Have you listened to many women talk about childbirth? Have you heard them say how horrible and difficult it was? It may give you the impression that no one is having natural childbirth anymore. And if they are, they have a screw loose...
Actually, quite the contrary, natural childbirth is becoming more and more popular as people realize the benefits to the woman, the family and the baby, and as they realize that there are risks to medication used frequently in birth.
Natural childbirth has different meanings to everyone. Some would describe it as a vaginal birth, others as no medications for pain, and yet others would say no intervention or pain relief medications. For the purposes of this article we will define natural childbirth as birth without pain relieving medications (Demerol, Nubain, Stadol, epidural, spinal, etc.).
Natural childbirth takes place with different practitioners (midwives, nurse midwives, obstetrician, family practitioners, perinatologists, etc.), and in different settings (hospital, birth center and home).
Although it is becoming harder to have a natural childbirth as they add more and more machines to the birth process. That is why many women who believe in natural childbirth will tell you to have a birth plan to help you clarify what you need and want with your practitioner.
"Read as much as you can about childbirth, preferably before you become pregnant. Take childbirth classes that teach natural birth, preferably independent classes, not in the hospital. Get a doula. Prepare a birth plan. Make sure that your health care provider knows your wishes before the birth," says one mother who has experienced the joys of natural birth.
Does this mean that natural childbirth and medical intervention are mutually exclusive? No. High risk pregnancies also benefit from have an unmedicated birth.
"Both of my daughters were born in the hospital," one mother explains. "I was at a very high risk of complications, but had no medications at all."
And another offers, "Be realistic that there are times when medical intervention is the right thing to do. Make sure your birth support not only understands your wants and needs, but that they respect and support your decisions."
You can read the remainder of this article by clicking on the link to the right.
1 comment:
I recently gave birth to my first child. We were under the care of midwives and had a natural, drug-free, water birth. It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Based on the difficulty in obtaining a midwife, I'd say natural childbirth is far from dead; and in fact is undergoing a serious revival. Hugs not drugs. And focus on your breathing!
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