I read an interesting article in our local paper today and it got me thinking about childbirth and birthing options and what women consider a natural childbirth.
I have birthed two children in the past 4 years. And I have always considered my births for both of these little people to be natural. Yet lately, I have come to realize that some might disagree. What constitutes a natural childbirth these days? Is a vaginal birth a natural one even if you have some kind of medical induction or form of pain relief?
My first pregnancy was a complicated one. I developed gestational hypertension (very high blood pressure) at around 26 weeks, was in and out of hospital on bed rest for a few weeks and then put on strict bed rest at home. Because of the hypertension, my son also had intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and was not a very big baby. We had weekly ultrasounds to chart his growth and at 35 weeks he had stopped growing completely and the decision was made to induce me.
Because of the complications throughout my pregnancy we were prepared for whatever needed to be done during the birth, but my preference had always been for it to be a vaginal birth with minimal interventions. We had hired a doula and were all set for our Monday morning induction.
The method of induction chosen was with a Cervidil (prostaglandin) vaginal insert to ripen my 35 week pregnant cervix. I was told that this could take anywhere from 12-24 hours to take effect and that I could also expect that it may have to be repeated. What actually happened was that within 2 hours I was having mild contractions, within 5 hours I had entered transition (read puking and passed mucous plug) and within 8 hours my water broke, I was fully dilated and I WAS PUSHING! This was all of course VERY much to the surprise of the nursing staff that had refused to believe that I was in “active” labour this whole time and that all of my contractions where ‘pre-labor’ ones.
My son was born about 5 minutes later, after 3 big pushes and with nary an obstetrician in sight!! Needless to say, within about 3o seconds of his birth we had a full room of about 17 people, including the team from NICU that whisked him away for further assessment after a quick peek and a kiss from mommy. Natural birth? I sure think so.
My second pregnancy was the complete opposite. VERY normal, no issues with my blood pressure at all or any IUGR. I was 41 weeks pregnant when the decision was made with my obstetrician to induce me again. I was extremely uncomfortable (read-as big as a house!) and really just wanted to have this baby. We went the Cervidil route again since it worked so well the last time. I was about 2-3 cm dilated already at this point, so it did not take long for me to be in active labour again. And this time everyone believed me! I had a very specific birth plan this time around and did not want ANY interventions. We had our original and rather amazing doula with us again as well as our back-up doula. I don’t think my labour was significantly longer with my daughter, but it was definitely harder. I managed to make it to 8.5 cm on my own sitting on the birthing ball in the shower with my husband directing the hot water on my back the whole time.
"Look Ma, NO Drugs!"
And then I needed some help. And yes, at that point I BEGGED for an epidural and uttered those famous words….
“I can’t do this!”
But you know what, I did not get the epidural and I did DO IT! Why? Because I had an amazing birth team that knew what I really wanted and supported me and helped me through that last hump. I did suck back on some nitrous oxide to take the edge off of those last few really tough contractions and 9 hours after my Cervidil induction I was fully dilated and after 20 minutes of pushing, my beautiful baby girl was born. And again I have always considered hers a natural birth too.
What do you think? Did I have “natural birth” experiences? Did you? Is the whole concept of birthing naturally on more of a spectrum or is it very black and white?
I’d love to hear your thoughts….
My birth sounds really similar to your second birth, except that I wasn’t induced and it was loooong. 24 hours long. But I went epidural and pain-med free, except, like you, some nitrous oxide in the last few moments of dilation.
I know that some women are very technical with their definition of “natural childbirth” and my birth story has been excluded from publication in a few online communities because of the nitrous and a few other details – like pitocin to deliver the placenta.
But like my doctor said to me at my 1 week check up: I felt the whole thing, and if that isn’t a challenge, I don’t know what is.
Yeah, I begged for an epidural. I went 8 hours without any pain meds then broke down. I broke down again after 24 hours of labour and 3 exhausting hours of pushing. The Dr tried suction then forcepts. Finally, one push before they were going to send me for a c-section, Little T was born.
Unfortunately, she was taken away from me too soon. The umbilical cord broke inside of me and I started haemorraghing. I bled a full litre, turned blue and had to be brought back to life.
For me, the epidural got me through a lot of pain including a double episiotomy with over 30 stitches.
Was my labour normal? No. Was I happy to get help? Yes. Am I guilty about not having a “natural” birth? No.
I’m glad you don’t feel guilty. You shouldn’t!
I wish we lived in a world where we didn’t have to feel guilty about parenting!
You know I am not a fan of guilt and never would I ever think a mom should feel guilty about a birth. We live in a fabulous country where we have access to help when things go wrong in childbirth and I for one am so very, very thankful that we do or we would have never met!! As for that episiotomy, I have no words-ouch does not seem to even touch it!!
My biggest fear going into child birth was that I for some reason wouldn’t be able to get any pain releaving drugs. My first birth was actually very similar to yours, I did get an epidural that time. My second was a different story. I was also 41 weeks and went to the hospital because my mother told me to (mom knows best). The doctor said I wasn’t in active labour, but decided to keep me and induce me later that evening. Then I had 2 contractions, my water broke and my son was out. This all happened within 7 minutes! No time for drugs. It happened so fast I dont remember it being painful. Once it was over I asked the nurse if I could get at least some drugs, so she gave me one regular strength advil.
7 MINUTES!! Wow, that has to be some kind of record! At least you got some Advil!
My twins’ birth was chock-full of medical intervention. I had an emergency c-section at 34 weeks when I went into labour for the second time (first time at 31 weeks) and the girls’ heart rates shot into the high 180s/low 190s. There was no time for a natural birth – we needed whatever was fast enough to get them and me stabilized. I didn’t even have the option of a conscious delivery because an epidural would have taken too long. I barely made it through the next two days’ recovery as it was.
Three years later, we are all happy and healthy. It was all medically necessary for us to survive, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I would have loved my natural birth plan to follow through, but we are all here together today and that’s what counts
You are absolutely right. Healthy babies and a healthy mama are what matters most in the end and an emergency is just that and needs to be dealt with with whatever means necessary. If motherhood teaches us anything is that our best laid plans are just that, plans and that we must be prepared for whatever life (and birth) throws at us!
Hey Natasha. Is the guy in the picture your husband? Nice abs!!
Of course it is! He was amazing and stayed in the shower with me like that for 5 hours!!
At 41 weeks I was scheduled to be induced but my water broke the night before and contractions started 2 hours later…10 hours after that, the hospital decided I wasn’t progressing to their liking and gave me oxytocin to speed things up even though I didn’t want it…my contractions got so much more intense and 4.5 hours of those contractions had me at the I can’t stage but unfortunately my birth team didn’t listen in the months leading up to the big day and gave in immediately after the nurse said it would still take a long time….I remember thinking that all I wanted was for one of them to say “you can” to get through it but instead I got an epidural and an hour later my body started pushing involuntarily while nurses told me to stop because I was only 8cm…when they realized it wasn’t happening, 3 intentional pushes had him out…so I managed to go 16.5/18 hours pain relief free but didn’t get to feel my son make his entrance:( I still kick myself for it…next one will be a home birth! I don’t know if I define it as natural or not…
And the fact that the hospital ‘decided’ anything for you is one of the major problems with our system(s). I truly believe that the amount of interventions (forceps, vacuum, c-sections) would be so much less if women were given the chance to labour at their own body’s pace. Think of the money that would be saved for the healthcare system if that was the case-a few more hours of nursing care versus a full surgical suite for the ‘failure to progress’ c-section!! Having a good birthing team, whether in hospital or at home is key in my opinion.
For my first son, my birthing plan was simple. Hook me up with an epidural asap. After false labour for two days, his heart rate started to drop and they finally kept me in. The gave me oxytocin to move things along, and broke my water. The contractions immediatly came one on top of the other and along came my epidural. 8 hours later Baby Ben was born. After a good nap and absolutely no pain.
4.5 years later I’m 41 weeks pregnant and the hospital calls me at 8 in the morning to see if I wanted to be induced. It was 4 days before Christmas…I quickly said yes. By 11am they had me started on oxitocin, and it was doing nothing… William wanted nothing to do with the outside world. When they were doing my paperwork I made it very clear that I WANTED and epidural. I had no intention what-so-ever of wanted to feel the pain that came with childbirth, and the thought never even crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be able to get the drugs.
After hours of no progression, they broke my water and finally the contractions started. They called for the epidural and he arrived with drugs in hand. He put the giant needle in my back, put the test shot in, and an ambulance arrived who needed him ASAP. He promised he’d be back as soon as he could. The test shot did nothing, the nitrice did nothing, even the stuff they were putting into my IV did nothing (I have no idea what it was). After 3 hours active labour, and 1 hour of pushing, I gave birth to a whopping 9lb 11oz baby boy relativly drug free.
I will say that the recovery from my second birth was much easier than the first. I don’t remember anything about a ‘ring of fire’ and you do forget the pain. If I was to have anymore children I wouldn’t want an epidural.
I think that we are made to focus so much on the pain of childbirth by the medical community, that the actual miracle that our bodies are performing is often missed! That and the aftermath of having an epidural and all the extra fluids that usually go along with it can often make for a longer recovery. I loved having my 2nd baby at 9 PM and that both of us were dressed and ready to leave the hospital at 9 AM the next day!
I think the whole “natural” label is so vague. People will say natural when they mean vaginal, or without pain medication, or without any interventions. I have a love-hate relationship with labels and I think that getting worked up over what “natural birth” means doesn’t really benefit anyone.
I’ve had three birth experiences which were all so different. One was a very medical hospital birth, one was a low-intervention hospital birth, and one was an unassisted homebirth. My goal each time was to have a “natural” childbirth – for what that term meant to me at the time and in order for my child and I to experience birth as it was meant to be. I didn’t make my choices for the labels, but for the physical and emotional ramifications.
As a total aside, I love the picture in this post! You look so cute and calm.