Natural Birth
‘Are you planning a natural birth?’ the question that seems to be posed to all pregnant people, welcome or not! But what does the term natural birth mean? According to the dictionary definition, a natural birth is ‘a method of giving birth in which special preparation and breathing exercises are used to make the birth easier, instead of drugs’. But using the word natural hides so many subtexts. It can feel like it implies it is the right way to give birth. The way you are meant to give birth. That other types of birth are unnatural. So let’s unpack the concept of ‘natural’ birth, what language should be used and how we feel about this topic here at The Positive Birth Company.
Natural birth vs normal birth
You might also hear the term ‘normal birth’ referred to, especially within the UK’s NHS. They say Normal Birth is ‘A vaginal birth that takes place naturally, without help from the doctors. The midwife looks after you and helps you to achieve a normal birth. So a natural birth and normal birth are defined as pretty much the same thing.
Finding language that works for you
The descriptors of natural and normal birth have long met criticism from mothers and birthing people. There is a connotation that if someone doesn’t give birth without intervention, their birth could be seen as unnatural or abnormal. Some people feel the term normal in particular is judgmental. Are you a failure if you don’t have a natural or normal birth? Absolutely not! This is why the Royal College of Midwives are extensively researching the language used for different births, but even they don’t have an answer yet! You might want to think of the term ‘physiological birth’ if the other terms don’t sit right with you.
So we will talk here about natural birth, but please use the term you are comfortable with, and keep reminding yourself that there is no such thing as the right or wrong way to give birth. There is only what is right for you and your baby. What we really want to help you with in this blog is how to achieve a labour where the birthing person lets their body crack on with what it needs to do, without any BIG medical interventions, if that’s something you’d like to plan for. Let's unpack it all a bit more and see why you might want to plan for a normal (grrr that word), natural or physiological birth.
Planning for birth without intervention
The birthing body is incredible, there’s no doubt about it. There is a system in place which has the sole purpose of birthing your baby. A group of muscles and hormones that take part in an expertly choreographed dance, (thanks Mother Nature) to deliver your baby to you.
The biggest hurdle in ‘natural birth’ is allowing your body to do this. The key to letting your body takeover is knowledge. You’ll have heard it before, knowledge is power! But in pregnancy and labour, knowledge is more than power, it’s your armour. Learning exactly what your body is doing in labour will help to remove any underlying, lurking worries and fears and will give you confidence that your body knows how to birth your baby. You will know what to expect and what is ‘normal’ (there’s that word again!) and understand different stages and sensations. Equipping yourself with this knowledge is so important and it’s fascinating too! The Ultimate Birth Pack is a very affordable way of taking all of this in and helping you and your birth partner to up your knowledge. You can watch it over and over again, so you’re fully prepared for the big day.
How to achieve a natural birth or birth without intervention
Hypnobirthing and the natural process and progression of labour go together hand in hand. Let's remember the dictionary definition ‘a method of giving birth in which special preparation and breathing exercises are used to make the birth easier, instead of drugs’. That, right there, is the essence of hypnobirthing. This doesn’t mean that we would want to rule out the use of drugs or other intervention at some point in labour, but you should think about your birth toolbox as a ladder. Hypnobirthing techniques (more on those below), are the tools you can use during labour to stay at the bottom of the ladder. As you climb up the ladder, you can opt for increasing levels of medication and intervention. And that is absolutely fine if that’s right for you and your labour, but if you would like to stay at the bottom of the ladder and are hoping for a natural birth, here are my top tips.
This is all about reclaiming childbirth, equipping yourself with the knowledge of the mechanics of labour and learning incredible techniques that will actually assist in that expertly choreographed dance.
Breathing, sounds so simple doesn’t it! But learning how your breath work can help in labour is an absolute game changer. Focusing on your breathing will allow oxygen to reach all of those busy muscles and will also keep you in a calm zone where you produce oxytocin which is your best pal in labour. It actually drives labour so lets get it pumped up!
Positivity, ignoring those horror stories and filling your mind’s feed with positive birth stories and videos and using positive affirmations can really help you prepare for your natural birth. Curate your insta feed so you're greeted with lovely positive stories or read our series of positive birth stories.
Relaxing, what? You’re asking me to relax?! YES I am, by learning relaxation techniques in pregnancy and really practising them, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favour. Entering your labour with these skills in your back pocket will allow you to hand over to your body without letting evil adrenalin creep in. Top tip, grab yourself a guided relaxation MP3 and listen in the bath. When it's time to meet your baby, that bath becomes your birth pool and your body and mind? Instantly taken back to that dreamy bath!
Get to know your senses. Think about a scent that you love, what do you love eating? What feels nice on your skin? What makes you so happy to look at? And what fills your ears with absolute joy. Thinking about these in pregnancy will really help in your natural birth prep. Because feeling comfortable and safe in labour are super important. If you can get all of your senses on board then you’ve tricked your body into feeling safe, wherever you may be labouring. Feeling safe, confident and comfortable will give you the optimum environment for natural labour to thrive and progress.
What are the positives of a natural birth
There are many benefits to a natural birth and letting your body do its thing, if that’s the kind of birth you feel is right for you and your baby. We’ve detailed some of these below for you to think about when considering your options. These are general benefits, but you might want to explore specifics in our blog about pain relief.
Maximise oxytocin through getting in the zone and keeping your calm, without distractions
You may feel more connected to your body and therefore more relaxed knowing exactly what your body is doing, pain relief will numb some feelings
The pushing phase of labour may be shorter
If you can feel the sensations of labour, you’ll be more able to respond to them and actually assist your body, what a team!
Being unmedicated, especially without the restrictions of an epidural, you’ll be able to move into those all important UFO positions
It doesn’t limit your birth setting options or potential water birth options
Remove the risk and side effects associated with medication e.g. nausea, lack of awareness, lack of movement, drugs crossing the placenta.
Reduce recovery time, for instance with a caesarean birth
What are the risks of a natural birth?
It might be the case that for some people, with medical conditions, there are risks of natural birth for them and for their baby. That isn’t to say that people with these medical conditions can not go on to have a positive and empowering experience because they absolutely can. Birth is so different for all. Your midwives and dr are the best people to talk this through with.
Some more general risks associated with natural birth are outlined below, it’s good to know all of the information before you make your decision on what birth might look like for you.
Sometimes labour is long, exhausting and the intensity is too much, resulting in interventions
Some people can’t overcome their anxiety and so opt for interventions to make them feel more comfortable
It’s important to be open to medical intervention if needed, if you only opt for a natural birth you may be putting you and your baby at risk.
Physiological birth may not be possible if you have a high risk pregnancy - speak to your healthcare provider and discuss your options, remember there are always options - do your research, arm yourself
How painful is natural birth?
There it is, the question I dread! How do we even define pain? It’s so subjective and absolutely different for everybody. Pain is essentially a message to your brain to stop something that is going to cause harm. If labour were designed with pain as a principal, we wouldn’t have babies, think about that. Me, having stitches removed from my little toe OUCHHHH, never again. Giving birth? Powerful, intense, tiring, life affirming oh yes! But would we use the word pain? Hmmm, I'm not sure we would - but don’t come for us! We’re absolutely not trivialising birth or pain, but we’re expressing what we feel to be more accurate and helpful words for the sensations experienced during labour.
Using hypnobirthing techniques, especially the incredible breathing, will assist your body. Keeping calm and focused and feeling safe in the knowledge that your body has you covered will allow you to remain in your calm, parasympathetic state. In this state you're producing oxytocin but not only that, your calmness is allowing the oxygen (carried in your bloodstream) to reach those muscles in your uterus. When you’re not in this state, you’re panicked, worried, scared, you feel on edge, threatened, so your body will release adrenaline which takes that oxygen supply away from your uterus (OUCH!) where it’s needed, and sends it to your arms and legs. Your mind is thinking there’s a threat and in turn your body is reacting with its fight, flight response ready to get you the hell outta there. You don’t want to feel like this in labour, you want those muscles to get their oxygen and you want that dance to keep going. Labour should feel like you’re pushing yourself in a work out, it most definitely is but it shouldn’t feel like you're running on a sprain!
What if I change my mind?
Your birth, your baby, your mind! It’s totally fine to change your mind and it’s really important to be open minded. Curve balls may pop up along the way and you can change your mind at any time to navigate them. Always remember to use your B.R.A.I.N. when looking at what option is best for you. When it comes to writing your birth preferences, discuss pain relief options with your partner and midwife and note down which you’d be open to and also, which you would rather avoid. Our pain relief options blog details the different kinds of pain relief options available.
Can you have a natural birth after a caesarean?
You can make changes to your birth preferences to make a caesarean birth a natural birth. There is a section on this in The Ultimate Birth Pack.
If you’ve had a caesarean birth and want to have a vaginal birth (VBAC), providing you haven’t been advised against a natural birth, for medical reasons, then there is absolutely no reason why you can’t go on to have a natural birth after a Caesarean. In fact, 3 in 4 women or birthing people who plan for a VBAC are successful. If this is something that you think is for you then do your research, gather all of the VBAC info and have it as your armour. Our blog on VBACs is a great place to start, here it is!
