What is Natural Birth? The Answer Will Surprise You

What is natural birth to me?

Traditionally, natural birth was a term used to described labor and delivery free from any and all interventions and medications. This birth occurs without an epidural, no pharmaceuticals or narcotics and no other medical interventions. The laboring mother relies on breathing techniques, her own instinct, and the support of her birthing team or doula. She has her baby on her own with no medical assistance.

For a number of reaons, not all women can have or choose to have a natural birth. It doesn’t mean that mean their births are unnatural, abnormal or strange. All births are normal, which means all births are natural. Whether baby is born via c-section, vaginal delivery, with or without an epidural, it’s considered normal and natural today.

I was devastated when I had to be induced with my second baby. She was born without medication, narcotics or any other medical intervention, but being induced meant her birth was no longer “natural”. So does that mean her birth was unnatural? No.

Every mom works mentally and physically hard to bring her baby into this world. As it’s beautifully explained here, a mom doing everything she needs to to protect her baby is the most natural thing in the world. And just like me, no one wants to feel like their birth story doesn’t count because it’s not “natural”.

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C0mmon Natural Birth Methods

All births are natural, but expecting moms need to take their birth plan into their own hands. If you don’t make important decisions about birth and after birth, someone else will make them for you. Unforeseen circumstances can alter your birth plan, but it’s important to remember that it’s just a plan. In the end, a healthy baby and mama are what are the most important.

Here are some of the most common birth types.

Unmedicated or drug free birth | Formerly known as “natural birth”, this is a labor and delivery with no medical interventions, narcotics or pharmaceuticals. The laboring mom relies on her birth team, breathing techniques and various pain management strategies during each phase of labor.

Assisted Vaginal Birth | Vaginal birth can include any type of intervention, medicine, augementation, induction, monitoring, etc., so long as the baby ends up being born vaginally. This is for the mom who prefers avoiding a c-section but is open to various interventions whether medically necessary or not.

Cesarean | C-sections are surgical incisions made into a woman’s abdomen and uterus to birth a baby. They can be scheduled or unplanned but occur due to medical complications that prevent vaginal deliveries. These include, but aren’t limited to: placenta previa, previous c-sections, a breech baby, fetal distress or placenta issues.

VBAC | VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. This is for moms who have previously had babies via c-section and want to have a vaginal delivery. This is a good option for you if you want a vaginal delivery, are in good health, and you’re pregnancy is progressing normally and healthily.

Of course, babies are born into the world in all different kinds of ways. Some mamas will labor drug free and opt for an epidural during transition. Others may have a planned c-section, while others may plan an intervention-free birth but need induced. What matters in each situation is a healthy baby and mom. No mom should feel shamed for her birth story because all births are natural.

Conclusion

All birth is natural birth. It’s unfair to consider birth anything but natural. Whether you recover from a c-section, labor without medical intervention or anything else in between, your birth matters and is natural. Not all births are the same but they all are equal.

Although all births are natural births, mamas-to-be still have an important role to play in their labor and delivery. It’s important to ask yourself: “What is natural birth to me?” If you don’t make decisions about your birth and baby, your health care provider will make them for you.

Know your labor and delivery goals and talk them through with your partner. Create a birth plan so everyone is on the same page, and discuss it with your health care provider.

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