I had my second baby natural, no drugs of any kind. I have gotten a lot of questions about that choice, both before and after she was born.
"why go through the pain when you can get an epidural and feel nothing"
"you don't get a medal/prize for natural birth"
"thousands of women a year have an epidural and them and their babies are just fine"
and of course simply
"WHAT? WHY?"
I could spend an hour educating them on why I believe natural birth to be better for both mother and baby. I could sight dozens of studies and evidence, I could give anecdotal evidence. But none of this usually works and most of what I would say would not make sense to the people asking me the question.
So last week someone said "you had your daughter naturally? Why would you want to go through that? Just get an epidural!" I gave them this reply "Why do people run marathons? Why does someone climb Mt. Everest? Why do people go sky diving?" Now sure some people do get medals or prizes for running a marathon, but that is a select few out of the thousands that run, most don't get anything. So why do people do these other things? For the experience, the thrill, the adrenaline, or simply so they can say that they have done it. The person I was talking to thought for a second then shockingly said, "oh. that makes sense".
My experience trying to explain my birthing decision has taught me more than anything to support others in their birthing choices. It really is no one else's business but their own. If someone has made an educated decision, just keep your commentary to yourself. Unless they ask you of course, then educate away what you believe to be best.
