Preparing for Natural Birth

Unmedicated, natural birth is natural. Even though it’s natural, it is really hard. Avoid giving in to the epidural by preparing to natural birth with these seven crucial tips.

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Make a Birth Plan

Natural birth means different things to different people. The one thing that remains the same is if you don’t make decisions about your labor, delivery and care after birth, someone else will do it for you.

A birth plan is the first thing you need to do when preparing for natural birth. There is a lot to consider for you and baby during labor, delivery, and after. A birth plan will give you time to make educated choices about your preferences. It will also give you time to check with your health care provider to see if they support your birth plan. (Some hospitals have regulations that may interfere with your natural preferences.)

A birth plan empowers you with knowledge and understanding. Regardless of your birth choices, don’t be a bystander in your birth.

Choose Your Health Care Provider

Chances are, you’ve been going to the OB/GYN regularly for sometime now. It’s typical to simply continue going there once you’re pregnant. But you have options when it comes to your healthcare provider and your pregnancy.

Midwives, birthing centers and home births tend to support natural birth better than OB/GYNs. They are trained in low-intervention, unmedicated delivery. On the other hand, OB/GYNs are trained in childbirth medicine and surgery.

It’s important to weigh your options for your HCP. A midwife is more supportive of a natural delivery; however, there is security in delivering at a hospital if unforeseen complications arise. Midwives can act as a doula, giving natural advice and techniques, but your insurance will likely cover most (if not all) of your hospital delivery. Hospitals are plentiful, where you might have trouble finding a birthing center or midwife.

If you choose a doctor, that’s not to say they won’t support your natural birth wishes. More and more OB/GYNs are leaning into the natural, unmedicated birth. There are a few things you can do to determine you’re in the right spot. Take a look at the signage on the walls. Is it naturally-minded? Make sure you like and feel comfortable with your practice. Discuss your birth plan. And most importantly, ask your doctor these questions.

Education

The biggest mistake you can make if you want a natural birth is not educating yourself on labor and delivery. Birth is natural and it’s what women’s bodies were designed to do. Your body will labor baby on its own with or without your help. With your help is way easier and will prevent you from reaching for an epidural when contractions and labor become tough.

Educate yourself on the emotional signposts of labor, positions that ease contractions, how to survive transition and birth affirmations to set yourself up for success. If you know what to expect during labor, your chances of success will be much higher.

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Read Birth Stories

Reading birth stories is a great way to get ready for the big day. Birth stories will empower and excite you for labor. They give you an opportunity to see how other moms have successfully labored without medicine. Take note of their natural birth tips, how they handled contractions and what they did to prepare for natural birth.

RELATED: My Natural Hospital Birth

On the contrary, it can also be worthwhile to read birth stories where mamas decided to get an epidural after all. Learn from their story and use the information for your own birth.

Drink Raspberry Leaf Tea

Science is still debating whether this is a proven way to prepare for natural birth or not. But all medication-free mamas and midwives will agree that red raspberry leaf tea is a key ingredient for natural birth.

Red raspberry leaf tea has fragrine, which is said to tone and strengthen uterine and pelvic floor muscles. Delivery is easier with strong muscles, Contractions work harder, shortening labor and pushing time.

Raspberry leaf tea is also known to help naturally induce labor. Because the evidence doesn’t show whether this works or not, it’s better to play it safe. Always check with your healthcare provider, but enjoy 1-3 cups of raspberry leaf tea in your third trimester to get the full benefits.

Gather Your Support Team

Long gone are the days of family and friends anxiously waiting baby’s arrival at the hospital. Recent events have put hospitals on lock down, only allowing one person in the delivery room with you. It’s imperative that that person is on their A-game to help and support you.

Whether it’s your husband, mom, sister, spouse or friend, it’s his job to support you every step of labor. From helping pack your hospital bag to navigating contractions to talking you through transition, this person can make or break your unmedicated natural delivery.

Choose someone you can count on and share your research and natural birth information with them. Explain to them how they can help during every step of labor and delivery. Give them examples on what kind of support you think you’ll need. Print out your information and give it to them to refer to.

Define Your “Why”

Deciding that you want an unmedicated natural birth is one of the first steps in your birth plan. But have you decided why you want a natural birth? It’s important to sit down and really think through why a natural and unmedicated birth is important to you.

Natural birth is becoming a thing of the past. Your friends, family, and even your doctors may not understand or support your wishes. You’ll be met with a lot of question and resistance. Honestly, it’s okay if your friends and family don’t get why you want an unmedicated birth. But you have to get why you want an unmedicated birth. Combat peer pressure an naysayers with your own knowledge and reasons for choosing a natural birth.

Having a why will also help save you during transition. Dilating from 7-10cm is the hardest part of labor. You’re contractions will be really intense. You’ll hit the self-doubt emotional sign post and want to give up. Don’t give up. Instead, focus on your why. Rotate through all of the reasons you want an unmedicated birth. Your why will give you focus and to get to the pushing stage of labor.

Conclusion

Natural and unmedicated birth will be the most natural thing you will ever do. But you can’t do it alone. Gather together a good support team and health care provider that you like and trust. Start preparing for natural birth by making a birth plan, defining your why, drinking raspberry leaf tea and educating yourself.

How else are you planning for natural labor and delivery? Comment below to help other mamas who are reading. As always, if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.

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