Natural Birth...

I've taken part in quite a few natural birth discussions lately. Many online, but also some with family and friends. Let me preface any more of this blog post by saying that I really do not care or judge what any woman chooses to do. CHOOSES is the keyword to me. We should all have a choice and we should all CHOOSE. And by that I mean, at least do your research and don't walk into a hospital blind. If you've done your research and still choose to go the standard, "what has become the norm" route, then great. I have nothing more to say, nor should I.

HOWEVER, I am finding it very odd (and quite annoying as time goes on) that people are so judgmental of a woman wanting and planning a natural birth. That just seems so backwards to me. It would be like me going up to someone and saying something like "oh you just wait and see, I can't even believe you think you can PLAN for an epidural, etc". Do you know how rude and mean and just not my place that would be to say? Yet it seems people have absolutely no problem saying things of that nature about natural births to me. Definitely a double standard, I think!

Let me also say, before I go too much further, that I completely and fully understand that bad things can happen. There is no part of me that believes there is absolutely no place for something like a C Section, etc. If it comes down to having a 100% natural birth (no medications, no interventions) and me or my child dying or having a C Section and us living? Shit, cut me the hell open right then and there.

But.... BECAUSE of the birthing philosophy I believe in from reading books, reading articles, talking to professionals (on both sides), etc, I also believe that the CHANCES of something like that being medically necessary are lowered immensely. I also believe there are people who say things like "I am going to try to go natural, but if I need it the meds are there" and that's all fine and dandy (again, I don't care at all what another woman chooses to do w/ her body). But then there are people (like me and others I know, as well) who believe it's not even an option. (since when is an epidural life or death people?) And not for the very simple reason of not wanting to take drugs. It's so much more than that to those of us who believe in birthing naturally and letting that whole process do it's thing.

An epidural is a very small piece of the pie. Might it be nice to have something to take the pain away? I'm sure it would. But at the same time, I believe birth can and should be a beautiful experience if you give yourself the chance to make it so and are open to that. Things like epidurals and pitocin LEAD to other things and that is a main reason I am of the natural birth variety. :) It's not simply "I don't want to take the drugs, I am strong bullshit" because honestly, if that's the reason you want a natural birth, I think you will have trouble. It's way more than that. It starts from the beginning. For ME, it starts from realizing that my midwife's practice (which is through a major medical facility and university, so it's very credible) has an almost 0% episiotomy rate and a VERY low C Section rate, as it should be. You have to wonder, hmmm how is that possible? What are THEY doing differently than every other Ob/gyn out there? Think about that.

It starts from the beginning. If you're induced (which again, my personal feeling is that people are usually induced way more than need be and only a small percentage actually medically NEED it) you've already started the vicious cycle in my mind. Some women don't care and as long as you understand what all of that then means, great. But I DO care. I don't want to be induced when my baby is not ready to come out. I want to labor naturally. I want my body to tell me when it's time. I don't want Pitocin to make my contractions over exaggerated and too much too handle, usually leading to a women wanting an epidural. Once you get drugs, you have to be monitored more closely b/c they can do damage to your baby (speed up heart rates, etc). When you are monitored you cannot labor in beneficial positions. You often cannot eat or drink at the hospital. You cannot even go to the bathroom!

There are so many things you can do during labor that help the baby move down, turn, and stay healthy. From what I've learned, when you add an epidural, Pitocin, etc. into the mix, you have a very hard time of doing those things. This can lead to fetal distress and you being on a time clock. If you're lucky you won't end up being pushed to have a C Section.

Another reason I don't want to go down this route is the pushing stage. Not only do I want to FEEL exactly when to push and let my body do the work, but I want to be able to push in whatever position feels right and is right for my body and baby. That's very hard to do if you've already started w/ other drugs and interventions. This often leads to "needing" an episiotomy. I used to think a clean cut was better than a tear. Since doing a bunch of research I've learned that an episiotomy cuts through every later and muscle. If you are laboring and pushing in a more natural way, IF you tear, it's likely to be far less damaging and a much easier wound to heal.


This is all a very basic overview, but it touches on just a few of the reason why I feel it's important TO ME to have a natural birth, baring any drastic circumstances. When you feel so strongly about something like this (and I get that some women don't, it's just one day and not a huge deal, but to me, it IS a huge deal) and then you hear people say "oh just wait until you're in pain, you'll be screaming for drugs", it's not only unsupportive (and shouldn't we be supporting something so pure and natural?), but it's almost offensive.

I know mothers in real life who have gone this route and have this same philosophy I do, so it's not just me being naive. We have a cousin who I have become good friends with who is the perfect example (Hi Katie!). I won't go into all of the details, but basically she was a labor and delivery nurse who just couldn't understand or take anymore of what goes on and is "normal" with hospital/Ob births. She's has since become a doula. She's seen both sides and been there herself. Her first child was the typical hospital birth in which she 'trusted' her doctors with her care and figured they knew best so she'd do as instructed. It was a horrible experience (even though nothing really went "wrong" and it was all actually routine) and recovery for her. Her second child was born last December and this time she basically did the opposite and had a home birth with a midwife. The difference in her experiences is amazing to read. If anyone has seen TRULY BOTH sides, it's her, so it's not like I am making all of this up out of my butt.

Like I said in the beginning. We all should get to choose and make educated choices. But when I hear or see people mocking "natural birth" and things that can be done, it's truly sad. I don't care if it's not for you at all. Honestly I think I am probably MORE of a wimp for doing it because the other alternatives scare me more, so it's hardly like I feel like I am a hero or something. It's just very sad when my choices cannot be respected, even though I know it would not be OK if I didn't respect someone else's, opposite choices. You don't have to agree w/ my philosophy and I don't have to agree with yours, but there is definitely a double standard going on out there.