How to Have a Safe Natural Childbirth

Women have been giving birth for thousands of years. It seemed a simple thing: the pains come, you take yourself out in the bush, squat over a scooped out bit of earth, and pop that new life into the world!
In the modern era, the process has been taken away from women and given to doctors and hospitals to manage. Hospitals are places to go when you are sick. Pregnancy is not an illness. Having babes in hospitals is for the doctor's convenience, not the mother's or the child's. If you are thinking of having a natural childbirth, and you want to avoid hospitals, take these steps to take back control of the birthing process.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good health
• Prenatal Care
• Midwife or OB Nurse Practitioner
• Birthing classes

1. When you know you are pregnant, get prenatal care. The earlier you begin receiving care, the better your pregnancy and delivery will be. You should have a general health check to make certain you do not have any conditions that could place you or your unborn in jeopardy. Very young and older (30+) mothers-to-be should never delay obtaining prenatal care. You should begin receiving information about diet, exercise, and general self-care during your pregnancy.

2. Your obstetrician should be able to suggest several midwifery or obstetric nurse practitioner services if you have decided on natural childbirth. Some physicians do not or will not work with midwives. Find out if these doctors practice in hospitals with special suites for natural childbirth, suites where you will not be hooked up to monitors and you will be free to walk around and do as you like while you labor. If such provisions are not available, ask the doctor to provide referrals to midwife services in your area, or search them out yourself.

3. Usually, midwives offer birthing classes as part of their services. Sometimes, midwives will come to your home. If you do not live in their service area, sometimes they contract with free-standing birthing centers that are in close proximity to hospital, should the need arise. These centers have a homey atmosphere and you are free to move around, hop in a tub, or do whatever makes you comfortable as you labor instead of being forced to lie in a bed, hooked up to IVs and monitors. Lying prone makes labor more difficult and longer. Avoid this manner of preparing for delivery if you can.

4. There are free online Lamaze birthing classes available, but I recommend classes using the Bradley Method if available. Lamaze teaches you to focus on something outside of yourself during labor. The breathing technique they use can contribute to hyperventilation. Bradley teaches you to pay attention to what you are doing, how you are feeling and to breathe naturally. Explore all methods to find the one that is right for you. Usually, your partner will attend birthing classes with you.

5. When your time comes, you should be well-prepared for the event. However, sometimes things will go wrong. This is why it is important to make certain that the medical professionals attending you are working together and that transportation is at the ready should complications arise. In a class of 9 couples, 2 of our mothers had complications and had to complete the birth process in hospital. Still, these mothers said they were satisfied with the experience and would not have opted for a hospital birth from the beginning.

Tips & Warnings

• Seek your doctor's advice before getting pregnant. You can plan a healthy pregnancy before actually getting pregnant.
• Natural childbirth, when attended by a midwife, is usually thousands of dollars cheaper than a hospital birth.
• Avoid doctors who do not touch you and who offer you drugs, C-Sections on demand. These are doctors who are practicing strictly for cash. These unnecessary extras add to the cost of your pregnancy and delivery.

Resources

• Online Childbirth Class - Free!
• Bradley Natural Childbirth Info