This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
Actress Shay Mitchell is expecting her first child with boyfriend Matte Babel, and the couple has been sharing their experiences with fans on social media. However, a recent disagreement has sparked a heated debate about the use of epidurals during labor.
According to PEOPLE, Shay and Matte don't see eye to eye on the issue. In a YouTube video, Shay discusses her plans with Matte, saying, “I’ve been thinking a lot about this birth plan and I feel like we need to be more on the same page with this. You say no epidural, I say epidural.”
Matte offers his thoughts on why he's not in favor of epidurals, citing his fear of drugs and his mother's experience with childbirth. However, Shay stands her ground, pointing out that epidurals are very safe and that she's willing to fight through the pain if needed.
Shay's argument is backed up by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which states that epidurals are safe and that the risks associated with them are minimal. While nothing is without risk, the most common side effects of epidurals include changes in heart rate and breathing problems in the baby, as well as fever, headache, and soreness in the mother.
It's clear that Shay is not backing down on this issue, and she's got science on her side. As she says, “Would you get a root canal without any drugs? You’re in excruciating pain and I’m holding the medicine like this and I’m like, ‘You can have it and it wouldn’t do any harm, but you don’t want it. Do you want to be a fighter? Fight through it.’”
