When pregnant, many expecting mothers are faced with a very tough decision, the decision to have an epidural during labor or to have a natural birth. Both methods have negative and positive aspects. This topic has such conflicting views that about 50% of women decide to get an epidural when going into labor and the other 50% of women choose the alternative: natural childbirth. It is important for an expecting mother to look into both options thoroughly to ensure they make the best choice for both themselves and for their child. With all of the speculations circulating about both options, it is hard for mothers to see the truth about both epidurals and natural childbirth.
In order to be completely informed a mother needs to know what exactly an epidural is and how it works. An epidural is the most popular form of pain relief during labor. An epidural is a regional pain reducer. An epidural is analgesia, which is meant for pain relief. This is much different than an anesthesia, which provides total lack of feeling to a region of the body. Epidurals are giving intravenously. There are two types of epidurals a woman can get. The first method is a regular epidural. In a regular epidural, after the catheter is in place, a combination of narcotic and anesthesia is administered either by a pump or by periodic injections into the epidural space. The second type of epidural is a combined spinal-epidural, these are often called the “”walking epidural”. In this type of epidural, an initial dose of narcotic, anesthetic or a combination of the two is injected beneath the outermost membrane covering the spinal cord.
Then after threading a catheter through the needle, the anesthesiologist will withdraw the needle and leave the catheter i...
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...other can move around more freely and find positions that help her stay comfortable during labor. Natural child birth is also a very intimate process. Your partner can be involved in the process as you work together to manage your pain (2013, November).
Along with the many advantages there are some disadvantages with natural childbirth. The main disadvantage is the pain that is associated with natural childbirth. Without any medicine the pain of labor is very intense, and this is what turns most mothers off from this method. However, there are various breathing, and movement methods that are meant to decrease the pain.
Works Cited
Epidural anesthesia. (2007, August).
McCutcheon, S. (1984). Natural childbirth the Bradley way.
"Natural Childbirth." Babycenter. BabyCenter, L.L.C, n.d. Web. 17 Nov 2013.
Phillips, S. (2005, November). epidurals: fact vs. fiction.
To be able to nourish a baby naturally can also help a new mother feel reassured in her ability to care for her baby. Which enables the mother and infant to connect on an emotional level and get to know one another. Knowing the babies cues before he/she begins to cry can help develop a healthy relationship between mother and infant. Breast milk is also convenient and readily available at the right temperature for a baby to eat. A woman...
Why should I have a natural birth, “You don’t get a medal for going without drugs, you know.” Why go through the pain when you can get an injection that can take away just enough of the pain that you can still enjoy the labor? “There is no shame in asking for an epidural,” said Dr. Cynthia Wong of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University. In the United States more than 80% of pregnant women are now having c-sections. Epidurals give the mothers a chance to participate in the delivery and actually enjoy it. You can also get a walking epidural so that you can still push during the labor and cope with the pain.
The use of epidurals is so common today that many perinatal professionals are calling the 1990s the age of the epidural epidemic. Believed by many in the medical profession to be safe and effective, the epidural seems now to be regarded as a veritable panacea for dealing with the pain of childbirth. It is true that most women experience pain during the course of labor. This pain can be intense and very real, even for those who have prepared for it. But pain is only one of many possible sensations and experiences that characterize the experience of giving birth. Barbara Katz Rothman, a sociologist who studies birth in America, writes that in the medical management of childbirth, the experience of the mother is viewed by physicians as pain: pain experienced and pain to be avoided.1 Having experienced childbirth ourselves, we have great compassion for women in painful labors. However, we also feel a responsibility to mothers and their babies to explore issues concerning the use of epidural anesthesia in labor issues that are seldom discussed prenatally.
The first outcome: 100 % of the staff will comply with hourly rounding and promptly answer call lights. Will be accompanied by the following activities: laminated sheets and markers will be placed in each postpartum/post epidural mothers room. The nurse on duty will initial each hourly round that she/he complies to. Signs reading, "To prevent a fall, please call" will be hung in every postpartum/post epidural mothers room. The second outcome: 100% of the staff will be able to assess the maternal mother's deep tendon reflexes and motor strength (using the motor strength scale) prior to receiving an epidural to use as a baseline and again once the epidural is discontinued. Will be accompanied by the activity: initial and annual training courses will be mandated for all ante and postpartum nurses.
"7 Tips For Having A Natural Childbirth." Fit Pregnancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. .
The version of childbirth that we’re used to is propagated by television and movies. A woman, huge with child, is rushed to the hospital when her water breaks. She is ushered into a delivery room and her husband hovers helplessly as nurses hook her up to IVs and monitors. The woman writhes in pain and demands relief from the painful contractions. Narcotic drugs are administered through her IV to dull the pain, or an epidural is inserted into the woman’s spine so that she cannot feel anything below her waist. When the baby is ready to be born, the doctor arrives dressed in surgical garb. The husband, nurses and doctor become a cheerleading squad, urging the woman to, “Push!” Moments later, a pink, screaming newborn is lifted up for the world to see. Variations on this theme include the cesarean section, where the woman is wheeled to the operating room where her doctors remove the baby through an incision in her abdomen.
A description can never be as vivid as an event that has been experienced. An experience can never be as defining as an event that has left you changed. Under the intensity of childbirth, you're more likely to remember details that would otherwise go unnoticed. All the scenes come together to leave a permanent imprint on the mind's eye.
Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasn’t so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in today’s society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used. Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later.
... Every mother is different and every delivery is different. But one thing that is always in common is the pain endured during child birth. Though there are many different ways to deliver a baby, they all involve a degree of pain. Some deliveries last a long time and are terribly painful and exhausting, yet others can be quick and less painful. The delivery can never be predicted. Once the delivery is over and the baby is in the arms of the loving parents the pain is usually forgotten and joy consumes them.
For this generation caesarean section is a very popular way to give birth without having as many pain as normal delivery. From the research I know how the caesarean was invented and what are the affects of caesarean birth. Even though C-section birth is very popular but there still are some problems with C-section. However, Women are more interested on having C-section. This way of giving birth has some negative effects on the mother and also brings many problems to the
An X-ray may be taken to make sure the catheter is in the right place.
MacDorman said, "Women who give birth at home in the U.S. are more likely to be white, married, and have had previous children than women who give birth in the hospital”. When MacDorman said that most white women give birth at home, the thought of Mexican women came to my mind that they might have also given birth at home. Women who give birth at home are also more likely to be lower-risk— they are less likely to be teenagers, deliver prematurely, have babies with low birth weight, or have multiples (MacDorman). For all women that plan to give birth at home, they should keep in mind that home birth isn’t safe for all women. Meaning for example, women who had a C-section, or who are pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets) shouldn’t have a home birth. Also if the baby is not coming in the positioned correctly or if the women has high blood pressure and desire pain relief meaning for example the epidural. Some of the benefits of delivering at home are having more control over the action, delivering in a familiar setting (with friends and family members). Some of its cons are, the insurance policy may not cover any associated costs which means paying from your pocket. Women are more likely to be transferred to the hospital in case of an
Pregnancy and childbirth can be an exciting time in a woman’s life. A woman and her partner have many things to consider about the day of their baby’s arrival. Women in modern day society have many options to explore for childbirth. They can choose to have vaginal birth or cesarean section, decide whether to have their baby in a hospital or birthing center, and can prepare for the day by taking Bradley Method classes or HypnoBirthing classes.
It was August 8th, 2008 when my mom’s back pain began. After waiting almost two weeks past my brother’s due date, she finally went into labor, preparing to give birth to her third child. She had given birth to me at age twenty, and six years later she gave birth to my 10 lb 7 oz sister; she was no stranger to the pain of labor. As the doctors prepared for my little brother, they went to give my mom the epidural shot she had requested and used in both of her past labors. They’re supposed to make the pain you’re in more bearable. The last complication my mother expected was one from an epidural shot. The OBGYNs should be able to do that with their eyes closed; yet, as they inserted the needle into my mom’s back, she felt slightly uncomfortable,
...ural. An epidural, is the best thing I pregnant women could ever ask for. The pain of the contractions simple vanished and left me feeling as happy as a clam. Just imagine having laughing gas and that is how happy and relaxed I felt. The funny thing about the administration of the epidural was that it didn't hurt when it was administered. The pleasure of not feeling anymore pain was more than I could ever ask for.