How Choosing Natural Birth Can Change Your Life
An increasing number of mothers are now gravitating towards unmedicated birth. They consider it more empowering and believe it allows them more control and autonomy in making decisions about their birth process. And we believe they’re right!
What is Natural Birth?
While the definition of natural birth varies with culture and location, it is simply defined as a birth that is encouraged to take its natural course with minimal or no interventions. The modern midwifery model of care uses science and evidence to improve care-giving rather than intervening in the natural birth process.
Midwives practicing at birth centers like Birthways Family Birth Center still rely on modern-day lab tests and scans to provide care but exclude the protocol-driven care usually provided to mothers in hospitals. It allows mothers to make their own decisions and lean towards natural methods of pain relief and relaxation.
Why Choose a Natural Birth?
Here’s why opting for natural birth can be beneficial for mothers:
- It is associated with a decreased risk of requiring an emergency C-section or other birth interventions
- Allows mothers more freedom to move around and eat as they want
- Allows mothers to be actively involved in making decisions regarding birth
- Reduces the risk of side effects from medicines and epidurals
- Allows mothers to labor at home for the early phase
- Allows mothers to labor in water if they want
- It has a shorter recovery time
- You don’t have to stay long after birth and can go home the same day if you are doing well
How does giving birth change your life?
While most mothers expect some kind of change in their lives after giving birth, nothing can prepare you for the realities until you experience it yourself.
The important thing is that you choose a birthing experience that feels satisfying and more fulfilling. According to a study, many researchers have demonstrated that a satisfying birth experience is linked to important influences in a woman’s life: self-efficacy, a sense of mastery and competency, and a peak experience in life.
Is it healthier to have a natural birth?
The answer to that question can vary for each case. If you have a high-risk pregnancy that requires surgical intervention or immediate pediatric care, it might be better to opt for a hospital birth. Attempting a natural birth in high-risk cases can put both mother and baby at risk.
However, if you have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy and have no other conditions that put you at risk, an unmedicated birth might be healthier for you. It will have a shorter recovery time, will have less risk of side effects due to medicines or epidural, lower risk of infections associated with surgery, and will allow you to go home soon after birth.
If you want to learn more about our care, send us a message!