Women have also been dying in childbirth for thousands of years. We also had amputations and other surgeries without anaesthesia for thousands of years yet I don't hear anyone suggest we return to those old ways. If it's something "anyone can do", I wish women would stop bragging about having drug-free labours. Stop widening the divide.

Of course it's painful. But not the pushing. The contractions are painful. Women go natural for the benefits to baby, not for a sadistic pleasure. :)

Not necessarily. My first labour was 29 hrs natural. Cord was around his neck, slowing progression lol.

Not for all women. I personally know a few that it was shorter WITH because they were more relaxed.

Not true! My labor was 8 hours and I pushed him out in 25 min. I had an epidural and Nubane!

Does he have to carry that child around for nine months? How about completely change his diet to healthy foods? And what about not drinking alcohol? Does HE have to experience the pain of a long ass labor? I don't ******* think so. It is 100% the women's choice. No doubt. And if you don't think it is you're a ******* moron. The man can discuss it with a woman but he has NO right to FORBID her. I would say "**** you asshole it's my ******* ******".

Even if it DOES effect the child, it doesn't make the child "addicted to drugs," so the father's reasoning for not having it is invalid. If OP wants an epidural, OP WILL get one, whether or not her husband gets a say in it. It might be his child, but he sure as hell isn't the one giving birth to it.

I agree with #117 because it's the same bull that happens with abortions. It's the woman's body and so the baby is 100% hers? No. A woman shouldn't be able to kill a baby that the husband wants, just like in this situation, the woman should talk with her husband about it, and try to make him see sense.

As for "No right to forbid her" I think that isn't true. I mean, what for forbidding mean anyway? It means nothing without consequences... I suppose a better thing to say is "If you damage my child by doing this, I will leave you & never forgive you" - which he does have rights to say.

128- as far as "******* morons" go, you think you'd read my entire comment before actually commenting. I never said he had a right to forbid her. In fact, I said the opposite. And it doesn't matter what is happening or how correct the information parents have is, both parents should have a say in their child's healthcare, at any point. In my comment, I said the woman should have the final say because it is her body but the man should have some input. Please, read before spouting crap. Hey, here's a deal, you make it so a man can have a baby and, hell, I will. All I hear is complaints about childbirth, but no one thinks or mentions the benefits women have because of it, and if you can't see those benefits I feel sorry for you. And youre complaining about not being able to ingest toxins and being forced to eat healthy? Lol, I'm sorry but I just find that hilarious. You want to be empowered, you want to make all the choices, have no one deny you. In today's society, the role of the father is diminished. The fathers bond is considered inconsequential. No wonder our society is where it is at right now. Even when a mother is horribly unfit to care for a child it is hard for males to gain custody. Should the mother be put through an extreme amount of pain? No. But the father has a right to have his concerns ameliorated, at the very least. And btw, a lot of husbands will change their lifestyle patterns during pregnancy in order to help support the wife during pregnancy, and some even develop their own physical signs of a pseudo pregnancy. So stop cursing and take the time to read. I'm surprised your comment wasn't moderated for all the language it contained and for calling me a "******* moron" when you obviously have not taken the time to actually read what I wrote.

128- as far as "******* morons" go, you think you'd read my entire comment before actually commenting. I never said he had a right to forbid her. In fact, I said the opposite. And it doesn't matter what is happening or how correct the information parents have is, both parents should have a say in their child's healthcare, at any point. In my comment, I said the woman should have the final say because it is her body but the man should have some input. Please, read before spouting crap. Hey, here's a deal, you make it so a man can have a baby and, hell, I will. All I hear is complaints about childbirth, but no one thinks or mentions the benefits women have because of it, and if you can't see those benefits I feel sorry for you. And youre complaining about not being able to ingest toxins and being forced to eat healthy? Lol, I'm sorry but I just find that hilarious. You want to be empowered, you want to make all the choices, have no one deny you. In today's society, the role of the father is diminished. The fathers bond is considered inconsequential. No wonder our society is where it is at right now. Even when a mother is horribly unfit to care for a child it is hard for males to gain custody. Should the mother be put through an extreme amount of pain? No. But the father has a right to have his concerns ameliorated, at the very least. And btw, a lot of husbands will change their lifestyle patterns during pregnancy in order to help support the wife during pregnancy, and some even develop their own physical signs of a pseudo pregnancy. So stop cursing and take the time to read. I'm surprised your comment wasn't moderated for all the language it contained and for calling me a "******* moron" when you obviously have not taken the time to actually read what I wrote. Maybe it's due to agreement.