AIBU to think that the term 'natural birth' might cause upset to others?

[Mitzicoco]

I had two water births. One fairly straightforward and the other not so (thank god I was in a hospital). When chatting to other mothers through NCT or baby groups I noticed that a lot of people referred to their births as natural. Nothing wrong with that, but I just wondered if I might feel upset by these comments if I had had a c-section, or some other delivery. Surely every birth is natural? What do you think?

I had a c section and couldn’t care less what you call it.

Only if you think “natural” is somehow better.
I would have had a “natural” death in childbirth.
DS would have died “naturally” because he couldn’t breastfeed.
People who think natural means better are nuts.

I'm sure some women say natural to avoid having to say the word vaginal.

I think if people feel upset by someone using the term natural birth then they need to have a word with themselves and develop some resilience.

This is just looking for new ways to upset women or be offended. A C-section is not natural, that doesn't mean it isn't bloody fantastic and a credit to modern medicine. I had a 'natural' birth and would have also would have 'naturally' lost my baby. The breathing apparatus he was on wasn't natural, the phototherapy he had wasn't natural.
Why on earth would 'natural' mean better? Who thinks that?

Well it is natural. And having a c section isn’t natural. Neither is an assisted delivery.

I can’t see what there is to get offended by. It’s not like they’re called gold silver and bronze. Or winners delivery and losers!

It’s a term that tends to have me internally rolling my eyes, but it’s not one I find offensive.

FWIW, one of my babies was an emergency c-section. If he’d been born “naturally” he’d almost certainly have been stillborn. Natural isn’t always best.

Surely all births are 'natural' regardless of how the baby gets out.

Not sure what they mean by natural, what exactly is an unnatural birth?

I had three babies, two of them with no pain relief at all. Is that what they mean by 'natural', or are they referring to virginal births? Not an expression I've ever used.

Whatever, they sound a bit silly tbh, as if they're trying to make themselves feel superior for the way they gave birth.

Totally agree with @ValleyoftheHorses and came on to say similar! I also think that some people say 'natural' instead of vaginal. I also think people have different definitions of this though, someone asked me if I had a 'natural' birth and I wasn't really sure what they meant, I said 'well I had an epidural and forceps but yes she came out of my vagina'!

I have to say on a personal level I agree.
That is to say that I had two EMCS (one preemie born under GA followed by a failed VBAC).
I so wanted a ‘natural’ water birth and yes I have struggled with the idea that the term ‘natural birth’ implies that my experience was unnatural and therefore wrong in some way.
Having said that, I have suffered with PTSD and PND and I do recognise and understand that my feelings about the term ‘natural birth’ are linked to my own insecurities and traumas.
I do not think anyone uses the term ‘natural birth’ to belittle C section Mother’s or even those who chose to use pain relief for example and as such I would never expect anyone to adjust the language they use around their own birth experience for my benefit.

YANBU, I dislike the term myself. Natural isn't necessarily better but that's the subtext I think, so I don't like it because I worry that if mothers who have given birth by c-section feel that their birth was somehow "less than", it could contribute to that.

BestBefore I think you're right, people say natural birth because they don't like saying vaginal birth!

What is a "natural" birth though? It's not very natural to give birth in a hospital or even a birth centre... it's not very natural to use any kind of pain relief (a drug-free birth could still involve a TENS machine for example) or to have an instrumental delivery... so if "natural" means an intervention-free vaginal birth at home with no pain relief, I doubt many women have those!

I agree with Bestbeforeyesterday. It's the linguistic equivalent of chair leg covers.

There's nothing about a Caesarian birth, so YABU.

There was nothing natural about the conception or birth of my twins, and I am not offended at all by the term “natural birth” to mean vaginal birth. I’m just thankful that science has advanced so much that I could have them!!!

I had an elective c section with my second due to a very traumatic vaginal birth with my first and I couldn’t care less what people call it. Natural or vaginal or whatever. I am perfectly happy with my choice and don’t feel in the least offended- happy to say I chose a very medically managed birth!

*nothing natural

You either have a natural birth or you don't. If you are describing the birth of your child you can say natural or assisted or by c-section or whatever else you want to say if you want. Nobody cares how somebody else gives birth. Nobody will be able to remember how somebody else gave birth when the child is older. Policing how we talk about birth makes an issue out of it. It shouldn't be an issue.

To be honest if someone is going to go snowflakey at the term "natural birth" it's a pretty good indication that they are going to find parenting a long, hard road.............. I mean longer and harder than it "naturally" is.

Nah, I'm a bit sensitive about my emergency C-section, which left me feeling like I'd somehow failed in not achieving the birth I'd wanted. I was pretty pissed off with the male friend who sent me a text saying "Oh, too posh to push" as I lay bruised and drugged up in my hospital bed, but I can't get upset about the term 'natural birth'. It's not natural, is it, cutting open an abdomen and lifting the baby out?

But that IS a natural birth. It's impossible for a baby to be born naturally by c-section as it is impossible without human intervention (of somebody other than the mother).

That doesn't mean that a c-section is not a valid choice or, indeed, often the only choice available for a safe delivery - it's just not the 'natural' way.

It's no different in principle from stating that people with type-1 diabetes have to manually inject insulin as they don't produce it naturally; or that asthmatics often have to use an inhaler as they sometimes have trouble breathing freely naturally.

It's not a value judgement in any way, just a statement of fact.

I suppose the reason I ask the question is because I was unable to breastfeed, I felt like I was letting my baby down. It then occurred to me(my mind can works slowly!) that if I felt bad not being able to breastfeed, then perhaps some women may be upset by the term 'natural delivery.' Just like the thought of not being able to naturally feed my child upset me. I should make it clear that I don't buy into any of this 'natural' shite and as long as mother and baby are well/ survive, then it really doesn't matter. But it mattered to me at the time.

It's a natural birth though, what else would we call it.
Some opt for a c section it's up to them. Some have a medical c section.
The world is full of bloody snowflakes these days. Soon we will be sacred of speaking in case we offend someone YABVU

Sorry, I meant to say that the aim of a delivery is to get that baby out well and breathing. When it all comes down to it that is the outcome you want, and for most women how you get there is ultimately not as important as the result.

Is that what they mean by 'natural', or are they referring to virginal births?

Those are definitely births worth feeling superior about

As others have said, and our consultant said, if I’d had a natural birth I wouldn’t have a DD, if I’d wanted to naturally feed her I wouldn’t have a DD (ng tube), if she was left to naturally fight off jaundice I wouldn’t have a DD. Does it upset me when people call I a natural birth? No, it just certainly wasn’t an option for my DD