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