Epidural - Pros and Cons

Byk org menggembar gemburkan isu epidural ketika bersalin nih. Ada yg swear by their mother's life yg this is the way to go, sbb masa tu kita alert and could really focus on birthing instead of the pain and push x tentu hala. Ada ramai gak org yg aku kenal bermati-matian menasihatkan aku supaya jgn sekali2 minta epidural, it's just sheer will power, bole buat punyer. Fuhhh...

Here's a compilation of pros and cons of using epidural:

Pros:

*An epidural is a very effective pain relief.

*Since the effect of epidural is localized, it means a woman will be awake and alert during labor and birth and can even rest and sleep. Therefore, she will be able to have more energy when time will come to push.

Cons:

*A woman has to stay in an awkward position for about 15 minutes when epidural is put in, and then about 20 minutes until it starts working.
*A woman might loose a sensation in her feet, and she won't be able to stand. (Hmmm, it just gets better, huh?)
*A woman and a fetus have to be always electronically monitored.
*Epidural might slow down labor. A woman might require Pitocin in order to get it back on track.

*Since your lower body will loose sensation, it will lessen the bearing down reflex and may take it harder to push baby out.
*Having epidural increases a chance of having a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery.
*The drugs that are typically used in epidural may temporarily lower blood pressure and decrease a blood flow to the baby, which will actually slows his heart rate.
*An Epidural increases fever during labor.
*Drugs delivered through epidural can bring nausea, itchiness. Some women might have severe headaches.
*In rare cases an epidural can affect breathing, as well as nerve injury and infection

Mcm byk cons la plak kan? Aku sebenarnya very open-minded pasal isu ni. I've always had period pain ketika period, and most of the time when I can't be bothered with the pain dan amik panadol aje terus utk meneruskan kegiatan harian, so of course I can't play a bravado act now and act like I hate painkillers.

I am keeping all my options open right now. I can't exactly call myself pro-epidural, for I am not an advocate for it. All I know is, if I am lying on that table, with labour pain enough to make me think I might die, I want the chance to have the drug administered if I need it, when I need it. So that makes me a non-anti-epidural (is there such a word?). As Sake put it best the other day, 'You're not anti-epidural, you're anti-pain'.

Chitt... that guy can read me like a book. Bencinya! (just kidding) :P