How to prepare for a natural birth experience. Easing labor pain!
Natural birth without pain medications is becoming more common.
Why natural birth?
Some women simply want to see what their bodies can do.
Woman who birth naturaly
- Don't push as long in labor
- Have a higher spontaneous birth rate
- Recover more quickly after birth
- Avoid potential side effects from the epidural incl low blood pressure, headaches and fever.
If you have a healthy pregnancy with no complications, you are likely a good candidate to attempt a natural childbirth.
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Unmedicated births are not for every woman. If you have a heart condition, twins or a baby in the breech position you may benefit from an epidural or spinal anesthetic. If you choose unmedicated birth , it's very important to prepare your mind and body because it can be very difficult, but there are strategies to reshape how you think about pain, its management, and your birth experience.
- Choose the right provider. Select a health care provider who is on board with natural birth, has experience, understands birthing plans, and has a low rate of cesarean births.
- Exercise regularly. You will increase your changes of natural birth by being psysically fit. You should work out regularly with 30 minutes of active movement five to six days a week. Flexibility will help you when it comes time to push.
- Take a natural birth class. Women who attend birthing classes are more likely to have a vaginal birth.
- Write a birth-plan. A birth-plan is a document that outlines your labor and delivery preferences. Women who go into labor with a birth-plan are 10% more likely to have a vaginal delivery. Discuss your birth-plan with your doctor or health care provider early to make sure that your wishes can be honored.
- Spend early labor at home. If you want an unmedicated natural birth and a lower C-section rate, practice patience and stay home for the early part of labor. Most low-risk women are safe spending early labor at home. Keep yourself relaxed, hydrated, rested and nourished. Plan on labor being a marathon, not a sprint. Active labor begins when the cervix is dilated to about 6 centimeters.
- Learn to face contractions. One of the secrets to an unmedicated birth is being able to relax in response to pain. Fear increases tension which increases pain. If you can stay relaxed in the fase of strong contractions, you will have less resistance to opening up for the baby to come out. Rhythmic breathing, meditation, self-hypnosis and other relaxation techniques are excellent tools for all stages of labor.
- Take advantage of pain management techniques. There are plenty of techniques that can help you manage pain without the use of drugs. Consider using some or all of these:
- Water therapy
- Massage
- Acupressure
- Birthing ball
- Relaxation-meditation-hypnosis
- Move around, walk, pace, squat, rock. sway, dance
- Warm compresses
- Breathing techniques
- Essential oils-aromatotherapy
- Music
- Nitrous oxide
In conclusion, natural birth has many rewards. Most women can do it if they choose to. However, birth can be unpredictable and pain relief and cesarean sections are sometimes necessary.