If you're spending early labor at home, give your midwife, doctor, or hospital a call when your contractions are at least five minutes apart for an hour or more. Also call your doctor if contractions are getting progressively stronger and closer together no matter how you move.
If they're five minutes apart while you're lying in bed but spaced further apart when you move to the tub or go for a walk, it's probably not time to go to the hospital yet.
When you begin labor, keep moving to stay comfortable. Walking, rocking, squatting, sitting, swaying, and switching sides while resting can help your body work with your contractions as gravity and mobility help Baby move into the birth canal.
Plus, movement eases tension and gives your mind something to focus on other than pain. And use a combo of gravity and hip movement to help the baby come down, advises Dr. Rinehart, who delivered two of her own three children without medication. Even if you're not having a "natural water birth ," you can use a shower, bathtub, birthing pool, or hot compresses for easing pain and helping you relax. Some women love spending as much time as possible in water during labor.
Rhythmic breathing, meditation , self-hypnosis, and other relaxation techniques are excellent tools for all stages of labor , but they're easier to manage when you're not being interrupted. Once you're in the hospital, your nurse will frequently check your vital signs, hook up monitors, draw blood, start IVs, and do other interventions that may clash with your Zen. At home, you can light candles, close your eyes, follow your breath, meditate, and create an ambiance that promotes relaxation.
Some labors start with days of on-and-off contractions that wear moms out long before "real labor" begins. Even after contractions get organized into a regular pattern, early labor takes an average of eight hours for a first-time mother and five or more for experienced moms.
As much as you'd like labor to be over , there's usually no need to rush things. Keep yourself entertained, relaxed, hydrated, and nourished and plan on labor being a marathon, not a sprint.
Be sure to let your midwife or doctor know if you're becoming exhausted. They'll help you decide on next steps, whether that's at home or in the hospital. If you're bleeding heavily, your baby's not moving, you feel ill or have any other concerns that your labor isn't progressing normally, then forget about staying home and go to the hospital, where your provider can evaluate you and your baby.
And, if you arrive at the hospital only to discover that everything's normal but you're still in early labor, think about heading back home. There's no shame in that and you may increase your chances for having the "natural birth" you hoped for.
If you can't focus during contractions or relax between them, doctors agree it's probably a good idea to ask for pain meds, which at this point may help move things along. Your pelvic muscles can go into spasm mode if you aren't able to catch a breath between contractions, and then it's difficult for the baby to descend. An epidural , by relieving your pain, can let the pelvis do its job. Have an open mind: "If you reach the point where a [drug-free] labor is just not happening, you have to accept what's good for your child," Dr.
This is a great article for anyone wanting a natural birth. I think the advice is right-on. I was fortunate enough to have had 2 complication-free, natural childbirths. My first went so quickly that I don't think I could have had an epidural if I wanted one! You're likely a good candidate if you:. In some cases, you may be at risk for complications during birth, so your practitioner will want to ensure you receive extra medical attention to be on the safe side. Unmedicated birth is probably not be for you if you:.
The best way to prepare for a unmedicated birth? Get as informed as possible. Here are a few steps you can take before you go into labor:. Once you do hit the delivery room, a few steps can help increase the odds that you make it all the way to the last push without medication or interventions:. And know that there's nothing wrong with asking for pain relief if you need it — don't get down on yourself if you do. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.
Any sort of vaginal birth. A birth with an epidural, with narcotics, even with pitocin for augmentation, vacuum or forceps for the second stage, really any and all interventions that may occur as long as in the end the baby is born vaginally. There is nothing wrong with birthing with an epidural. There is a time and a place for all interventions, and that is something that a birthing person and their health care provider decide together.
I am just confirming what consumers now define as natural childbirth. If you're interested in trying this method and are having your baby at a birth center or at home, you may be able to arrange for a certified acupuncturist to be on hand. Some women have turned to self-hypnosis during childbirth to reduce tension, fear, and the sensation of pain. To use this technique, you'll need training and practice ahead of time so you can learn how to focus and relax your muscles during labor.
However, one scientific review concluded that there isn't enough evidence to judge the effectiveness of self-hypnosis during labor. Natural Birth : Watch one mom's experience of giving birth without pain medication. Positions to Ease Labor Pain : See positions and movements that can help ease labor pain naturally, such as swaying in the "birth dance" position, rolling your hips on a birthing ball, or leaning on a wall.
Water birth : Watch a mom of three give birth to her fourth child underwater, in a special tub made for birth. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.
When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing.
Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Anim-Somuah M, et al. Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia in labour. Cluett ER, et al. Immersion in water in labour and birth. Dowswell T, et al. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS for pain management in labour. Hatem M, et al. Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women.
Hodnett ED, et al. Alternative versus conventional institutional settings for birth. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Jones L, et al. Pain management for women in labour: An overview of systematic reviews.
Lawrence A, et al. Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour. Smith CA, et al. Aromatherapy for pain management in labour.
Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: iStock. What is a natural birth? Benefits of natural birth Risks of natural birth Preparing for natural birth BabyCenter videos on natural childbirth. Benefits of natural birth An unmedicated approach to labor and birth may suit you if you want to remain in control of your body as much as possible, be an active participant throughout labor, and have minimal interventions during labor and birth such as continuous fetal monitoring.
Here are the pros: Most natural childbirth techniques are not invasive, so there's little potential for harm or side effects for you or your baby. Many women have a strong feeling of empowerment during labor and a sense of accomplishment afterward.
Despite having to endure pain, many report that they'll choose an unmedicated birth again the next time.
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