Millions of children are born each year and the methods utilized during the birthing process vary greatly from country to country and culture to culture. Three delivery techniques commonly employed during childbirth are natural childbirth, home delivery, and pain management during childbirth. Natural childbirth has been used for thousands of years and, in recent years, the interpretation of what signifies natural childbirth often varies. According to the Kathryn Leggitt, “Natural childbirth is a term that holds many different meanings to women and healthcare providers. To some, it means a complete avoidance of medication or interventions. To others, it simply means that a woman gave birth vaginally as opposed to having a cesarean section”
According to the Kathryn Leggitt, natural childbirth means avoiding the use of pain medications for medical interventions while others consider natural childbirth to mean that the mother has a vaginal birth ("Why Should I Consider a Holistic Approach to Pregnancy and Childbirth? Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing"). According to Beaumont Health, common aspects of natural childbirth include the use of a midwife and delivering the child without the use of pain medications ("Natural Childbirth"). Laura A. Berk defines natural childbirth as “…a group of techniques aimed at reducing pain and medical intervention…” (CITATION). Berk expresses that “most natural childbirth programs draw on methods developed by Grantly Dick-Read…and Fernand Lamaze…” and that “these physicians recognized that cultural attitudes had taught women to fear the birth experience. An anxious, frightened woman in labor tenses her muscles, heightening the pain that usually accompanies strong contractions” (CITATION). As a result of this knowledge, Dick-Read and Lamaze developed a series of techniques intended to educate the mother about the process of childbirth, prepare her for the birthing process, and assist the mother in relaxing through the course of childbirth. Beaumont Health states that advantages to natural childbirth include actively participating
Berk conveys that while doctors are present during some home births, most are attended “…by certified nurse-midwives who have degrees in nursing and additional training in childbirth management” (CITATION). There are risks associated with childbirth, regardless of the setting. For women who are healthy, have not experienced issues during their pregnancies, and have not experienced issues with previous pregnancies, and are attended by a medical professional, home births can be just as safe as hospital births. Homebirths can also be more relaxing because the mother can move about more freely and has more control over the birthing experience than generally permitted during a hospital birth. Complications can arise during home births just as they can during a hospital birth. Therefore, it is wise to have a plan in place for transportation to the hospital if needed. There are numerous advantages to home births which include freedom of movement, more control over the birthing experience, decreased unnecessary medical interventions, and faster recovery. Disadvantages to homebirths include that a doctor is not likely to be quickly
Johnson, K. C., & Daviss, B. A. (2005). Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. Bmj, 330(7505), 1416.
...other can move around more freely and find positions that help her stay comfortable during labor. Natural child birth is also a very intimate process. Your partner can be involved in the process as you work together to manage your pain (2013, November).
Giving birth is something that happens many times daily all over the world. Though many people who have not experienced giving birth, such as men, may think all the woman has to do is push a couple times and it's over, that is not the case. There are three stages to giving birth according to BabyCentre including contractions, pushing, and delivering the placenta.
"7 Tips For Having A Natural Childbirth." Fit Pregnancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. .
Natural birth is a method of childbirth in which medical intervention is minimal and the mother practices relaxation and breathing techniques to minimize pain during delivery. Modern obstetrics has created an entire industry to observing and
Wertz, R., and Wertz D. Lying-In: A History of Childbirth in America. New York: Free Press. 1997
How do you feel about home birth? When it comes to most peoples minds they most likely think that is just horde, and that they world never even think of baring there child that way. After reading this I hope that you will change you mind, or reconsider it. home birth is better then the hospital in many ways, and i'm going to share with you many of those ways with you. In the articular ( Midwifes alliance) is says, (Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health (JMWH), a landmark study** confirms that among low-risk women, planned home births result in low rates of interventions without an increase in adverse outcomes for mothers and babies. This study, which examines nearly 17,000 courses of midwife-led care, is the largest analysis of planned home birth in the U.S. ever published.The
A Lamaze class is a class for expecting parents to find out information about childbirth. The purpose of these courses is to give childbearing mothers more confidence in their capacity to give birth. In addition, it teaches them how to deal with the pain, the process of labor, breathing techniques, and how to provide comfort (Mothers Advocate, 2009). This method was developed by a French doctor named Dr. Fernand Lamaze, he constructed a method of pain relief, derived from Pavlov’s principles. He formed the type of psych prophylactic method during his surveillance in the Soviet Union (Lothian, 2009). These classes focus on the participants and their Lamaze partners, and teaching the, dynamic relaxation techniques and breathing to ease the anxiety of labor and birth. Usually these classes are conducted over six to eight weeks (Mothers Advocate, 2009). Ultimately, Lamaze classes attempt to replace their negative presumption pertaining to pregnancy and the birth process with optimistic, learned responses and managing skills. Additionally, Lamaze classes focus on breastfeeding and the importance of it.
The Dutch philosophy about childbirth is that it’s a natural, physical process, not a medical condition. Prenatal care is usually provided by midwives and unless there are complications the role of the doctor or gynecologist is minimal if any. More than 60% of Dutch women get pregnant, have a baby and go home without ever seeing a gynecologist or a doctor. Home births are also fairly common practices with the Dutch, they account for approximately 30% of all births. There are fewer preventative screenings and test as well. (Buitendijk , de Jonge & Gravenhorst , 2007) They also rarely use pain medicine during labor; instead the emphasis is placed on natural methods of pain management such as yoga. In general, they believe in a non-interventionist approach to medical and maternity care in the Dutch culture (DeVries, 1998)
Birth is a normal, physiological process, in which a woman’s body naturally prepares to expel the fetus within. It has occurred since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, childbirth has gradually evolved into what it is today - a highly managed whirlwind of unwarranted interventions. Jennifer Block, a journalist with over twelve years experience, has devoted herself to raising awareness regarding the authenticity of the Americanized standard of care in obstetrics, while guiding others to discover the truth behind the medical approach to birth in this country. In her book, Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care, Jennifer Block brings forth startling truths concerning this country’s management of birth.
Why should I have a natural birth, “You don’t get a medal for going without drugs, you know.” Why go through the pain when you can get an injection that can take away just enough of the pain that you can still enjoy the labor? “There is no shame in asking for an epidural,” said Dr. Cynthia Wong of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University. In the United States more than 80% of pregnant women are now having c-sections. Epidurals give the mothers a chance to participate in the delivery and actually enjoy it. You can also get a walking epidural so that you can still push during the labor and cope with the pain.
It’s going through labor and delivery without medications, including main pain reliever, epidurals. It’s also allowing the woman lead the labor and delivery process, dealing with it without any help of medications. (as in an epidural) Some women choose to give birth without taking medications at all. With natural childbirth, the mom is the only one in control of her body.
Many women today are doing more C-sections, also known as cesarean, than they are natural. Whether the reasons being because it’s more convenient or that some moms did not really have a choice, the percentage is still growing. “The cesarean delivery rate increased from 26% to 36.5% between 2003 and 2009; 50.0% of the increase was attributable to an increase in primary cesarean delivery (National Partnership for Women & Families, 201.)” There are many things to consider when deciding which is the right or safer choice. With both choices comes risks for the baby like, possible respiratory problems with a C-section. The mom has many risks to worry about for herself as well, like possibly hemorrhaging. There is also the recovery and the long-term effects that a woman has to put into consideration. They both have their pros and cons that should not be taken lightly.
Chances are that terms such as “midwife” and “home birth” conjure up for you old-fashioned images of childbirth. These words may bring to mind scenes from old movies, but you’re not likely to associate them with the modern image of childbirth. Do you know anyone who has had a midwife-assisted birth or a home birth? Would you consider one?
Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasn’t so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in today’s society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used. Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later.