You Can Have A Natural Birth- We Just Don’t Talk About It
What is a “natural birth” anyway? According to the Collins Medical Dictionary, it is;
“A term used to encourage the concept that having a baby should be a normal and natural process rather than a medical or surgical event, operation or emergency. A clear understanding of what is involved and informed instruction on the nature and cause of pain in labour, together with exercises in relaxation and cooperation, has made labour less difficult and painful, and more rewarding, for millions of women. It has not, however, made childbirth either easy or painless.”
Medical Interventions not typically included in a natural birth plan;
- Induction
- Membrane Rupture
- IV Fluids
- Epidural
- Anesthesia
- Restricting Mamas Movements
- Directed Pushing
- Episiotomy
- Forceps or the like
- Cesarean Sections
Some women also consider any vaginal delivery, regardless of what proceeds or follows, to be natural. Most, however, acknowledge that medically managed pain or delivery probably doesn’t really fall in line with a very natural feel.
We Need To Talk About Birth More Often- And More Positively
I think it’s important to talk about labour and childbirth in a more positive, empowering light. When it came time for me to deliver my first baby, my mother terrified me with her “war stories” and still relays them at every opportunity. I find a large portion of women engage in this type of behaviour, almost like comparing battle scars. Sometimes, it’s even as if it’s a one-up endeavour and the listener is left feeling trepidation, instead of confidence, when considering a natural birth.
I’ve heard about delivering breech, nuchal cords, delivering blue/unbreathing babies, emergency c sections, being “hacked up” without anesthesia, detaching cords, calcified placentas, botched episiotomies, lasting epidural damage, hemorrhaging and oversized, stuck little ones. As a result of unmedically necessary interventions or procedures, I’ve actually experienced some of those myself. Who would want to go through that?! Who would head into the experience without severe anxiety? So much of the knowledge of labour, or the information surrounding birth that’s shared, is frightening, painful and harrowing.
Of course, for many women, it’s the reality of their ordeal and it does need to be talked about. That’s part of their experience and their healing. It’s their perception, their wounds, and their event to talk about and nobody should be denied that. My point being, it leaves so many afraid and uncertain when the majority of what’s heard is of negative. We also start to think it’s normal.
Negative birth stories can leave many that have had the opposite type of births not wanting to share, almost as if it would be an insult, or rubbing it in, to detail their empowering, wonderful account after another mother had been through such trauma. In a ring of miserable or scary moments, sharing the fact you loved your natural birth so much it made you want to have another ends up with you stared at like you have 3 heads. Or it makes you an a-hole. Probably both.
As a result of what I had heard, I thought birth would be horrific and terrible- and, the first time around, it absolutely was. Unfortunately, as an inexperienced, uninformed and unsure teenager, I followed some exceptionally bad advice (more insistence) regarding the consumption of castor oil and ended up with a labour nearing 30 hours long. It was traumatic, I was pinned in a hospital room and I ended up having both an epidural and a Demerol shot in order to try and progress labour. It was, “That or a c section“, given as an ultimatum by my doctor, who told me that I would be “too tired to push” when it became necessary. I didn’t feel like that at all and, knowing my body, I don’t believe it for a second. I didn’t then- but who was I to advocate for myself? I was 17, surrounded by professionals waiting to get the show on the road, and I hadn’t adequately prepared… so I didn’t speak up. And, boy, I wish I had. When the time came, I actually didn’t even need to put effort into pushing- my body ejected him, so to speak, all on its own and before the doctor was even present. Back then, I wasn’t aware that those types of interventions (c sections, pushed pain management and induction) are also often given to save the attending’s time and we are basically treated like livestock. That’s how I felt- and what so many mothers detail while sharing similar experiences.
The Facts
According to the CDC, over 32% of births were via cesarean section as of 2015- over 1.2 million babies. On top of that, c sections and subsequent c sections are responsible for substantially higher rates of maternal morbidity, transfusion, unplanned hysterectomy, a ruptured uterus or ICU admissions than vaginal deliveries or even VBACS! The overall cesarean delivery rate in the United States increased 60% from 1996 through 2009, declining only .2% between then and 2013, and 1/3 of births occur via the surgical procedure.
According to Birthlink;
- 41% of women are being induced
- 76% of mothers have an epidural
- 85% of mothers are connected to an IV line during labour
- 57% of mothers with a previous cesarean were denied a VBAC
- Only 15% of us are *permitted* nourishment during the unfathomably difficult task of labour. (Sidenote; Midwives support and encourage eating or drinking)
- And, most disheartening, only 2% of women receive care practices that promote normal birth and are endorsed by Lamaze International.
Did you know that The World Health Organization recommends a maximum cesarean rate of 10-15% for all births, including high-risk pregnancies? So W. T. F. is the reason for such surgical rates? Why is this happening? Have we, as the female species, lost our primal, natural, biological ability to bear children? I don’t think so. (Although I do fully realize that some may have had a cesarean as a life-saving procedure and am simply speaking generally here.)
In a paper published in 2013, by the National Bureau of Economic Research, health care economists Erin Johnson and M. Marit Rehavi discovered that there’s actually a financial incentive for both doctors and hospitals to perform c sections. On top of the convenience of being able to schedule in advance as, otherwise, women will often go into labour at night if things are left to mother nature.
As I got older, more mature, more informed and more self-assured, I approached the idea of natural birth in a different way. That’s what I want to detail, by sharing my birth story, in the hopes that I can help an expecting Mama out there feel a little more confident as her contractions start. Positive stories need to be shared so that women realize we can take back our delivery. Doctors work for us. We are not an inconvenience. Birth is not a malady that requires a cure. It is the most powerful, beautiful human experience one may ever have and ought to be treated as such.
Positive stories need to be shared so that women realize we can take back our delivery. Doctors work for us. We are not an inconvenience. Birth is not a malady that requires a cure- It is the most powerful human experience. Click To Tweet.
The fact of the matter is, vaginal births are safer for us. Natural birth, without medication or intervention, is (for the most part) a lesser risk to the baby and they are how humanity has grown to a thriving 7.6 billion human beings today. If we hear more of the positive, empowering, natural birth stories then perhaps it won’t seem so far-fetched, or so fringe, to deliver a child the way that our ancestors did- The way that our bodies were made to.
How To Have A Natural Birth
If you’re expecting, hoping to have a natural birth, here are some tips on how you may be able to accomplish it;
Prepare
Research, research, research! I know it’s cliche to say, “Knowledge is power” but, really, it’s entirely true. The more knowledge you have about what to expect, what may go wrong, what the risks are, what is completely normal and what a labour timeline looks like, you’ll feel more confident. Confident equals calm- and calm Mamas bring babies faster, with less need for intervention. Be sure to ask questions of your care providers, writing them down in advance so you won’t forget in the moment (I know I do) and arm yourself with information about what to ask if they suggest anything that may not be medically necessary.
Seek Out The Positive Stories
Find your tribe! There are lots of women that have given birth naturally- you’ve just got to find us! If you don’t have any ladies in your immediate circle that are able to share stories about natural birth with you, I am happy to talk about mine (ask away) or Google some of the powerful ones out there. Building your confidence can make a huge difference in the way you view the natural birth experience.
Find Something/Someone That Inspires And Encourages You
If you have something to focus on during labour, like positive birth affirmations, a friend who will act as your cheerleader, a doting Mama that loves you, or a partner that can advocate for you and support you when you need it then you’re golden.
Pain Management
Look into the many ways you can manage pain naturally and effectively during labour. There’s no doubt about it, labour sucks. It sucks balls. You’ll look like crap, feel like an animal at times and you may make a couple of sounds like that too but you can definitely do it. Here are 13 pain management techniques to check out.
Hire A Doula
If you’re seriously scared, anxious or just know you’re not going to want to have to deal with anyone or anything in the moment, a doula can be pretty handy.
Have A Birth Plan
Labour can’t exactly be planned down to the last detail but it helps to prepare in advance and make certain your care provider is supportive. Write out your birth plan and cover what your vision looks like for during labour, through the birth, for the care of your little one and what to do in case of an emergency. You can detail what interventions may be acceptable and what is absolutely not a consideration, unless truly medically necessary. If you find that you have a douche for a doc, one who doesn’t willfully practice evidence-based care, then you can stand firm or hire someone else. Remember, they work for you and it’s almost never too late to switch to another provider. Go ahead and download my completely Free Birth Plan PDF. I won’t even bug you for an email sign up, I think this is that important.
Consider Alternatives
Although many women automatically assume they’ll birth with an OB/GYN and do so in a hospital, there are more options out there. Midwives, birthing centres, home births, water births and midwife office births are available, common and (from personal experience) fantastic. There are far fewer instances of epidural use, non medically necessary interventions, or c sections in midwife care. I have never personally spoken to a woman that has gone that route and was unsatisfied with her birth experience. I can state that I have had two babies with an OB/GYN, and two with midwives (two different ones, in two different settings) and had zero complications with my last two pregnancies. Only with my last two.
Please note, I do not encourage birthing outside of a hospital for high-risk pregnancies and I am not a medical professional. Your care provider would be able to help determine what’s best for you as part of your team. Do thorough research and you will feel far more confident in your decision, whatever that may be.
Talk About It Before, During and Afterwards
As mentioned before, find the positive stories to help you affirm your convictions. You’ll need to keep doing it though because, in the moment, it’s pretty tempting to beg for “the good stuff”, or anything really. If you keep up with the positive self-talk, replaying other women’s birth moments in your mind, it’s easier to rise to the challenge. I found Facebook Mom groups and birth videos were a great resource and got my competitive streak activated. If she could do it, I could do it! Perhaps that’s what will work for you too.
If you have a natural birth, share it! Revel in it, discuss it, encourage others and build the support tribe. Who knows, you may just need it again 😉
My Natural Birth Experience
I’m going to split up this post, due to length, so please check back on Friday for my natural birth story.
Do you have one to share? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know about your positive moments.
Even if you don’t have a natural birth story to share but did have a wonderful assisted birth, all encouraging stories are welcome. Each and every birth is absolutely incredible, no matter what, and we ladies have a heck of a lot to be proud of!
Citation;
Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
Johnson, Erin and Rehavi, M. Marit and Johnson, Erin M., Physicians Treating Physicians: Information and Incentives in Childbirth (July 2013). NBER Working Paper No. w19242. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2295856
Please be sure to leave a comment and connect with me on social media. Love and light,
I loved this! My first daughter passed away in utero so I was induced and took all the pain meds I could do help with the exaggerated contractions. Now that I am pregnant with my second (another girl coming in May) I am leaning towards a more natural birth in a local birthing center. This decision made me so happy and excited to give birth!
Oh my goodness, I can’t possibly imagine that :'( I’m so sorry Hannah.
How beautiful that you’re having a baby girl as your rainbow baby too though. My son was born in May- lovely birthstone for that month.
I hope you have the most PERFECT birth! Your choices, from my personal experience, will certainly help!
I had my heart set on a natural birth, and everyone who hadn’t had one was quick to say “Don’t be a hero” or “You are crazy”. Which really got me down and feeling negative. So, I decided I needed to seek out the advice of people who I knew had natural births, to help me stay in a positive mindset, one of which was you. (Thank you) It made it seem like a much more attainable goal, talking to people who have done it, and hearing their advice. I won’t lie, there was a period during transition where I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but my midwife, nurse and partner were incredibly supportive and encouraging. They gave me the confidence I needed to get through it. It was soooooo amazing!! I’m so glad I was able to have it go mostly as planned (he was 3.5 weeks early) and I am super proud of myself, with no regrets. One thing I did go in with was an open mind, knowing anything could happen and telling myself not to be disappointed or too hard on myself if I did need some sort of medical intervention.
I completely agree though, research, research, research, and ask any questions you may have. As it was my first birth, I thought some of my questions were stupid, but the answers really helped ease my anxiety about it all. Also, make sure your partner knows your plan and is ready to support you through it. I think he thought I was a little crazy at first, but he said I the one who was giving birth so ultimately he would support any plan I wanted. I would definitely go the natural route again. Anyway, I’m so glad you shared this with everyone.
YES!!! You’re awesome Jen! That’s exactly my point and I’m so glad that sharing details and birth stories helped you feel more confident <3
Part two is linked at the end, if you follow the hyperlink attached to "natural birth story" at the end of the blog post. Lots of pics 🙂
Congrats on your natural birth- I didn't know whether or not you went that route and doing it as a first-time Mom is even more badass.
All three of my deliveries were vaginal, but I don’t think they were considered natural as defined above. I applaud any woman who can go the fully natural route, but I was too scared to do that. And actually, when I was pregnant, that wasn’t really on the radar that much to begin with. This was a highly informative read.
You’re right- it wasn’t so much on it when I was first pregnant either. In fact, up until my last daughter, I didn’t know of anyone else (outside of two women it the family) that had done it. EVERY lady I spoke to had an intervention of some kind, whether it be requested or insisted.
I had no choice but to have cesareans with my kids, but my sister had a natural home birth and she loved the experience. Thanks for sharing such an informative post!
Neat that, between you both, you’ll be able to talk to children/nieces/nephews and share such different perspectives and a wealth of info. Thank you for dropping by! 🙂
I definitely agree there needs to be more discussion about childbirth. Thank you for bringing this up for discussion!
I never had the opportunity to have children and it has left me feeling empty. I’ve heard the horror stories you refer to and they scared me when I was younger. This is a good article and I think more women would enjoy having a natural birth.
I am so sorry to hear that Gisele <3 I can't imagine what that must have felt like. I have a friend that hasn't been able to successfully conceive yet- more tragic is the fact she would make the best mother- and even knowing of her struggle is heartbreaking. Actually enduring it though? *hugs*
I agree with about being positive when discussing childbirth. I was terrified when gave birth 23 years ago. I wanted to be put asleep! I was so unprepared for everything. My aunt scared me so bad, I ended up suffering through the pain through all four of my births. I never got the epidural. Now I know it would have been ok for me since I felt I needed it.
Oh dear, I can only imagine. You made it through though and can wear your warrior Mama badge with pride (epidural or not)! Hopefully, you’re able to share more positive, empowering information with yours when the time comes for their own moments… or send them this way 😉 lol
I had 2 natural births and because I was having surgery directly after my third child, I decided to have an epidural. I had a lot of leg pains for years from that and if I had to do it over again, I’d of had a natural birth. These are great tips for parents who want to have a natural childbirth.
I hear ya there, sister! I’m STILL suffering from headaches that I’ve had ever since my 1st son was born- right after the epidural. I was told they would go away. I had fluid on my spine and lost my sense of smell too. Weird. Now that I’ve gone both ways, I know there isn’t a ton of difference between labour with an epidural and without. You only “miss” the last portion and you’ve done it for so long by then why not?
I am totally loving your perspective! Lucky for me, my peers always spoke about childbirth in a very positive light so it was less nerve-racking going into it.
Oh my gosh, that definitely IS lucky! I was scared sh*tless LOL
This is an important conversation to have! More natural births are done in Sweden than any other from what I read recently. The focus is on the care of the mother more than the baby and thus the mother’s are healthier, happier, and the births far more natural, They also have a MUCH lower infant mortality rate! Now as a type 1 diabetic both of my births had to be closely monitored but I went as natural as possible with my health concerns. I think there is a lot to be said for natural births but it is also a case by case basis depending on mother’s health.
YES! I love when other Mamas toss out that kind of info- you’re so right! It’s a sad state of affairs when the US has one of the highest C section rates and one of the highest infant mortality too. Something needs to be done.
I completely agree- whatever the outcome may be, due to maternal health or whatever, Mamas need to be informed, aware and considered. It’s their moment, after all.
I love this post. All of the information I have about childbirth is through friends family or one sided books. It is nice to read something different on the topic. Very educational.
Thanks so much! I’m glad you were able to get a bit more insight and change it up a little. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
We should definitely know our options when it comes to childbirth. I think the key is to do a lot of research and be prepared one way or another. When I had my second baby, I knew I could ask for a breast pump, and they tried to suggest otherwise, but I knew what was best for me and my options.
I’m so glad you were ready and able to advocate for yourself too! That’s incredibly important and was my downfall during my 1st birth. You’re so very right- we need to know our options.
Kudos to you on such an excellent, comprehensive post promoting natural birth accurately and sensibly! My four kids now range between the ages of 28 to 33, so my natural birth experiences were a LONG time ago – and C-sections were in fact a much rarer occasion back then, usually reserved for emergency situations.
I am now a grandmother of four beautiful granddaughters, ages 5 months, and 1, 3, and 5 years old. They have all been delivered vaginally, and I had the privilege of being present for the now 3-year-old’s birth, just because of how quickly she decided to arrive AFTER some intervention. My daughter had a midwife in a hospital setting, and she just started assigning tasks to my other daughter (who happens to be a nurse) and to me, even though we had not expected to stay in the room!
What an honour that must be for you, to have been there as part of the birth team! That’s awesome.
Great that your daughter had such capable ladies in the room too- it can make things much less daunting.
a natural childbirth is so amazing. I love hearing about women’s birthing stories.
My first birth was a shock to me. My water broke because the dr stripped my membranes without my consent a few days prior. So when my water broke, the contractions came on shortly after and it was so painful. Once I got the hospital, they druged me up so that I could sleep. I ended up with the epidural. Then dr cut me down there and that took forever to heal.
With my second I was so much more prepared even though I had to have intervention because my water was too low. I was able to have him only with a small amount of pain medicine. I quickly dialated once I was relaxed. A midwife delivered him so it was more relaxed in my opinion. I was going to get an epidural but my son had other plans to come quickly.
My third, I had to have a c-section because he decided to turn breech. It was too risky to try to turn him from the outside and I really didn’t want to deal with that trauma.
Oh my goodness, quite the ordeal for you and I’ve heard stories like this so many times over 🙁
<3
I’ve never considered a natural birth personally but I do agree that it isn’t something that’s widely talked about. Great perspective here!
Thank you for this informative post Alysia! My husband and I are TTC and my biggest worry is the labor experience. I’m originally from Turkey and C section is considered “normal” there. Doctors actually “recommend” it and some people do “prefer” it. Since that has been my experience growing up, I always thought “Oh great, I will just have a C section and I don’t have to go through that pain.” Glad I realized how wrong I was much before getting pregnant! It is a way for the doctors to make some extra money and it makes me question how sincere they are when they suggest you that option. I moved to LA 6,5 years ago and recently I started doing a lot of research about pregnancy on a day to day basis. It is definitely helpful and inspiring to hear positive childbirth stories. We have to remember, women have been giving birth for centuries and our bodies are built in such an amazing way that, just like you said, it will “eject the baby” when the time comes.
Oh my goodness! I could just imagine. I never understood the allure of a c section, having your abdomen cut like that *shudders* I can only imagine the recovery on it.
I’m so glad you stopped by, especially if you’re TTC, and I hope you can find a community of women who will help inspire and empower you on your journey. Congrats to you and hubby! <3
I’ve had assisted births with both my children. Forceps were needed with my daughter. and with her the epidural didnt seem to kick in until she was almost born lol
Oh my goodness, forceps are so scary! :O
I’ve heard that a lot about epidurals. With my oldest I didn’t have it until 50 mins before he was born -_-
I had natural birth with my only son without epidural. I can remember how painful it was, but I would have natural birth again if given the chance. Great post, very informative!