What is Natural Birth to you? [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

BreithCuidiu

11-05-2008, 08:06

QTB

11-05-2008, 08:08

Natural birth to me is intervention free, no use of drugs for pain relief etc...

:yes:

ETA - pain relief comes in many different forms, the reason i put no use of drugs for pain relief is that to me, water is pain relief and its still natural :yes:

neuralblokk

11-05-2008, 08:14

no pain relief! doesn't matter where it is

chicky2lala

11-05-2008, 08:27

no pain relief! doesn't matter where it is
:iagree:

BreithCuidiu

11-05-2008, 08:35

Just to clarify before this turns crazy -

By pain relief, I mean drugs or anything that is not natural pain relief. Anything administered by medical staff that is not:

TENS Machines, Water, Heat Packs, Homeopathic Remedies, Accupressure, Chinese Therapies, Hypnotherapy, Relaxation Techniques etc etc etc

Noah_and_Elijah

11-05-2008, 08:48

Natural birth to me is a vaginal birth with absolutely no pain relief (including gas) :thumbsup:

~Emmylou~

11-05-2008, 09:08

No pharmacological pain relief and no intervention.

stellarella

11-05-2008, 09:27

For me it means no intervention.....

No ARM, no induction (gel, drip, stretch and sweep)....no gas, pethidine, epidural, no managed third stage.....and generally includes delayed cord cutting....it also means minimal monitoring and certainly does not include a fetal scalp monitor for bub....basically letting nature do it.

Teley

11-05-2008, 09:45

To me, it means a vaginal birth delivery with no pharmaceutical intervention: that is, epidurals, gas, etc.
Water packs, birthing in water, showers, using incense etc. can still facilitate a natural birth IMHO.

RHJ

11-05-2008, 10:52

Yep, Vaginal birth, no drugs, no interventions.

Mummaholic

11-05-2008, 10:59

A vaginal birth

SPC

11-05-2008, 11:19

Normal vaginal delivery. Maybe still natural with gas and air, and a sweep, but not with induction, instrumental delivery, episiotomy or induction. But then, if you're just induced and then do everything else yourself from then on, that's pretty normal too.

Dora

12-05-2008, 12:51

:iagree:
To me it means a vaginal birth with no drugs.
Looks like majority think of it the same way.

naiwen

12-05-2008, 13:10

Too me it just means a Vaginal birth of any kind!

12-05-2008, 13:14

Homebirth. No vag exams and no intervention by a mw (if you have one)

To me hospital birth is completely unnatural. The first intervention in birth is stepping outside your front door.

Freya

12-05-2008, 13:16

To me it is vaginal birth with no use of medicated pain relief or other intervention. So that is including gas.

12-05-2008, 13:24

sockstealingpoltergeist

12-05-2008, 14:00

A vaginal Birth. Using whatever aids you like.

Kittylou

12-05-2008, 14:03

SorenLorensen

12-05-2008, 14:14

MilkOnTap

12-05-2008, 14:24

Natural birth to me is:

Vaginal delivery, no monitoring, no V'E's, no inductions, no S&S, no ARM, no instrumental delivery (ventuose, forceps), no managed 3rd stage, no drugs.

I had a vaginal delivery first time, but it was far from 'natural'.

:iagree:

im a prude and find it hard to say vagina in public

I'm just wondering... why? :confused:

Half of us humans have them - and the other half of us WANT them! ;) :laughing:

Vagina! Vagina! Vagina! :flowerz:

SorenLorensen

12-05-2008, 14:40

I'm just wondering... why? :confused:

Half of us humans have them - and the other half of us WANT them! ;) :laughing:

Vagina! Vagina! Vagina! :flowerz:
really i have no idea, i have no problem with others saying it and have no problem hearing it but i find it hard for myself to say it :confused:
mind you i do make sure DD knows its a vagina and that is what she should call it......i guess maybe growing up and and never actually saying vagina but foo foo instead had an impact on me

MrsO

12-05-2008, 15:08

To me a natural birth is a vaginal birth with no pharmacutical pain relief. Not so worried about the interventions, I still think it you are induced and get away with no drugs then that is a 'natural birth'. The thing is, it's a rare woman that gets a heap of intervention and can hold off on the drugs, don't think I could have.

A lot of people refer to a vaginal birth of any kind as a 'natural' birth, personally I don't agree with this. Trust me, I have seen some babies come out of vaginas and it is far from natural! I think people just have a thing about saying the word vagina, whenever I say it (and I say it regularly) my friends get really shocked and embarrassed. Pretty silly really, and I continue to say it so they better get used to it! :D

Vagina vagina vagina vagina...come on ladies, join in! (Am I hijacking? Sorry :))

SassyMummy

12-05-2008, 15:11

For me to class someone as having birthed naturally, they would have used no drugs (including gas - I know some people still use gas and call their births natural... but IMO, gas isn't natural), had no interventions, including being induced or having an episiotomy or whatever, and pushed their baby out of their vagina.

A TRULY natural birth though, IMO, would involve a woman NOT in a hospital. She could be at home, with a hands-off midwife or without one (because, IMO, even the most "natural" of tribespeople would use some sort of midwife - even just an experienced older woman attending to help out).

ComeBackKid

12-05-2008, 19:25

I have just always taken it to mean a vaginal birth.. I have never really considered it terms of intervention or pain relief. I use it as a point of comparison to c/s. but thats just me! :)

MummaBear03

12-05-2008, 19:32

i see it as
natural is vaginal, no drugs, no medical intervention
but if i was having a conversation with someone i would say a natural birth as a general term for vaginal birth....yeah im a prude and find it hard to say vagina in public :o:laughing:
I'm the same, a natural birth is no drugs or anything artificial, but wouldn't matter where it occured just so long as it wasn't including anything that's manufactured to actually assist in the birthing procedure, but in conversation it would just be "natural" or "c-section" as I also have problems saying vagina in public :o don't know why either :confused:

mum_I'm_hungry

12-05-2008, 19:40

Simply a vaginal birth without any drugs :yes:

PinkBinkie

12-05-2008, 19:48

I see any vaginal birth as a natural birth. I guess I've never thought that it was unnatural to have pain relief.
Anyway, I asked a new friend once if she had a vaginal birth, the other women in the group laughed at me as they'd never heard it put that way before. So for me it's known as a natural birth as it seems some women find it quite amusing hearing the word vagina!

fullofbeans

12-05-2008, 21:37

RedPanda

13-05-2008, 14:02

I would say it's a vaginal birth with no forceps, ventouse, induction etc.

I'm hesitant to say gas is a drug because while I know it isn't "natural" it does bugger all for pain relief. You might as well suck on a bike pump.

Student of Life

13-05-2008, 16:35

Natural birth to me is:

Vaginal delivery, no monitoring, no V'E's, no inductions, no S&S, no ARM, no instrumental delivery (ventuose, forceps), no managed 3rd stage, no drugs.

:iagree: Exactly.

pkbub

13-05-2008, 16:43

Hmmmm... interesting:detective:

This has got me thinking.

I always considered my birth experience natural because there was no C/S and no episiotomy or forceps or vac., and I did all the hard work to push, with plenty of natural pain.

But I was induced and had an epidural (though it only lasted the first half of the labour). So, some may label my experience otherwise.

I guess there is a big scale...from totally natural to c/s and a lot of us are somewhere in the middle.:D

julietv8

13-05-2008, 17:24

really i have no idea, i have no problem with others saying it and have no problem hearing it but i find it hard for myself to say it :confused:
mind you i do make sure DD knows its a vagina and that is what she should call it......i guess maybe growing up and and never actually saying vagina but foo foo instead had an impact on me

In my family a foo-foo valve was your bumhole :laughing:

Oh and I think a natural birth is any birth where the baby comes out of your vagina and you can feel it. I had a 24 hour posterior labour, Ollie came out of my vagina and it hurt like hell. I had some gas in the last few hours but I still consider myself to have had a natural birth.

DoulaRobyn

13-05-2008, 17:40

Depends on the circles you are discussing this in!

Generally, I would refer to natural birth as a vaginal delivery without drugs (that are used for pain relief).

stellarella

13-05-2008, 18:53

The gel they use for induction, syntocin (the drip in your arm for induction) and syntometrine (the injection given to birth the placenta) are all drugs! So is Nitrous Oxide and of course Pethidine...the drugs they use in Epidurals are hardcore!!

Drugs are not just used for pain relief. Drugs are given in childbirth for other things as well....

Uniquey

14-05-2008, 12:33

In answer to the original post, I have always just thought of 'natural birth' to mean, 'vaginal birth', nothing more, nothing less.

Little Gorilla

14-05-2008, 12:41

For me it means vaginal birth either in a hospital with OB, midwife present or not.

No drugs - including no gas.

Just the mum pushing the bub out using her own "power" without any help from any drugs.

Lillynix

14-05-2008, 15:04

Natural childbirth to me means...

Vaginal birth
No narcotics for pain relief (water, heat packs etc are fine)
Little to no intervention (occasional monitoring is fine, but no ARM, gel, drip, episiotimies, forceps or ventouse)
Physiological third stage (nothing to speed up the birth of placenta)

I think that sums it up!

**Use of forceps or ventouse to me means an assisted vaginal birth, therefore, not natural.

0BleSseD0

14-05-2008, 15:47

Natural (to me) means no pain relief or assistance.

That doesn't mean no tearing or stitching up. That's included.

Anything drug free that the birthing woman does with the strength of her own body.

I pretty much agree with xxxDragonFlyxxx.

You seem to have the right idea, friend. :thumbsup: :laughing:

allsgood

14-05-2008, 15:55

I had what I feel is a 'natural' birth ... virginal delivery with gas and epidural and suction cap. At nearly 11lbs that was as natural as it was going to be!

dragonflyblu

20-05-2008, 05:02

vaginal birth, no drugs at all. I had an epistiotomy but didn't have any pain killers (injections). For me a natural birth was really about no drugs at all, i wanted bubs to be born free of drugs. But I did have local to be stitched up.

dragonflyblu

20-05-2008, 05:03

oh yeah

VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA :laughing::yelclap::laughing: (-;

~Bec~

20-05-2008, 07:50

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I would believe "natural birth" covers all types of births. Why does human intervention make it not natural? Aren't we natural?

I've yet to hear a good definition of the word "natural" (with regard to any application, not just birth) so if someone can provide me with that I'd be very happy.

I'm sure plenty would disagree but this is my thoughts :) and the early morning ramblings of a cough ravaged mummy who hasn't had her morning coffee.

0BleSseD0

20-05-2008, 10:48

I've yet to hear a good definition of the word "natural" (with regard to any application, not just birth) so if someone can provide me with that I'd be very happy.
I do disagree with the other things you wrote.. But this really made me curious. So I went looking.

I thought this covered it pretty well:

being in accordance with or determined by nature

I like that one.
What do you think?

Although, after reading more I think I prefer this one.

living in or as if in a state of nature untouched by the influences of civilization and society.

~Bec~

20-05-2008, 11:02

I do disagree with the other things you wrote.. But this really made me curious. So I went looking.

I thought this covered it pretty well:

being in accordance with or determined by nature

I like that one.
What do you think?

Although, after reading more I think I prefer this one.

living in or as if in a state of nature untouched by the influences of civilization and society.

Hi :wave:

Some more ramblings from me in response...

The problem I have with such definitions is they tend to define "natural" as to have some association with what would happen in 'nature', which is usually defined as "without human interference". Does that mean that we as humans are not natural? That's what these definitions imply. I have been dwelling on this since it came up at during a lecture at uni and I thought I was really clever by defining natural as "without human interference". I discussed this with a lecturer who then gave me the scenario: a fish swimming about in water that has a level of mercury in that water and therefore fish that a number of years ago the fish wouldn't have been able to tollerate. Is the fish natural? So I'm back to square one and have been ever since I had that conversation back in 1991. :rolleyes:

SorenLorensen

20-05-2008, 11:09

Hi :wave:

Some more ramblings from me in response...

The problem I have with such definitions is they tend to define "natural" as to have some association with what would happen in 'nature', which is usually defined as "without human interference". Does that mean that we as humans are not natural? That's what these definitions imply. I have been dwelling on this since it came up at during a lecture at uni and I thought I was really clever by defining natural as "without human interference". I discussed this with a lecturer who then gave me the scenario: a fish swimming about in water that has a level of mercury in that water and therefore fish that a number of years ago the fish wouldn't have been able to tollerate. Is the fish natural? So I'm back to square one and have been ever since I had that conversation back in 1991. :rolleyes:
your making my brain hurt :dizzy::laughing:

interesting point though, i see what you are saying:yes:

bissym

08-07-2008, 07:50

...gas...does bugger all for pain relief. You might as well suck on a bike pump.

:laughing::laughing::laughing: :iagree:
Tried one suck but preferred to grip the bed rail for "pain relief".

Ys_Woman

10-07-2008, 15:59

This means different things to different people.

To me, it means a birth minus pain relief and intervention. It could be in a hospital or at home.

To others it can mean a birth without an epidural.

What does Natural Birth mean to you?
Allowing the body to do what it was designed to do without medical intervention.
That doesn't mean a natural birth can't involve a trained professional or support person for support and guidance, but if all goes well then just allowing the process to happen naturally and spontaneously.

Amy:)

nick's mum

22-07-2008, 09:55

I would consider that I had a natural birth with my 1st son (2nd son due Oct 31). To me that means vaginal delivery without medical intervention. I did have the gas though - so according to some comments on this forum - it wasn't natural - although most people can't believe I didn't want an epidural or pethadine etc.

C-section is my worst nightmare and if I need one for some unavoidable reason I don't particularly want to be awake for it. I suppose by natural I am not aiming for the spiritual interpretation - I just didn't want needles, drugs, cutting or foreign objects stuck into me.

I'm ok with gas (and gel - if things are really going slow - although that could result in needing further interventions which I don't want). I hope to have a natural birth again but I can only make that decision depending on the circumstances at the time, how well I zone out and go with it (as I know what's coming this time)....

anewme

22-07-2008, 09:59

A vaginal birth

:iagree:

indigoin0z

22-07-2008, 10:04

mother being left to her own body instincts & feelings without others interupting her process with their egotistical & fear based opinions or interventions.

amandaw

22-07-2008, 10:12

I agree! A viginal birth is natural to me no matter if u had intervention or not! I had an epidural and forceps not by choice but if i didnt i woud have lots my little boy. I had planned it to be different and wish it coud have been but it wasnt to be, so to me i am proud of what i did and consider it natural.

It's funny - before actually reading all the posts in this thread I thought of both my births (both with low level gas for about 1/2 an hour, and an episiotomy and suction with DD) as natural :laughing: But obviously some are more natural than others!

JohBD

22-07-2008, 10:17

I agree with most of the forum members. To me it means vaginal birth with no drugs.

mrsgrumpygills

22-07-2008, 15:49

I had accupuncture to avoid being induced which worked very well. I had a completely drug free childbirth and consider the accupuncture to be part of a natural childbirth

alphafemale2901

22-07-2008, 16:03

vaginal birth with no drugs or medical intervention.

forbetoel

22-07-2008, 16:04

Vagina. No drugs. No intervention. Happy mum. Healthy bubs.

wiggleslover

22-07-2008, 20:51

vaginal birth

melindaholder

23-07-2008, 09:12

I was a home birth baby, born into the loving arms of my father in a quiet intervention free environment on my uncles farm. Natural birth to me is a birth without fear, pain or tension in a calm no fuss environment. It is as mother nature intended. For those who have watched animals and people give birth in such environments this shows the raw instinctive and primitive power of the body to perform.

Mum2Bella

23-07-2008, 09:43

Natural birth to me is a vaginal birth with no drugs/gas

what is ARM?iv seen it metioned a few times in this thread,yes im a mum to 5 n i have no idea what ARM is

Duchessa

23-07-2008, 11:42

Unhindered, unaugmented, unmedicalised, unpharmaceuticalised, unappropriated, unOBstructed. As nature intended.

MamaKoala

23-07-2008, 12:18

I consider natural to mean no medications and no third stage help vaginal delivery. OB or Midwife assistance is fine with me because if it weren't for midwife assistance with my second birth I would have had a brain damaged or stillborn baby, due to the cord being wrapped tightly around the babies neck and my strong pushing urge, it would have strangled the baby. I was so traumatised by the fear in the midwifes voice and the emergency bell being hit by my mother (instead of the light switch that the midwife told her to press) and the 6 or so medical staff running into the room that I requested they give me the shot to induce the placenta (I was originally going to wait for my body to expell it) so I could go have a shower and get away from everyone for a minute to calm down. Other than that I considered my birthing stage natural.
I would consider it unnatural for a mother to birth completely on her own without anyone of experience to be there if something went wrong.