One of the biggest decisions expectant mothers make today with regard to labor is whether or not to use pain medication, such as an epidural, or having natural childbirth. While it might seem like a no-brainer to simply go for the drugs, the decision is not as easy as it might seem. Here are some important factors to consider about using pain medication versus using non-medical options for pain relief to help you decide.
Advantages of Natural Childbirth
When medications are not used in labor, mothers have access to a host of other effective techniques that they simply cannot take advantage of otherwise. Getting into a shower or tub, using on a birth ball, walking around the labor room or floor and pushing in a variety of positions are all advantages of having a natural childbirth that are all but impossible once an epidural is administered.
Research also shows that the first stage and second stage (pushing) of labor tend to both be shorter when a mother has natural childbirth. Some studies show that an advantage to natural childbirth is it more likely leads to a vaginal birth (versus a cesarean), especially when the epidural is administered in early labor.
Women who have natural childbirth can feel the urge to push and are less likely to need help pushing with the use of instruments. One distinct disadvantage to having an epidural (or an advantage to having natural childbirth, if you will) is that it increases the mother's chance of having a baby in a persistent posterior position. This may be one reason for why epidurals increase the rate of instrumental delivery such as forceps or vacuum extractions.
Advantages of Using an Epidural in Labor
One of the biggest advantages of using an epidural in labor is of course the fact that it can significantly reduce the mother's pain. Very few methods of pain relief work as quickly or as effectively to block pain. Unlike narcotics, the pain relief provided by an epidural is effective without making the mother sleepy or groggy.
Another advantage of using an epidural is that it helps the mother to conserve her energy. This makes epidurals especially helpful during long labors. In the case where a mother is limited to the bed (such as having hypertension or a high-risk pregnancy) and does not have access to other forms of pain relief, having an epidural can make it easier for her to cope with labor.
If the mother should need to have a cesarean while in labor, another advantage of epidurals is that the dosage can be topped up for surgery if needed.
The bottom line is that deciding whether or not to use medication such as an epidural or natural childbirth is indeed a big decision. It is obvious that there are clear advantages and disadvantages to both. Each mother should be fully informed and prepared so that she can make the best decision for her own birth.
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
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