All you need to know about natural birth

Natural birth happens when a baby is delivered without any stimulation by medications. For many women, this has become the preferred way of delivering rather than the ways that involve medications such as anesthesia.

The practice of natural birthing has been around since time immemorial and it has gained popularity over time. Initially, women had to have natural births because medical facilities were not yet well developed back then. With time, the reasons for going through with it changed.

For women who consider natural birth, they don't want medications to interfere with the process of giving birth as they find it a bit intrusive. Also, giving birth naturally is regarded as a show of control and strength.

Either way, people still need to be aware of some of the aspects of natural birth. Here are some essential things you should know about natural birth.

You’ll need to consult a doctor

The process of giving birth naturally will need a green light from the doctor. When you avoid these consultations, you might be putting yourself at risk of developing complications during delivery. Your doctor should be able to assess whether this is the best option for you to have a successful delivery.

It needs mental preparation

Having a natural birth is definitely not an easy task. It requires commitment and a lot of wit. Many women who have gone through with it have had to overcome the negative stories that revolve around it. Women are depicted throwing tantrums, insulting their husbands and being at the brink of rage when going through with natural birth. In reality, this isn’t always the case. With the proper mental preparation, you are able to overcome the fears while you build emotional strength. If this is an option you would consider, take time to practice meditation throughout your pregnancy to keep anxiety and fear at bay.

It needs physical preparation

Emotional preparations also go with physical preparations. Before you go ahead with the process, you’ll need to prepare your body. It’s important to build strength and muscle especially in your lower body so that you are more prepared when the due date comes. You can also go for swimming as a form of exercise and do some light impact exercises throughout. This will build enough body strength for the delivery.

Help and support is essential

It’s not easy having a natural birth so you’ll need all the support you can get. Those who have had the process suggest that you have positive people around you during delivery. People who will give you positive affirmations and encourage you through labour and delivery. It’s best to avoid people who will pressure you to get anesthesia and other medications when you already know what you want. Having positive and supportive people around you is therefore essential when it comes to natural birth.

A birth plan is essential

A birth plan is basically specifications of how you would like things to be done during delivery. It involves how you’d like to be handled during labour, how you want your child to be handled after delivery and other specifications in case of an emergency. You should also show if you give consent for medication in case the pain becomes unbearable. You can make it as detailed as possible so that you are more confident on the due date. Also, you’ll need to be mentally and emotionally focused on overcoming the pain so you might not have the time and energy to start explaining to the medical team what your preferences are.

Risks

Natural birth has some risks that include damage to the pelvic floor, anal tears, vulvar tears and other complications. You need to know this beforehand should it happen. The infant is also at risk of being injured during delivery or even suffer from oxygen deprivation in the process.

 

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