Thinking about the birth process can be anxiety-producing, but one thing that makes parents feel better is planning for an epidural. But according to Linda Hanna, Director of Care at Mahmee, that belief sometimes sets up moms to fall to one of the biggest misconceptions in the birth process.
“The idea that ‘I’m going to have an epidural, and therefore I don’t need to do any breathing or preparation’ is the biggest misconception that I see,” she says. “To get the epidural, you first have to be in labor and that means there is a lot of work that has to happen before it’s even an option.”
Hanna’s decades of experience in labor and delivery have shown her that one of the biggest surprises parents get is the fact that things often don’t go as planned.
“People go in expecting a straight line, but birth doesn’t follow a script,” she explains. “You can’t predict how fast labor will move, or how your body will respond. Preparation is what helps you stay steady when things don’t go exactly as planned.”
Linda says to keep a few things in mind as you’re going into the journey:
The epidural, she says, is a powerful tool, but it’s not an instant fix. “You can’t get it right when you walk in. You have to be in active labor, there are safety criteria, and it takes time,” she explains. “In those early hours, breathing and relaxation techniques are your best tools. Those hours are about pain management, keeping your nervous system calm, your muscles oxygenated, and your body working efficiently.”
When people skip birth education, they often find themselves unprepared for that waiting period. “I see so many people panic in early labor,” Hanna says. “They’re breathing fast, they’re tense, and they’re scared, which is understandable. If they practice just a few techniques, they’ll know what to do with that time instead of fighting it.”
For Hanna, the lack of requirements for childbirth education is a major contributor to fear and overwhelm. “Years ago, you couldn’t even go to the hospital unless you’d taken a childbirth class,” she recalls. “It was understood that birth was something you trained for, the same way you’d train for a marathon. Showing up and expecting things will be smooth is risky. But that lack of preparation changes everything.”
Even when things go smoothly, understanding what’s happening in your body makes a difference. “Knowledge is what turns fear into power,” she says. “When you know what a contraction is doing, what the body’s trying to accomplish, it stops feeling like pain for nothing; it feels like progress.”
Epidurals, medications, and interventions all have a place, but Hanna says the most universal and accessible tool - your breath - is often forgotten. “Breathing is your north star,” she says. “It’s there with no training, it’s always with you, and it works.”
She hopes families start to see education and preparation as an act of self-trust and self-care. “Birth is unpredictable,” she says. “But when you know how to breathe through it, you know how to meet it.”
Preparing for birth doesn’t have to mean memorizing medical terms or watching tons of YouTube videos. It can be as simple as spending ten minutes a day practicing deep, steady breathing, or signing up for a short childbirth prep class to understand what your body will actually do. It means asking questions now, exactly before labor starts, so you’re not relying on adrenaline and guesswork later.
As Hanna puts it, “You wouldn’t show up to run a marathon without training. Birth deserves the same respect.” Whether you plan to have an epidural or not, understanding your body, your breath, and your options gives you the confidence to meet birth on your own terms.
While you may feel that you are going to have to manage all of labor and birth on your own, you can also choose to have a doula with you through the entire process. They can be part of your care team, supporting you and guiding you through the maze of birthing. Good support, someone who is tuned in with your needs can make a huge difference.
