Is Having A Natural Birth Right For You And Your Baby?

Women around the world have giving birth since the beginning of time. Even so, some methods have evolved as the years progressed, while others have stayed the same.

Pregnancies continue to happen to women of all ages. Even women who have given birth in their early 20's will have a different experience when birthing again later in their 30's. Your birthing process can be completely different from your grandmother’s experience.

Mothers today are finding birthing experiences somewhat foreign to what has happened before. This contrast does not mean that one method is better than the other.

Through the years, the pendulum has swung from natural births to medically-assisted birthing, and back again. There is more information available now than ever before for parents to make choices. Because of this, women are finding benefits in the many facets of the natural birth process.

Complications during the birthing process do not concern parents as much as it has in the past. Infectious diseases are not as fatal or debilitating as they once were. Natural childbirth today is not only about having a baby without pain medication. It is more about a supportive and nurturing birthing experience.

Natural births can mean a multitude of different things to people. How your sister may look at natural birthing may be quite different from how you see it. A natural birth process can mean one or many of the following aspects:

• Avoidance of pain medication
• Delivering your baby at home instead of a hospital
• Utilizing a doula or midwife
• Water births
• Alternative birthing positions instead of lying on your back
• Skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery
• Avoiding cutting the umbilical cord until after it stops pulsating
• Avoiding forceps, induction, vacuum extraction, or other monitoring and delivery procedures
• Alternative pain relief methods, including mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, or others

There are several benefits of having a natural birth or adopting alternative techniques. Women can feel more in control of their bodies during natural births. The impact of surrounding the mother with a support system of family, friends, and a birthing coach is immeasurable. Recovery time can be quicker after natural births when comparing to deliveries that use medical procedures.

There are times when the natural birthing process is not the best choice for you. A mother should discuss any possibilities for the upcoming birth with her caregiver. Some instances where a home or natural birth is not ideal can include the following:

• Multiple births
• Breech positioned babies
• Medical conditions of the mother, including diabetes, pre-eclampsia, or others
• Preterm deliveries that happen before 37 weeks of gestation
• Group B Strep carrier
• If the mother resides too far away from a local hospital to transfer to if complications happen

How a mother proceeds during the birthing process is a personal experience. It is essential to research all the available options open to you beforehand. This way, you can begin to arrange your birthing plan. Keep in mind that situations do change, and things may not always work out the way you would like. Having alternatives planned out will help cut added stress when the time comes.

Remember that a natural birth does not mean you will deliver at home, full of pain, and without any help. But alternatively, it can mean all the difference for you and your new family during a time of growth and uncertainty.

Using a doula or midwife can bring a more personable and loving experience than delivering at your local hospital. The birthing process is all yours, and in the end, it is your choice to make. Take your time to research all of the available options to ensure the right birthing plan for you and your baby.