Natural Childbirth

Just thought this was worth sharing :)

Women who choose natural birth realize that all medications taken during pregnancy are passed to the baby to one degree or another.  The majority of mothers would baulk at the idea of shooting up drugs during their pregnancy.  When in labor, choosing an epidural or intravenous medication means willingly exposing the baby to any combination of opiods (narcotics) such as morphine, pethidine,  and fentanyl or dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine or clonidine.  The cocktail of drugs is at the discretion of the anesthesiologist and can include any of these options.  These mothers choose not to expose their babies to the possibility of allergic reactions, respiratory distress or the host of other complications that can arise from exposure to such drugs.These women understand that the process of giving birth does not damage the body.  It is the interventions, the episiotomies, the unnatural birth positions, and the purple pushing that damage the body.  Not one of these is necessary for birth.  They not only damage the body, but also the spirit.  Some women become so phobic, so unable to trust their bodies, they choose not to have more children. Natural childbirth empowers women.  It instills self-confidence.  But this is not why women choose it.  They are not trying to prove their worth or be martyrs. 
It's not about that at all. 
It's about making the safest, gentlest choices for the well-being of their child and their own bodies. God made it this way for a reason. Ever notice when doctors and scientists mess with God's plan someone is bound to get hurt?

*I know I got hurt and I will NEVER get another epidural again. I'm not out to prove myself to anyone, nor do I want a medal. Thanks to my botched epidural I now have ringing in my ears, back pain, and recurring headaches. The first week of Rylie's life was NIGHTMARE for me. I have faith in God, my midwife, and in my own body to bring me through a natural birth and I can't wait to hold little muchkin in my arms this November :)*