Written by: Viviane Schima, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We all know a baby changes everything. Expecting a baby brings a lot more than just finding the right changing table, the right diapers, and the right baby wipes.
All of a sudden, your days are filled with ultrasound screenings, planning a baby shower, and browsing the internet on pain management during childbirth. You do your research and you decide on going natural with as few birth interventions as possible. You tell your doctor, family, and friends only to be flooded with advice you didn’t ask for.
The reason many natural births fail is because the mother doesn’t have the proper support she needs.
I crafted a list of things to consider when going natural and what to look out for.
5 things to know when having a natural, pain-free birth
1. Location Matters
When to start thinking about the location where you want to birth your baby?
Short answer:
As soon as possible. Some countries require you to register for a hospital of your choice before giving birth. However, capacity is limited, and postponing this seemingly unimportant task may leave you with very few options. Therefore, the best plan is simply: ’there is no such thing as planning too early on the where.’
Where to give birth plays a part in determining who will assist you during birth and what your overall birthing outcome will be.
What are your options?
Hospitals
Choosing to birth your baby in a hospital is by far the most traditional option for a whopping 98% of American women.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, the average cost for a hospital birth ranges from $6,000-to $8,000.
Though considered the traditional and custom way to birth a baby, hospitals are notorious for their high rate of interventions during the birthing process. These include induction, continuous fetal monitoring preventing the Mama from changing positions, administering IV fluids, epidurals, Pitocin drips, instrument-assisted births (like forceps or vacuum extraction), and episiotomies due to vaginal tearing, which all cause a so-called ‘cascade of interventions.’
This cascade of interventions leads, in low-risk women, to 30% more emergency c-sections overall (that’s a big number!). At hospitals, OB-GYNs are in charge.
Truven Health Analytics put the average price of vaginal delivery in a hospital at $30,000.
Things to consider:
When giving birth at a hospital, you may be separated from your baby for a considerable amount of time and this can interfere with successful breastfeeding. Hospital policy often doesn’t allow ‘rooming-in,’ meaning you might be forced to send your baby off to the nursery for the night.
Birth Centers
Key Phrase: Greater Comfort. Birth centers place particular emphasis on low-intervention, natural/vaginal childbirth. Interventions that are considered standard care at hospitals aren’t performed nor available at a birth center.
Though it may surprise you, birth centers are, in many respects, safer than hospitals when it comes to childbirth.
A study in 2013 published in Health Services Research found that women who delivered at birth centers were less likely to have an instrument-assisted birth. On top of that, women delivering at birth centers were less likely to be induced, had less vaginal tearing, and were less likely to have a Cesarean, and their babies were less likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Midwives are the primary caregivers.
Things to consider:
Birth at a birth center costs substantially less than birth at a hospital. The American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American Association of Birth Centers both put the average price right around $2,000.
Birth centers are intended only for low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancies.
If you have a high deductible, you may pay less for uninsured midwifery care at a birth center than what you’d be responsible for out-of-pocket (after insurance) at a hospital.
Home Birth
Home births have seen a 56% bump in the last decade alone. The numbers speak for themselves. Only 5.2% of women who home-birthed ended up having a Cesarean.
Further, 86% of home birth babies were exclusively breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum.
Overall, researchers concluded that the majority of women had ‘excellent’ outcomes.
If you’re planning on home birth, both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the American Pregnancy Association recommends choosing a certified nurse-midwife or a physician to assist and accompany you.
Good home birth candidates must:
Be in excellent health
Be committed to a natural birth
Have a solid and firm support system
Live near a quality hospital (rule of thumb: Thirty minutes from decision to incision)
Check your insurance plan ‒ home births aren’t always covered
Things to consider:
If you’re considering giving birth at home, it will take a serious level of commitment.
If you’re set on home birth, I would encourage you to take a childbirth education class and, most importantly, get a doula. Some doulas offer a childbirth education class during their time spent with you.
Starting with consciously picking a location that will support your feelings, values, opinions, and wishes is the first step towards your most amazing birthing experience.
2. How to choose a supportive health care provider and what to look out for
Assuming you’re all set with your location, you can now dive deep into what type of healthcare provider you’d like by your side to accompany and guide you on your pregnancy and motherhood journey.
Lisa Rankin, M.D., a popular TEDx speaker, and published author, talks about how the mind can heal your body. However, she emphasizes the fact that for your mind to be able to heal your body, you need to have a supportive healthcare provider by your side.
Midwives
Midwives are trained to focus on wellness, whole-body health, and prevention. They are firm supporters of natural, vaginal births, provide personalized rather than routine care, and empower Mamas to make informed decisions.
Midwives can be found all over the world and some might even fly over if your mind is set on it and if your energies align, however, there are a few exemptions to the rule. Midwifery care is not as strongly integrated into the American health system as it is in other countries, particularly those in Europe. For example, in Sweden, virtually all pregnancies are overseen by midwives.
Many states across America still have archaic and discriminatory laws in place. This is because midwives were completely banned and considered folk healers with witchcraft possessions in the 1800s.
Because of this, there are many different types of midwives with different responsibilities across the country. The American College of Nurse-Midwives will help you find the right one for you.
Physicians or OB-GYN
We often forget OB-GYNs are, actually, surgeons. Therefore, they tend to hold a ‘medical management’ view of childbirth and heavily rely on technology, such as the use of frequent or continuous electronic fetal monitoring, IV fluids and medication, and birth induction.
There is no doubt a midwife can be a huge asset when it comes to planning all-natural childbirth. However, hiring a midwife might just not be possible in some very special circumstances. There is no need to worry! You can still have a natural childbirth and a supporting physician.
What to look out for?
It is important to ask your physician how they feel and where they stand on interventions, vaginal births, and overall natural approach. A natural-minded physician will prioritize low intervention, support vaginal births, allow you to move freely while birthing (squatting/walking/getting on all fours), and listen to your questions, concerns, opinions, and wishes.
When talking to your prospective physician, notice what questions they ask.
Does your physician ask you about your nutrition and whether or not you drink soda or diet soda regularly?
Does your physician care to take a look at your copper-to-zinc ratios?
Does your physician inform you about the VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds that evaporate into the surrounding air from different objects) that might lurk in your home?
Does your physician know and inform you that the leading cause of miscarriage is mouth bacteria that penetrate your bloodstream?
If your answers are a yes to all, go and give your doctor a big hug because they deserve it! And don't let go of them for the rest of your life!
These are just a fraction of what your physician should care about.
Needless to say, you know you’ve found a well-educated and supporting physician if they honor your feelings, wishes, and birth plan.
How do I know what’s the right choice for me?
No one can truly decide for you whom you should choose as your primary care provider, Mama. It all depends on your feelings, emotions, beliefs, values, priorities, opinions, and last but not least, insurance coverage. If you do have the option to choose without a limit, pick what your heart is closest to.
Hiring a doula and/or a midwife, while being supervised by your holistic physician and/or osteopath, solely relies on the connection, bond, and relationship you have with each other.
3. Work that pelvis, Mama!
Focusing on the proper alignment of your pelvis can encourage your baby to move into the ‘right’ position for birth.
This topic isn’t without controversy, as the effectiveness of prenatal exercises as they relate to a baby’s position in utero is largely inconclusive. But to me, it seems only logical that if your pelvis is opened and aligned, your birth will be much easier.
Plus, it only takes a couple of minutes a day and no matter from which point of view we look at it, exercise is only beneficial for your body and mind.
1 SITTING
You might be thinking, “How is sitting considered an exercise?”
The further along you are on your pregnancy journey, the more your baby weighs, and carrying that extra weight may take its toll on your core and back. Doing this exercise is beneficial from the end of the second trimester until birth.
The key is to resist the urge of reclining in big couches, beds, La-Z-Boy, and gliders, even though it’s probably exactly where you’d want to spend the majority of your pregnancy.
Reclining not only compresses your pelvis, but it also puts pressure on some major nerves and blood vessels in your back, which can cause pain during birth and deprive the baby of oxygen (not to mention leave you feeling dizzy, light-headed- not exactly the goal if we’re aiming for an amazing birthing experience).
Leaning back also pushes your baby to lean back in your uterus, putting pressure on your spine. What we want to achieve is to have your baby’s back the heaviest part of their little body resting against your tummy.
The best way to achieve this is to sit in a chair with your pelvis tilted slightly forward, and your hips elevated above your knees. Imagine sitting on a barstool, where your legs are far beneath your hips. An exercise/‘birthing’ ball is great for this.
Another option is to sit crossed-legged, which pushes your hips forward, stretches the legs, and opens up the pelvis.
If you feel you need a break from this way of sitting, try lying on your side with your upper hip leaning forward and your knee resting on a pillow.
The goal is to avoid leaning back as much as possible as this will cause your baby to press against your spine with their back. This, in turn, can cause birth to stall, make it harder for the baby to pass through your birth canal, and, overall, make your birthing experience painful.
2 EXERCISE
Do not worry. We’re not training for the Olympics, so there is no need to get up in the morning and perform an hour of pure cardio. After all, we want to keep you and your baby safe but healthy.
20-30 minutes a day of light exercise is enough and bathroom breaks count too, which you’ll do more frequently anyway once your baby starts squeezing your bladder.
Walking, swimming, yoga, and stretching are excellent ways to stay limber and stay within a healthy limit.
4. Doulas aka Birth Angels
Doulas are trained pregnancy and birth specialists who provide non-medical virtual or in-person care to expectant Mamas.
Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe or administer medications, or perform clinical procedures. However, a doula can advise you on natural remedies and provide resources such as books and research, which we know by now, Mama: always do your research!
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists acknowledge that doula care is ‘one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes.’
The point of working with a doula is to feel supported and empowered before and during pregnancy, birth, and afterbirth period. Knowing you are in control over your own body is one of the key factors to having the most amazing birthing experience! After all, you were designed to birth. A doula plays the role of a guide and mentor, who will walk with you every step of the way on your motherhood journey.
Guide and educator
A doula’s focus is entirely on mothering the mother. A doula works with you on different pain management techniques such as introducing you to pressure point massages, aroma therapy, music therapy, and working on your positive pregnancy and birth affirmations, which will boost your confidence. A doula also helps you and your partner be better advocates, in part by encouraging you to communicate with staff about your birth plan should you choose to birth your baby/ies in a hospital environment - this is why doulas are a key element to your most amazing birthing experience when giving birth in a high-intervention hospital.
Did you know that new mothers expected their nurse to spend at least half of their time (53%) offering support, but only 6%-10% of the nurse’s time was engaged in birth support activities? A doula will always be with you, either virtually or in person.
Doulas, in particular, can provide a unique kind of reassurance to high-risk women. But a doula is far more than a glorified cheerleader. Doula-attended births are associated with demonstrably better outcomes. Giving birth in a clinical setting, like a hospital’s standard maternity ward, can undermine a Mama’s confidence in her ability to give birth naturally and spontaneously. Doulas, however, give Mamas their confidence back!
Conclusion?
A doula is a perfect person to describe what you can expect physically on the big day and help you prepare mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually for motherhood. A doula will also establish a solid birth plan with you, explain common procedures, prepare you for different scenarios that might happen during childbirth and how to act should such scenarios occur, and share her first-hand wisdom.
Mountains of research show the benefits of having a doula by your side. Women who receive this kind of continuous care, support, guidance, mentoring, and companionship during pregnancy and birth are:
More likely to have a spontaneous, vaginal birth
Less likely to need an epidural - a whooping 60% less likely, to be precise
More likely to establish a successful start to breastfeeding
Less likely to need a vacuum extraction or forceps assistance
Babies are more likely to go full-term
Less likely to birth via Cesarean
Less likely to have negative feelings about childbirth
The best part to know about working with a doula?
Your insurance may cover part of the investment! True, doula care is, without doubt, an investment, but I have yet to meet a woman who regrets having worked with one.
5. Mindset and energy
Having the invaluable opportunity to work with Mamas has given me the chance to find the cause of negative beliefs, fears, and doubts and, more importantly, how to uproot them.
I realized one cannot have a truly amazing, pain-free birth without letting go of these negative beliefs, fears, doubts, and uncertainties, which are all lurking there waiting to take their toll on our mindset.
I’m a firm believer in energy and that what we put out there is what lies within us ‒ what we internalize is what we externalize. No matter whether the energy is positive or less positive, it is all a projection of how we feel inside.
To have a truly amazing, pain-free birthing experience, we have to first work on identifying our false beliefs, fears, and doubts, release them, and then re-discover our true beliefs.
I am saying ‘re-discover’ because all our true beliefs lie within us, we just have to find them again, dust them off, reignite them, and put them to use.
Did this make the possibility of going natural real? Are you ready to take control, own your decisions like a Mom Boss, be one of the10% of Mamas, and make the best out of your pregnancy and birth? Book a call with me today.
Viviane Schima, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Viviane Schima is a Newborn Care & Breastfeeding specialist, founder of The AH-mazing, Pain-Free Birth Formula™, Mama Coach and a podcast host. As a certified Lactation Consultant & Doula, Viviane uses her expert knowledge and more than ten years of experience to provide mothers with the support they need and the results they want. She believes that making informed decisions creates a path to empowerment and owning your choices. For Viviane, this empowerment journey begins with preconception, to the moment of conception, and beyond. Viviane is an enthusiastic advocate of breastfeeding, low intervention births and “skin-to-skin” contact after birth. “Creating a strong and healthy community starts at home."
