Giving Birth Naturally

Giving birth naturally is best for mamas and babies. It's healthiest and it's the most empowering.

It keeps mothers and babies alert and aware - the early moments are clearer and both are more alert and ready to communicate with each other.

I feel the need to add a disclaimer before moving further into this article.

There are some cases where intervention is truly necessary and of course giving birth with the intervention is better. Learning good birthing skills will help you have an empowering experience no matter what you may need medically.

There are also cases where women are forced to labor without pain relief drugs that they may desire and such cases are usually not at all empowering. These things are understood and are assumed in this article.

It is vitally important to note that most interventions are not necessary and are overused, however. Research all you can about birth, ask questions, and choose people who will support your right to give birth without intervention. Most women who have a natural birth choose giving birth naturally, and it is usually a very positive experience.

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What is natural birth?

Many women think that giving birth naturally means being strapped in bed while they scream through painful contractions. Unfortunately this is the only way some care providers will allow natural birth to happen. But it is not what truly natural, empowering birth is.

Truly natural birth gives women freedom. If you're planning on giving birth naturally you should plan to have as little outside intervention as possible.

Natural birth means that you're free from restrictive technology. Research shows little benefit to the routine use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring (where a belt is strapped around your belly) and little benefit to routine IV fluids.

Laboring without these interventions means that you are much more in control of your own experience. You are free to get up and move around as needed.

The baby's heartbeat can easily be monitored from time to time with a Doppler (a handheld unit to listen to a baby's heartbeat).

If you're free to eat and drink while giving birth you'll have the energy that you needs to keep going and you'll feel better physically.

Interventions

Interventions should be avoided if at all possible. As mentioned above, continuous electronic fetal monitoring and IV fluids have not been proven to be beneficial to most women.

They hamper your ability to move around. The IV fluids can cause you to take in more fluid than you need and feel swollen and bloated.

Despite what anybody says, medications do pass through the placenta to your baby. Using medications while you're giving birth will force you to have an IV and continuous fetal monitoring.

You're also at higher risk for fever and pain from the needle wound. Your baby may have a hard time breastfeeding and may be sluggish - drugs do affect your child.

Other interventions such as induction, episiotomy, and assisted delivery (using forceps or vacuum extractors) can reduce your chance of giving birth naturally (or take it away entirely).

You may not be able to see your baby right away because of these interventions. You may also find yourself in pain beyond what you would be had you given birth without interventions.

It is important to remember to negotiate for what you want. Talk to your care provider about what interventions you do not want.

It is equally important to remember even if you must have some intervention (I.V. fluids for instance) you can still have a good birth. Learning about your body, birth, and relaxation during pregnancy makes a huge difference - I recommend The Pink Kit for learning the skills you'll need for the best birth - no matter what your circumstances.

Support helps

Having a person devoted to you during labor will help. You'll want to choose somebody who can support you continuously and is devoted to your needs.

Having this support person as you're giving birth greatly enhances your chances for a natural birth and reduces the amount of intervention that you'll have. A doula is a woman who is specially trained to assist you as you are giving birth - you may want to hire one.

You'll have the best birth experience if you can choose how you want to labor. Choose support persons who will stand up for your choices. Learn the skills you need to have a good birth. Take the time to choose a good caregiver and birth place. It will influence your experience giving birth and the early days and weeks with your baby profoundly.

Natural birth has lasting benefits

Researchers have found that birth has a profound effect on women. Women can remember their birth experiences decades after they happened with amazing clarity. A negative experience giving birth will not mean that you and your baby will have a bad start. But it will probably be a much smoother start if you have a positive birth.

Giving birth naturally can increase your self esteem and confidence. You'll find yourself replaying your birth story in your mind over and over in those early days. You'll discover power that you never knew that you had! You are created in an awesome and amazing way. You grew your baby and you went through the experience of giving birth! It's amazing.

It's a great choice

Preparing for a natural birth is a great decision on your part. Even if intervention is truly needed to help you or your baby you know that you've prepared your body and are as healthy as you can possibly be. This will enhance your recovery.

If you have a natural birth your baby will be alert and ready to interact with you in the early moments after birth. You'll recover more quickly. Your pain will fade quickly after birth and be over, unlike if you had to recover from surgery, intervention, or even from needle wounds.

Breastfeeding is many times more likely to get off to a good start after giving birth naturally.

Prepare for a natural birth during pregnancy. Learn and read all that you can. I highly recommend you read, watch, and use The Pink Kit to prepare for giving birth - it's the best way to learn the skills you'll need. You'll be preparing your baby for the best start in life and yourself for the best start at motherhood.

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