That may be true (and oh my GOD I loved my epidurals!) but there are other options to pain relief that may have an effect on the baby. Some smaller hospitals don't have an anesthesiologist on staff and can't give epidurals. They can only offer narcotics through the IV - nubain, stadol, morphine, etc...

There is also always some small risk with an epidural, too. But that goes back to researching and the level of risk you accept with the choice you make. I will probably have an epidural for any more kids I have - I know my body and my pain tolerance is low (and if my kids keep going the way they are, my next one will come out the size of a toddler). And I will share my experiences with people who ask.

I was watching a woman give birth on one of those health channels and she had an epidural. She couldn't walk for two months afterwards and it was because of the epidural. She was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. I don't know how often that happens, but it was enough to frighten me.

What was it that caused her to shake like that?

The crazy momzillas give moms a bad name IMO. If I ever have kids i want to try vaginal birth with an epidural but if that ain't workin'....bring on the c-section. I was a big baby, my fiance was a big baby and we WILL have a newborn the size of a toddler. (I was 10 lbs he was almost 9. I was 24 inches he was 22. I'm 5'7" now and he is 6'5".) I don't want a c-section just to get out of delivery but honestly if my baby is showing signs of distress or I am showing signs of distress let's go with the plan that saves us both! It doesn't make me less of a woman to go that route. Same thing with breast feeding. I'm not planning on it. I was a formula baby and was an insanely healthly kid. My mom said she was freaked out by how infrequently I was sick. It doesn't send me straight to hell to do the same thing to my child.

Reaction to the anesthesia. Plus it is COLD in those delivery rooms.

Your best option may be what I did for my two boys - induce early to avoid having to pop out a toddler. As for breastfeeding - I'd recommend giving it a try before making up your mind. It is SO much less expensive, helps YOU get back in shape, and is very convenient. Just cover up, and don't post pictures on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Great post!!! :) I was a formula baby as well and I was also very healthy.

That's awful!

Momzillas... Hehe... :p

Is that like Bridezillas?

The irony is, you do all this "special chit" for your child and your kid still winds up a serial killer, cannibal, crack addicted teenage pregnancy freak... So you did all that for what reason?

I say, let your kid live and learn some things as kids... But, since I don't having any, what can I say? LOL ;)

Or like Major Payne says, "why don't you pop your tittay out his mouth and let him grow up and be a man"... "I don't call this nurturing, I call it neutering..."

lol....I would never put a pic of that on Facebook. Like I said, I may change my mind on breast feeding by the time I get to that point. Having a baby may make me all ooey and gooey and girlie. But if I don't, at least I know that my kid will still turn out ok.

That's sounds like an allergic reaction and by letting her go thru that sounds like negligence.

Oh, no, it happens with both kinds of births. My hospital has a special blanket warmer just for laboring and new moms but the cold seems to come from within. Sometimes you start shivering horribly within a few weeks of birth due to the rapid weight loss.

Before my first child was born, I had a terrible fear of needles and really wanted to deliver naturally because of all the epidural stories I'd heard. When I got to the transition part of labor, though, I could not get an epidural fast enough and in the rest of my deliveries, I made sure to ask for it at about 4 cm. Maybe some people don't have agonizing labors. I did.

Fun fact - while labouring for #1, the anesthesiologist came by to ask if I wanted anything. I said no, I didn't, but could he PLEASE go sedate the woman down the hall who was screaming bloody murder???:eek:

LOL! You made me think about what kind of pain-taker I am. I've broken numerous bones, had a second trimester miscarriage, etc...things that causes extended periods of pain/discomfort. I'm not one to scream - what's the point really? You're just wasting energy. Instead, I tend to look demon-possessed, start cursing like a sailor and fly into a rage when I'm in a lot of pain. I also throw things. Maybe delivering in a hospital near sharp objects wouldn't be a good idea? :D

Oh, I curse like a sailor, too! If I decide to have children, labor should be... interesting. Yeah, interesting is a good word.