Medicated vs Unmedicated Birth

There is this weird and unnecessary stigma against medicated births.

Is it because as women, we must be able to endure all the pain and do everything au naturale so we can be seen as strong? You are not alone. I was one of those ladies who thought the exact same thing. I wanted to be strong and that meant a painful birth.

I know that I am not alone on this because the nurses in the labour & delivery department knew what was going on in my thoughts when I was hesitant in getting a (lesser) pain-free birth. They assumed and they were right. They reminded me that taking the Epidural route does not mean that I am not strong or that I will not get the full experience of delivering my baby.

I was not properly educated after-all. All the content and ads I was surrounded with supported a natural unmedicated birth. Little did I know – my mom also took an Epidural when she had me. If I didn’t ask her or bring up the topic, I probably wouldn’t have known. I somehow felt better that here I am, all good and alright filled with love.

The labour was 22 hours long and it was not until I was at the 18 hour mark and 6cm dilated that I finally pulled the plunge. All it took was honestly sharing my concerns with the nurse, who then reassured me that whatever decision I make is right. She wanted to educate me and remove the stigma of taking an Epidural while affirming my strength as a new momma with or without it – and that even with the Epidural, I can still experience some pressure which can feel painful.

Lastly, she said, why choose pain when you can lessen it and enjoy the birth experience better.

Somehow, that was enough for me to say yes to it. The last two statement there made me feel like I was less of a woman and mother if I chose to go medicated.

I looked at my husband and he held my hand strong and supported whatever decision I chose to make. There was such sincerity in his eyes, I felt that he just wanted me to be okay and to feel better.

So, I took it. After 20 minutes, I was so relaxed and took a much-needed nap that felt like a dream come true after being awake for close to 24 hours. 2 hours later, I was 10cm dilated and ready to push. It’s finally happening.

I felt pressure and some pain. After about 20 instructed pushes, my baby slid out into the doctor’s arms who caught it so smoothly. I saw so much blood and heard a loud cry that gave me so much joy. The joy was unmeasurable. My baby has arrived and even though this meant a NICU stay, I am hopeful and truly grateful for being educated of the choices presented to me.

Looking back, I have zero regrets. I did the best I could with what I had. Now, it is not always a positive experience like mine and things could have gone wrong. Either way, there are risks and consequences so if you are also contemplating, do not stress about it and wait til you are in active labour. Follow your instincts.

And, whatever you decide to do, you are no less of a woman or mother. Pain or less pain, unmedicated or medicated – you are strong and have given birth to a beautiful baby made with love.

Maybe the right decision is your decision. And you can always change your mind, until you’re more than half dilated. Experience the pain of the contractions at the beginning if you would like – that is the path that I took out of stubbornness. I changed my mind later and I am glad I did it the way that I did.

Have fun!