Having a natural birth is a magnificent goal that most women are able to accomplish safely without medical intervention. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, or just find it reassuring to have specialized medical care in an emergency, you can still have a natural birth at most hospitals.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Plan Your Natural Birth in Advance
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you can have a natural birth in a hospital is to communicate your decision to the hospital in advance. Most doctors will try to grant your wishes: today, many hospitals offer special maternity wards or alternatives to women who wish to have a natural birth.
Step 1. Choose a doctor or midwife who respects your wishes
While many doctors will try to support a woman who desires a natural birth, some traditional allopathic doctors are less sympathetic to the idea, or are not comfortable with merely assisting a woman during a natural birth.
Make sure you directly express your desire for a natural birth and your need to be assisted by a doctor who has the will and the ability to support you in achieving your goals
Step 2. Make sure your doctor has permission to help give birth in the hospital
If you choose an obstetrician or osteric based on their natural childbirth support, make sure they have an agreement with the hospital you choose. This gives you the assurance that the doctor of your choice will be able to assist you during the delivery and interact with the rest of the hospital staff, as well as answer your questions about the measures taken by the hospital towards natural births.
Step 3. Organize the birth according to the resources available to the hospital
If the hospital you choose has a maternity ward, you may want to give birth in that unit, to have the best chance of having support staff, free from interference.
- Some hospitals may also accommodate your request to give birth to your baby in the same room you will be spending the night in, so that you are in a less impersonal environment.
- Ask if the maternity ward has bathtubs, if it allows for multiple birth attendants, if it works with doules, and if it helps women to give birth naturally through techniques such as the Bradley Method, Lamaze, water birth or the Alexander technique.
- If the hospital does not seem very willing to promote a natural birth or if it does not offer the services you want, consider choosing another hospital.
Method 2 of 4: Choose a Doula or Childbirth Assistant
Spend some time choosing a doula or birthing assistant to ensure support for your natural birth.
Step 1. Let her know that you wish to have a natural birth in a hospital
Most doulas and birth attendants are comfortable working with doctors and nurses, but some may prefer to attend only deliveries that take place at home or in a birth center. Choose someone who is willing to make your goal of having a natural birth in a hospital come true. If possible, choose a birthing assistant who already has experience with natural births in the hospital.
Step 2. Request that your birthing assistant meet your doctor
If you already know who will be the obstetrician who will assist you, suggest that your doula or childbirth assistant meet him before delivery, so that they can talk about how their interaction will unfold and the details of the natural birth. An early meeting could help avoid conflict or tension during labor.
Step 3. Tell your assistant to help you defend your decisions during the birth
Let your birth attendant know that you expect her to clearly express your preferences so that everything goes naturally, unless emergencies arise. Doing so can prevent interruptions from occurring during labor and after delivery, and minimize interference from medical personnel.
Method 3 of 4: Discuss your intentions with medical personnel as soon as you are admitted
Even if you have agreed on the details in advance (which is highly recommended), it is vital that you remind the medical and nursing staff of your decision to have a natural birth.
Step 1. Remind the nursing staff of your decision as soon as you are admitted
In some hospitals you will be asked immediately what your wishes are regarding pain medications and medical monitoring. In many facilities, physical checks and examinations will be conducted immediately to determine the progress of labor. Unless your birth has been assessed as high risk, request that monitoring and physical interventions during dilation be minimized.
Step 2. Strongly decline pain relieving medications
Be firm and confident in your choice to oppose medication, or have the birth attendant handle these issues for you. If the staff offers a second time to give you pain medications, reiterate your decision to have a natural birth and let them know that you prefer not to receive any more medication offers.
Step 3. Reiterate your desire not to want any interference unless absolutely necessary
Unless surgery is necessary for your or baby's health, refuse the use of forceps, episiotomy, and caesarean section.
Method 4 of 4: Get comfortable
One of the simplest ways to benefit from a natural birth is to minimize interference from medical personnel and make yourself as comfortable as possible.
Step 1. Bring a bag containing personal items that make you comfortable to the hospital
Music, comfortable clothes, scented lotions, massage oil and pillows are just some of the personal items you may want to take with you when you are admitted to the hospital to give birth.
Step 2. If you prefer, keep moving
Go for walks in the hospital wards, take a bath or shower, practice breathing and stretching techniques you learned in a natural childbirth class, or get into any position that feels comfortable.
If you do not wish to be disturbed, ask your delivery assistant to request the medical hospital to leave you alone until you are comfortable moving or being examined
Step 3. Give birth the way you feel best
During childbirth, some women find active positions more comfortable, while others prefer lying down or sitting.
