Labor-Intensive
When I found out that I was pregnant all those weeks ago I thought, "I'm pregnant? I'm pregnant! Hooray, hooray, hooray hoo- oh shit, labor."
Labor. I'll never forget my labor with P and personally, I don't know anyone who had a worse labor*. I labored without medication for 32 hours. And it was ALL back labor. I had an epidural for two hours before I started pushing. And I pushed, and pushed, and pushed, for three hours. The doctor told me later that he was about to announce that I needed a C-section when P finally came out.
I have several friends and cousins who had babies within a year of me having P, and it was interesting to compare notes. There were two people I know who had their babies at home with a midwife, and a few people I know who had C-sections, and everything in between. But I don't know anyone who really, really wanted a drug-free birth and wasn't able to do it.
I still really want a drug-free birth. I still feel a little pang of jealousy and failure when I hear about someone who was able to have their baby without medication. But knowing how bad labor can get, I just don't know if I can write another birth plan that says, "I don't want medication. If I ask, talk me out of it." I feel bad because everyone says it's best for the mother and the baby to not use drugs, but like I said, I know how bad labor can get. And I don't know if I can do it.
I suppose I have another 5 months or so to think about it. I shouldn't worry now.
* I know there are people who had worse labors, but I don't know them.
Labor. I'll never forget my labor with P and personally, I don't know anyone who had a worse labor*. I labored without medication for 32 hours. And it was ALL back labor. I had an epidural for two hours before I started pushing. And I pushed, and pushed, and pushed, for three hours. The doctor told me later that he was about to announce that I needed a C-section when P finally came out.
I have several friends and cousins who had babies within a year of me having P, and it was interesting to compare notes. There were two people I know who had their babies at home with a midwife, and a few people I know who had C-sections, and everything in between. But I don't know anyone who really, really wanted a drug-free birth and wasn't able to do it.
I still really want a drug-free birth. I still feel a little pang of jealousy and failure when I hear about someone who was able to have their baby without medication. But knowing how bad labor can get, I just don't know if I can write another birth plan that says, "I don't want medication. If I ask, talk me out of it." I feel bad because everyone says it's best for the mother and the baby to not use drugs, but like I said, I know how bad labor can get. And I don't know if I can do it.
I suppose I have another 5 months or so to think about it. I shouldn't worry now.
* I know there are people who had worse labors, but I don't know them.
posted by Danulai at
6:12 AM
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4 Comments:
back labour all the way?! it's a wonder you decided to have another.
By
dykewife, At
7:48 PM
The epidural didn't make Philo any less awesome. You know your pain threshold better than anyone else. Try for your drug-free birth again, but if it doesn't work, don't beat yourself up.
By
KatKegger, At
9:12 PM
I'm firmly in the "reasonable application of anesthesia is a good thing" area. Yes, over-application causes kids to come out a little bit...er...tired. That also happens when the epidural is cranked up to the max for a C section, but I have yet to see anything in the world of scientifically verified evidence that epidurals cause anything resembling harm to mom or baby. Back in the old days when they used big doses of scopolamine, sure, bad things happened. These days I think medicine is doing a lot better. Also please remember my freely offered opinion is worth precisely what you paid for it.
Do what you feel is best, but I see no shame in painkillers. :-)
By
dpaton, At
9:41 PM
Love your disclaimer. LOL. :D
By
Fun with Mustaches, At
10:42 AM
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