The Easiest Way to Understand & Prepare For a Natural Birth in San Diego

What is a natural birth?

Natural birth traditionally refers to giving birth through vaginal labor without the use of epidurals, analgesics, or anesthesia, usually under the care of a midwife or physician.

At A Family Affair Birth Center, all of our labors are overseen by Licensed Midwives. While we do not offer epidurals, it’s important to remember that a woman’s body is innately created to birth babies. If you have questions about how labor works, feel free to ask our Midwives. They can explain why an epidural is not the only option available.

Although there are situations where an epidural can be extremely helpful and medically necessary to help a woman relax and facilitate the birthing process, it is not the only way to give birth. In fact, many of our clients come to realize that labor is not something being “done to them.” Instead, it is the power of their bodies working in waves, not in a continuous cycle of contractions and pain, to bring their baby into the world.

What they experience is truly remarkable—it’s the power of their bodies collaborating with their babies in a once-in-a-lifetime journey. A woman is strong and capable of handling anything, one 60-second segment at a time.

“While many use the term Natural Birth, we prefer to use the term Unmedicated Birth, due to the confusion and often the sense of shame some women have felt after needing to use epidurals during labor. While we understand and support the desire to skip epidurals, there are times when an epidural becomes needed to help the body relax, to complete dilation, and to go on to complete the vaginal delivery intended.”

• Simply put, an unmedicated birth utilizes drug-free therapies or practices to reduce the pain of labor.
• Those include position changes to allow the baby more space to navigate as labor progresses.
• Utilizing hydrotherapy, either a warm soaking tub or relaxing under a shower, helps stimulate the skin’s surface to redirect pain signals away from the brain.
• Massage and acupressure points also help scramble and divert those same pain signals, allowing labor to be experienced one surge or contraction at a time, with breaks in between.

Back to the term Natural Birth, the goal is to avoid the medical management of starting labor (via a process called “induction” to get it started or “augmentation” to keep it going) and the potential cascade of interventions that often occur when labor is not allowed to progress in its own natural timeline, free from routine medical interventions if they are not medically necessary.

And while this is not always possible, in a healthy pregnancy free from evidence of risk factors, an unmedicated birth can be a rewarding experience and an absolutely beautiful way to welcome your baby into the world.

What to expect from natural birth

With an unmedicated birth, it’s important to take childbirth preparation classes to understand what your body will go through during labor. We often find that the fear of the unknown is much scarier than knowing what to expect for both you and your baby.

You can use comforting techniques such as walking, taking a warm bath or shower, and doing simple stretches or gentle yoga to help you manage your contractions.

Childbirth education classes are essential. There are various philosophies to explore, so take the time to find the ones that resonate with you. Additionally, we must not overlook the value of having a birth doula to support you during this experience.

What will it feel like?

Labor pains will vary from what feels like strong menstrual cramps to surges that envelop your entire abdomen. Labor is work—hard work, but keep in mind your body was designed to do this special work, and you are strong.

We tell our clients not to get overwhelmed by the thought of the entire process. Instead, focus on taking each contraction one at a time. Labor isn’t something being done to you; it is the result of the strength of your body working to deliver your baby.

You are not a victim of this process. Your body is the source of the force behind it. You are strong and powerful, and your body is so wise.

How long will it take?

The length of labor is not easily defined; it remains one of life’s true mysteries. Each labor progresses at its own pace. For some, the labor process may last just a few hours, while others may need a day or longer to deliver their baby. Remember, you are strong and capable of handling it, one minute at a time.

How to prepare for a natural birth

If you’ve decided to proceed with a natural birth, here are some ideas that might help you prepare:

1. Select a provider who supports natural birth: Choose a healthcare provider who respects and supports your decision for a natural birth.
2. Create a birth wish list: Instead of calling it a birth plan (since we know we can’t fully plan how birth will go), create a wish list outlining your preferences for labor and delivery.
3. Take childbirth education classes: Enroll in childbirth education classes and commit to practicing what you learn. Building muscle memory and creating emotional memory for relaxation are essential. Remember that this is not the time to rely on Type-A skills; focus on letting go.
4. Work with your support system: Once you know which techniques resonate with you, collaborate with your partner, doula, childbirth educator, or midwife to develop a delivery plan. Determine which focusing techniques you want to use and explore options for addressing potential complications. Being proactive in your planning can help you make informed decisions on the day of delivery.
5. Practice breathing exercises and visualization techniques: Utilize breathing exercises and visualization to help you manage the sensations of labor, focusing on just one minute at a time (which is about how long each contraction lasts).
6. Involve your support team: Pair these techniques with your partner, doula, or another birthing companion for added support during labor.
7. Practice, practice, practice: The day you go into labor should not be your first time trying out these techniques. Work out any issues ahead of time with your support team. Your childbirth educator or doula can help organize practice sessions to ensure you feel confident when the time comes.

By following these steps, you can feel more prepared and empowered for your natural birth experience.

What are the benefits and risks of a natural birth?

As with many things in life, natural birth has pros and cons. We’ve listed the benefits and risks together so you can make an informed choice.

The benefits of natural birth

While many come to natural birth to avoid pain medications, there are other benefits to choosing a natural birthing process:

• Freedom to move: Since you aren’t tethered to a hospital bed, you can walk around, take hot showers, push against an exercise ball, or do any other physical activity that helps ease the labor pains.
• Pushing could be more effective: Pain relievers reduce one’s ability to feel one’s body, so avoiding them means one has better control over one’s muscles, allowing pushes to be more effective when delivering.
• Walking around sooner: Without medications fogging your mind or limiting your mobility, you’ll be able to get up and walk sooner after your delivery. Walking helps to speed up recovery and prevent other post-birth complications.

The risks of natural birth

Unmedicated births have risks associated with them, so they should also be considered:

• Labor is work, and the pain of childbirth may be more significant than some expect.
• Your body will be working as hard as running a marathon. You need to build, replenish, and maintain your energy stores to help prevent exhaustion and fatigue, the leading cause of transfers.
• Birthing in an out-of-hospital setting does mean that we are not able to provide epidurals, and are not right downtime hall from an operating room. However, your midwives will carefully monitor your labor progress and make sure you and your baby are both doing well. Should a rare need arise, or you hit that point of exhaustion and simply want to get an epidural so you can rest, we are located directly across the street from Palomar Hospital – Poway Campus, and can also make all transfer arrangements with he hospital of your choice. We are here to support you as you navigate your journey of childbirth.