The usage of Pitocin, Epidurals, and other medicines has transformed the nature of labor from being mostly reliant on the path of natural childbirth to be highly managed.
Modern childbirth has eliminated the “sweet pain” that accompanies labor and the pain that accompanies it. It’s more than just a cherished memory for mom but also a healthy exercise for both her and the baby. Unknown to many, natural childbirth has a lot of health benefits.
Free Mobility During Labor
Highly managed childbirth means a lot of apparatus is attached to the mother, like IVs, EFM, or Electronic Fetal Monitoring and epidural. Moms who are in labor may find it difficult to stay in bed during labor. This limits mom’s movements while in labor and may discourage her from having more children.
Walking can also help moms induce childbirth. Freedom of movement gives mothers a better chance at vaginal birth and some convenient control of the experience. But with all the apparatus connected to her during highly managed childbirths, this would be an impossibility, especially when the administration of epidural is followed by insertion of a catheter.
Moreover, moms about to give birth who are able to drink and eat have better stamina to last the entire event. In a highly managed childbirth, this is not possible to achieve.
Interventions Often Mean More Interventions
Interventions during childbirth often necessitate more interventions until everything ends up in a possible Cesarean birth or C-section. A doctor may have to give you Pitocin to help labor if the epidural procedure slows down your labor. Or, if labor were induced without you or your baby is ready, no natural oxytocin would be produced for contractions. Again, that would warrant another intervention.
Avoiding a C – Section
The mother and the infant are significantly more prone to problems when a baby is born by C-section. Natural delivery can lower the possibility of a C-section and its risks by 30 to 50%. Planning a natural birth with licensed and trained professional midwives can greatly prevent it. Seeking the help of a doula accordingly decreases the risk by 60 to 80 percent. Continuous EFM use during labor, however, can increase the chances of Cesarean birth, according to a Cochrane review.
In a post on the NCBI site, it was found in a study that, “continuous cardiotocography (EFM) was associated with an increase in cesarean sections and instrumental vaginal births” like the use of vacuum extraction and forceps.
Now, you can decide what type of childbirth you’ll choose, but natural is almost always the better choice.
