I’m not here to stir up (or stirrup, as the case may be…) controversy about epidurals during childbirth.
We all know that every woman is different and every labor is different. I was lucky enough to have a choice in planning my birth experience, although — wouldn’t ya know — things didn’t turn out quite the way I’d planned.
With both my deliveries, I endured several hours of labor before I was deemed eligible for pain relief. During my first daughter’s birth, it proved a hinderance. During my second daughter’s birth, it served its purpose well.
Still…to medicate or not to medicate? That, indeed, is the question.
.
ALMIGHTY EPIDURAL
Many of my friends
hold fast the belief
that pharmacological relief
during labor
isn’t needed.
Their advice I heeded,
but in the end
the reassuring thought
of enduring with naught
but Lamaze
gave me
pregnant
pause.
And so…
the spinal shot?
I got.
.
©2009 Carlotta Eike Stankiewicz
The Well-Versed Mom 
I’m not ashamed to admit I went in to deliver my second BEGGING for the epidural, because I learned with the first one that they will take their sweet ass time bringing it to you if you don’t.
I honestly don’t know why anyone would choose pain when pain elimination is an option. But I’m a wuss that way.
p.s Great poem.
I got an epidural for all 3 births and am NOT ashamed of it. It was my choice to make and I’d do it again, if I were to do it again.
I briefly thought about going natural for the last one until I remember the size of a babies head compared to my girly parts.