what counts as "natural birth"

Question

Just a question I have, when ladies talk of having an all natural birth, does that mean no gas??? When I delivered my first full term baby I asked for pain meds, which didn't seem to do anything for the pain. It was way too late to get an epidural, but the gas really seemed to help. (or was it because I was concentrating on my breathing? ;)

Answer

I hate the term myself because unless you’re alone in a field, you’re probably having a midwife who uses modern tools, a doctor, a hospital or clean birthing space that takes advantage of modern inventions and knowledge. 
So I have always referred to it as unmedicated birth instead. 
And usually people mean that when they say “natural”. Gas and air aren’t so common in the US, so it seems like there’s some debate over whether that counts as “natural”. But in general I think it’s a bad term anyway.

Answer

I'd say natural means vaginal vs a c section/ surgery... and then if it's natural/ vaginal is it medicated or unmedicated?

Answer

To me gas would still be part of a “natural” birth. I think perhaps stronger pain relief or an epidural would mean not natural in my opinion but I really just think any birth is as valid as the next, and people should just do what they have/need to in order to get through it!

Answer

I would say gas is still natural. Anything beyond that and I would question calling it a natural birth.

Answer

To me no pain meds, epidural or anything would be natural delivery. I had a natural hospital birth. I didn’t even have an iv and the midwife barely made it in time. I don’t think they offer gas here but to me that would not be a natural birth.

what counts as "natural birth"

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