What is a 'natural birth'?

[GlitterandSparkle88]

This may seem like a silly question, one which until recently I thought I knew the answer.

Anyway why I'm asking is I have had various other mums tell me that I haven't had a natural birth.
I had a vaginal birth with an epidural -(under consultants request) as far as I was aware a vaginal birth regardless of pain relief was a natural birth but since receiving some comments from rather judging people I'm starting to wonder what is classed as a natural birth?

"they wouldn't hear of any talk of vaginal birth as they said it simply wasn't safe."

Well, there you go. Different hospitals doing different things, and giving women different information!

I think the fact that caesarean is almost a given for things like breech presentation and twins it removes choice from women.

31 years ago my mum gave birth to me vaginally. I was double breech (bum first, arms and legs up around my head). There was no suggestion of her having a caesarean, she just pushed and the midwife did her thing. A whole class of medical students watched .
I mentioned this to my midwife when I was pregnant and she said if it were to happen now the woman would be "heavily discouraged" from attempting a vaginal birth.

I'm one of the women that would be classed as having a 'natural birth' (stupid bloody term), I had no pain relief not even gas and air and it's not because I'm an earth mother type who wanting to feel my vagina splitting to fully enjoy childbirth! I was just shit scared of taking any drugs and feeling 'high' and the thought of an epidural and not being able to move around freaked me out too, so I opted for 28 hours of sheer agony instead not brave and not clever! Childbirth is childbirth no matter how they get here, women who brag about a 'natural birth' are IMHO complete idiots

Sodding - can I ask what made you fear gas n air?

I can understand fear of epidural and the damage that can be done to the spinal cord. But I've not heard of any risk of side effects of gas n air.

MrEBear, it wasn't side effects I was worried about. I had a horrible experience with anti-depressants quite a few years ago and ever since I've hated the thought of feeling drugged.

Op I have just started a thread about a cabal of MW n Furness hostptial where many women and babies have had avoidable deaths in Cb due to this - natural at any cost CB.

It mentioned a turf war between MW and doctors this background will give you some idea of this whacky culture out there to promote natural birth literally at any cost . We usually feel vulnerable when pregnant and look to our MW for advice and support. Its worth us all bearing in mind just who we may be actually relying on. Always do you own research.

I had an ELC second time and it was glorious and a far better way to bring baby into the world and to be it was a natural lovely birth!

BTW my first labour was text book - 6 hours est labour - one tiny tear no stiches, massage -oils etc a head MW was in awe of my hips but as I pointed out - there is more to me than a pair of hips.

Both ways I got my dc out were natural I dont view either of them as different except one was civilized, calm and beautiful the other was traumatic. One left me in pain so I struggled to bond and BF the other one left me with plenty of sleep, personal resources to devote myself to my baby...one I struggled to BF for three months and stopped - the other - I BF for THREE YEARS . One left me with small but teeny nagging physical issues - the other - after recovery has left me totally intact.

'will give you some idea of this whacky culture out there to promote natural birth literally at any cost'

Rubbish.

Find me a midwife who believes that having a dead or severely injured mother or baby is a price worth paying for a natural birth and I'll give you a million quid.

I think it's all nonsense really the importance on how someone gives birth.

I had one baby with no pain relief at all (I had a weird phobia of the gas and air mouthpiece in the throws of labour!), at home in a birth pool in 6 hours.

I had a still birth that was painful, horrific and in hospital. With unsupportive and rude midwives.

I then had a section with an amazing anaesthetist, a brilliant surgeon, and fabulous support. It was just as positive as my "perfect" no drugs at all home birth. I loved it and bounced back FASTER than my home birth and discharged myself after a day.

The still birth was badly managed, and appallingly painful. That's what people should be upset about if they want to be all sniffy about how people give birth.

Congratulations on your baby 😊 It's come and both of you are safe and that is wonderful and to be celebrated.

That kind of stereotyping and scapegoating put you in the same category as the natural birth zealots who believe lots of doctors are scissor-happy woman haters with a god complex who do c-sections so they can get back to the golf course quicker.

It's all nonsense. There is good care and poor care. There are skilled practitioners and some who are less so. There is a system of maternity care where staff are doing their best to keep women and babies safe and give them the births they want in an atmosphere of increasingly defensive practice and in an NHS which is operating at the limits (and beyond) of its resources.

Witch hunts help no one. Polarising the issues helps no one.

Just ignore them OP. You are unfortunate to know some rude, inconsiderate people.. I had a section which I chose to have, and I think I'm awesome. Enjoy your lovely baby! People who make these kind of comments are dark inside.

I walk past Costa and Nero to use an independent coffee shop.

It does these crispy little pastries stuffed with Nutella, or pistachio or lemon. And they squeeze oranges to make your juice. The coffee is great and..

THEY LET YOU BRING YOUR DOG IN!

Costa can go fuck itself!

Whoops! Wrong thread!

I'd say "natural" means no medical interventions, so epidural "disqualifies" you.

It's a load of bollocks anyway. There's no special reward for not making the most of medical advances. Natural does not mean better - if DS's birth had been strictly "natural" we would both be dead!