Parenting

The age-old arguments about unassisted childbirth or medical childbirth continues to rage on. The medical profession argues that giving birth in a hospital is safer in case a medical problem arises during the process, while those who support unassisted natural childbirth declare that most problems occur due to medical intervention. So who is right and who is wrong? The answer is neither. The decision of what method is chosen should be left totally up to the mother to decide how she wants her baby coming into this world.

Many believe any sort of chemical pain relief, or use of surgical intervention, has the potential to harm both baby and mother. Others simply want to be in control of their own body during the birth process. Some moms are perfectly happy to hand the whole process over to their paediatrician and that’s perfectly ok. Everyone has to do what they feel is right and not be bullied into a course of action which they may regret later.

So exactly what is an unassisted natural childbirth? Can a mom who has for instance an epidural or pain killing drugs claim to have given birth naturally? Does it actually matter?

The focus should be making sure you’re able to have your baby safely, and without having more pain that you’re able to handle. Everyone is different – some have easy births, others can tolerate high levels of pain, and still others are terrified of the entire birthing process. What’s most important is that you have no sense of guilt if you had hoped to have your baby naturally, but found you actually needed some pain relief while in the process. The important things is to bring baby into the world safely while still maintaining your own well being so that you can look after your baby when you get home.

If you have chosen an unassisted birth, you may want to take some natural childbirth classes to help you cope with labor especially if you are not planning on using pain relief such as an epidural. You might check out classes that are held away from the hospital, as there are some hospitals that will not endorse natural childbirth. The more popular classes are the ones that teach the Bradley Method or Hypnobirthing.

If you have a supportive partner, get them involved in the process. If you are doing this solo, think about hiring a doula to provide support emotionally as well as physically through the birthing process.

Birthing centres are ideal for moms who are healthy and confident they will not require medical attention. These centres encourage unassisted natural childbirth, however it is important not to put your health, or your child’s health at risk, because you are determined to give birth naturally. If you have any doubts about your ability to cope, there is no shame in having a medical childbirth. It’s up to you!