Suffering, Sciatica, and the Shared Burdens of a Family

A reflection on suffering following the birth of my second child

One of the reasons I aimed for an unmedicated labor and delivery (with both my first and second) is the opportunity for intercessory prayer that presents itself in the suffering of childbirth.

It’s an unpopular thing to say out loud, I know. But the reality is that, with the birth of each of my children, I am presented with an unrepeatable chance to offer my pain and suffering for the list of intentions that presses on my mind and heart. Many women – including many Christians – won’t understand it, and the secular world will turn a nose up to it (“you don’t get a medal for refusing an epidural,” as I’ve heard so many say), but none of this changes God’s design: childbirth as (one of) the antidotes for original sin’s entrance into the world is supported by scripture and remains a very special privilege... and yes, I do mean privilege.

And so, above and beyond other reasons to avoid an epidural, this one is paramount for me: the chance to unite this particular suffering to our Lord’s suffering on the Cross will not come around for me again. For this reason, I embrace it.

In fact, I look forward to it.