What is "Natural Childbirth"?

Question

Hi, this is a bit of a vent post but really I am interested in your kind comments, and perspective.
I've had 2 Homebirths (obviously unmedicated). I am extremely proud of myself that I've had "natural childbirths". It does bother me though when people use the term "natural childbirth" when they actually should say "medicated vaginal birth". Or they say they had a "natural childbirth" because they didn't get an epidural but they still had other meds and intervention such as cytotech, pitocin or pain relievers like Demerol. Here's my favorite, it was a natural childbirth because "my epidural wore off, didn't work, or I got it at 8cm"
I don't believe that all of these scenarios should be classified as natural childbirth. 
Or am I the one using the wrong terminology? 
Why does it matter to me? I dunno, it just does.
What do you think?

Answer

I totally agree. Natural childbirth is medication free and I also think IV free.
I see this the same as the co sleeping issue. There is bed sharing, co sleeping, and room sharing. They are all different. If your baby shares your room but sleeps in a crib, you're not going to say you bed share.

Answer

I don't think it matters. Maybe I'll feel more strongly about it after my homebirth in May. It's not a competition, but I think by getting too caught up in the terminology we are saying that a having a natural birth somehow makes us better than women who chose to have other types of births. That's not the case. I don't look down on women who choose other types of births, just like I don't look down on women who choose fertility treatments instead of conceiving "naturally."

Answer

I agree. I tend to use the term unmedicated to be clear when I mean no medication. And natural when I mean natural. And say vaginal when that's what I mean.

But it's not a judgement call. It's just to be clear because I think meanings matter.

I've had births that fall along the spectrum. My first was in a hospital. Unmedicated but not what I would feel comfortable calling natural. My second was an actual natural birth at home. My third was a transfer from home and my only medicated birth.

Again not a judgement call in itself. Or a contest at all. Just clarity.

Answer

I wonder if my water birth is not considered natural to you bc I had medication to help my blood clot and lidocaine to numb me before stitches.

Answer

I don't think being induced with cytotec or pitocin should disqualify a birth from being "natural". While no, it's not "natural" to be induced, there comes a point when no doctor around you will allow you to deliver vaginally after 42 weeks. I consider natural to mean no pain meds. Also, being induced with cytotec and pitocin often times makes your contractions much more painful and closer together so induced labors can be more painful than a labor that's not induced. I was induced with cytotec (never again! I hadn't researched it prior!) and my contractions were like this for 10 hours straight with no pain meds. Then I gave in as I was still only dilated to 1cm and I got an epi and dilated to 6cm an hour later and had my baby 3 hours after that. If it's hard to tell in the pic, my contractions were lasting a full minute from start to stop and I got about 20 seconds of a break in between them.

Answer

Why worry about it? You do you, quit your fretting about what others think the terminology might mean, or if they don't use it the way you approve with. You give birth way you want and are happy with and others do the same.  The end.

Answer

Yes. I get so confused when someone says they had a natural birth just because they delivered vaginaly.

Answer

Seems as tho you expected an award😂😂 oops looks like your prize was the same as every other mom even those that had a c section (gasp!) A healthy baby.

Answer

I had a homebirth with my first born and planning a second now (due in Jan). I always say I've had an unmedicated home birth. Some people use laughing gas and other things through birth center or even home births. I don't like the term natural because I think every birth is natural. Our bodies were made to birth children, whether that be a cesarean or a medicated vaginal birth. That's why I use the term unmedicated.

Answer

You are completely correct with terminology. For most people a natural birth is a baby born from the vagina, or the use of no pain medication. They don't think about spontaneous labor or anything like that.

What is "Natural Childbirth"?

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