Preparing for A Natural BirthA natural birth is defined as a natural or voluntary process of giving birth without the interference of medical equipment or drugs. More often than not a decision to have a natural birth is supported by a medical team, so long as the pregnancy has largely been free of any major complications that might cause issues during delivery. If the idea of a natural birth appeals to you, then you need to develop your mind set in anticipation. This includes preparing your body both mentally and physically for the rigors of labor and delivery. The thing to remember is that women have been giving birth for thousands of years before the introduction of our high tech hospitals. As a result, we are already genetically prepared to have a natural birth. Unless there are complications, all women have it in them to prepare for a natural birth. You've probably been in conversations with other parents who have categorically stated that there was no way they were having a natural birth and made sure drugs were available. The reason for this is because some of us have a genuine aversion to pain, actually none of us really like pain. Yet the pain of labor and delivery can be reduced significantly with a strong will power and self assurance. We go back to the point we made earlier about needing to change your mind set in order to have a successful natural birth. For many women, a natural birth is a challenge they are able to meet with a strong mind and a sense of determination. Key to a successful natural birth is staying calm and focused throughout the delivery. This is why your birthing partner plays a very important role in a natural birth, they are there to support you and keep you calm. Usually the moment a woman begins to panic, her will and desire for a home birth rapidly vanishes. During the natural birth you will be an active and alert participant of labor and delivery, this means that you will be the one helping to push your baby out. The upside of this is that you will have an enormous sense of satisfaction and achievement when the baby is born. It is also believed that you will bond significantly quicker with your baby due to the lack of side affects often present with a medicated birth. The very latest medical research suggests that many of the drugs used to reduce pain during pregnancy cross the placenta and affect the newborn baby. This is known to lead to significant decrease in the baby's alertness shortly after birth, this can reduce the chances successful breast feeding and instant bonding. One of the reasons that hospitals actually prefer to assist in a natural birth is the most pain relief drugs are not required. There are obviously certain times when it becomes an important, yet for the rest of the time most medical professions believe that most pain reduction drugs can potential do more harm that good and actually reduce the ability of the mother to push during labor. We've seen an increase in the number of natural birth deliveries in the last few years. It seems that the medical profession are happy to encourage more natural births so long as the pregnancy has been free of complications and the mother is fit and healthy. Read more of our articles on natural birth Natural Birth - The Choice Is Yours |