Once you get used to the idea of being pregnant, you might want to explore with your partner, what type of birth you'd like to have. While the term Natural Birth can mean many things, it is generally used when referring to a labour and birth experience in which no pain medications are used, and intervention of any kind is kept at a minimum. This topic needs to be part of the discussion between partners early on in the pregnancy, because it will influence the type of care provider you choose. Will an MD suite you? Or maybe Nurse Midwives who practice at the hospital? Maybe you'd like to work with a free standing birth center, or maybe you'll decide upon a midwife assisted home birth. All of these choices can provide you with a Natural Birth.
The Natural Birth Option with the least amount of possibility for intervention of any kind is a midwife assisted home birth or birth center birth. Home Birth is a safe choice for anyone experiencing a healthy pregnancy. Home Birth allows you more control over who enters your place of birth, and Home Birth assures you that only natural support techniques will be used. There are no epidurals at your home! Because you will develop a strong relationship with your midwife over the 7-8 months of your pregnancy, she will be able to work well with you both before and during the birth to help you find what will work best for you. Weather it is a nice walk outside, or just a new position, midwives are skilled at helping labouring mothers find just what they need to keep going!
If you choose to go to the Hospital for your birth, you can often select between Nurse Midwives or an Obstetrician to support you. You can discuss your expectations for being allowed to labour naturally, before selecting your provider. Just because the options of medication are there in a hospital setting, doesn't mean you have to use them! If you are committed to avoiding pain medication during labour, you can do it! One of your most important allies in this will be your primary care provider. So, make sure you are a good match, and you get a chance to express your ideas about your birth.
Just like any medicine, it is nice that things like epidurals exist. Sometimes, labour lasts so long, and has you so tired, pain relief can be of great assistance in helping you get some much needed rest so you can carry on. However, all too often, the benefits of other measures like walking, squatting, massage, warm water, etc are overlooked. There are, of course, many reasons to avoid using pain medicines in labour. Some of these include difficulty breastfeeding after birth and decreased alertness of mother and baby during the first few hrs after birth, when bonding is so important.
Another choice in any setting to help you birth naturally is hiring a Doula. Women helping Women during childbirth is a centuries old tradition. Doulas are just that, they are there to help. In whatever way a birthing mother needs. Many Doulas are skilled in natural support techniques such as acupressure, massage and herbal therapy as well as a natural ability to know just what a birthing mother needs at the exact right time! You can start looking for a Doula by going to Doulas of North America's (DONA) website
Women have been bringing babies into the world without the use of pain medicines such as epidurals for many, many years. It is important to learn what your choices are, so that you can create the best birth experience for both you and your baby.
