How to Make a Hospital Birth a Natural Birth

Not every woman is comfortable with a home delivery, yet a sterile hospital delivery is not very appealing either. Find a hospital that is warm and open-minded to the natural birth philosophy within the hospital environment for a positive natural birth experience.

Instructions

1. Discuss the natural childbirth options with the obstetrician and the delivering hospital staff. Different hospitals have different birthing facilities and policies regarding their birth practices.

2. Ask the hospital what alternative birthing devices are available. Many hospitals have birthing balls, conduct hydrotherapy or water deliveries and birthing chairs or beds.

3. Check the environment of the delivery rooms for a natural, homey feeling without strong lighting or stark walls. A delivering mother must feel comfortable for a successful natural delivery.

4. Find out if the hospital has a doula, or birthing mother's assistant, on staff. A doula can perform massage, coach during delivery, or perform sponge baths if the mother desires.

5. Let labor begin on its own unless medical necessity requires otherwise. Refuse any unnecessary routine interventions during labor. Tell the hospital staff if they are not allowing the delivery desires of the mother.

6. Get up and move around during labor. Walk down the hall, use the birthing ball or take a shower. Act naturally in the hospital delivery area and relax.

7. Communicate the desire to not separate from the baby immediately after birth to the delivery room staff. Speak up if something other than the natural birth experience is occurring in the hospital.

8. Consider taking childbirth classes, like the Lamaze method or Bradley Birth method, in preparation for the hospital birth. Both techniques emphasize healthy pregnancies, birthing and parenting through self-awareness, breastfeeding, nutrition, exercise and bonding.

9. Decorate the birthing room with pictures from home, special objects or a lovely bouquet of flowers (if allowed). Play soothing music, use aromatherapy, perform yoga to relax and de-stress. A natural birth is successful if a positive, natural experience for the mother and child is the result

Tips & Warnings

• Think of natural birth in the hospital as a modern way for old-fashioned birthing. Natural birth is simply an unmedicated or non-surgical childbirth.

• Be prepared to have the baby according to Plan B if the doctor must surgically intervene during a difficult natural childbirth.

• Consult with the physician about using natural remedies during childbirth to alleviate any pain or anxiety.