Going Natural

I've been getting a lot of questions as why I have chosen to go natural. I haven't given any really specific answers because it catches me off guard. I wanted to explain myself a little more so everyone knows why.

Having a natural childbirth never crossed my mind when I first learned I was pregnant. Like most women, I wanted the easiest, most painless birth possible, and we know that is by having the epidural. It's what everyone does and I was just going to do that too.

So I decided I needed to learn everything I can about the whole process. Reading mostly online, the materials given to us in my Lamaze class and watching movies/tv shows (You should watch the movie: The business of being born with Ricki Lake). I dug through website and asked everyone I knew who had a baby recently what their experience was like. I never thought about going natural because when I think of it, I think of pain. I did not want to feel pain anymore than the next girl, but as I began to fully understand how a woman's body would deliver a baby and the history of maternity care in our country, It made me think more on what would be best for me:

1. Laying numb from the waist down, on my back in a bed hooked up to a bunch of monitors and IVs sounded WAY worse to me than being able to move around, using gravity and the motion of my own body to move my baby down, the ability to labor in water, and having free motion to get on my knees, stand up, squat - whatever it was that I was needing in that moment.


2. My body conceived this child without intervention. It has grown this child without intervention. Why wouldn’t my body be able to deliver her the same way? While I understand that there are situations that require medical interventions (I have friends/family who have had to have emergency c-sections due to complications and am thankful that the technology is there for them to do so) - but why go into a hospital acting as if I need to be “treated” with needles and drugs if this is a natural, normal, low-risk birth?


3. Natural childbirth does not automatically equal a more painful childbirth. What causes the most pain during labor is the expectation and fear that women feel around childbirth. If you take out the fear away, then you change the experience. A woman laboring in a confident and relaxed state is not going to be fighting against her body like a woman who is scared and tense.
Women who give birth without unnecessary medical intervention have much shorter labors, less tearing, and babies who are more alert and able to immediately bond with mom.

Deciding to go natural requires A LOT more preparation than walking into a hospital in labor and letting the doctors take over. It means finding a hospital, OB, and labor coaches who will advocate for you and support you during your labor. It means to keep yourself calm, comfortable, and in control during your labor. So:

1. We hired a doula. An experienced doula or birth coach can reduce your chances of having to get a c-section by 50% Brandon has never been through this experience either so our doula will be there to support him while he supports me. She knows massage techniques too, which is the best part. She will be my advocate with the doctors and nurses and keep me focused on my task.

2. I chose the method of Lamaze to help me with the breathing techniques. I also plan to utilize other coping methods such as - birth balls, laboring in water, low lighting, music and a quiet, peaceful room.

3. We will create a birth plan that includes everything from what techniques I’m using for my labor to having my baby in my arms immediately after delivery without being taken away for testing, weighing, etc until we have time to bond with one another (as long as she comes out without any complication and is deemed healthy upon delivery). Everyone from my husband, my doula, my OB, AND the entire nursing staff at the hospital will have copies of this plan and be familiar with what we want.

Even with all of the preparations we are doing there is a possibility that we will still require medical intervention. I’m not against getting an epidural if I have done everything within my power to go natural but am not physically able to do it because of severe back labor or some other unforeseen complication. I understand that I may still require a c-section if an emergency arises. The single most important thing is the safety and health of our daughter and me. I will take whatever outcome with a happy heart because I know I have done everything possible to set myself up for success - if it does not go as planned - so be it. I’ll have no regrets. But I’m going to ROCK this birth. I am actually excited for it to get here. Nothing about going into labor or delivering this baby scares me. I’m confident in my body and in myself. It will be the single most amazing thing I have never done in my life. I have grown this baby girl and I’m going to be the one to bring her into this world - talk about empowering! When the day comes, I’ll be ready.