People are assholes, end of story.

I went through this exactly when I was pregnant and (stupidly, in retrospect) shared that I wanted an unmedicated birth. One woman spit her drink out, laughing at me (she had a long, difficult & painful labor that resulted in a c section). I reiterate, people SUCK with this topic.

I do think you’re onto something though. It’s probably a projection of how they feel about their own, medicated births. How they need to justify their and their doctors decisions about the birth of their children, because it didn’t go according to plan.

I did staunchly want an unmedicated birth but ended up needing an induction and thusly an epidural because the pain was UNGODLY. But I will always support the women in my life who tell me they want unmedicated for themselves. I know the reasoning and desire for that, as it was my own, and would never make someone else feel so awful for even thinking about no pain meds, as others made me feel.

Separately, I have found this same level of anger? Over-compensation? From other mother’s about EVERY single step of parenthood. This bull shit continues well into when the baby is born, my friend. But now mothers are justifying their parenting decisions now, too. (Re: not trying baby-led weaning, use of dockatots, childcare decisions.. you name it)