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I didn't have a problem during labor because of the epidural. Two days later when my milk came in, now that was REAL pain. Those tiny little pads they give you to soak up the milk, what a JOKE.

The only procedure that I have heard people be proud of having without pain killers is the old timers who had their teeth pulled years back with no pain killers.

Why would you do it when there is an alternative now. These women like to pretend that their child is better off but thats not necessarily true. A long and painful delivery is a stressful thing for a baby, if the Mother is more relaxed because of pain killers then the labor is likely to progress more quickly.

I always thought women who HAD to be in horrible pain in delivery to feel like a woman had a screw loose.

I had a friend who had her son naturally because her sister had told her the painkillers made the baby sleepy after the birth. Uh, hello? Don't babies sleep a lot at first no matter what? I felt she tortured herself unnecessarily. If I HAD to give birth (which I am taking every precaution NOT to) I would ask for painkillers the moment I went into labor, possibly before! LOL!

Cindy

I would want an epidural, but in all fairness to the other side of the argument, I think statistically there are more health risks to the baby from an epidural. That's what I've been told, but haven't researched it myself.

My husband and I talked about it, and he was staunchly of the opinion that IF we had a baby, I should do it naturally because the epidural causes risks to the baby. I know a lot of you are [censored] on my behalf at my husband probably, but he really said that. That's when it kind of hit me how my rights take a back seat to a baby, and what a profound change that would be. In a way, it is an extremely selfless act, and it would be hard for me psychologically and, in this case, physically.

The husband also is very against any unnecessary (or necessary) chemical exposures, and I've been foreseeing our future if we had a baby would involve many arguments over what I was eating, or doing with my body. It's troubling, because I don't really appreciate having someone else have the power over me like that, but if I was endangering "our" baby he would have a pretty good point, whether I liked it or not. .

I understand Frieda7.
It makes me laugh how brave men are on our behalf.
My SIL was a midwife (she has no kids by the way) she tells a story of an expectant father urging his wife to deliver drug free. (through her moans/screams)
It was a first baby and a long labour.
At a certain point in the proceedings he stubbed his toe badly on a corner of the bed - he was rushing back to the bed with some fragrant oils - after hobbling around the room for a few minutes he decided to head down to casualty to get it dressed and to get a painkiller - it was so sore! He spent the rest of the evening with his leg elevated complaining about his toe.
Needless to say, the wife got her epidural...
I think if men had to give birth - it would be a very different story.
It also reminds me of my sisters friend - she married a very religious man who doesn't believe in any form of birth control - brave words when you can't get pregnant. His wife was faced with having miscarriage after miscarriage in her 40s - she was still conceiving but losing the babies...so she decided she could live without sex.
He has now agreed to use condoms.

OMG, Deborah, that first story was hilarious. The second one made me a bit sad, though. I wish that woman has stood up to her husband much sooner.

The toe-stubbing story is PRICELESS. That is so typical! I'll have to tell my husband that one.

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As a Mother and a former Labor and Delivery Nurse, I am amazed at the stories people tell, and how much worse things get the more they tell them. If you have fears, talk to your doctor, and let him know of your concerns, and desires. Be reasonable. I have seen the occasions when...............the experience was so impressed on the mother....the mother made many bad decisions, and not listen to the warnings and dangers. It is incrediable. My advice is to read, learn, and know what to expect. Even though it is a wonderful time, medical science can not make things painfree, but it is always improving.

I told my therapist yesterday about this article and that there is a word for it. He knows I have this phobia (although he also knows this phobia isn't the only thing preventing me from having kids).
He told me to copy it and bring it in. He said I should also show my Gyn. a copy so he can understand my intense fear of being examined.

There are campaigns from time to time urging women to have pap smears - I was reading only about 40% of women have regular smears - I'm really not surprised - for lots of women its an ordeal.
I wonder how many men regularly front up for prostate exams - the digital exam not the blood test...one of my male friends felt that "women are used to those sorts of exams, we're not"...
I've got news for him - I'll never "get used" to those sorts of examinations.