I very strongly believe that every woman should be encouraged and supported to have the birth that they want, whatever they want to do.
But I've noticed over the past few years - anecdotally, on places like MN - that there is this background belief from some women that other women who have an epidural are somehow 'giving up' or 'not woman enough to cope' or 'not embracing a natural pain'.
Now I really don't care how people give birth, as long as they've been supported by their healthcare professionals to achieve what they want, because all that matters is that the mum and baby are both well. I understand the cascade of intervention that an epidural may bring, and that a pain relief free vaginal birth is probably, on the balance of things, better for both the mum and the baby as long as everything is going well.
But I can't help but wonder how or where the natural birth push has morphed into some people being so anti-epidural for other women, into the sort of judgement that someone women seem to embrace at the moment?
Please or to access all these features
Please
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to access all these features
AIBU?
to wonder, where the move towards 'epidurals are wimping out' ideas come from?
214 replies
Thurlow · 23/08/2013 21:30
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