Natural Childbirth
Natural childbirth is a birthing approach that emphasizes delivering without medical interventions, such as pain relief medications and surgical procedures. Typically involving vaginal delivery, this method is rooted in the belief that childbirth is a natural process rather than a medical condition. Advocates of natural childbirth often appreciate the sense of empowerment it provides, as well as the ability to remain alert and fully engaged during the birth experience. This practice can take place in various settings, including homes, birthing centers, or hospitals, and is supported by midwives and doulas who offer emotional and physical assistance throughout labor.
While many women choose natural childbirth to avoid the potential complications associated with medical interventions, it is essential to recognize that this choice might not be feasible for everyone, particularly those in areas with limited access to healthcare. The modern concept of natural childbirth emerged as a response to the increasing medicalization of childbirth in the mid-20th century, with notable figures in obstetrics advocating for less interventionist practices. Proponents argue that allowing women to respond instinctively to their bodies during labor can lead to shorter and less painful births, while also fostering immediate bonding with the newborn. However, it is important for women to remain open to medical assistance should any complications arise during the delivery process.
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Natural Childbirth
Natural childbirth describes a birthing practice that discourages use of biomedical intervention. Though there are varying views on what constitutes proper natural childbirth methods, for the most part, this method of delivery is vaginal and does not encourage the use of medicine, including anesthetics such as epidurals. The main idea is to embrace that it is not a sickness, but rather a natural experience that women are able to undergo successfully. Those who actively choose natural childbirth may do so for a number of reasons including because they enjoy the challenge and the feeling of empowerment and accomplishment as well as the ability to remain physically conscious and alert during delivery.
Background
Women across the world have the ability to give birth without medical intervention. When a birth is natural rather than medicalized, labor is potentially shorter and less painful, and results in a more alert mother and child, which is conducive to immediate bonding after birth. Those who oppose completely natural childbirth believe that it is dangerous to give birth without the immediate ability to resolve complications that could lead to serious medical issues and maternal or infant mortality.
Natural childbirth can take place in a hospital setting, birthing center, or at home. Regardless of the location, the main notion is that the woman has the ability and support necessary to respond to contractions without the interference of machines or medicine. The decision to experience natural over medicalized childbirth signifies that the woman will attempt, to the best of her emotional and physical capability, to give birth in a natural fashion. However, being prepared for a natural labor does not guarantee that the delivery will be free of complications; should a threatening issue such as preeclampsia arise, women should be open and prepared to seek medical assistance to deliver. It is important to note that while for some women, natural childbirth is an empowering choice, there are women in remote, rural areas with limited financial resources and little to no access to biomedical care that partake in natural childbirth because it is the sole option for giving birth in the region they reside.
Overview
Natural childbirth was developed as a response to the increased medicalization of childbirth from practices that came about in the middle of the twentieth century. Over time, it became common by Western standards for birth to take place in a hospital setting attended by a physician and nurses, rather than a midwife or doula. The cesarean section rates have also increased and become more common practice.
Several physicians have contributed to the modern concept of natural childbirth. The term "natural childbirth" was coined by British obstetrician Grantley Dick-Read, who believed that modern obstetrics led to increased risk during childbirth. Dick-Read also claimed that the fear surrounding childbirth in Western cultures led to an increase in obstetric issues for women and infants, such as prolonged births and a decrease in pushing efficiency and blood pressure. Various methods that may be used to facilitate natural childbirth have been formulated. Some of these methods were created by physicians Robert Bradley, Fernand Lamaze, Frederick Leboyer, and Michel Odent.
In 2018, biomedical delivery practices are no longer considered the sole option for birth. Natural childbirth and homebirths have become more acceptable and some women strive for a natural delivery. In the United States, some obstetrician practices have a midwife or doula on staff, while other physicians are open to work together to cater to women’s natural birth plans. In 2014, the United Kingdom National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) recommended that women who are at a low risk for childbirth complications should give birth with the assistance of a midwife at home or at a midwife-led unit. NICE found that the rate of medical intervention such as the use of forceps is decreased, while the outcome for the baby does not change at home or in the hospital. Although in the event of a serious difficulty, a hospital would have the technology that may be necessary to ensure the mother and infant’s safety, it also may also be overly dependent on the use of biomedical methods, which in many cases are more likely to lead to a cesarean section or other methods of intervention.
Women generally fear the pain that occurs when in labor. Supporters of natural childbirth maintain that the pain of contractions assists women to understand the stage of labor and leads the baby to efficiently move down the birth canal. As the contractions and labor progress, the body steadily and naturally releases endorphins as needed. During natural childbirth, women are encouraged to listen to the feedback and signals that their body is sending; these mind-body connection signals can be distracted when the body is numbed by anesthetics. If the natural pain of labor is medically reduced or eliminated, it is possible that the birth will be longer than without medical intervention.
There are several notions that are common to natural childbirth. This practice strongly advocates that birth should not be artificially induced. During natural labor, women are encouraged to move freely and shift positions in order to find comfort while in labor, whereas traditional hospital births occur while lying down on the back, which could lead to more maternal discomfort and make it more difficult for the baby to position itself adequately. Additionally, women are generally allowed to drink water and eat during natural childbirth, unlike in the hospital where women receive fluids intravenously and are usually not able to eat or drink while giving birth. The intravenous lines also restrict physical movement. Another essential aspect of natural childbirth is support from partners and midwives or doulas. Continued emotional assistance as well as physical support such as massages can result in a more positive experience for women who undergo natural childbirth.
Bibliography
Bradley, Robert A., et al. Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth. Bantam, 2008.
Budin, W.C. "Choosing Wisely for Birth." Journal of Perinatal Education, vol. 24, no. 1, 2015, pp. 3–5.
Burgess, Melinda C. R., and Brittney H. Schrick. "Natural Childbirth." Encyclopedia of Human Development. Edited by Neil J. Salkind, Sage, 2005, pp. 892–93.
Caton, D. "Who Said Childbirth Is Natural? The Medical Mission of Grantly Dick Read." Anesthesiology, vol. 84, no. 4, 1996, pp. 955–64.
Dick-Read, Grantly. Natural Childbirth. Heinemann, 1933.
Lothian, Judith A. "Why Natural Childbirth?" The Journal of Perinatal Education , vol. 9, no. 4, 2000, pp. 44–46.
National Health Service. "New Advice Encourages More Home Births." NHS Choices, May 2014, www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/new-advice-encourages-more-home-births/. Accessed 19 June 2015.
"Natural Childbirth." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Edited by William A. Darrity, 2nd ed., Macmillan, 2008, pp. 431–32.