Epidural vs. Natural Birth: Weighing Your Options

As expectant mothers prepare for their bundles of joy, they may purchase clothes, childproof their homes, and try their best to create a safe and welcoming environment for their babies. Along with those motherly adventures, they will also have to face the pivotal choice of getting an epidural or having a natural birth. There can be a lot of misinformation surrounding the topic of epidurals, exploring the differences between the two approaches can help women through their pregnancies as they navigate the influence of the benefits, risks, and of course, their comfort levels.

What is an epidural?

According to the American Pregnancy Association, an epidural is a regional anesthesia that blocks pain in a particular area of the body. Epidurals are used to decrease pain in a specific area. For those in labor, they offer pain relief in the lower part of the body. Epidurals block the nerve impulses from the lower spine, contributing to a less painful birthing experience. Additionally, epidurals can be a medical necessity if complications occur.

Epidurals take about 10 minutes to place and an additional 10 to 15 minutes to begin working. They are administered by inserting a needle and a catheter into the lower part of a woman’s back; as the needle is removed, the catheter stays in place to distribute the medicine throughout the labor process, according to Yale Medicine.

What are the benefits of an epidural?

Although getting an epidural may sound scary, it does provide women with a few benefits. According to Healthline, those benefits are:

• Pain relief: epidurals are known for their ability to relieve pain, making labor and delivery less stressful.
• Relaxation and pain relief can give mothers more rest, especially after a long labor.
• Alertness: Women can be more alert and active during their birthing experience without immense pain.
• Convenience: Epidurals can be administered anytime during birth.
•  Surgical procedure relief, epidurals can provide continuous pain relief for women as they endure long surgical procedures such as c-section deliveries.

What are the risks of an epidural?

Like most things, epidurals have a few cons as well. Healthline has provided a list of the possible risks associated with epidurals, including:

• Low blood pressure: epidurals can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure.
• Side effects: some women experience shivering, fever, itchiness, nausea, headaches, and soreness.
• Pushing difficulty: some women have reported that they found pushing to be more difficult with an epidural.
• Numbness: some women may experience numbness in the lower half of their bodies for a few hours after giving birth.
• Urination troubles: epidurals increase the chances of a woman needing a urinary catheter to urinate. This is a temporary solution as women wait for their numbness to subside.

What is a natural birth?

What is a natural birth? A natural birth is the process of giving labor without medication; typically, these are vaginal deliveries as cesarean section (c-section) deliveries usually require some form of anesthesia.

What are the benefits of a natural birth?

According to HealthPartners, natural births have a few benefits, and for some women, the pain is worth it; the benefits include:

• A strong feeling of control, women can go through the good and bad aspects of their labors without the influence of medication.
• Flexibility: Because epidurals aren’t being used, women can change birthing positions. They have more feeling in their lower halves, which enables them to move more freely.
• Quicker delivery: For some women, the lack of an epidural speeds up their labor process.
• Fewer side effects: Without the use of an epidural, women can avoid the risks associated with epidurals.

What are the risks of a natural birth?

There are a few drawbacks of natural births; HealthPartners has provided some insight on a few things that can occur: * A longer labor, sometimes, the lack of an epidural, and the discomfort that women experience can make the process longer.

• Pain: Without an epidural, most women will feel pain, and this can limit the focus that women have on the beauty of their labor and delivery process.
• Medication may be required if an emergency occurs, such as the need for a C-section.

Additionally, women who are considered to have high-risk pregnancies may want to avoid natural births. According to Penn Medicine, high-risk pregnancies include the following:

• Those older than 35.
• Those with a history of medical conditions such as preeclampsia or blood-clotting complications.
• Those carrying multiples.
• And any other complications during pregnancy.

The choice between an epidural and a natural birth is a personal decision, and, in this case, mothers know best. Still, women need to discuss the decisions regarding their pregnancy, labor, and delivery with healthcare providers because sometimes there are factors involved that require a strict plan. Whether women embrace the pain relief from epidurals or the painful beauty of natural birth, both experiences are worth celebrating, as every birthing experience is unique.