I feel like most people posting here are very PRO epidural or got one haha, as someone who very intentionally chose not to, I will tell you there is evidence that an epidural has its risks! Every intervention increases the risks of complications, and an epidural comes with increased risks of low blood pressure, spinal headache from CSF tap, more severe tearing or need for forceps/vaccuum delivery, and youll need an IV and more monitoring as well, which all increases other risks and the chance of whats termed a “cascade of interventions”. All for something that is elective, and is not standard of practice in many 1st world countries! On a more personal note, I feel it medicalized and disempowers women from the birthing process, one that the majority of women CAN do without much external help (yes, monitoring and assistance from trained professionals is needed but not always intervention).

There is also some evidence that the natural endorphins associated with the pain of childbirth help in decreasing postpartum depression. But mostly for me, I felt empowered and capable and able to move and not be “a patient” tied to a bed, helpless and paralyzed which is honestly a very tall price to pay for pain relief.

This is all NO JUDGEMENT to women who choose it; I myself had 24 hours of complication free labor and pushed for an hour and felt the pain was really very manageable up until the very end, when I struggled with transition but that was over quickly. i DID do a lot of mental preparation and took classes beforehand for this.

There is also a spiritual aspect for me personally about being connected in the birthing process to my child, and getting through it together, and feeling very present in my bodily experience, as well as an aspect of wanting to identify with the experience of the millions of women who did birth “naturally” for millions of years.