Miranda Kerr didn't get an epidural because she didn't want a "drugged up baby"

Miranda Kerr didn’t get an epidural because she didn’t want a “drugged up baby”

Jul, 10, 2012 | AUTHOR: Starcasm Staff; | Related : Baby Bonanza, Miranda Kerr, Parenting

Model Miranda Kerr is stirring up ire in the mommy communinity, and it’s not just because of how quickly her body bounced back after giving birth. She talked with Harper’s Bazaar UK about why she chose to not have an epidural. It’s not that she’s saying epidurals are unsafe, per se, but she didn’t want to risk early breastfeeding issues that can occur.

“I had made a decision that I wanted to do it [naturally]. I had been watching all these baby bonding videos and [without an epidural], when the baby comes out it goes straight onto the breast.”

[After epidurals] the baby was a little bit drugged up and I was like, ‘Well, I don’t want that’. I wanted to give him the best possible start in life I could.”

Apparently what Miranda is referring to is a sleepiness that can occur in babies after an epidural assisted births (they are experiencing effects from the drug, though it’s still apparently safe for the baby) that can cause them to not want to breast feed right away, or have trouble “latching on.” Some moms, however, took issue with Miranda’s statements, especially a blogger at The Stir.

What do you think, are Miranda’s comments insensitive and/or inaccurate, or simply a mom talking about her personal birthing choices?

Miranda also talked about the joys and inspiration of motherhood with son Flynn Christopher:

“What’s surprised me most is just how incredible the bond is between you and your child. To watch him grow and evolve every day is really inspiring. [My perfect day is] to wake up to the sound of my son saying, ‘Mama, mama!’ It’s the best sound ever. Then I just love to get him out of bed and he can jump into bed with us, and we have cuddle time!”

And, about that post baby body: “I didn’t feel pressure to snap back into shape,” she explains. ”My priority was just having my son and breastfeeding, which was something I really wanted to do, and it came easily. I’m actually still making milk now, but, you know, he’s got teeth…”

spacer

You also might like

No items

Jayla

Lol, I probably have the world record for the most drugs given in labour, and I’m not offended. It’s a personal choice, if she did it without then good on her. I was hooked up to the drip that forces contractions and makes them more intense, nobody does it naturally when your on that thing.
- LIli
  
  My sister had to be induced as well and she was in so much pain for hours she only got up to barely 3cm and had to get the epidural she still ended up having to get a c section and while in there found out the epidural only took effect on her left have so she felt everything
Paige

I had an epidural with both my kids, neither one was “drugged up.” They were both very awake and alert, both were successfully latched on and breastfeeding within an hour of birth. I think if you can make it all natural, than thats great. But there’s nothing wrong with opting for the meds.
Meredith

So she had a natural birth because she didn’t want a drugged up baby but quit breastfeeding because her kid has teeth? Talk about opposites on the crunchy mom scale.
Ashley

I had an epidural and had a great labor and delivery. My baby nursed within minutes after she was born and was fine. It’s all a personal choice!

And just because a baby has teeth doesn’t mean you can’t breastfeed! A baby cannot physically bite you while nursing because of the tounge and lip position. Such a pet peeve of mine when women say that!
- Kait
  
  I’m quite positive that your theory is wrong…
  - umno
    
    Um…no, she is correct. They cannot bite you WHILE nursing, just before or after. Trust me…been bitten plenty of times. lol
    - Kait
      
      uhh exactly? If the baby is done or becomes bored it can/will bite you. So technically…
  - mama2agirl
    
    If a baby is actively sucking, then they can’t bite you, because the tongue goes over the bottom teeth. I breastfeed my daughter long after she had teeth, never had a problem.
- Gina
  
  Yes, I’ve got to agree with Kait. Flynn isn’t exactly a baby anymore! He can certainly have a bite at his age!
didn’twantone

I didn’t want an epidural, but 40 hours into labor, yes FORTY, I caved. About an hour after that we found out his arm entered the birth canal before his head, which is why he wasn’t coming. They had to reach in, push him back up, then push his arm out of the way and then I had to push to re-engage his head into my pelvis. SO GLAD I had the drugs for that maneuver.
Naturalmomma

Do your research girls.. Its your kids life. Choosing an epidural means you are one thing.. Selfish. You care about relieving yourself of pain while your baby gets put under huge amounts of stress from the medication. Just push through the pain for your baby! Everyone needs to watch ‘The business of being born.’ Its free on Netflix. America is so brainwashed with this medication sh!t.
- ….
  
  you sound like a child yourself. the only thing is to make sure your baby is safe. if he/she is under stress and you need pain meds than you do that. not everyone can deal with pain and then the baby is once again under stress. you are no less a mother if you get meds or not. it doesnt matter how a child comes into the world as long as its welcome.
- Liz
  
  You’re an asshole. And not superior because you avoided medication, sorry to tell you.
- oh dear
  
  couldnt agree more!
  its all about the quick and easy way these days, especially for the doctors.
  
  and as to ms kerr, its her opinion that was based on her research. you dont need to agree with her, but at least respect her opinion. just as you want your own opinion respected. telling her to “shut up” (see “v” comment) is not very tolerant. its not like she is telling other women what to do, she merely explains why she chose to do it a certain way.
- did
  
  Watched it, lived by it, had my midwives. I got transferred. Things don’t always go the natural way. (Though my case was VERY rare.)
- Sunshine
  
  Choosing an epidural does not make you selfish. Some labors are worse than others and not everyone has the same pain tolerance. If you’ve been in extreme pain for 20+ hours, are shaking and heaving, haven’t slept in over a day, and are only at 5cm… how is that the best thing for your baby? The less stressed the mother is the less stressed the baby is. Each woman knows her own body best and choosing to use meds or not does not make her any better or worse of a mom.
Emma

I had to be induced and I made it to 4 cm and could not take it anymore so I got the epidural. But it failed after 45 minutes so I felt everything anyways. After my daughter finally was delivered she was placed on my chest and the first thing she did within a mere 4 minutes of being born was lift her head up and hold it up on her own for a few seconds.
- mya
  
  that sounds like an incredibly sweet.
  - mya
    
    moment*
OhMyGeez

I don’t agree with the term “drugged up” because so many things can happen during labor that would require drugs. You can make a choice to go all natural but things don’t always go as planned. Does this mean she will not have a good bond with her next child, should she end up having a c-section and needing meds?

Babies can be alert, take to feeding and bond just the same after an epidural.
v

i always say to each their own.. when i was pregnant i asked my mom about it because she had been an OBGYN for 30 years and she calls the whole ‘drugged up’ thing bullsh*t. It does not effect the baby no more than a long labor can hurt a baby. Some women cannot handle the pain, some have it worse, the baby could be in distress etcetc. She needs to shut up. Some women don’t have a choice so she should just be grateful she has a healthy kid and move on.
stephanie

I was induced, 11 hours of pain, but never got an epidural. That is not common in my country. Ive watched all the episodes of 16 and pregnant and seems almost every woman in the USA gets an epidural..
tab

natural birth is the way to go. pitocin is the nastiest drug and you can almost guarantee you’ll need an epidural if you allow your doctor to use pitocin. unless medically necessary, nobody should have to be induced. your body was created to give bith. let it do its job. hospitals are in the business of making money and if you’re filling up their beds in multiple hours of labor, you’re wasting their time.
- m
  
  not all women can dilate fast enough and by that time the baby can become distressed.. good research though.
L&Dgirl

Technically, the epidural is placed in the spinal “epidural” space in your back. Not your bloodstream. Since the drugs they use in an epidural goes into the spinal fluid it does not affect the baby. If they give the mom IV pain meds it would make the baby groggy but the epidural alone will not.