subject: Thinking About Natural Childbirth? [print this page] Giving birth, at home, without the drugs and medications that are commonly used in hospitals is known as natural childbirth. If you choose this route then you will not be using the manufactured pain relievers, such as epidurals, and will not have a cesarean or continuous monitoring of the baby.
Giving birth naturally puts the ball in your court and allows you to take charge of the birthing process. Of course, you should have an assistant help you along with the process. Women who choose the route of natural childbirth are normally aware that discomfort is simply part of the process of giving birth. Giving birth naturally can be very empowering and can give you a deep feeling of accomplishment. It is not as painful as the rumors have led it to sound. Women have been giving birth naturally for thousands of years before hospitals were even around.
You must decide whether or not you want to give birth naturally early on in your pregnancy because there are many things you need to do to prepare. You need to exercise, eat a healthy diet and talk with your birthing assistant on a regular basis. You need to make a plan, with your birthing assistant, that outlines how you want things to work out from labor all the way through to the postpartum phase.
You will need the help of either a midwife or doula and plan on where you want to give birth at. You can choose to give birth at home or a birthing center that has a comfortable environment. Make sure that you visit a couple of these beforehand.
The Lamaze and Bradley methods are two philosophies, of giving natural childbirth, that are very old and popular. The Bradley method is all about going the natural route and pushes for not using any types of manufactured pain relievers to help ease the pain. The Lamaze method says that birth is a natural and normal process and helps women to make good decisions about the way they give birth. Research both of these and choose which one will best suit your needs.
Just because you do not choose hospital medication does not mean that there is no pain relief available. Wood betony, Vervain, Wild Hyssop, Papoose Root and Squaw Root are all herbs that will help to ease your pain and help you to relax while giving birth at home. Pasque Flower and Rubus Idaeus help to stop swelling and bleeding after birth as well as keeping your contractions regular. Talk with your midwife about which ones they prefer to use and have them handy for when the birthing time comes.
by: Dee Braun
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