In the U.S., giving birth with an epidural has become the norm. Approximately 73% of U.S. laboring patients used an epidural, spinal, or combined spinal-epidural block in 2015, up more than 10% from 2010. In Texas, that percentage is slightly higher, about 76%.
But in the past few years, more patients have inquired about giving birth "naturally" – planning to labor and deliver with limited or no pain medication. Patients have said they want to avoid the low potential risks associated with epidural, and some simply want to see what their bodies can do.
Some women consider any vaginal birth a natural childbirth, regardless of whether it includes getting an epidural or Pitocin to induce labor. Others think natural childbirth is only when there is no medical intervention. Most patients fall somewhere in the middle.
Patients who have had a healthy pregnancy and have had no complications or chronic conditions are good candidates to attempt a natural childbirth. However, it may not be the best choice for some expectant moms. We may suggest having an epidural if you are at high-risk for needing a cesarean section (C-section) so we can potentially avoid using general anesthesia. You might also be considered high risk if you have a heart condition, preeclampsia, or diabetes, or if you | re having twins or a baby in the breech position.
Our Ob/Gyns and certified nurse-midwives support patients in achieving the birth experience they want without judgment – with or without medication. We offer laboring moms plenty of options for pain relief, including aromatherapy and nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
If you choose unmedicated childbirth, it's important to prepare your mind and body for the experience. It can be difficult, but there are strategies to reshape how you think about pain, its management, and your birth experience.
After having epidurals during labor with her first two babies, she decided to try natural childbirth for her third. She put together five tips for moms to prepare for low- or no-medication labor and how to stay flexible if your birth plan has to change.
pregnancy, so I was unlikely to need a cesarean section (C-section) or operative delivery. And this was my third baby, so labor would likely go quickly.
If you and your doctor agree natural childbirth is safe for you and your baby, here are five tips to help you prepare for the big day.
1. Make a | natural | plan with your Ob/Gyn provider
Once you | ve decided you | d like to have a natural childbirth, talk to your Ob/Gyn or midwife. Let the provider know what you mean by “natural childbirth,” and ask about the options their facility offers to support you. from pain relief to emergency care. We have a certified nurse-midwife and a doctor on the floor 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help whether you are in labor for hours or you deliver 10 minutes after arriving.
The key to a successful natural childbirth is having a solid support person to distract you from the pain, talk you through what | s next, and cheer you on. This could be your partner, your mom, or a friend who has been through labor before.
Along with my husband, I had a doula with me during my natural childbirth. A doula is someone trained to support a woman through labor. Their goal is to help women achieve the childbirth experience they envision.
how to give birth naturally without pain?
