Whether or not you’re terrified of needles, an epidural is something that needs to be researched and discussed with your SO and your OB GYN. I’m honestly sick and tired of people looking at me like I’m bat $hit crazy when I tell them that our birth plan currently has a drug free labor written all over it. It’s a personal decision that every woman gets to make, but please keep that in mind, it’s YOUR decision. Women in this country delivered PLENTY of babies before the “wonder drug” was introduced but now it’s like it’s just “expected” and the “norm”. Those of us who want to try this thing out naturally the way it was intended? Well clearly there is something wrong with us.
So let’s talk first about the pros and cons of getting an epidural… Some fact and some completely and totally my humble (yeah, right) opinion.
CONS:
Women who take the juice have a higher chance of needing emergency procedures to deliver baby. This may be anywhere from forceps and vacuum extraction to an emergency c-section.
Women who have epidurals experience more tearing than women who don’t opt-in to the epidural frenzy.
Side effects for mom include: low blood pressure, headache, fever.
PROS:
Minimal or no tearing
No drugged out baby or mom
Less recovery time
More instinctive pushing = less pushing
You see where I’m going with this right?… I thought so.
But I’m not naive enough to think that it will be all sunshine and rainbows either. It’s a preparation that not every woman has the time, energy, or patience for. I’ve read many instances where they call it “Marathon Mode”… Not exactly a walk in the park.
So if you’re like me, and you want to forego the drugs and do it the old fashioned way… START PREPARING NOW! I don’t care if you’re 12 weeks, 20 weeks, or 30 weeks along. It’s time to buckle down and get serious so that you can make it through this thing drug-free as planned.
Walk as often as you can. Spend at least 30 minutes EACH DAY being active. Whether it’s pilates, yoga, a stationery bike, walking the dog… Just get out there and do it.
Eat right. Keep your body in shape by eating right. Making sure that you and your baby are getting the right kind of calories and nutrition is a huge key to this. I’m not telling you I don’t have the occasional bowl of ice cream, but I’m definitely doing a bit more than the pizza and popcorn that my mom had to have constantly when she was pregnant for me!
Practice relaxation techniques. Are you getting cramps, Braxton Hicks contractions or just in overall discomfort? What a great chance to practice relaxing! Breath through the pain. When my back is really starting to bother me (which happens frequently thanks to the nice bulge on my sciatic nerve…) it’s a great chance for me to practice relaxing, rather than tensing up to get through the pain. Go on, we’re fat and uncomfortable, you have plenty of opportunities to start working through it now.
I think the most important thing (for me) is remembering that this has been going on for over 2,000 years and that regardless of my fears ~ my body was built for this! So of course it can handle it.
Anyway, didn’t mean to gross anyone out or ruffle any feathers (honestly) but I just wanted to get you all thinking. Have a great day!
Sincerely,
~Nikki
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