Most pregnant women I speak
to express some level of desire, be it overwhelming or wavering, to give birth
naturally – and first lets be clear on language – natural meaning no drugs or
interventions, not born through their vagina, which is a vaginal birth.
However, what many of these
women have found to be lacking in today’s society is enough support, education
and encouragement to help them achieve the natural birth they hope for. Not
only that, labour pain has become something that has been seen by many as
‘unnecessary’ or ‘bad’ pain – when it is, in fact, a very useful pain. Given
time, our body even responds by sending out natural pain killers – but
interventions at birth interfere with this. So it makes sense to work with
labour pain as best we can, seeing pain as power and not an enemy.
There is also an epidemic of
fear about labour pain which prevents women from even wanting a natural birth.
A normal physiological birth
without drugs reduces possible risks and complications for mother and baby and
reduces the need for further obstetric interventions that may follow as a
result of having those drugs.
So how does one go about
increasing their chances of a normal physiological birth? Here are a few
suggestions below.
Natural Birth Tip #1 – What
Are Your True Motivations For a Normal Physiological Childbirth?
Firstly, it helps to make
sure that you want a normal physiological birth for the right reasons, in order
to stay motivated during your labour and birth. Ask yourself why you want to
birth this way and what your motivations are.
If your motivations aren’t
something deeply meaningful to you, it’s probably not going to hold you in
labour. For example, when you’re in the height of contractions, knowing that
you have chosen a natural birth in order to prevent your baby from being
exposed to drugs and their side effects is more likely to keep you on track and
focused on your goal. You’re less likely to hold steady if you’re trying to get
through without drugs because you want to show a support person ‘how it’s done’
or how easy it is for you, or maybe because you feel for your support person
who ‘missed out’ on a normal physiological birth with their own child – and you
feel that you have to do it for them. It’s important you labour and birth for
you, for real and important reasons – not someone else!
Natural Birth Tip #2 – Write
Out Your Birth Preferences (Birth Plan)
Some believe birth plans
aren’t worth writing because things may not go as planned. I think the
opposite. Writing out a birth plan can generate important discussion between
yourself and your partner/support people and raise important questions and points
to think about. It need not be pages long if you don’t want to go into too much
detail, but make sure there is enough key information so that your caregivers
and support people know what your preferences are for your birth.
Your birth plan can encourage
thinking about tools and ideas that might be useful for you in labour. For
example, noting various positions you might like to try for labouring and birth
can be discussed and practiced (ideally upright and off the bed, reclining and
semi-reclining can slow labour and may even make it more painful).
A good birth plan should
also touch on your preferences for various outcomes. If a medical reason arises
for an emergency caesarean during labour, it’s a good idea to note or think
about what you would like to do in the circumstances surrounding that e.g. dad
to be present and with the baby at all times. It’s great to have your mind set
on a normal physiological birth, but it’s also important to remember that there
will be some instances where intervention may be needed for the safety of
yourself or your baby, so seeing such an outcome as failure can be devastating
– especially if you aren’t prepared for the slight possibility it may happen.
Which ever way you end up birthing your baby, you’ll be a success.
Natural Birth Tip #3 – Find
a Midwife/Obstetrician Who Will Support Your Choices
Make yourself a list of
questions to ask your midwife/obstetrician on your first meeting with them, to
ensure they will support your choices for labour and birth. Don’t feel
embarrassed asking lots of questions and providing a copy of your birth plan to
them – you need to feel comfortable with the main caregiver you choose for your
care and be able to trust them. You may find it more difficult to find an
Obstetrician who will let you attempt a normal physiological birth in some
instances, for example a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) or even multiple
births, however there are obstetricians out there who will support these births
if all is going well, so do a little homework to find them.
If you are birthing in a
public hospital and can’t choose your carer, you can still have a birth plan –
take one with you to an pre-natal appointment for their records and also when
you arrive in labour (so you know the midwives on duty are aware of your
wishes). Public hospitals tend to have lower intervention and caesarean section
rates than private hospitals. Private hospitals and private obstetricians (you
need a private obstetrician if you want a private hospital) have the
statistically highest rate of birth interventions and caesareans across
Australia. Consider your own independent midwife to take to hospital with you
or look into a homebirth. Independent midwifery is such a gold standard of
care, offering such individualised, continuity of care.
Natural Birth Tip #4 –
Surround Yourself With Your Own ‘Cheersquad’
If your family and/or
friends aren’t able to support or encourage you in the way you’d hoped or if
you would like more support, seek out and chat to those who have already
experienced or intend to experience a normal physiological birth. Join some
support groups where you’ll receive the inspiration, encouragement and
information you’ll no doubt be craving!
Natural Birth Tip #5 – Find
Appropriate Support People For Labour
It’s very important to have
the right support people at your birth if you want a drug-free birth. You might
think it will be all wonderful and fluffy having mum, sisters and all the
family to be there to watch your baby be born, but in the height of your
contractions when you start begging (or perhaps screaming at!) all your birth
support people to ‘help’ you, are they going to encourage you and help you get
to where you want to go? Or are they going to collapse into a bawling heap and
tell you how awful it all is and a little pain relief can’t hurt?
The support people in your
labour are more important than you think. Before asking them to be a support
person, ask them how they would react if you went to them in labour, begging
you to stop your pain. Would they tell you that you should get some pain
relief? Or would they encourage you to keep going and tell you what a great job
you are doing? If your support people start to panic, you are more likely to
panic too – and that’s when you might be looking for the next exit to the
epidural freeway. Be sure your support people are strong because they are going
to have to be there for YOU and not for THEM.
Natural Birth Tip #6 –
Educate Yourself and Your Support People
There are so many great
resources available which are found in a variety of mediums. I’ll add to this
list gradually however the best books are not necessarily the worldwide best
sellers that we all know as a household name. If your support people are friends
or family and not trained support people, it’s a great idea to have them come
along to birth classes with you or read some resources.
Natural Birth Tip #7 – Read
Some Empowering Birth Books Full of Great Information
In Birth Books You’ll get so
much useful, powerful information, that it’ll make some other birth books seem
more useful in the bin. Before you get bogged down with a million books to
read, choose one of these FIRST.
Natural Birth Tip #8 –
Attend Independent Workshops and Classes
There are some fantastic
privately-run workshops and pre-natal classes available for couples by some
very experienced, qualified birth educators around Australia. Attending these
are a great way to not only find encouragement and information, but also to
spend time with like-minded people and build friendships. It’s a great idea to
take your birth support people with you to these classes if possible.