Things You'll Need:
- Your pregnant self
- The desire to have a natural child birth
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Step 1
Talk to your doctor or midwife. Make sure that neither you or your baby is at risk if you choose the natural route. As sad as it is, there are some situations that require medical intervention. But you and your baby's safety is way more important!
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Step 2
Knowledge is Power. Educate yourself with reliable sources about "routine" medical procedures. Know the pros and cons about things like epidurals and being induced.
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Step 3
Create a birth plan. Granted there are many things you put in your birth plan that will go right out the window once your in labor. Certain medical interventions are necessary to make sure you and your baby are okay during labor. But by making a birth plan, you put into words specifically what you want and don't want.
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Step 4
Take a class. There are many child birthing classes geared towards having a natural child birth. There is the Bradley Technique as well as Lamaze Classes. Although the Bradley Method has a higher success rate of natural child births these are very different and depending on your birthing goals, choose the one that's best for you.
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Step 5
Support. Have someone there that will back up your birth plan if necessary. Its a sad thing to know that some doctors do "routine" medical procedures because their easier to deal with. Have you ever heard that they once slapped babies when they were born to make them cry? If you have, its because back then, mothers were given a "routine" epidural and the baby would come out a little drugged up and didn't cry upon delivery and had to be slapped. Back then they thought the placenta was a barrier. Which is not true. Your baby is affected by the epidural. Its wise to have someone there to vouch for you when you may not be able to do so.
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Step 6
Many doctors perform episiotomies. An episiotomy is where a doctor makes an incision to prevent you from tearing during delivery. The plus side is the incision is a clean cut and can be sown up easily. But, you may not even tear all that much during labor and if you do your doctor will stitch it up. Episiotomies have been known to take longer to heal than normal tearing.
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Step 7
Epidural or No Epidural? Sometimes the pain of labor is just too much. But before you go raising your hand for one, know the facts. Epidurals are a form of muscle relaxer. Your uterus is a muscle. Epidurals have been known to prolong labor. Not to mention, normal contractions increase in duration and intensity as labor progresses and at a certain point an epidural is not allowed to be given. What happens if you take an epidural early in labor and it wears off when its past the point of getting another one? You're thrown into the deep end of the pool and your body hasn't been given time to adjust to the intensity of the pain.
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Step 8
Being induced. Pitocin, the drug that is administered to induce labor is the synthetic version of Oxytocin, your body's natural hormone that makes your uterus contract. Induced labor has been known to be more painful than natural labor. And just because your uterus is contracting, does not mean it will make your labor progress.
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Step 9
If you do not want an I.V the best way to avoid it is to stay hydrated and keep your glucose level up. The only 2 reasons a doctor will you give you an I.V during a normal low risk labor is because you're either dehydrated or your glucose level is low. Eat ice chips or small sips of water after each contraction. Also suck on orange slices to keep your glucose level up.
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Step 10
Walk!!! Walking during labor speeds labor 28%! Whoever is there with you, have them walk with you with some pillows, ice chips, or a birthing ball if you have one. During a contraction do what feel is comfortable to you. Every labor is different, every contraction is different. Some times, you'll want to walk through it. Others you'll want to stop or lie down through it. Listen to your body.
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Step 11
Soak. As long as your water is still intact you can relax in the tub. Soaking in warm water is great when it comes to relieving some of the pain. Because you are virtually weightless in water, it takes the pressure off your back. This is great if your having back labor!
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Step 12
Relax. It sounds like a bit of a contradiction but truth of the matter is when you tense up during pain, it actually causes more unnecessary pain. During each contraction, focus on relaxing all your muscles.
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Step 13
It's all about you. Because of the fact that during labor your senses are heightened you may want the room very dim and very quiet. Set volumes and lights to where you want them. It's your labor.
