What are the benefits of natural birth?

Question

I am poting a blog and would like to know what mothers feel about natural birth. Thanks for your help!

The term 'natural birth' refers to giving birth vaginally without any drugs. And if you would rather have an epidural please don't bother posting an answer. I'm only interested in hearing from someone who enjoyed natural birth. And since I myself gave birth to my son naturally, you're not going to convince me that epiduals are better. They're not.

Answer 1

Wow.. there are so many benefits to it. And it is such a great experience. I delivered my son naturally at a birth center with midwives here in Miami. Before that I was going to a local hospital for prenatal care. I just hated how unfriendly and unsupportive everyone was treating me at a hospital. It seemed like I just didn't have many options at all to birthing in a hospital. Also, I had seen my mom give birth to my little sister in a hospital and had two cousins with hospital deliveries one of which I was present at. And I just hated how they were tied up to machines and bed ridden allowed to eat only ice chips and none of the nurses seemed to care about helping with the pain with anything other than drugs. I started to really research my options and decided on touring the local birth center. From the minute I walked in it was a different experience. The midwives seemed to really care about the mothers needs and wants. They listened to me and explained how the birthing process went there.

My main reason for deciding on the birth center was that they said that they never separate mother and baby. They do all the newborn exams with baby right on mommy. I remember how long it took in all of my cousins births for the baby to came back in the room 4-6 hours. I just don't see how you are supposed to bond at all or establish breastfeeding right away if they whisk your baby away.

So, I decided to have a natural birth. The birth center said they do not offer any drugs at all. When I told my family about my plans for a natural birth, everyone said I was crazy and all that. Everyone said I had to go to a hospital its safe their yada yada. I was like yeah so safe that my chance for a cesarean would probably be close to 50% quoting the hospital cesarean rates. Besides if anything goes wrong they do transfer to a hospital which is 5 minutes away but that there transfer rate is only 2% and of those 2% less than 1% have to have cesareans. It did little to reassure my family. I tried to explain that birth is a natural process, that it is not an illness or something that needs medical intervention but they just didn't want to hear it. Besides all that, it was a great experience.

And yes it hurt but it was totally manageable. At the birth center I was allowed to eat and drink. (Apparently the only reason you are not allowed to drink or eat in hospitals is so that just in case they have to do an emergency c-section, you are ready to go into surgery) At the center you are not tied up to an IV, you are free to walk around and labor in any position. I walked till I was like 6cms then I got in the birthing jacuzzi tub which was relaxing. When it was time to push I got out of the tub because it was just too hot and I felt like I needed air and pushed in the bed. That was the part that hurt the most. 25 minutes of pushing and I had my baby boy, they let my husband pull him out and he placed the baby on my chest and ALL the pain just disappeared. I was alert and felt great, my baby was alert and drug free, he got a perfect 10 APGAR score. It was great.

It was an awesome bonding experience with my baby right from the start. I was encourage to get him latched on right away for breastfeeding and 4 hours after delivery we were free to go home. And I felt so proud. I was so glad to be able to do it naturally and to give my baby the best possible start in life.

I definitely think being able to move around helps in labor. It helps it go faster and also helps reduce pain. Being tied down to a bed would drive me crazy and probably intensify the pain. Plus birthing naturally helps it go faster too, I have heard a lot about epidurals slowing down birth or interfering with the feeling to push
also contributing to c sections because the doctors feel that the labor is going to slow or she inst pushing right or whatever or the baby is in "distress". Maybe if they weren't interfering with nature so much, you know? Like inducing an drugging the mother up, maybe if they let nature take its course it would go smoother. But that's just my opinion.

I am now 21 weeks pregnant with my baby girl and plan on doing it the same way again. :)

Answer 2

I chose a natural birth because I didn't like how restricted you are if you have meds and how much the rate of interventions increase with each non-natural item introduced during labor. I wanted to be able to walk, dance, bathe. I didn't want to be confined to a bed and made to push a baby out in the worst position possible. I wanted to totally experience child birth for all the joys and demands it requires. I heard all kinds of experience, but it really came down to that God made us capable of birthing, which is why men don't have babies. We have the capacity and strength to do it and I wanted to prove that to myself. I was scared of getting meds, then getting a back injury from the injection site. Or being stuck in the bed and needing and epis. Or something else and needing a C-section.

I loved it. It was the best experience of my life and the pain wasn't bad at all. I never felt drugged our out of control, I felt these amazing endorphins and hormones surge. I even had a small orgasm while birthing my son on a birthing stool. I had no interventions. No epis. No tears. Nothing. After wards, I felt amazing and couldn't wait to do it again. I had so much energy. I nursed immediately after birth. My son was born very alert, but calm and I remember it all so clearly.

I hope that answers your question. I studied the Bradley Method with my husband. Their website might give you some great info.

Answer 3

I had an epidural and in the end it didn't work properly (long story) but I would definately go natural the next time it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and ALL the pain goes away as soon as that baby is born. I was oblivious to the fact that I was getting stitches, I was just amazed at how beautiful my son looked on my stomach.

Answer 4

I think natural birth is better because your not limited on how many children you can have, unlike a c-section. If you have to many your stomach can't take as much. Plus with a natural birth you can get your stomach back, having a c-section leaves you numb permanetly where they did the cutting because of your nerves. I had a tubal pregnancy and it's close to the same surgery. I'm numb because of it. Plus a c-section is a lot more wear on your body physically loosing so much more fluid etc. Having natural if you can is so much more rewarding. I recomend it if the person can.

Answer 5

My first (epidural) was unable to nurse properly for weeks. My second (no drugs) was kept away from me because of respiratory problems, but knew how to nurse right away. I'll never have another epidural. Come to think of it, I'd rather not have another baby, but if I do, I'm going natural again!

Answer 6

The answer is in your question- its NATURAL-
the way it was meant to be, the way it happens
for all mammal species, including humans.

I know for some, it is not an option, and the only
safe way for mother and child is a C-section.
However, I feel blessed to have had both of
my children natural, including no drugs.

It was not as painful as I had thought (tho I do have
a high tolerance for pain). I understand that
you heal quicker in natural childbirth as well.

Answer 7

I enjoyed it alot more then inducing, I healed faster had easier labor and felt good about not having any drugs. Inducing with my second child was more painful then I could imagine, my natural birth child was a breeze. I lost weight faster natural too.

Answer 8

Benefits are...no groggy baby who can not nurse after birth, you can move freely,you can get out of bed after baby comes,and can feel empowering to many women.

Answer 9

i've got no longer had a water delivery yet while i grew to become into in puzzling labor i grew to become into in my own tub & the contractions have been sooo lots much less annoying to handle heavily! when I have been given out bc i had to circulate to my birthing center it grew to become into worse. i desired to be in the tub as quickly as we've been given there yet there wasn't time. i've got self assurance that it particularly is extra effectual, the subsequent time i'm going to be in the tub, go on youtube & seem up water delivery there is one from rincon, ga & the girl grew to become into 18 yrs previous & it grew to become into like she grew to become right into a professional. i would be unable to bear in concepts precisely what you may put in ti locate that appropriate one yet its fantastic.

Answer 10

Would there be a benefit to that? LOL I would never consider having a baby with out an Epidural. I also was in labour with both my kids for over 24 hours so I would not be such a good candidate for natural birth!