Why Choose Natural Childbirth?


Natural childbirth is an important goal since most people want to give their babies every possible advantage in life. The kind of pregnancy, labor, and birth our children experience has a profound and lifelong effect on their health, including their mental, emotional, and physical health.

There are many advantages of having a natural childbirth including:

Better for baby. Any drugs that a mother receives during labor do enter the baby’s body. The result can be a baby that is less alert at birth. Since a baby has an immature liver, it takes much longer for him or her to process these drugs and the effects of any drugs given during labor will last much longer in the baby than they do in mom. Drugs given during labor and delivery can affect the baby’s respiration and heart rate. Some medications given during labor can cause a drop in mother’s blood pressure which results in less oxygen to the baby. It is easy to recognize an unmedicated baby because they are alert, pink and cry out.

Better for mom. Without drugs, mom is alert during labor and usually able to move around freely and find a position that is most comfortable to her. She is able to actively aid in the delivery process when it’s time to push the baby out and is usually able to push the baby out more gently and faster. Women have a strong sense of empowerment during labor and accomplishment afterward.

Better for the family. Husbands or partners can feel involved as they work together through labor. When the unmedicated baby is born, he or she will often be alert and make eye contact with mother and father enhancing the initial bonding that occurs between baby and parents.

Better for breastfeeding. Since an unmedicated baby is more alert, it is easier to get the breastfeeding relationship off to a good start. Many natural birth babies began suckling at the breast even before the placenta has been delivered. Some drugs given during labor can also dry out the baby’s mouth which makes initial latching-on more difficult. Having a natural birth also ensures that the mother gets the proper amounts of hormones at the right time to begin producing milk effectively.

Less risk of medical intervention. An unmedicated mother is less likely to need Pitocin to speed labor, a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery, or bladder catheterization. Mom is also less likely to have a cesarean section, which is important as current cesarean section rates in the US are over 30%.

Quicker Recovery. Mothers who give birth naturally can usually walk out of the delivery room after their baby has been born.

Long Term Benefits. We are just beginning to understand some of the long term benefits of natural childbirth. Many studies in primal health have shown that influences in fetal life, the perinatal period, and early infancy can have dramatic effects on our lifelong health. Studies have shown that autism is more likely to occur in children who, during birth, were induced or born by elective or emergency c-section. Other studies have shown that babies born to mothers who receive pain medication during their labor have an increased likelihood of abusing drugs during adolescence and adulthood.