What are your values when it comes to taking drugs? Are you for or against taking narcotics or opiates or are you indifferent to the subject? What about if a baby or child were to take these particular drugs? How would you feel then?

Well when it comes to taking medicated pain relief during labour, then ultimately - depending on the drug of choice, you could potentially be taking a narcotic or opiate. Plus, as the baby is connected to the mother via the placenta and umbilical cord, the baby is getting a percentage of that drug of choice too.

A study in 2005, called 'Listening to Mothers II', was conducted by Childbirth Connection. In 2006 they reported: "While 14) used one or more types of medication for pain relief for at least some of the time during labor. Epidural or spinal analgesia was, by far, the most common (76) and cesarean (88) reported they were given narcotics such as Demerol or Stadol, while a small proportion underwent general anesthesia (3 of cesareans), used nitrous oxide gas (3). A small proportion of mothers (8) reported receiving both a narcotic and epidural or spinal analgesia."

Additionally 41 of woman are getting epidurals these days and for the mother and the baby, the way it interferes with their relationship is just ghastly." Rachana Shivam, International College of Spiritual Midwifery

I come back to my very first question: What are your values when it comes to taking drugs? How do you feel knowing that this is what happens when you take medicated pain relief during labour? Women create their own natural pain inhibitors, and there are many other things women can do naturally to ease the pain of labour, resulting in a drug free, happy mother and baby. Research what you can do to generate a powerful, loving and drug free life to yourself, baby, family and for future generations to come.