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Natural Childbirth (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth

What Is Natural Childbirth?

Natural childbirth is giving birth using no medicines at all, instead using techniques such as relaxation and controlled breathing for pain. For many, having a natural childbirth isn't about being "brave" — it's about treating labor and delivery as natural events. Many find the experience, despite the pain, empowering and rewarding.

Natural childbirth is a way of giving birth that lets nature take its course. This may include:

• going through labor and delivery without the help of medicines, including pain relievers such as epidurals
• using few or no artificial medical interventions such as continuous fetal monitoring or episiotomies (when the perineum, the area between the vagina and anus, is cut to make room for the baby during delivery)
• letting the woman lead the labor and delivery process, dealing with it in any way she is comfortable

Why Do Women Choose Natural Childbirth?

Women with low-risk pregnancies may choose natural childbirth to avoid possible risks from medicines. Pain medicines can:

• lower blood pressure
• slow down or speed up the labor
• cause nausea
• make it hard for laboring moms to feel in control

They also might choose natural childbirth to feel more in touch with the birth experience and to help them feel in charge of their labor.

Where Can I Have a Natural Childbirth?

Birth Centers

Some who opt for natural childbirth choose to deliver in a non-hospital setting such as a birth center. There, they can move around during their labor, get in positions that are most comfortable to them, and spend time in the tub or jacuzzi. The baby is checked often, such as with a handheld ultrasound device. Comfort measures such as hydrotherapy, massage, warm and cold compresses, and visualization and relaxation techniques are often used. Moms can eat and drink during their labor.

A variety of health care professionals may work in the birth center setting — such as registered nurses, certified nurse midwives, and doulas (professionally trained providers of labor support and/or postpartum care) who act as labor assistants.

Hospitals

It's also possible to have a more natural childbirth in many hospitals. Some hospitals have birth centers with a focus on a natural approach with medical intervention available if needed. For low-risk births, many hospitals offer homelike settings where women can labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. They may take their cues from the laboring woman, letting the labor proceed more slowly and without intervention if all seems to be going well. They may use alternative pain-management techniques if requested and welcome the assistance of labor assistants like midwives or doulas.

As in birth centers, besides the partner, other children, grandparents, and friends might be allowed to attend the birth. After birth, babies might remain with the mother longer. In its fullest form, this approach is sometimes called family-centered care.

It’s best for anyone having a high-risk pregnancy to give birth in a hospital, where they can get any needed medical care, especially in case of an emergency.

What Happens During Natural Childbirth?

Managing pain during labor can be different for every mom. Many try to control the pain by channeling their energy and focusing their minds on something else. Two common childbirth approaches are:

• The Lamaze technique: This teaches that birth is a normal, natural, and healthy process. But it is not against using pain medicines and encourages women to make decisions based on what’s right for them.
• The Bradley method: This emphasizes a natural approach to birth and the active participation of a birth coach. Medicines are avoided unless absolutely needed. It also focuses on good nutrition and exercise during pregnancy and relaxation and deep-breathing techniques to cope with labor. The classes do prepare parents for unexpected complications or situations, like emergency C-sections.

Other natural ways to handle pain during labor include:

• hypnosis (also called "hypnobirthing")
• yoga
• meditation
• walking
• massage or counterpressure
• changing position (walking around, showering, rocking, or leaning on birthing balls)
• taking a bath or shower
• immersion in warm water or a jacuzzi
• distractions via activities to take the focus off the pain
• listening to soothing music
• visual imagery

What Will Natural Childbirth Feel Like?

How women in labor experience pain can vary. For first-time mothers, the pain is new and their labors can take longer than those who have already been through it. 

What Are the Risks of Natural Childbirth?

Natural childbirth is, in general, very safe in a low-risk pregnancy. But it can become risky if a woman doesn’t follower her health care provider's recommendations or refuses medical intervention if needed.

It's important for the well-being of you and your baby to be open to other options if complications happen. In an emergency, not getting medical help could put your life and your baby's at serious risk.

What If I Change My Mind?

Labor might hurt more than you had expected. Some women who said they wanted no pain medicine change their minds when they’re in labor. This is very common and completely understandable.

If the pain is too much, don't feel bad about asking for pain relief medicine. And if something doesn't go as planned, try to be flexible. That doesn't make you any less brave or committed to your baby or the labor process. Giving birth is a beautiful and rewarding experience, no matter what help you do or don’t need.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD

Date reviewed: April 2022

We give birth like at home - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Zimina Natalya Nikolaevna

Obstetrician-gynecologist

MD GROUP Clinical Hospital

Presentation of home birth

The most typical arguments of supporters of home births:

• A woman's body is designed specifically to give birth to children. By nature, it has all the necessary strengths and capabilities to give birth to a healthy child on its own, which means that the help of a doctor in this process is completely unnecessary.
• The maternity hospital is not needed, because the atmosphere in it is official, hospital, and this does not contribute to relaxation in contractions and the opening of the cervix.
• When giving birth at home, you can take any position that is comfortable for the woman.
• And at home, you can give birth in the water (in the bath), or at least just relieve contractions by immersion in water.
• During home birth, not strangers (doctors, midwives) will be nearby, but the husband, relatives or friends.
• From the first minutes of birth, the child will be constantly next to his mother, he will not be supplemented, he will not be subjected to unnecessary manipulations and examinations.

Well, ideally, supporters of home births present them like this: effective contractions begin at 40 weeks, the first stage of labor lasts no longer than 10-12 hours. At this time, the woman in labor behaves in a way that is convenient for her, takes comfortable postures, uses techniques to anesthetize contractions (massage, breathing, water). Then comes the complete opening of the cervix, water spontaneously pours out, there are attempts, during which a healthy baby is born without much effort. The child is immediately applied to the mother's breast - he sucks it as much as he wants, the umbilical cord is cut only after the end of the pulsation. Mom has no breaks, the child is absolutely healthy. In general, everyone is satisfied and happy.

Actually

The picture of home birth is presented, of course, idyllically. And how happy ordinary women would be, and doctors too, if every birth went that way. But it’s not always possible to give birth the way you breathe. In childbirth or immediately after them, various unpleasant situations can arise with a woman or a child. We will not list them so as not to upset anyone. Let's just say that often the life and health of a mother and baby depend precisely on how quickly they received medical assistance . But what can be done at home in such a situation? The only thing is to call an ambulance, because it is impossible to help a child with asphyxia or a woman with bleeding or high blood pressure without certain drugs, equipment, and simply medical skills. But after all, one of the specialists will be present at the birth with the expectant mother? Good obstetricians and gynecologists are well aware of the high risk of home births, so they do not accept births at home, and a midwife, even with experience, will only cope with the simplest situation. In addition, many so-called spiritual obstetricians, as a rule, do not even have a higher, often secondary medical education, and, of course, they do not bear any legal responsibility for the outcome of childbirth. And it happens that sometimes in home births there is no midwife at all (did not come or the woman was convinced that she was not needed). Therefore, of course, we can agree that the home environment helps a lot, but will it be possible to give birth in it in the event of some non-standard or difficult situation?

Natural childbirth is possible

But how then to ensure naturalness in childbirth and are there such childbirth at all? In fact, today, natural childbirth is widely carried out in most maternity hospitals, and is not only carried out, but also actively promoted . If everything goes well, if the birth proceeds correctly, if the baby’s heart beats evenly, and the mother feels good, the doctors of the maternity hospital do not interfere with the birth, but simply observe their course. A woman gives birth on her own, as nature dictates. But what about the notorious home comfort in childbirth? Turns out today many maternity hospitals provide natural childbirth "at home" :

• Almost everywhere now free behavior during childbirth is actively practiced : a woman in labor does not have to lie on the bed all the contractions, but can choose any position.
• In many maternity hospitals there are various devices to facilitate contractions : transforming beds, balls, ropes (with their help you can take different positions in contractions), and in some, in addition to the shower, there is even a jacuzzi in which you can spend the first stage of childbirth.
• Of course, not all, but already many Russian maternity hospitals have either been renovated or built in accordance with modern ideas about beauty and comfort . Even in free maternity hospitals there are cozy double rooms with a private bathroom, fresh renovation and beautiful linens. What can we say about childbirth under a contract or in a commercial clinic - the conditions there are more than excellent.
• According to the order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, in any maternity hospital where there are separate maternity boxes, a husband, girlfriend, personal midwife or even a psychologist can be present at the birth, and absolutely free of charge . So, the expectant mother will not be left without support.
• Today, in all maternity hospitals, babies are immediately applied to the mother's breast; it is also possible for mother and baby to stay together in the postpartum department.
• Now you can easily find a maternity hospital where you can live together with your husband after childbirth in a comfortable family room . All this, of course, is not free - but if you really want it, then it is quite feasible.

So do not be afraid of the maternity hospital: it has all the conditions for natural and safe childbirth. And home birth is an unjustified risk and an unknown result.

Have you read at least one story about childbirth at home that ended unsuccessfully? Hardly. And if they read it, it is not enough. And the reason for this, as a rule, is the same: with an unfavorable development of childbirth and problems with the child, a woman is aware of her carelessness and simply keeps silent about it.

“They used to give birth in the field” is one of the popular arguments of supporters of home births. They gave birth, but only the mortality rate in childbirth (both children and mothers) was extremely high.

An individual approach to the future mother and her baby, living together, free behavior during childbirth, the opportunity to choose a doctor and midwife, take a husband to give birth - all this is now available in many Russian maternity hospitals

5 signs that you are having a natural birth in the hospital

1. Freedom of movement: in the maternity box there is a multifunctional bed-transformer, balls, ropes.
2. Presence of a partner: a future father, girlfriend or psychologist is welcome at the birth.
3. Natural Pain Relief: The delivery room has hydromassage baths or showers to ease contractions during the first stage of labour.
4. Living together with the child: in the maternity hospital, the constant presence of the baby with the mother and breastfeeding are practiced.

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   03/15/2018

   God loves trinity
   Zimina Natalya Nikolaevna Normantovich Tatyana Olegovna

   The first days in the hospital - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

   Bogomolova Marina Vadimovna

   Embryologist

   Clinic "Mother and Child" St. Petersburg

   Immediately after birth

   Immediately after the birth of the baby, is placed on the mother's stomach , then the umbilical cord is cut and cut, and the baby is placed on the mother's breast. Then the skin of the newborn is cleaned, its length and weight, head and chest circumference are measured. The doctor examines the birth canal, if necessary, sews up tears in the soft tissues of the birth canal, assesses the tone of the postpartum uterus, and helps the woman empty her bladder. But even after all these standard manipulations, the mother is not transferred to the postpartum ward, another for two to three hours, the puerperal stays in the maternity block . Why? In the first two hours after childbirth, some complications are possible, primarily uterine bleeding or an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, during these two hours, the mother lies on a stretcher or a bed in the maternity ward, since doctors and midwives are constantly there, and the operating room, in which case, is also located nearby. The child at this time is usually taken to the children's department, where he most often sleeps. And only two hours later, if everything is fine, the mother is transferred to the postpartum ward.

   How does a woman feel at this time? Chills may occur, abdominal pain may occur, especially in multiparas.

   What should a woman do at this time? Relax and unwind. Take shelter so as not to freeze, especially if chills appear. Place an ice pack on the uterus. If possible, ask the midwife to bring hot tea.

   1st day after birth0009 postnatal midwife . She will tell you about the arrangement of the department (where the shower, toilet, dining room are), about the daily routine (the time for visiting doctors, eating) and will help the young mother, if necessary, to empty the bladder using a catheter. If a woman lies together with the baby, then immediately after the transfer to the postpartum ward, the child will be brought to her. The midwife will help the mother to properly attach the baby to the breast and start breastfeeding. Then nurse will come and show you how to swaddle your baby and explain how to take care of him. Do not be afraid that after childbirth there will not be enough strength for the child: most newborns sleep most of the day and wake up only for feeding. In addition, in the maternity hospital, the child is usually washed and dressed by nurses, so that the woman will have enough time to relax. If there is no joint stay of mother and child in the maternity hospital, then every three hours they will bring him to the ward for feeding, and then take him back to the children's department. Over time, the woman herself will pick up and carry the child.

   How does a woman feel at this time? On the first day after giving birth, women feel differently. Some experience an incredible elation (this is due to the release of endorphins into the blood - the hormones of pleasure), while others, on the contrary, feel very tired. Some want to call all their friends and announce the birth of a child, they are inspired, full of energy and ready to take care of the baby on their own. Other mothers want to be alone and come to their senses, they still do not have the strength to constantly be with the child.

   What should a woman do at this time? In any case, immediately after childbirth, as after any heavy load, you need to restore strength: first eat, and then go to bed or just relax. By the way, the following situation is possible: the birth occurred in the evening or at night, and dinner time has already expired; therefore, in order not to starve, you need to bring something light for a snack (cookies, bread rolls) with you to the hospital in advance.

   6 hours after birth, the mother can usually get out of bed.

   In general, if the childbirth went without complications, then you should start getting up as early as possible, first with the help of a midwife, and then on your own.

   This helps to improve blood circulation, normalize the functioning of the urinary system and intestines, and accelerate healing processes. In addition, very soon the baby will require more attention.

   Important point: After childbirth, the tone of the bladder decreases, so the urge to urinate may be absent or it may become painful and frequent. However, you should go to the toilet at least four times a day. Urination can be caused reflexively by opening a tap with water, this helps many people a lot. In the absence of the desired effect, urine is removed by a catheter. Most often there is no stool on the first day after birth.

   Next days

   Every day, the mother will be examined by an obstetrician-gynecologist : he will evaluate the contraction of the uterus, the condition of the sutures and the amount of discharge, see if colostrum is secreted. The midwife will regularly measure the temperature, pulse, blood pressure and treat the external stitches with disinfectant solutions several times a day. Also, every day the baby will be watched by a pediatrician, after which he will tell his mother about the condition of the child. After a normal birth, a woman, as a rule, is discharged on the 3rd-4th day (after a caesarean section - on the 5th-6th).

   How does a woman feel at this time?

   After childbirth, a woman may experience pain in the abdomen due to uterine contractions, as well as slight muscle pain in different parts of the body. On the face and on the whites of the eyes, a “rash” may appear - pinpoint hemorrhages that appear due to the fact that small capillaries burst during attempts from tension. Blood pressure can be lowered, so dizziness is possible (to avoid it, you should get up smoothly, without sudden movements). There may be pain in the perineum, even if there were no tears and its incision (pain appears because the perineum was severely stretched during childbirth). If the perineum is sutured, then it will not be possible to sit for at least the first two weeks. Sometimes after childbirth, varicose veins appear in the anus (hemorrhoids), which means discomfort in this place.

   What should a woman do at this time? Mom needs to continue to rest and gain strength. And you should also follow the rules of personal hygiene: often change postpartum pads, do air baths for seams (if any), take a shower daily, wash yourself every time after a bowel movement. Well, the most important thing is to establish breastfeeding and learn how to take care of the baby in practice.

   Time in the maternity hospital flies very quickly. Try to spend it usefully - restore your strength and acquire useful skills: at home, all this will be very useful to you!

   REMINDER

   Things to do at the maternity hospital

   1. Have a good rest: sleep all your free time and eat well.
   2. Get complete information about your child's condition: so ask your pediatrician all your questions.
   3. Establish contact with the child: therefore, spend as much time with the baby as possible, ideally being with him all the time. Take the baby in your arms, unfold the diapers, carefully examine the baby without clothes.
   4. Learn how to take care of your baby: so ask your baby nurse to show you how to wash your baby, change clothes, swaddle, change diapers, clean ears and nose, cut nails.
   5. Establish breastfeeding: To do this, feed your baby on demand. Ask the midwife to show you how to properly hold the baby at the breast, how to give and take away the breast.

   Make an appointment

   to the doctor - Bogomolova Marina Vadimovna

   Clinic "Mother and Child" St. Petersburg

   Cryopreservation of single spermatozoa Cryopreservation of embryos, eggs, spermJoint consultation of a reproductive specialist and an embryologistEmbryology

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