Natural Birth – Tips For Natural Birth Success
Most pregnant women I speak to express some level of desire,
be it overwhelming or wavering, to give birth naturally. NATURAL meaning no drugs or interventions.
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. Labour pain has become something that
has been seen by many as ‘unnecessary’ 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.
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.
Tip #1 – What Are Your True Motivations For a Normal 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’. It’s important you labour and
birth for you, for real and important reasons – not someone else!
Tip #2 – Write Out Your 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 doesn’t need to 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 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. Whichever way you end up
birthing your baby, you’ll be a success.
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.
Natural Birth Tip #4 Find Appropriate Support People For
Labour
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. Be sure your support people are
STRONG because they are going to have to be there for YOU and not for THEM.
Tip #5 Hire An Experienced Birth Attendant/Doula
A recent study showed that doulas (also known as birth
attendants) were able to provide more effective birth support than hospital
staff or family members.
Birth Attendants/Doulas are not only there to support the
birthing mother, helping her to work through the pain, but also to help your
carers to work with your birth intentions. They can be particularly helpful if
you have little or no support, or if your birth support person is unsure of
what to do or if they will cope. You need encouragement in labour and not
sympathy – something our mothers can be very guilty of seeing us in pain! Our
partners may also just want to ‘fix’ our pain for us, because they don’t
realise that the pain is normal and everything is going beautifully despite
these painful contractions.
Based on known studies, having a birth attendant or doula
present for your birth can decrease the need for pain medication, shorten labour
by an average of 98 minutes, decrease the chance of a caesarean section by 50
percent, increase breastfeeding success and much more.
Tip #6 – 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. 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.
Tip#7 Most important Trust Your Body, Trust Your Baby
Have confidence and faith in your amazing birthing body,
follow your instincts in labour and allow your body and your baby to do exactly
what they know to do. Surrender to the power of birthing energy…
A few more helpful tips click the link below.
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