Many of my readers are women, and while I might have quite a bit of head knowledge to offer them on this particular topic, I haven’t experienced it firsthand! That’s why I asked natural childbirth educator Jenny Yarbrough to share her thoughts on natural childbirth.
When people ask me about my birth experiences and I tell them I had natural births with all three of my children, there are typically two responses:
- “I don’t think I could do that!”
- “Wow! Good for you! I could never do that.”
It’s funny–although I am meeting more and more mothers who are birthing naturally, the majority of women don’t consider it an option. They may be interested in natural childbirth but don’t think that they could ever have one. Many women do not have any experience with a natural birth, other than what they see in the movies, and I’ll tell you, I have seen very few accurate representations.
When I became pregnant with my first child, I decided I would not have an epidural. I made this decision, not with the noblest of reasons. To be honest, I was simply scared to death of the procedure. I began to do a bit of research on epidurals and what began as a fear of a needle in my back grew into a fear of the risks that came with the epidural. My mind was made up. I would give birth naturally.
You may be wondering what I read that frightened me out of having the kind of birth that so many women assume is safe–and normal for that matter. There is a time and place for interventions, but they should not be used as the norm, rather as a back up, and always with the mother’s consent. Here are several of the risks of having an epidural, things that your doctor may not tell you:
- An epidural brings an increased cesarean section rate. An epidural at 2 cm dilation increases your chance of a c-section by 50%! At 3 cm your chances increase by 33%. At 4 cm they increase by 26%. At 5 cm, there doesn’t seem to be a statistical difference between those who do and don’t receive an epidural.
- Epidurals lead to prolonged labors in the 1st and 2nd stages.
- 20-26% of labors with an epidural result in abnormal presentation of the baby, or failure to descend, which is an indication for c-section.
- Hypotension (low blood pressure) occurs among 1/3 of women who have an epidural, serious hypotension in about 12%. This results in a lack of oxygen to the baby, which is a major risk to the baby, often ending in fetal distress.
- Your likelihood of having delivery by forceps or vacuum extraction is 5x greater with an epidural.
- Some women have pain at the site of the injection for weeks, months, and even years.
- Nausea, vomiting, maternal fever.
- Severe headache from a punctured dura.
All this for a method of pain relief that is not even 100% effective! Believe me when I say that this information scared me more than the pain of a natural labor. For me, the benefits of a natural birth, one without an epidural or Pitocin (which is used to induce labor), far outweighed the risks of the epidural.
So what are the benefits of a natural birth? Well, for starters you have none of those terrible risks that come with a medicated birth. That in itself is a huge benefit. Besides that…
- Natural labors are often shorter.
- Women who birth naturally have a better breast feeding success rate. Their babies are more alert and show more interest in the initial feedings, aiding in the bonding process that is so crucial in those first couple of hours.
- Natural birth is better for the mother and baby.
- Recovery from a natural birth is faster. I walked to my post partum room!
- The mother feels a greater connection to the birth experience when she is alert and aware.
- Natural childbirth is empowering and what a wonderful way to begin the journey of motherhood!
There are so many more benefits… too many to mention in this short article. You can have a natural birth at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital… yes, in a hospital! I had all three of my children in the hospital with the support of my husband, family, and a doula. There are steps you can take and tools you can use to cope naturally with the pain of labor. Preparation is key when approaching birth naturally. One of my favorite books on natural childbirth is Active Birth, by Janet Balaskas. I recommend it to every mother I teach.
The important thing is to remember that God made a women’s body to do this! You’d be surprised at how instinctual birth is. Go with the flow, trust your instincts and listen to your body. You will be empowered!
(research on risks of epidural from the article “The Medical Risks of Epidural Anesthesia” by Lewis E. Mehl-Madrona, M.D., Ph. D.)
great article, jenny! such powerful information… that’s all too often not heard! especially the part about that our bodies are MADE to do this… no matter how big, small…or anywhere in between. it’s the way it’s supposed to be!
Thanks for the article. I had a natural birth and it was the most empowering thing in the world. I was not groggy from any drugs and me and my baby have been so connected since the moment of birth. We did not have colic or any issues and are still breastfeeding at 19 months. I would just recommend lots of meditation during pregnancy (I did Hypnobirthing) and squatting stretches for endurance and flexibility sake. Natural childbirth is a shamanic/tribal/ancient experience as you have to tap into some deep wells of strength in the thick of heavy labor. But now I KNOW I can do ANYTHING. Just say NO to the epidural! Thanks again
Thank you for your words of truth & encouragement. I chose to have a natural water birth with my child. After the research into natural child birth & specifically water birth, I had never felt so resolved & committed as I did about my decision on how I wanted my child to be introduced to her parents & the world. The labor & birth of our daughter was the hardest, most wonderful, & incredible thing I had ever experienced… and I would do it again in heartbeat!
I’m encouraged by the movement of more & more women informing themselves & taking an interest in natural child birth. My hope is that women would not first assume that they can’t handle a “drug-free” birth, but that would know they can.
This article will be a blessing to many women and hopefully husbands that read it. My husband and I have three boys, all of which were natural, with one water birth. We had three homebirths with our midwife and she has become part of our family.
As Jenny stated, God created our bodies for this. Women have been delivering babies for thousands of years. Education is important and will help build your confidence in this decision.
I want to speak to husbands for just a moment. You, as the spiritual leader, must believe and support your wife in this endeavor. Without your support, be it mental, spiritual or physical, you make it extremely difficult for your wife to enjoy natual birth. Yes, I said ENJOY!
Women, we have been entrusted with something great that no man can or ever should experience, labor. God knew we could do it and He has given us the strength. Stand on the Word and believe.
Amen, nice comment Nikki!
Great article Jenny, thanks! I have a good friend who birthed all three of her boys naturally… and yes, all 3 children were alert and healthy, but also that is from no vaccines!
I hope to do this also in the future, thanks for encouraging others on this!
Thanks for the information, Jenny! I can agree with the epidural connection to prolonged back pain, labor, failure to descend, and higher cesarean rate. I had epidural, and I had all of those things that you describe. I also ended up having to be completely put under for my cesarean because I wasn’t numbing properly. God did bless me with breastfeeding. My son was alert, and he latched on with no problems. For my second child, I would love to research natural birth more, but I am one of those who doesn’t think she can do it:) I have a VERY low pain tolerance, but I’m definitely going to make it an option. I also terrified that I will have to have another cesarean..which I don’t want! Anyways, I really appreciate this article. Thanks:)
Great article!! My first birth was an induction, with pitocin and an epidural. The epi. didn’t work, and the whole experience was traumatic. I was in pain for 6 months after my little (6lb 6oz..) baby was born. Baby #2 and #3 were both born at home, and we had such amazing births with both. Each of them weighed close to 10 lbs., and I was feeling almost “back to normal” within hours!! Baby #4 is on the way now, and we are not able to do a home birth this time (for some personal reasons), but we’re going to use a hospital midwife. I had been back and forth about an epidural this time, even though I knew the risks…but this article just encouraged me so much and gave me the strength I needed to stick to my convictions about a natural childbirth. Thank you for posting this at just the right time
Blessings!!
Thank you all for your comments! It is wonderful to hear that other women are being encouraged by this info. I know that my decision was made when I learned more about common hospital interventions. God’s design for labor and birth is so miraculous! I know that there are times when circumstances merit the use of interventions, but they should not be used as Plan A.
Hello Jenny,
Your statistics are conflicting with current data. Epidurals have been shown to provide a very comfortable birthing process for most of the mothers who use them. They do not prolong labor when used correctly nor do they increase the rate of a c-section. However, there will be back pain at the site of insertion for several days to a week later for some women. The most painful part of the procedure is the burning and stinging from the local anesthetic to the back and then lots of achy uncomfortable pressure. The spinal headache can be severe and debilitating or mild-especially in overweight parturients because the abdominal girth helps to push against the dura layer wich pushes the cerebral spinal fluid upwards toward the brain relieving the pressure on the brain. The rate of dura puncture is about 1%. A punctured dura is not a disaster. We actually puncture it on purpose when performing a spinal anesthetic which is different than an epidural. The problem with the puncture of the epidural needle is the larger size compared to a spinal needle.
Other problems you mentioned is an epidural that does not work correctly. The catheter is fed up the back midline in an attempt to keep it midline but it sometimes goes towards one side causing a one-sided-block which can sometimes be repaired by pulling the catheter back. Also, a correctly placed catheter can have a one-sided block it the mother lays on one side too long with out rotating. With swelling in the epidural space a small area may not get adequately anesthetized which translate into an area of pain. This can be fixed by increasing the volume of medicine or redoing the procedure. The catheter can also go into a large vein causing an intravenous injection, however, this too can be repaired before causing any serious problems. If the mother has any bleeding issues because of blood clotting or blood disorders or taking blood thinners, then there could be bleeding at the site causing a hematoma which could compress on the nerves causing permanent damage. All of those are rare but still potential risks. Blood pressure does decrease with a properly working epidural. This will not harnm the baby unless it is severely low. The mother is given a fluid bolus before inserting the epidural to compensate for the expected decline. We also have a couple of safe meds at our side to give if needed (ephendrine and neosynephrine). An overdose of anesthetic can cause problems with decreased sensation and slower labor because of poor pushing but this too can be remedied by stopping or slowing down the epidural flow rate. The epidural can be placed very early in the labor process but not used until the mother requests it to be turned on. If you want to feel more pain and sensations then stop or decrease the rate. If you want to feel less pain, then increase the rate. Its really that simple. Although, some OB/GYN doctors do not like early placed epidurals and some do- so check with your doctor’s preference. Early means before 4cm dilation.
I think its great you did a natural child birth and was pleased with it. My wife tried it our first child and could not bear it so she had 4 epidurals for 4 births with out any problems. Having choices makes child birth more tolerable.
Another thing to consider from natural birth is the stress from pain of the mother can cause on the baby. The rapid breathing causes changes in pH as well as swings in blood pressure to higher levels that can be dangerous for abnormal pregnancies. Yes, not having good pain control can be dangerous too.
To sum it up, natural childbirth is just fine if you can manage it. But an epidural is also a safe and wonderful option.
If you was wondering, I am a nurse anesthetist.
I would like to encourage any mom out there who would like to have your baby naturally. I have had 3 babies all without an epidural or other pain relief. My first child weighed 10 pounds 7 ounces. She was the toughest birth due to her weight and her hand being up next to her head while coming out. With an epidural I would have almost been guaranteed a c-section with longer healing time and would have had to have a c-section with future births.
My second child was 9 pounds 15 ounces. He was my easiest labor and birth. I learned so much from my first child that I used while laboring with my second. I stayed home in my big comfy chair until my contractions got to about 6 minutes apart. I was only at the hospital for a little over an hour when he was born. My recovery was quick requiring no pain killers.
My third child was 9 pounds 3 ounces (a week early). I was so ready by the time he was born because natural delivery had worked so well so far. However, I was at a hospital with staff mostly unfamiliar with natural birth, so that was something to overcome. I recommend checking with the hospital staff to see if they have experience with natural labor before choosing your hospital.
The most rewarding part of natural delivery for me was feeling each stage of my baby’s decent (pain free with relaxation until the pushing part). Then, after all of the pushing, the climax of discomfort and some pain, and the tension comes THE RELEASE… YES! That is what I screamed when my third baby came out. From that point on the pain was gone and the reward was here. He was in my arms (not possible with a c-section) and I was nursing and moving around right away (not always possible with an epidural).
When you feel everything all the way up to the actual birth, everything that follows is “easy”… but friends of mine who have had the epidural (with no adverse side effects) say that the pain that comes as the medicine wears off is hard and very distracting from the bonding time they wanted to spend with their baby. Just a thought…
Make sure you do what is best for you… but know that there is support for you if you would like to not use an epidural. Just do a little research and plan a way to relax and tune out distractions during labor. Don’t let anyone else tell you how to treat your own body… it is YOUR call. Be prepared and tell your support group (as well as those others who try to tell you their “negative” stories) that you would like positive and encouraging stories only and that your birthing experience will be good.
Use the power that God gave your body to do what it was designed to do… have a baby naturally. Just my $.02!
Thanks for your comment, Tania. Your story is very encouraging to many, I’m sure. It saddens me that the medical profession refers childbirth as something to be “tolerated” as opposed to childbirth being en event that is experienced. This is part of the problem, I believe. Epidurals have been proven to carry risks and an increased rate of interventions. A relaxed, natural birth, utilizing controlled (not shallow) breathing, is a perfectly safe option. The pain of childbirth is not dangerous, it is normal. The recovery rate is quicker and the whole experience is empowering. I hope that more women will make the choice to prepare for a natural birth and do their best to achieve it. The key is preparation and resolve. Interventions should be a back-up and should be used with knowledge of the risks involved. I’m really enjoying reading your comments, everyone.
Encouraging story. The medical profession is sad in regards to childbirth. Too bad they see it as a money making opportunity at the expense of so many people. Guess that the nature of the biz?
Would you like to know the facts?
The following is sample of the information available on NYSORA or New York School of Regional Anesthesia. You can view the info free. There is a lot of information beyond the laymans comprehension but enough of it for you to understand, empower yourselves, and make an informed decision. These are the facts and you can decide for yourself. As a provider, it doesn’t bother me one iota that you shun regional anesthesia; especially when you are an informed consumer.
I don’t understand that comment about making money at the expense of people. I would like some clarification please. You may be forced to buy healthcare but you cannot be forced to use it for the birthing process.
“Regional analgesia may benefit the mother in other ways beyond relieving pain and anxiety. In animal studies, pain may cause maternal hypertension and reduced uterine blood flow.36 Epidural analgesia blunts the increases in maternal cardiac output, heart rate, and blood pressure that occur with painful uterine contractions and “bearing-down” efforts.37 By reducing maternal secretion of catecholamines, epidural analgesia may convert a previously dysfunctional labor pattern to a normal one.38 Regional analgesia can benefit the fetus by eliminating maternal hyperventilation with pain, which often leads to a reduced fetal arterial oxygen tension owing to a leftward shift of the maternal oxygen–hemoglobin dissociation curve.39
There has been concern that early initiation of epidural analgesia during the latent phase of labor (2–4 cm cervical dilation) may result in prolongation of the first stage of labor and a higher incidence of dystocia and cesarean section delivery, particularly in nulliparous women.54–57 Generally speaking, the first stage of labor is not prolonged by epidural analgesia, provided that aortocaval compression is avoided.54–56,58,59 Chestnut et al.[58,59] demonstrated that the incidence of cesarean section delivery was no different in nulliparous women having epidural analgesia initiated during the latent phase (at 4 cm dilation) compared with women whose analgesia was initiated during the active phase. Others have shown that epidural analgesia is not associated with an increased incidence of cesarean section delivery compared with IV patient-controlled analgesia in nulliparous women.55,56 However, a prolongation of the second stage of labor has been reported in nulliparous women, possibly owing to a decrease in expulsive forces or malposition of the vertex.54,59 Thus, with use of epidural analgesia, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has defined an abnormally prolonged second stage of labor as longer than 3 hours in nulliparous and 2 hours in multiparous women.60 Alonger second stage of labor may be minimized by the use of an ultra-dilute local anesthetic solution in combination with opioid.61 Long-acting amides such as bupivacaine, ropivacaine, and levobupivacaine are most frequently used because they produce excellent sensory analgesia while sparing motor function, particularly at the low concentrations used for epidural analgesia.
There are very few contraindications for epidural anesthesia in labor and delivery. In the presence of severe clotting abnormalities or severe plasma volume deficit, the risk:benefit ratio favors other forms of anesthesia.103 In volume-depleted patients positioned with left uterine displacement, epidural anesthesia does not cause an unacceptable reduction in blood pressure and leads to a significant improvement in placental perfusion.104With the use of radioactive xenon, it was shown that the intervillous blood flow increased by approximately 75% after the induction of epidural analgesia (10 mL bupivacaine 0.25%).105 The total maternal body clearance of amide local anesthetics is prolonged in preeclampsia, and repeated administration of these drugs can lead to higher blood concentrations than in normotensive patients.106″
What are thoughts on a natural birth after c-section?
Hey Jamie,
Our midwife has delivered babies from mom’s who have had a previous c-section. Here is her website, she is out of Hendersonville and could give you some great information if you are interested. http://www.blessingsmidwifery.net/ Her contact info is on the website.
Thanks!
Can anybody suggest a OBGYN that prefers delivering naturally?
We were all about a natural childbirth. We even met with a midwife, and we liked their “hands off” approach to pregnancy. But unfortunately after my wife had some bleeding, the midwife’s only advice was to wait and see. No Blood Tests, No Ultrasound, NOTHING. A few days later we had to take my wife to the ER because of severe pain. The ER doctors did tests and we found no fetal heartbeat. Now, I know that the midwives could not have prevented the miscarriage, but their “hands off” technique was devastating to my wife. She felt discarded. It seemed like they were equipped for typical birth, but when a problem arrived they were at a loss.
Our first born was born with an epi and pain medication. He’s perfect. Healthy, smart, energetic. We haven’t had any problems. So now it seems like too much risk for us to trust another midwife.
I don’t know of any OBGYNs that prefer delivering naturally. OBGYNs are trained surgeons. You can, however find many that support natural childbirth. Dr. Trabue at Centennial is my OBGYN. He delivered all three of our children (all three natural births). I’m so sorry to hear about your experience with your midwife. It sounds to me like she was not acting responsibly and that is unfortunate. There are many midwives that are excellent at what they do.
I just want to reiterate that I truly believe that interventions should be used as a safety option, when the mother and/or baby are in distress. I stand by my belief that God made our bodies to give birth. We are capable of it, labor is not a condition or a sickness, it is part of life. I am thankful for the interventions that hospitals are able to provide to women who need them, but I would not recommend them unless needed.