by EAS

Created on: March 28, 2009   Last Updated: March 29, 2009

Ever heard of the simpler times? You know when women were just popping their babies out while working in the fields. I'm always reminded of this by my grandmother who never passed over the pain of contractions and squeezing out those babies for the sake of not being called a real women. Well at least I guess thats the reason she opted for natural childbirth. She never really says anything but that " If millions of women have done it naturally throughout time so can you, so stop crying."

Why isn't going through labor with an epidural not classified as natural childbirth? I mean it's not like it's unnatural. We don't have the babies out of another hole in our body if we take an epidural. Also its not like we don't love our babies any less if we get some help.

Yes, there are risks in taking an epidural such as pain, numbness at the site where the epidural was placed. There are also said to be effects such as slow progression of labor or a lethargic baby. You have to really take into consideration whether you really need some help or if you can maybe stick it out.

For example I have had three babies so far and I am due for another one in July. I had a CSE "walking epidural with my first son and I took it because I really needed it. I was eighteen years old and I was scared of the pain so me and my husband made the decision to say yes to this epidural. I'm glad I got it because the pain was so intense I wasn't even able to yell or get mad or talk above a whisper. I had my son with no complications as far as his health and just some numbing sensation in the insertion area for about eight months. My second child, my daughter was born "naturally" . This labor was of course understandably painful and intense but only lasted about four and half hours so I dealt with it. My third child, my son, was also delivered "naturally." I was in labor for about fourteen hours and I delivered before I was even fully dilated. Man I wish I had gotten an epidural it was extremely painful. Now I am going to have my fourth child, a daughter in July and I am going to keep my options open. If I feel I need an epidural I will ask for one.

A women is not less of a women if she opts for a little bit of help through a hard process. The end result is almost always a happy healthy baby and mommy. My husband does not think any less of me for choosing an easier way. A women should always be supported of her decision to make a situation easier for her during pregnancy and the birth. That's our right.

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