If you must know...

I felt compelled to write about the topic of badge of honor that it is birthing a kid. Let me clarify by saying it is always a badge of honor to birth a kid. Sometimes I feel though there is a certain level achieved in how you end up birthing your kid whether all natural, with an epidural and then a c-section. All natural you get the highest praise wow you did it all natural, you are a stellar person! Then an epidural is like oh you did good too but you needed something to cut the pain you couldn’t stand it as much. Then lastly a c-section, you simple get an oh you had a c-section. Guess what, every single birth was carried for 9 months!! That is no easy feat in itself, it is freaking hard. You are tired, you might puke a lot, the heartburn causes you to want to rib your esophagus out, etc. the list of issues as a side of effect of those wonderful *supposedly* 9 months goes on. Then at the end your badge of honor despite those previous 9 months is determined how you gave birth. 

With Caleb I had an epidural and guess what I will have an epidural again. Why? Because it made the whole process easier and I was barely tired afterwards. Yes I was tired still but I enjoyed the visits of our friends during our hospital stay. With an epidural I had the opportunity to text my mom before becoming a mom as I insisted my husband go get breakfast in him at the same time. With an epidural because I had to push for over 2 hours because Caleb was stuck on my tailbone and couldn’t pass, I barely felt it. With an epidural, I wasn’t screaming, cussing or yelling out things at my husband that I would later regret although I’m sure he would forgive him. With an epidural, I felt more in control because I couldn’t feel the pain, it was a relief to finally see Caleb when he came out but it wasn’t a relief of oh the pain is over thank goodness. With an epidural I got to sleep a few hours and felt more prepared to enter the new stage of life we were about to embark upon. 

I had a nurse friend tell me she got an epidural and it felt like a party because she got one and guess what it was a party, it was a birthday party for Caleb and as a very active participant in that party, I enjoyed it better.

Those are just some of the reasons why I got an epidural the first time and why I will get an epidural the next go around. So next time someone has a baby congratulate them on the hard task of carrying their son or daughter for 9 months more than focusing on so how did you do it all natural or not? C-section or not? 

4 comments:

Jess said...

Yes! All that matters at the end of the day is if you have a happy and healthy baby. I went in thinking I would have a "natural" birth and after 24 hours of labor, pitocin AND an epidural I end up with a C-section at the end of the day. But I was exhausted and was just over the whole process!

Jen said...

I am all for an epidural!!! It was my saving grace for sure.

The Pink Growl said...

AGREED!!!! There is no shame in having an epidural - or a C-section - or however the heck is best for you to get that baby birthed! You are totally right that we all get to carry them for 9 months and we all get to be mama's after they get out of bellies. Doesn't matter how it happens - as long as it works for YOU and YOUR baby!

helen said...

i had an epidural with valor and it was amazing. i wanted one with serene but i didn't have time, so let's just say i was thanking God PROFUSELY for the invention of an epidural giving birth the second time around!!!