What is natural childbirth?
Natural childbirth is when a woman gives birth without drugs or medical intervention. Studies have shown that the number of women choosing natural childbirth has increased during the last few years. Many women who prefer a natural birth deliver in the hospitals, but some choose to deliver at home or in a birthing center.
Is natural childbirth right for me?
You may be wondering if a natural birth is right for you. An obstetrician is the only one is who qualified to make that decision. Below are some of the things that a physician takes into consideration when determining whether natural childbirth is right for a particular patient:
*General health*. If you have had a normal pregnancy without any serious complications, you may be a good candidate for natural childbirth.
*Previous childbirth history.* If you have given birth before, your previous experiences help determine whether natural childbirth is right for you. If you have had complications during previous births, natural child birth may not be an option for you.
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*Your age*. If you are over the age of 40, your doctor may advise against a natural birth because you are at a higher risk for birth-related complications.
Additionally, you should also be cognizant of the fact that you will not be given any pain medications during a natural child birth. If you have a low threshold for pain, a natural birth may not be the right choice for you.
What are some of the benefits of natural childbirth?
If your doctor has said that it is okay for you to give birth naturally and you are still undecided, you may want to consider some of these benefits:
*Your labor may possibly be shorter.* Pain medications, such as epidural have a tendency to slow down labor. Additionally, if you are numb, you may not feel the contractions and may not know when to push. Generally speaking, women who choose natural child birth have shorter labors. It is also important to note that since an epidural can slow down labor, it may increase the need for a c-section.
*You will feel empowered.* Giving birth is one of the most amazing things that you will experience in your life. If you give birth naturally, you may feel more empowered and confident.
*You will recover faster.* Because no drugs, IVs or tubes are used during a natural child birth, women recover a lot faster. In fact, you may feel like getting up and walking around right after you give birth.
Peter Wendt is a writer and researcher who makes his home in the American South. He has often used AustinABCSouth.com. as a resource while writing about north Austin OBGYN. He recommends checking out their site.