what are the benefits of natural childbirth…?
Bywhen i say “natural” i simply mean giving birth without pain relievers. i’ve been giving this idea a lot of thought and wanted to know the pros and cons of all my options of birth. i am pregnant with my second child, with my first i recieved an epidural during labor. so just in case this is mylast child i want to be sure on my decisions of childbirth/labor (i really didnt realize i had other options with my first) so please give me your opinions and knowledge or share your experience with me to help me better understand natural childbirth.
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7 Comments
February 17th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
waterbirth? Think about it this way…..Wouldn’t a peacful and serene birth, with a relaxed and focused mother be a wonderful way to bring a baby into this world? Having a waterbirth is an option for Mom’s who want to give birth naturally. Childbirth is such a powerful experience for a woman. But, too often, women totally give up their power and gift of childbirth over to other people to control. Having a waterbirth gives the woman a feeling of empowerment and pride in being able to choose how she delivers her child.
What about what the baby goes through? Just imagine that your little one is as cozy and warm as can be for the past 9 months. You have given that little wonder a warm and secure environment only to have him arrive in a cold, bright and noisy world. That is why waterbirthing is such a beautiful way to bring your little wonder into this world. Imagine the having your baby arrive in a warm, quite, safe and inviting environment where the first touch is your arms. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to start a relationship.
The benefits of waterbirthing is so numerous… here are just a few
* ease the pain of labor where only 10% of mom’s ask for pain relief
* relaxation of mom
* can faciltate a slow labor
* relaxed pelvic floor
* relieve anxiety
* empowers the mom
* can increase blood circulation
If you decide you want to use water to help you labor, you need to have a few things in mind. The water temperature should be around your body temperature. Be careful when entering the tub and try to enter between contractions. Make sure the tub is large enough so that you can move freely and be able to change positions to what makes you feel comfortable.
Women usually enter the tub when they are about 5-8 cm dilated. Check with your caregiver, but you should not need to worry about infection if your membranes have ruptured, as long as your are following proper hygenics.
The following are some interesting statistics about waterbirths
* The women had shorter labors.
* Cervical dilatation was more efficient- 2.5 centimeters per hour compared with 1.25 centimeters per hour for mothers who did not take advantage of water during their labors.
* The descent of the babies was twice as fast.
* The women reported less pain.
* The cesarean section rate was one-third that of traditional hospital births.
* Mothers labeled “high-risk” because of high blood pressure showed a dramatic reduction in their blood pressure within minutes of immersion in the pool.
Whether you decide to just labor in water, or have an actual waterbirth you can still take advantage of what water has to offer.
Waterbirthing can be not only a gentle way to bring your little one into the world, but as you can see, it is also a SAFE alternative. Also, remember that being educated is the most important thing you can do to keep yourself happy and healthy througout your pregnancy.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
i am wanting a natural childbirth as well. yet i am nervous that i will not be able to handle the pain and need to get an epideral. i am terrified of this though because i know someone that had nerve damage bc of an epideral.
February 17th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
natural child birth is more rewarding and you’ll be even more proud of yourself afterwords cuz you did it without medication. my mother delivered me naturally and i was 10Ibs! she said it hurt but you just have to be the one in control and let your body work the way it wants. my grandma told me she didnt make one noise she just concentrated…thats why i plan on giving a natural birth. plus theres too many side effects with an epidural. ya the percentage might be low but it HAS happened or else it wouldnt be a risk.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
To receive the most educated answer to this question, you should call a midwife. But, here’s what I know: All drugs have side effects. During labor/delivery these side effects not only affect you, but they affect your baby. Childbirth without drugs avoids this.
I had very little pain relievers with my second daughter, and nothing with my third (not even an episiotomy). Never had an epidural… only because I’m terrified of needles, though. I’ve heard that labor/delivery feels more “natural” without it, though. It’s actually kind of cool, in a weird sort of way, when you can feel everything.
There are things you can do throughout your pregnancy in order to minimize your pain during delivery, though. Watching your weight will help control the size of the baby (larger babies are definitely harder to deliver). I did water aerobics throught my pregnancy with my third and, literally, almost delivered her in the parking lot. Using a massage therapist who is trained in full-body prenatal massage helps a lot, too.
I hope that helps. Good luck to you!
February 17th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Natural childbirth is great. I had an epidural with my son that didn’t work and I wasn’t mentally prepared, but I know what to expect now and I will do it all natural. I think if you do it natural the best way to go is with a midwife in a birthing center. They are really nice for one, it’s like having a friend all through your pregnancy right up to the end. I feel safe with them, and I like all the birthing classes they have set up so I will be mentally prepared this time. I also feel like I will have another fast labor, and epidural wouldn’t work because labor was too strong… so I’d rather just be ready.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
I went into labour determined to not have an types of painkillers, but after getting stuck at 5cm dilated with contractions one after the other, I gave in and got an epideral. I don’t even remember anything for the hour that it took for the doctor to come do it because I couldn;t move or breathe, I just remember the pain. The epidural didn’t work so they tried a second one. That didn’t either. I ended up having a spinal tap/block or whatever they were called, and that was supposed to last 4 hours at least, but it wore off after one….but within that hour I dilated to 10 and then I was good to go.
I felt so horrible giving in, but at the same time so relieved to have a break from the contractions.You should prepare for everything possible so you don’t give yourself a hard time if for some reason you can’t do it without painkillers.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
besides the fact that having a natural childbirth is good for the baby b/c you are not exposing him/her to drugs. think about how accomplished you will feel when all is said and done.