Whether you opt to go through labor with or without medical assistance is a personal choice. Many women plan for a hospital birth with an epidural. Some of us are of a different mind set. Some opt for “natural” childbirth instead.
What is natural childbirth?
Natural childbirth is delivering your child vaginally with little or no pain medication. Instead, mom is presented with a variety of other pain management options.
- Hypnosis – hypnotherapy techniques to eliminate fear, tension, and pain. These techniques use deep breathing and visualization for relaxation. You can find a licensed hypnobirth therapist in your area.
- Positioning – walking, squatting, ball birthing
- Water Births – birthing your baby in a tub of warm water
Natural childbirth is often used for women with low risk pregnancies. Some are done in hospitals, some are done at a midwife birthing center, or some may be done at home. If there are further complications in natural childbirth, a mother is often taken to the hospital as a last resort.
Proponents of natural childbirth believe that some drugs, such as Demerol, may have an adverse effect on your baby. They also advocate natural childbirth as a way to give you some control over the birthing process and to allow quicker bonding with your baby. Many of the midwife birthing centers are equipped with home-like furnishings, birthing tubs, and plenty of room to walk. They believe this promotes a calm, comfortable setting as opposed to a sometimes confining hospital room.
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