Although natural birth has been done forever, you really need to plan for it. At first, it seems strange to prepare for something natural, but it is necessary. Doctors and hospitals have gradually taken over the birth process. In the process, women have gradually lost control over our own birth experiences. Regaining this control requires planning.
One of the most important factors in having a natural birth is the attendant you choose to be with you. This is generally a doctor or a midwife. In many cases, a midwife is more receptive to natural birth. Some doctors are very accepting of natural births, but you need to find them. Whether you choose a doctor or midwife, you want someone supportive of letting nature take its course.
Discuss your desire for a natural birth early in your pregnancy. Some doctors routinely use interventions, while others are open to allowing labor to progress naturally. Ask specific questions about interventions. Ask how often he uses typical interventions in his practice. Ask specifically about the percentage of his patients that give birth without drugs. Inquire about episiotomies, breaking the water, IVs and fetal monitoring.
Ideally, you want a practitioner who is the least invasive, if you desire a natural birth and the freedom to move around in labor. The answers the doctor gives and his willingness to discuss these issues will give you valuable insight about his philosophy and what you can expect at your birth. A doctor who routinely uses all these interventions may not be the best choice for a natural birth.
Another issue to discuss with the doctor is birth positions. Many doctors allow patients to deliver only in the flat on your back, feet in the stirrups position. A midwife is generally more open to alternative positions, such as squatting or being on all fours.
I remember touring the hospital when I was pregnant with my first daughter. The nurse commented on the birthing chair in the room. She told me, “None of the doctors use this. They won’t sit on the floor to catch a baby. A few of the midwives will allow their patients to use it.” Basically, it was a decoration.
There are many options for delivering your baby naturally. If you are using a doctor, the hospital is your only real choice. With a midwife, you have more choices in the setting. Midwives deliver in hospitals, birth centers and in your home. The decision will be based on your health, the midwife you choose and where you feel most comfortable.
You will need to prepare for your natural birth. Childbirth classes are the best way to do this. The most common classes in the United States are Lamaze and Bradley classes. The typical hospital birth class is usually Lamaze. These are called prepared child birth classes. Bradley classes are more involved and there are more sessions. Lamaze relies primarily on distraction and patterned breathing. Bradley teaches patients to use relaxation and more relaxed, normal breathing patterns.