My .02 worth on this issue -- I don't think the question should be "Should
women suffer during labor or should they have epidurals?"  I think the
questions should be:
1.  What can we do to make sure that the birth is as painless as possible
without using drugs?  Such as positioning (NOT on one's back with one's feet
up in stirrups), labor support (husband, mother, doula, friend, helpful and
sympathetic labor nurses), feeling in a safe place (mother in control of the
situation, at home, in birthing center), moving around, etc.
2.  When the pain is *still* so distressing that the mother is
hallucinating, out of her mind, screaming, etc. --  what can we give her for
pain relief that will have no side-effects for her or her baby?  As long as
women are willing to accept the consequences of epidurals, why should any
researchers work on new drugs or techniques that might alleviate pain
without making the baby sleepy, or without leaving the mother with backaches
and headaches for weeks or months?  Instead of insisting that women labor in
pain, we should be insisting on safer and more effective pain-relief without
side-effects!

Partly this requires a new way of looking at the world.  Reminds me of birth
control pills.  Most women, in most of the world, pass most of their adult
life having very few menstrual periods because they are either pregnant or
lactating and having lactational amenorrhea.  So why, when it came time for
US drug companies to do the research to come up with an oral contraceptive,
did they make one that mimics a western model of menstruating every month,
month after month after month after month, year after year after year....?
Why didn't they make one that prevented pregnancy and also prevented
menstrual periods?

Why can't someone come up with therapy for discomfort from menopause that
doesn't prolong menstrual cycles, for that matter?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352