“Everyone is telling me natural birth is too hard.”
As a doula, I am here to support you, no matter what your birth wishes. If you happen to be someone who hopes to have a natural (unmedicated, no intervention) childbirth, you may very well have had your share of naysayers clogging your thoughts with bad stories and doubts. While being informed of the risks of childbirth is important, so too is shielding your mind from that kind of unyielding negativity. Instead, flood it with positive stories and information!
Our bodies are amazing and have been birthing babies since the beginning of time. For healthy, low-risk pregnancies, there is no reason to doubt in your ability to have the birth you dream of. With modern technology, there is a wealth of information and resources, literally at your fingertips, that can help you better prepare physically and mentally for the marathon of birth. Childbirth classes geared toward natural birth preparation are a great starting point. Websites like Spinning Babies will give you pointers on physically preparing prenatally and helpful positions during labor. There are also a wealth of positive birth stories and videos that can be found online - Mama Natural has an extensive collection of stories. No doubt, most will look to Google and YouTube for birth stories and videos. There are likely many gems to be found there, but use caution and a critical eye when searching so as not to promote further fear and uncertainty.
In addition to flooding yourself with positive information and physically preparing yourself, having an attentive and well informed support person is also very important. Studies have shown doula support, and/or another continuous support person, can decrease risk of cesarean section, increase likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth, decrease use of pain medication, and decrease the risk of being dissatisfied by birth outcomes (source). Having a good support team in your corner can help ensure you feel comfortable and in control of decision making. As a result, you can feel empowered and positive about your birth experience, whether your story unfolds how you had hoped or not. The continuos physical support through massage, counter pressure, and position changes, and the continuous encouragement of a support person or doula can be very helpful in overcoming the discomforts, fear, and worry that arise during labor and birth.
Natural childbirth is possible! If is something you want for yourself, I’d be happy to support you with it!
