If you think there are risks that come with taking an epidural during labor, you are correct. In fact, up to 23% of women who have an epidural during labor will experience some complications. Epidural side effects range from vomiting, fever, shaking and headaches, to low blood pressure, fetal distress, vacuum extraction, forceps delivery, and emergency C-section. If you are pregnant and desire to give birth to your baby without using an epidural, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
1. Establish your motivation. If you plan to have a natural childbirth, you first need to have a strong motivation for doing so. If you go into labor thinking, “I prefer a natural childbirth, I’m sure labor isn’t that bad.” You’ll be begging for an epidural long before transition starts. You need to have sound, convincing reasons for attempting delivery without drugs. If you don’t, strong and painful contractions will dissolve your resolve.
The best way to establish your motivation is through education. Read up on pain medications during labor and all of the possible side effects. For example, did you know that women who receive an epidural at 2 centimeters have a 50% chance of needing a C-section? Learning about the causes and outcomes of fetal distress will go a long way in helping you establish why you feel a natural childbirth is important. Do you plan to breastfeed? Research the impact that drugs during labor can have on your breastfeeding relationship.
2. Take a childbirth class. It is easy to find labor grueling and unbearable when you don’t understand how far along you are or if there is any end in site. Gone are the days when women need to scream all the way through labor. You have at your disposal many resources that will enlighten you on the stages of labor as well as what you can expect during each one. Learn terms such as “dilation” and “effaced,” as these key words will help you understand your labor. Attend a childbirth class and talk to other women who have given birth so you can learn from their stories.
3. Have confidence in your body. You are a woman, and as a woman, your body was designed to give birth. Your body knows how to go into labor, your uterus knows how to contract and move your baby lower in your body, your cervix knows how to open, etc. Pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes, not medical conditions. You must trust your own body and go into labor confidently.
4. Choose the right obstetrician. When I expressed childbirth doubts to my midwife during pregnancy, she would always say, “Amy, you are a woman, your body knows what to do.” This encouragement from her solidified my belief in myself that I was able to give birth without medical intervention. Likewise, your obstetricians views of childbirth will greatly influence yours. During your early prenatal visits, discuss your doctor’s views of childbirth and be clear about your own. If you find your doctor is not supportive of your natural childbirth views, seek another. You should also have a written birth plan at the hospital so that your nurses are aware of your wishes for an epidural-free birth.
5. Utilize basic labor principles. Stay home as long as you are reasonably comfortable. Many labor and delivery nurses encourage women to have an epidural. The longer you stay away from their offerings, the more likely you will be able to refuse them.
Visualize. Much of laboring is a mind game. Rather than bemoaning all of the contractions you have ahead of you, think only of the one you are experiencing at the time. Tell yourself, “One more contraction.” as though you are approaching a mile marker when you’re out for a run.
Move around. Laying on your back or side during labor will do nothing to help it progress. If you are too uncomfortable to walk, try a birthing ball, or even sitting up in a rocker. Let gravity work for you.
If avoiding an epidural is important to you, you are not alone. Though over 50% of laboring women have an epidural during labor, there is a large core of women who are committed to drug free labor. Seek out those women who have given birth naturally and educate yourself on the many benefits of giving birth this way. Barring an unforeseen complication, by taking a childbirth class, choosing the right obstetrician, and using basic labor principles, you will be able to have the natural childbirth you desire.
