AIBU - to be really pissed off that epidurals are being restricted?

[christmasmum]

Was just reading an article in Mother and Baby magazine saying that epidurals are classed as an 'abnormal birth' and that they should be restricted in the future to avoid women having caesareans.

What is this all about? Why should women not be free to make their own decision on pain relief, while being aware of the risks involved in every form of pain relief? And is it not the case that women having diffcult births in the first place are more likely to BOTH have an epidural AND end up having a c-section anyway??

Before giving birth to my DD I bought into all the information from the NCT, books and magazines etc and was determined to go for a 'natural' birth. I ended up being induced and despite being told by every woman I have ever spoken to who has been induced, that I should have an epidural the midwife advised me that I would not need one. After 10 hours of intense contractions and finding out I was a huge 2cm dilated I decided enough was enough and had an epidural.

I was instantly relaxed and started to actually enjoy the process, 2 1/2 hours later (despite the consultant arriving to prep me for a c-section) I found out I was fully dilated and delivered my wee girl after 5 minutes of pushing to a room that was full of people laughing and singing Christmas carols.

I obviously only have my own experience to go by but I am absolutely convinced that the relaxing effect of being out pain helped me deliver my baby naturally.

What is this pressure on women to be in pain and suffering to be 'real women'. And why is that every new Dad I've spoken to with wives who did not have pain releif seem so proud of them? Is this just another example of male oppression of women? Even subliminally??

AAGGGHHHHH. Rant over.

Had epidurals with all three of mine. Happily. Cheerfully. Willingly. And sod anyone who thinks I am a 'failure' - in particular exh's partner who was horrified that I 'couldn't bear one day of a bit of pain', but who had pethidine instead

Nobody would say it's a failure to have one that's ridiculous suggestion, more a weren't you lucky it was a success and you didn't suffer after effects.

Kathy who are you to judge the amount of pain other women are feeling when they give birth? You are not them.

I sincerely hope that you never decide to take up a career in midwifery, kathy.

"Yes because if I can manage so can everyone else"....wow. I'm leaving this thread now in case I say something I regret.

Well unfortunately I don't get to choose, mores the pity because I would spend more money on teaching women how to cope with the birth rather than pumping them with drugs to make them compliant and creating potential ongoing health issues.
You are right whoever said most people do want a natural birth but they do very little to prepare for it and educate themselves.
On the birth plan threads I've read time and time again about people either saying there's didn't get taken out of the bag or advising somebody else not to bother because it won't happen, how is that helpful or taking responsibility for your own body and how it's treated ?

Ah yes, all of us who had complicated births and/or and chose epidural pain relief simply hadn't done enough pregnancy yoga and hypnobirthing classes [hmmm]

"Pumping women full of drugs to make them compliant" - I think you are confusing childbirth with the scandals that happened in girls childrens homes a couple of decades ago kathy. That was a case where women were drugged to keep them compliant. Women requesting pain relief is not quite the same.

Maybe you should go and work in an area of the world where drugs and medical intervetions are not available, you can see how happy everyone is with that, and teach them all how to breathe

I donate to this fistula charity in case anyone is interested in non-breathing related help for women in developing countries

Or maybe western women should get a grip and go and see how it's done else where, where they know they have to get on with and do indeed do just that.
Of course there will be cases where intervention is required but that's not necessarily an epidural.

Fistula tears can happen to anyone, an epidural would not prevent that.

I had an epidural because I was induced.

But I would have had one anyway, because I was terrified and didn't want to be in pain. It was lovely and calm and I had no after-effects. I would do the same again in a heartbeat.

My very good friend suffered agonies with her two entirely natural births, but would do it again because she's more scared of a needle in her pain than labour pains.

We both have lovely, healthy children and no lasting traumas.

So both good outcomes, yes? Both valid births? So neither choice should be restricted, right?

My first ds was born in Ireland, I asked for an epidural during labour but it was too late. Then episiotomy. I didn't really feel happy that he was born until the next day, at the time I just thought "thank God that's over with". The experience shocked and frightened me so much I didn't try for another baby until he was 3.
We had moved to Canada when I became pregnant again. I was discussing birth options with my (female, mother of 2) GP, said "I managed without an epidural last time" and she said "but why would you want to?" Very good point! I had the epidural with ds2 after getting to 6 cm, my labour was good but his head was turned to the side and wouldn't budge; I had an emergency section after 2 hours of pushing.
Dd was born 4 months ago by elective section. Some women just have a hard time in labour. I couldn't have gone through pushing again.
To limit pain medication seems insane to me.

Kathy yes in other parts of the world they get on with it without medical intervention because they have to.

I cannot see that this is by defition a good thing though.

Your lack of empathy and care for your fellow humans is astounding.

Well women do pay taxes, are we given no choice as to how they spent?

'You are right whoever said most people do want a natural birth but they do very little to prepare for it and educate themselves'

Kathy, that is the one of the most generalised, ill informed statements I have read in a long time. You should be ashamed of yourself to make such an assumption.

Medical intervention in an emergency situation is entirely different from some daft cow in harpenden being scarred of a perfect normal baby coming out of a perfectly normal fanjo.

Shubiedoo, I'm in Ireland too. An epidural costs the hse ?500. That's the route of it all isn't it? The Canadians are a civilised nation!!

I can't stomach anymore shite from Kathy Brown so I'm off. I don't want to be taught to handle the pain. I want to have my right not to have to endure unneccessary pain to be respected.

You only have to read mumsnet pregnancy/conception pages to see how utterly unprepared most on there are, if that's an educated cross section of mums be with internet access and the time and inclination to do some research then you dread to think what the rest are like.

Oh, and I think that most women don't want a natural birth anywhere near as much as they want a healthy baby.

I get very when the manner of birth is turned into one more stick for new mothers to beat themselves with.

Really Maggie? I asked for an epidural in Holles Street, maybe they just didn't want to spend the money?! I never thought of that! And I laboured for the most part on my own; a student midwife was supposed to be with me but she kept leaving to ask advice. Don't get me started, they are far too busy to provide good care.

Leningrad I agree there's nothing wrong with controlling pain, but that is entirely diiferent from de mobilising and therefore increasing all likelyhood of things going rapidly downhill for mother and baby.
I've only seen a emcs on TV and by the looks of it you were better off with a GA.