Why do some women prefer to have a natural childbirth?
ByI have never had a baby, nor am I pregnant, but when I do have a baby, I cannot imagine putting myself through all that pain.
Why would someone deliberately put themselves through all that pain when they can have the baby without pain?
I am just curious to know.
Thanks!
Related posts:
- Women who have had and prefer natural childbirth – what was it like?
- why do so many women prefer to go through natural childbirth instead of getting a medicated one?
- Is natural childbirth better for mom and baby or are epidurals okay?
- why do some women mock, insult, and discourage other women for planning a natural childbirth?
- What would you prefer, epidural or natural childbirth?
22 Comments
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:39 pm
because they dont want a man
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:10 pm
When you decide to have a baby then have the baby the way it is suppose to be.
With my son i wanted natural, if i want this baby then i will take the pain on having him.
I would not have it any other way!!!!
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:12 pm
No pain no gain!
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Because, the pain of childbirth, psychologically, makes the mother closer to her child.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:16 pm
I think some women want natural childbirths because they want to be heros and seem superior, or they are afraid of the side effects of other methods. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. I had an epidural right away and am so glad for it. I am 8 weeks pregnant and will have an epidural again. I’m a strong woman but I don’t need to prove anything but having all natural childbirth. I’m smart enough to get an epidural.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
i don’t know if i’m pregnant (playing the 2 week waiting game!!) and i have never been pregnant either, but my friend who just had a baby 2 months ago said she got the epidural and her back is STILL in pain from it!! she said her aunt had a kid 6 years ago and she still feels pain where the epidural was done… plus i hear the drugs they give you can affect your child… i don’t know how true that is though… but those are some reasons i have heard of…
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:20 pm
i don’t like needles
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:47 pm
because for some women it’s not very painful or they think it will make it a better experience for them. me personally I want the drugs
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
There is no question that some people feel it is just better for the baby. I think there is some evidence that it may be a little better for the baby. But, I’m with you. If we have all this medical technology that allows us to avoid pain, why not use it when the pain is the most?! I certainly want what’s best for my kids but, there isn’t any big amount of evidence that it matters in the least. One thing you should know though is that there is no such thing as pain free childbirth. It still hurts a LOT, at least some of the time, no matter what drugs you use.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:45 pm
You can’t have a baby without any pain. Epidurals do not take away ALL pain. But anyway, having a natural birth is usually safer for mommy and baby, unless there is some reason that an epidural is called for… You can be a more active participant in the birth if you don’t have an epidural and therefore you are less likely to have interventions like episiotomies, forceps, and c-sections. (When you get an epidural you can’t get into the optimal positions for laboring and giving birth because you can’t feel your legs). Episiotomies *may* actually lead to worse damage of the perineum than a natural tear, and they don’t heal as fast as a tear (OUCH); forceps could harm the baby; and c-sections have much higher risks than vaginal birth. Plus, some women just don’t like the idea of not being able to feel much going on below their waist.
p.s., yes, it’s true that the drugs go to the baby. when you are pregnant, everything you put into your body can get to the baby through the placenta. an epidural is no different.
and that comment about how people who have natural births do it to feel superior is just ridiculously stupid.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 pm
With proper training and preparation, the pain is not that bad. Many of the things that can be done to prevent pain can also injure the baby. That is a risk not worth taking. I had three babies that had difficulties during birth. If I had taken drugs they might have died or been brain damaged.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I have had 4 kids with no pain meds but not by choice! my labors and delivery’s went very fast. I would recommend it for any woman though, With an epidural there are side effects like vomiting and dizziness, if you go natural after the pain you feel fine, Its a badge of honer, i remember every aspect of the birth and enjoyed it!! the most painful part is not the contractions but the head coming through the vagina, but once it is through, your feeling fine! Besides meds at birth for the baby make him groggy and less responsive.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I really didn’t have a reason for deciding to have my child natural, it just felt like it’s the right thing to do when giving birth. having a natural childbirth, like back in the day. don’t get me wrong, i won’t ever forget that pain, but it is a wonderful experience.
i have four sisters and my mother ’til this day brags about how i handled it better than they did. i have a high tolerance for pain and believe it or not didn’t scream or anything like that– the lady next to me was screaming enough for the both of us!
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Pain in labor is progress. The baby and your body work together to get the baby in the most efficient position to be born. The cycle of oxytocin, endorphins and adrenaline that is triggered throughout a normal unmedicated labor is important for a normal birth.
Interventions like epidurals can lead to complications for mom and baby, and surgical births as well.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:17 am
i guess because before there were painkillers women did it like that in the past and maybe they want to see if they can do the same now.also they want to truly experience everything so as to be able to give advice to others and share their experiences in the future.
another thing is that they will be able to let their children know just how much they should appreciate everything that their mother has done for them.
in other words “if i bring you into this world i can take you out of it” lol lol
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:37 am
I have two friends, who each had one child with an epidural and one without. Both of them wholeheartedly agreed that their experience and recovery were far better with natural childbirth.
I’m not talking about bonding or being super-mom or even not wanting to expose the baby to drugs. Those are all valid things, but I’m talking strictly from a physical experience. They said they hurt less afterward, were up & around faster and healed quicker.
I had my first son without an epidural and plan to have the next one the same way.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 am
having had 2 kids i feel i can explain – the idea behind natural childbirth is wonderful. its meant to be a wonderful bonding experience for mum,dad and baby. but in reality childbirth is the most difficult thing u will ever go thro. its very painful,very emotional,ultimately rewarding but not without its risks.i always wanted a section but nature had its own agenda – labour started spontaneously on both and on my second i had a much shorter labour resulting in ineffective analgesia so it was very much a natural birth. 1st time round the pethidine was amazing. 2nd time around the pethidine went in my leg,the baby came out so it didn’t even work for me.if i had a choice it would be as painless as possible every time.a lot of women who opt for a natural drug free delivery are usually screaming for pain relief before the baby is born so i reckon most women don’t have a clue what its really like.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:42 am
For one thing you are assuming it is excruciatingly painful, and for many women it is not.
For another epidurals and most other methods have potential side effects for mom and baby. Something like 20% of women who get epidurals have some side effect -sure it is usually mild but some are serious. If you get an epidural it also will cause a drop in mom’s blood pressure which some babies will not handle, and there is no way to know ahead of time. Also all women given epidurals will have their temperature continue to rise the longer they have it. In most cases this is no problem, but if it gets too high they will give the baby a spinal tap to make sure the temperature was only caused by the epidural and not also by an infection. Epidurals also increase the chances of needing other interventions such as pitocin, forceps/vacuum delivery, and c-section. Each additional intervention is more risk for both mom and baby and increases the chances of needing even more interventions.
Thirdly by actually being able to feel what you are doing you cause much less damage to your body. You are less likely to bruise your bladder, less likely to tear, etc.
Plus trust someone enough to let them put a needle in my spine! I don’t think so!
I know many women who regret having an epidural, who had previous or subsequent pregnancies without. Some had serious side effects, and some just felt that they missed the birth of their child or didn’t like how the epidural left them feeling. I have never met a woman who planned to have a natrual childbirth and regretted it. Some women who end up having a natural birth because there isn’t time for an epidural regret it, but a planned natural birth is far different and women that choose them are generally well educated and prepared.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:38 am
This is what I say, no matter how crude it sounds:
The baby is coming out of some hole in your body, whether it is your vagina or a hole cut for a c-section…how much more natural do you want?
For me, drugs didn’t make the birthing process any less “natural” the baby still came one way or another and out of my body.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:15 am
My first birth I was unable to have an epidural due to the fact that I was really dehydrated. I was scared at first, but after just 4 pushes the baby was out and it didn’t even really hurt. So the 2nd birth I chose to go natural again. Once again I found that it was all about the mind set. I just focused on the fact that in just a little while I was going to see my precious little girl. I kept my focus and never even noticed the pain and in 4 pushes my little girl was here.
Natural is not for everyone, but don’t think that for the ones who choose it that they are in unbearable pain. I am a very very small person and do not deal well with pain, but for me childbirth was all about the mind set.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:04 am
I think that in natural birth the mother is prepared for motherhood. Emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually she traverses a great distance in those hours. I don’t see that happening with an epidural. I’m not slamming women who want meds, that’s a personal choice; I just wonder if they aren’t missing out on something. I think a woman should give birth in whatever situation makes her most comfortable, so she can focus on her baby.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:42 am
I want to have a natural birth because i know it’s safer for me and the baby. I know that they say epidural’s are safe, but it is still a drug. Also, the way i see it women have been giving birth for thousands of years without epidural’s so if they can do it so can i.