You might be wondering just exactly what natural childbirth means. Women have been having babies for centuries and you probably can’t think of anything that could be more natural. Natural childbirth actually refers to having a child vaginally without the aid of medications. Many women want to have the full experience of childbirth without subjecting their babies to any type of anesthesia. There are several schools of techniques that can be used towards accomplishing this goal. Some of these techniques may be offered as classes by your local hospital or they can be learned with books, CD’s or private instructors in your community.
Most natural childbirth techniques focus on helping the mother to manage her pain without the need for drugs. One of the most popular and widely known techniques is the Lamaze method. While the Lamaze method neither encourages nor discourages the use of drugs it focuses on ways for the mother to productively manage her response to pain. Lamaze teaches the usefulness of breathing techniques in keeping a woman in labor from tensing up when she is in pain to avoid increased pain and a delay in labor. Patterned breathing ensures a steady flow of oxygen to both mother and baby and helps to maintain a sense of calmness. Massage techniques that ease pain are also taught as well as the technique of distracting the mother with an object to focus upon such as a photo of a family member. Lamaze encourages women to stay in control of their own labor and not become overwhelmed or frightened by it.
Another natural childbirth technique that is widely used is the Bradley method. The Bradley method focuses on a high degree of involvement by the father. The Bradley method encourages the total absence of medication unless it becomes unavoidable. Students of the Bradley method will focus on good nutrition, exercise, and the importance of a healthy pregnancy. The father will learn how to be a coach and advocate for his partner and how to be an important part of breastfeeding. Bonding with the baby immediately after birth is also a major focus of this method. Many of the relaxation techniques used to ease pain during labor are similar to that of the Lamaze technique. Different positions for delivery are also explored.
Hypnobirthing is a technique that teaches women the art of self-hypnosis. The theory behind hypnobirthing is that increased stress and fear cause labor to become impeded as the body’s adrenaline forces blood to be moved away from the areas in which it is needed. Hypnobirthing allows women to hypnotize themselves and get their bodies to enter a state of calm that allows labor to progress naturally. Labor with hypnobirthing is thought to be much shorter and completed with less fatigue.
A fairly new school of natural childbirth techniques is Birthing from Within. Birthing from Within allows for compassionate use of drugs during labor but focuses on the spirituality and empowerment of the mother and father. The birth process is explored emotionally, physically and spiritually through art, self-discovery, and pain coping techniques.
If you choose to have a natural birth it is important to remember that all of the classes and learned techniques cannot save you from an emergency situation. Any birth can potentially lead to an emergency C-section that will require the use of drugs. Keep in mind also that it is not a sign of weakness to decide that you need the aid of anesthesia once your labor has begun. Many women react to pain differently and you may impede your labor if you refuse pain medication when you truly need it. Keep an open mind no matter which birthing technique you decide upon.
