Do not adjust your page-a-day calendars. You have not gone back in time - this is just what I meant to write during week thirty two.
A couple weeks ago, my boy and I attended two classes at the hospital. One was an all day class on Prepared Childbirth. It basically walked us through what having a baby was like and all the things that would go on during on our hospital stay. In the middle of the day, we went through some breathing and relaxation techniques and "practice" contractions. It included many things we could do to get through contractions and labor in general without drugs. The other class we took was a talk of about 45 minutes given by an anesthesiologist and was about Pain Management. That is, it was mostly about the drugs we can avail ourselves of whilst delivering our bundles which, while little, are much bigger than their exit route and thus, some discomfort may occur. Or so I've heard.
Seriously though, this is something I've thought long and...well, seriously about. When I first found out I was pregnant I used to joke around while seated comfortably on the couch, "This right here is my pain threshold. If it hurts more than this, I shall be requiring an epidural." But that was mostly because drug jokes make for good comedy. In reality, I don't relish the idea of taking drugs at all. I don't like the idea of putting high fructose corn syrup in my body - especially while there's a baby in it. Why would I want to pump narcotics or paralyzing agents into myself - especially while there's a baby in me?
Now the anesthesiologist told us that something like 80% of the women in our hospital get an epidural and about 15% of those who don't are just because they go through labor so quickly there's no time. He tells us this, he says, so we won't feel disappointed or like we've failed when we decide to get the medicine. What I wonder is how many of those women who did get an epidural did so even after they planned not to. Because that's where I'm at right now.
My plan, right now (as I am sitting here comfortably) is to not have an epidural. I think this decision is largely informed by my pregnancy up to this point which has honestly been pretty darn easy. Sure I've found reason to complain, but having read the books and the websites describing all the terribleness that could've happened, I feel like I've been sailing up to this point (knock on wood or something - I don't want to jinx it). I feel like, as unlikely as conception and creation and the bearing of a child sounds from an objective standpoint, that my body really was designed for this purpose and God knew what he was doing. I feel strong and proud of my body for bearing up under these many changes and so what if my feet hurt? My doctor says everything is perfect so far.
So it is with these things in mind that I think "Why do I need drugs? This is what God gave me this strong body for." I feel capable and self-confident like I do about very few things in my life. And honestly, if I do decide to take some medicinal help, I have a feeling it will be more a failing of my mind than of my body. That's why I'm thankful for my husband who understands what is important to me and has some strength to lend.
All that being said though I recognize that while God gave us strong bodies, he also gave us good doctors and the smart scientists to invent things like epidurals and that drugs are not all from the devil. So if it becomes necessary for some reason, I will try not to feel too bad if they end up sticking some happy juice into my spine. But I'm going to try the funny breathing first.
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3 comments:
Speaking of funny breathing, this brings to mind one of the cutest stories from Mommy Courtney's childhood. She was almost 6 years old and sitting in the front seat between her Daddy and then pregnant Mommy. We were on our way to drop her off at Mamaw's house so that we could head on to the hospital as little sister Casey had made it known that it was time for her to make her appearance. Courtney had indicated often that she wanted a little sister, not a little brother and back in the day the ultrasounds were not able to let us know for sure what we were having. Well I was doing my "funny breathing" and was in the "ah hee, ah hee ,ah hee" stage when Courtney made her her very serious observation. She said,"Mommy,if you don't stop saying "ah hee", it is going to be a boy!" Love those sweet memories, :o) Mom
Mom, I'm pretty sure that the four or so people who read this blog have heard that story about a billion times already.
so true...yes I have heard that story a billion times.
but Courtney seriously I have thought about the very same question for one day when I have a baby (if it is God's will). And I've always said the same thing you do, that God created us for this and we shouldn't need drugs. In fact I don't even really want to go to a hospital, prob. a midwife. I partly think that hospitals and the whole medical profession exploits childbirth. In other words, they saw an opportunity to make money off of something and they are - making money.
But like you say, its good that we have things like hospitals and drugs when we need them. So I would say don't take it unless you need it. You'll know if you need it. And if you need something then you can't feel guilty about using something you needed.
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