The Rooster Slowly Sways

12.26.2010

I had an intense discussion with my mother-in-law about pregnancy, labor and epidurals today. I sense the winds they are a-changing…

The Epidural Issue

03.20.2010

I haven’t really done extensive research on epidurals and, as much as I would love to say they’re not good for you or the baby, I don’t have the necessary data to back up that statement. I did some superficial research and found a repetitive list of drawbacks to epidurals as follows:

For the mother, there may be a need for additional interventions once the epidural is given:

• Restricted mobility, IV, and EFM (all epidural patients)
• Increased likelihood of bladder catheterization, oxytocin administration, internal monitoring
• Increased likelihood of operative (i.e. forceps, episiotomy, cesarean) delivery
• Automatic blood pressure cuff throughout labor

Possible Short Term Effects (Mother):

• Dural puncture
• Hypotension (29%)
• Nausea, vomiting, shivering (frequent)
• Prolonged labor
• Uneven, incomplete or nonexsistent pain relief
• Feelings of emotional detachment
• Respiratory insufficiency or paralysis
• Convulsions
• Toxic drug reactions
• Slight to severe headache
• Septic meningitis
• Allergic shock
• Cardiac arrest
• Maternal death

Possible Long Term Effects (Mother):

• Neurological complications
• Backache (weeks to years)
• Postpartum feelings of regret, loss of autonomy
• Fecal and urinary incontinence or bladder dysfunction (inability to urinate)
• Paresthesia ("pins and needles")
• Loss of perineal sensation and sexual function

Possible Long Term Effects (Baby):

• Direct drug toxicity
• Fetal distress, abnormal FHR (can lead to emergency cesarean)
• Drownsiness at birth, poor sucking reflex
• Maternal fever (impeded thermoregulation from numb skin) leads to fetal hyperthermia and neonatal 
NICU workup (spinal tap, etc.)
• Poor muscle strength and tone in the first hours
• Neonatal jaundice
• Decreased maternal-infant bonding, behavioral problems
• Hyperactivity up to seven years (suspected)

http://www.childbirth.org/articles/sideeppi.html

The above info is from 1996-1998 but when I cross-referenced with current data, a lot of the same info came up, particularly the short-term effects for the mother.

What’s interesting, is I landed upon a forum where a soon-to-be mother asked whether she should get an epidural or not and most women responded with an emphatic “Yes!” A few listed some of the short-term side effects but many women commented that they didn’t have any side effects and said they’d have it again no problem.

I’m someone who hates taking any medication of any kind. There are two types of medicines that I take hands down: Excedrin for an oncoming headache (because I am known to get violent migraines) and, when I get pink-eye I take eye drops. I avoid antibiotics and, in fact, I can’t remember the last time I took antibiotics. (I think it’s going on over 10 years now…?) I have managed to always heal myself naturally when I get sick. It may take a few days longer, but I don’t regret it. It’s a matter of listening to my body.

So I’m stuck on this epidural issue. The idea of dealing with contractions is not my idea of “Yay! Gimme some!” Women have told me to imagine the worst cramps I’ve ever had and multiply that by 100 and that’s what you feel for hours. And hours. And hours. This notion makes me want to run away screaming. But, on the flip side, if a woman weren’t capable of handling that amount of pain, children would be born a different way. But, given the drug industry and how much we really don’t know about the drugs we’re given, how positive can we be that there are no lasting effects of something artificial that we inject into our body in the name of “comfort”?

I don’t know…I’m totally open to suggestions and ideas. I mean, I’m not making this decision now, of course; I’m not pregnant. But I’m curious about what you, the reader, thinks.