Natural childbirth

Natural childbirth is a philosophy of childbirth that is based on the belief that women who are adequately prepared are innately able to give birth without routine medical interventions. Natural childbirth arose in opposition to the techno-medical model of childbirth that has gained popularity in the industrialized world.

History

The term "natural childbirth" was coined by obstetrician Grantly Dick-Read upon publication of his book Natural Childbirth in the 1930s, which was followed by the 1942 Childbirth Without Fear. Dick-Read was influenced by psychoanalysis and was the first to write about the principle of neocortical inhibition, which suggests that fear and tension can inhibit the birth process.

Philosophy

The philosophy of natural childbirth believes in the innate ability of the woman's body to give birth. This philosophy holds that childbirth is a normal physiological process and that, in most cases, a healthy woman and her baby can initiate and carry out this process without intervention. This philosophy is often associated with a belief in the benefits of allowing labor to start and progress without medical intervention, unless an actual complication arises that necessitates it.

Methods

There are many methods and techniques associated with natural childbirth, including the Bradley Method, Lamaze technique, hypnobirthing, water birth, and home birth. These methods often involve education about the physiological process of birth, the provision of skills to cope with the pain of labor, and the encouragement of a woman's confidence in her ability to give birth.

Benefits and risks

The benefits of natural childbirth can include a sense of empowerment for the woman, the avoidance of unnecessary medical interventions, and the opportunity for the woman to be actively involved in the birth process. However, there are also potential risks, including the risk of unrelieved labor pain and the risk of a complication requiring emergency medical intervention.

See also

• Childbirth
• Home birth
• Water birth
• Midwifery
• Doula