Giving birth naturally does not mean enduring unbearable amounts of pain, but instead learning how to prepare and work with your body so you don’t need drugs. A well-trained natural birth mom will be able to work through the birthing waves, especially if she has good support.
Scientific studies show that epidurals are not safe as many of us are led to believe. Known risks include lowering blood pressure (which can result in fetal distress and an increased risk of Cesarean), slow labor (increasing the need for Pitocin), shivering, tingling in the legs, urinary retention (sometimes requiring a catheter), back pain, increased risk of forceps/vacuum extraction, elevated temperature, slowed emptying of the stomach, and the possible “patchy” block on pain, among many other things.
Epidural medications reach the baby, and children born under their effect can have breathing problems, are more lethargic at birth, less likely to breastfeed soon after birth, tend to have higher temperatures, and cry more than babies born without any drugs. “Drugs used in childbirth come with inherent risks that are often not explained thoroughly to women,” points out Patricia Downing, Portland, Oregon-based midwife and director of Sage Femme Midwifery School. “For example, epidurals — commonly given to laboring women in hospitals — can provide relief from labor pains. However, there is a very slight risk of permanent spinal injury to the mother.”
Your birth attendant is skilled in handling complications—that’s why she is there! It is your job, however, to make sure you (and your support team) are trained to work with normal birthing. This can prevent unnecessary complications and allows your doctor or midwife to use expertise in monitoring and taking care of true complications. You also are responsible for ensuring that you and your baby are as healthy as possible so you will recover more quickly from any interventions that are necessary. It is like driving a car—do you believe that if you get in an accident that your insurance and the doctors will just take care of it? Or do you make sure you are a good driver and your car is well-maintained to minimize the chance of an accident?
Many women feel that birth is a horrible curse women must endure before they can experience the joy of holding their babies. In fact, there is a lot of joy built into the birthing experience itself that some medicated mothers don’t know they’ve missed. The hormones released during birthing cause a new mother to be elated, excited, energetic, and happy. To add to these emotions, some mothers even experience a “birth climax” as the baby is being born.
After my sons birth I felt as if I could have run a marathon! Everyone present shares in the joy of the event. Husbands often say it was truly an awesome experience that they were glad to have been a part of.
More than 85 percent of couples having vaginal births do so without medication. If your doctor or midwife is also cheering you on, as many as 95 percent of women can give birth naturally—with their first baby! The main things you need are good training, helpful birthing support, and a supportive birth attendant. Enroll in a comprehensive birth class in your fourth or fifth month. Make sure to bring your husband or someone else who will be your support during birthing so they can understand what you’re wanting, too. Hire a doula! Your doula cannot replace your doctor or midwife, though, so be sure that you also communicate well with them and respect their recommendations. Their support is absolutely essential.
Natural can be safe
For women with normal, uncomplicated, low-risk pregnancies, giving birth outside the hospital can be as safe as a hospital birth. In a 1991 study comparing physician-assisted births with midwife-assisted births, midwives had a 19 percent lower infant mortality rate.
Midwives subscribe to the philosophy that the body generally works if you give it what it needs, Saunders says. Birth is viewed as a natural, common occurrence that requires time, patience, strength and endurance — all well within a woman’s capabilities. “If a woman is in good shape and has followed a sound nutritional plan throughout her pregnancy, when birthing begins, nine times out of 10 her body will follow nature’s plan and do the job it was meant to do.”
No matter what you’ve thought about natural birth in the past, I urge you to take a second look. Investigate by asking around. Find women who have given birth naturally as well as those who have had a medicated birth and ask them what it was like. But please don’t listen to ANY woman’s horror story! That’s like listening to stories of plane crashes just before you go flying! Put your hand up in that universal STOP sign and say, “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to change the subject. I really don’t want to hear that story, my baby is listening!” Make sure they’re positive or have constructive criticism. Would they do it again? What would they have done differently? Discover the trends for yourself. Perhaps wanting to have a natural birth isn’t so bad after all.
860-859-2084 mrsrobertson@comfortbirth.com