To some, the term "natural birth" means a vaginal birth (i.e., not a cesarean). Some people think that any intervention at all nullifies the term "natural" (for example, suctioning the baby with a bulb syringe). Obviously, these are two extremes. How do you define natural birth? When you hear that term, what comes to mind? What came to mind before you had a baby?
Tracey
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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Just because they did it that way in 1880 doesn't mean that's "natural" or better. On the other hand, just because someone invented epidurals doesn't mean it's good to have one.
I was surprised to have this vocabulary problem when we chose natural birth. I'd had no other connotations for the term, so I was taken aback when others (like my mom) followed their declarations of having experienced natural birth with some aside about others who have natural birth but without an epidural.
Having hung out with people like you way before I ever thought of having a baby, I had a fairly "natural" definition of natural birth, I think. That is, vaginal birth without pain relievers, inducing medications, etc.
I suppose I would say things get unnatural when there is some intrusion of medical personnel or procedures on the birth itself. So I'm thinking of things that impede the mother's natural ability to birth the baby in the way she has been biologically equipped to do.
This isn't always negative: if a C-section is necessary to preserve the life of mother and baby, then the birth ceases to be "natural" but produces a wonderful result and is the best course of action.
So I would venture to say that natural birth is the experience of birth and bonding in a literally unaffected manner. Not necessarily, though, in a traditional manner.
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