Does anyone feel guilty about getting an epidural?
nofrogs
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I was planning a natural childbirth, at a out of hospital birth center. At 41 weeks, I had some tests that indicated that my little girl was no longer doing well in the womb, and I needed to be induced. So, I trusted my midwife's judgement and went in for an induction at the hospital. My body was not ready to be in labor, and my induction started on a Sunday and I delivered on a Tuesday. The pain was bearable, but the exhaustion was not. My hubby was really supportive, but he was getting exhausted toward the end too. I opted for the epidural at the end, and it helped me have rest up enough to push. DH took a nap after the epidural, which allowed him to be present and alert for her birth.
I had heard that babies appear groggy and drugged up after an epidural birth, but my little girl was alert, with lots of movement and her eyes were very focused on exploring her environment, proving those misconceptions wrong.
I had no regrets in the first couple of days. I saw epidurals as a very useful tool that some women need. Lately, I have started to feel guilty about it the epidural. I even started crying about it, when I was telling my birth story the other day. I also felt really guilty after receiving the bill from the insurance company. Anyone else feel guilty?
On a slightly unrelated note, did anyone get a nasty pimple-like rash after the epidural? Not sure if it is from the epidural or the pitocin.
Re: Does anyone feel guilty about getting an epidural?
I understand where you are coming from but look at it this way: if you feel guilty over an epidural, think how badly you would be feeling if you had needed an emergency C section because you were too exhausted to push?? You made the right decision for you at the time and your baby came out just fine!
On as side note, as someone who had a medfree natural childbirth, I can tell you that sh!t HURTS and in all honesty Im not sure I would try it again:p
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I also had a med free natural birth and wound up pushing for two hours that seemed so so very long to me. I'm also in the "not sure I'd do it again" camp!
I got an epidural as well so I'd have energy to push and a good thing I did too since my baby was facing the wrong way and got a bit stuck which ended in me pushing for over an hour. If I hadn't gotten the epidural, I would have most likely had a c-section because I would have been too exhausted to push her out myself. That's sort of the way I've got to look at things, I did what I felt was best for myself and baby and she was born alert, healthy and happy.
Also, I didn't get any sort of rash that I knew of after the epidural though I've heard of it happening. Not sure what causes it though.
No I do not feel guilty for how I chose to bring my babies safely into the world. My first I had the epidural after 16 hours and I couldn't relax and the baby was stressed so the epidural kept me from having an emergency c-section. The twins.... well a breech extraction and a manual dnc would have been unbearable without the epidural. It hurt bad enough.
I didn't have a rash, bruise, or anything. I could just feel pressure from time to time like the epi was being placed but that's gone away now too.
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Hell no = after 20 hours of early labor and 3 of active labor i was questioning how/ why more people don't get them! it made LOs birth an enjoyable day, for me not one I associate with pain. LO was super alert at birth and still is to this day. My theory -if it wasnt safe for baby - it wouldn't be available.
This exactly! Why feel miserable if you don't have to? I felt those contractions for a few hours and that was plenty! I also pushed for two hours and it really wasn't that bad at all bc of the epidural. I was throwing up during transition and needed zofran in my iv, but I could feel the pressure of my contractions for pushing and move my legs, so definitely no regrets. Worth every penny and I'll do it again! In fact, the needle for my IV in my arm was worse than the epidural. That sh!t HURT and I'm used to giving blood and needles, but that top of the arm business was worse than the one in my spine! It was bruised for a week and a half pp.
ETA: I asked for the epi at 7cm and my MW wasn't pleased at all and tried all ways to talk me out of it. However, i know my own body best and my ability or inability to cope. Put it this way I had a better birth experience because of it.
Your baby is alive and healthy -- and so are you. There is absolutely nothign to feel guilty about, and there wouldn't have been no matter how you delivered her.
Your daughter absolutely doesn't and never will know the difference anyway, so I'm not sure what the "guilt" is attributed to? It sounds more to me like you are very disappointed in not being able to meet the expectations you set for your labor and delivery, which is understandable! But you should talk to somebody about that, because life's too short to carry around that sort of sadness and you have a beautiful healthy baby at home!
PS: 39 week induction + epidural + c section + GENERAL ANESTHESIA becasue my epidural wouldn't "take". And my baby and I are both healthy, which is all that matters...
When we opened the $1500 bill from it I told Dh that it was worth every penny. You're a few weeks out. I bet you were dying for it then. I wouldnt feel guilty about it at all. Mine crashed my heart rate to the point where the shots of whatever they were giving me werent doing enough so they hung it in an IV (so it did affect the baby). I dont think it was selfish. I couldnt have handled it.
There are so many things you can feel guilty about in parenting... like literally every day. Dont let it consume you. You do the best you can as much as you can handle it.
Not me. I always planned on getting an epidural-in fact when I did end up going to the hospital I found out I was 5 cm dilated (and it seemed like I would be having that baby in the next few hours-FALSE) I was like all right hook me up!
Not even for a second. I've given birth both with and without an epidural and the one with the epidural was a FAR, far better experience. I never got a chance to rest and recharge during my other birth and it stressed my body a lot more because I was in so much pain for such a long time. My recovery took longer and my body was more worn out and I was the most exhausted I've ever been in my life. Both my recovery and my exhaustion levels were far better after the epidural birth. If I have another child, I'm getting the epi again without question.
I'm aware of the pros and cons of both natural and epidural births. I feel like my epidural birth (I labored naturally until 8cm, which is when I tend to start puking/screaming/wanting to rip my hair out, and then got a very low-level epi) was a great combo of both.
Birthing a baby isn't easy with or without meds. We should all be proud!
+1 never even occurred to me to feel guilty.
Heck no - no guilt here! I had planned an unmedicated birth, but after almost 12 hours of active labour the lil' one turned posterior and the pain was way more than I could handle, even in a warm tub and trying different positions with my doula. After projectile vomiting and screaming like a wounded animal and thinking I was going to either pass out or die, I decided that if I wasn't in transition I would get the epidural. I was only at 5 cm. The epidural was a godsend. I don't regret my decision at all. I got to sleep and woke up 4 hours later fully dilated and ready to push. I felt every contraction and was able to be "more present" and aware than if I had been in blinding pain. I didn't get a drop of pitocin, a rash, bruising, or lingering pain, and was even able to squat while pushing. My baby started breastfeeding immediately, had apgars of 9, and wasn't drowsy or "drugged" or anything. I totally felt the after-birth high and don't feel like I missed or was screwed out of anything, except for several more hours of horrifying pain.
Props to the mamas who do it without drugs, but I think there's way too much stigma and pressure around epidurals, and no matter what anyone says, the pain management choices you make during childbirth have nothing to do with the kind of parent you'll be later on. It's an incredibly personal decision that's really nobody's business but your own, anyways.
And I also hate the term "natural birth" to refer to unmedicated delivery. Every birth is a natural birth.