in and explained the risks of epidurals with me. The last thing he listed as a risk was death.

Wasn't planning on getting an epidural anyhow, but that whole death thing just made me all the more determined to stick it out al natural.

Ended up getting a c section in the end because my son was coming out ear first (funny they didn't catch that on the high risk ultrasound 22 hours earlier). I was so freaked out that the anesthesiologist had to assure me that an epidural and spinal were 2 completely separate things and I wasn't going to die.

I guess I never understood the big deal of "natural birth" ..just like you take prenatal vitamins or tylenol for a headache or a rolaid for a stomach ache or any kind of medicine to help you when your sick.. it seems the same to me like taking something only your givin it instead to help you.. a pain reliever to help you.. i am pregnant and I personally wont put myself through even more pain esp. when there is something that can help me.. I don't see the big deal in it.. and I don't see anyone as being a "pussy" if they chose to get an epidural..some people just have higher pain tolerance.. I dont see god should be involoved in the subject of epidurals..he blessed you with a baby be happy its healthy no matter how it comes out.. we all have opinions and I respect everyones opinions..that's just my thoughts!:)

Yes, people used to have no choice but to have a child naturally, but people also used to die from things like the flu.

Medicine has advanced, and so have the methods of childbirth.

For instance, all of the women in my family are very small. They all also have had very, very large babies. My mother is 4'10" and one of my brothers (she had 5 children) was about 10 lbs when she had him. So, getting nice and drugged up was the BEST option for her.

My sister is small as well. She has two children, and both of them had to be born via c-section.

There is NOTHING wrong with not wanting/being able to give birth "naturally." It's not a sign of weakness.

Hell, if wanting an epidural means I'm a pussy, then all of the women who are on birth control are ******* for messing with the natural way their body works in order to avoid pregnancy and childbirth.

That makes for a LOT of weak women, doesn't it?

What about taking vitamins? Weakness. Right? Because we shouldn't have to alter anything to make ourselves more comfortable or to make our lives a little easier. Women didn't start out taking loads of vitamins, but we all know what can happen to a child if its nutrition isn't up to par.

Different strokes for different folks. It doesn't make us weak, it makes us different.

i had my oldest by c-section so i had no choice but to have one. i wanted to do 2nd child natural because i didnt get the choice the first time i felt like a failure so i did it natural in labor with her for 26 hours. that sucked! i went with the epidural the 3rd time. i wasnt stupid that time. hahah. loved it went my easier. i could relax and labor went faster. im all for epidurals. i cant have any more kids but i choose them.


well guess what! welcome to the world c-sections are part of giving birth now! and they come along with epidurals. so if you dont want to know our opinion about epidurals than dont ask the ?. its still REAL childbirth with an epidural!!!!!!!!!!! i didnt know just because you choose to have one it all of a sudden became non real. you still leave the hospital with a real baby. not a plastic one. there is no book on life and whats real and whats not about chidbirth. to each their own. some can handle the pain more than others. im a very strong woman but let me tell you i thank God for epidurals!!!!!!!!!!!


if we as women were suppose to experience real childbirth everytime then there would be no such thing as an epidural!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So are you saying that having a c-section which i had was not REAL childbirth?
I was offered an epidural but refused it and asked to be put to sleep during my c-section.

I can tell you that when my sister got her epidural they stuck the needle to far into her spine/back and it caused her to go paralyze the day she went home because from where they had stuck it in too far it cause her to have air pockets in her brain, had she not gotten to the hospital when she did i would say she would have suffered brain damage or death. They did a bloodpatch on her and she got alright and do you know she could not sue the hospital because she had signed the papers on the epidural.
I would not get one just because of that. Which i had my son way before she had her daughter.
I chose not to be awake during my c-section knowing i would be getting cut wide opened.
I had a horrible pregnancy with throwing up from the time i was 2 months pregnant until the day i had my son at 35 weeks. I also had pre-eclampsia & he was breech.
I think a c-section is worse pain than natural childbirth even though i have not went through it but my mom had 7 kids (5 natural, 2 by c-section) and she said that having a baby vaginally is easy compared to a c-section.
You can get up and walk the same day you give birth naturally but you cannot do that when you have a c-section so tell me could you handle a c-section?

I wanted to have a natural childbirth, but ended up having to have a c-section. I have permanent damage from the spinal they gave me and when I asked my doctor about it she said that if most women know that 1 in 7 people will have complications from the epidural/spinal that they wouldn't be so keen to get it. I know that falls under the special medical needs category, but I felt the need to reply, if I could applaud on this thing, I would. I happen to agree with you 110%, and I know I will get downrated for it, but so be it.

The only exception is in the case of a woman being induced because I know that the drugs they give you to speed up labor also cause your contractions to become even more painful.

I always wanted to have my babies at home , and I did just that with my first baby. I had her in my jacuzzi tub (not that that fact mattered when I was in serious labor) but I Loved it!! I got pregnant 8 months later and changed my mind about home births because that pain was still a strong memory in my head, so I went to the hospital and had him with an epidural and honestly the home birth was way better! I remember so much more about my daughter's birth at home with no pain meds , it is such a special feeling going through all that then holding the baby in your arms!! My son's birth was awesome but not the same thing as going through all that then getting the beautiful reward for it. Anyways I don't care what people do, I like both births:)

I feel as though if you want one GET one who am I to tell you yes or no I WANTED natural childbirth but I was FORCED to get an epidural due to the fact that I was pushing out Twins just in case anything where to go wrong they could do an emergency C-Section I ended up pushing both my babies out and my first one I barely felt but the medicine wore off and I started having SEVERE pains because my epidural wore off the 2nd doctor tried to give me another one (basically a re-fill on my tube) I yelled NO I can do this leave it alone!! So I experianced both although my second was not COMPLETELY natural due to the fact that I still had the drug in my system but it was NOT as easy as the first....I think that if I don't work for that baby if I don't feel that pain that I am supposed to feel while giving birth what's the point right!!

I wont say anything negative about your opinions or choices, just like I wouldn't want anyone to say anything negative about mine. The people who are bashing you really have nothing better to do. Anyways, I went into my labor planning on having a natural child birth. My water broke around 5AM, and I stayed at home laboring until around 8AM. By noon, I was in horrible pain. My baby was "sunny-side up" meaning her spine was against mine, which caused horrible back labor. I kept insisting on having her naturally. I tried so hard. The pain was so bad that it was making me throw up. My contractions were 2 minutes apart for 5 hours, but I was only 4 centimeters dialated. Finally, around 6PM, I got an epidural, both at the urging of my boyfriend and my doctor. I progressed much faster after that because I was able to relax. I dont regret doing it. I gave it my best, but I guess I just couldnt handle it anymore. Luckily, the epidural made the pushing phase go quicker because my daughters heart rate dropped mid way through, and the doctor had to get her out very fast. Had I been feeling everything, she probably wouldnt have come out as fast as she did. I dont regret and epidural. If I have another baby, I'll try to go naturally again.

lol, what do you REALLY think? :)

I'm with you predominantly. With my first, I needed an epidural because unfortunately my water began leaking and for whatever reason I was NOT dilating at all, and didn't budge past 4 cm and they were threatening c section, so I got the epidural (the pain became unbelievably intense) and because of that, I was able to relax enough to fully dilate within just a few hours and avoided a c section (THANK GOD!)... with my second I only had the IV drugs after I was 8 cm... but then with our third, I didn't get any drugs and can promise, by far, that is my FAVORITE experience. I went into the hospital at 8 cm with both my second and third and with our third, by not getting drugs, plus having a midwife do the delivery, it was amazing...
I don't think that it's about being "weak" but women are being lied to and persuaded that literally, drugs are a "natural" part of labor (all you have to do is look at how many get drugs vs how many go fully natural) and if you don't get any form of drugs, you're almost a "freak" in our day and age. Women are being treated like they are too weak to deliver as God intended (but like you said, there are MEDICALLY NECESSARY times to get drugs to avoid a more drastic scenario like a c section for example)... what's worse, since women are being lied to about their abilities, they are being robbed and cheated of experiencing the miracle that enduring the pain brings when that baby is given to you after he or she is born... I LOVE the film "The Business of Being Born" and it discusses how c sections and drugs have affected (negatively) the whole birthing process, I HIGHLY recommend that film to ALL pregnant women!
http://www.watch-movies.net/movies/the_b...

ADD: ***I want to clarify when I said with my first I had the epidural because of the pain. They gave me pitocin (I will REFUSE it if they try to give it to me this time, screw that crap!) and it made my contractions UNNATURALLY close together and was unnaturally painful (it's man made oxytocin so of course the consequence is it creates an unnatural labor experience almost forcing you to get a drug because the pain is worse than any natural labor pain, and I had some HORRIBLE labor pain, but when it was naturally painful, I was able to bear it through breathing techniques, as God intends it... if that makes sense)...