Natural Childbirth

Natural childbirth describes a birthing practice that discourages the use of biomedical intervention. Though there are varying views on what constitutes proper natural childbirth methods, for the most part, this method of delivery is vaginal and does not encourage the use of medicine, including anesthetics such as epidurals. The main idea is to embrace that it is not a sickness, but rather a natural experience that women are able to undergo successfully. Those who actively choose natural childbirth may do so for a number of reasons, including because they enjoy the challenge, and the feeling of empowerment and accomplishment, as well as the ability to remain physically conscious and alert during delivery.

Background

Women across the world have the ability to give birth without medical intervention. The safest and most appropriate care depends on the individual pregnancy and labor, but in the absence of any complications that limit natural childbirth, when a birth is natural rather than medicalized, labor is potentially shorter, recovery is less painful, and both the mother and the child are more alert, which is conducive to immediate bonding after birth. Those who oppose completely natural childbirth believe that it is dangerous to give birth without the immediate ability to resolve complications that could lead to serious medical issues and maternal or infant mortality.

Natural childbirth can take place in a hospital setting, birthing center, or at home. Regardless of the location, the main notion is that the woman has the ability and support necessary to respond to contractions without the interference of machines or medicine. The decision to experience natural over medicalized childbirth signifies that the woman will attempt, to the best of her emotional and physical capability, to give birth in a natural fashion. However, being prepared for a natural labor does not guarantee that the delivery will be free of complications; should a threatening issue such as preeclampsia arise, women should be open and prepared to seek medical assistance to deliver. It is important to note that while for some women, natural childbirth is an empowering choice, there are women in remote, rural areas with limited financial resources and little to no access to biomedical care that partake in natural childbirth because it is the sole option for giving birth in the region they reside.

Overview

Natural childbirth was developed as a response to the increased medicalization of childbirth from practices that came about in the middle of the twentieth century. Over time, it became common by Western standards for birth to take place in a hospital setting, attended by a physician and nurses rather than a midwife or doula. The cesarean section (also called C-section) rates have also increased and become a more common practice.

Several physicians have contributed to the modern concept of natural childbirth. The term natural childbirth was coined by British obstetrician Grantly Dick-Read, who believed that modern obstetrics led to increased risk during childbirth. Dick-Read also claimed that the fear surrounding childbirth in Western cultures led to an increase in obstetric issues for women and infants, such as prolonged births and a decrease in pushing efficiency and blood pressure. Various methods that may be used to facilitate natural childbirth have been formulated. Some of these methods were created by physicians Robert Bradley, Fernand Lamaze, Frederick Leboyer, and Michel Odent.

Into the 2020s, biomedical delivery practices were no longer considered the sole option for birth. Natural childbirth and home births have become more acceptable, and some women strive for a natural delivery. In the United States, some obstetrician practices have a midwife or doula on staff, while other physicians are open to working together to cater to women’s natural birth plans. In 2014, the United Kingdom National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended that women who are at a low risk for childbirth complications can choose any birth setting, including giving birth with the assistance of a midwife at home or at a midwife-led unit. NICE found that the rate of medical interventions, such as the use of forceps, is decreased, while the outcome for the baby does not change at home or in the hospital. Although in the event of a serious difficulty, a hospital would have the technology that may be necessary to ensure the mother and infant’s safety, it also may also be overly dependent on the use of biomedical methods, which in many cases are more likely to lead to a Cesarean section or other methods of intervention.

Women generally fear the pain that occurs when in labor. Supporters of natural childbirth maintain that the pain of contractions assists women in understanding the stage of labor and leads the baby to efficiently move down the birth canal. As the contractions and labor progress, the body steadily and naturally releases endorphins as needed. During natural childbirth, women are encouraged to listen to the feedback and signals that their body is sending; these mind-body connection signals can be distracted when the body is numbed by anesthetics. If the natural pain of labor is medically reduced or eliminated, it is possible that the birth will be longer than without medical intervention.

There are several notions that are common to natural childbirth. This practice strongly advocates that birth should not be artificially induced. During natural labor, women are encouraged to move freely and shift positions in order to find comfort while in labor, whereas traditional hospital births occur while lying down on their back, which could lead to more maternal discomfort and make it more difficult for the baby to position itself adequately. Additionally, women are generally allowed to drink water and eat during natural childbirth, unlike in the hospital, where women receive fluids intravenously and are usually not able to eat or drink while giving birth. The intravenous lines also restrict physical movement. Another essential aspect of natural childbirth is support from partners and midwives or doulas. Continued emotional assistance, as well as physical support, such as massages, can result in a more positive experience for women who undergo natural childbirth.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published the Labour Care Guide in 2021 and in 2025 it released an implementation resource package with added guidelines for evidence-based, respectful, and person-centered intrapartum care by strengthening health workers’ capacity for monitoring and timely decision-making. In the same year, NICE updated its intrapartum care guideline to include new and revised recommendations on labouring in water and water birth. It also encourages women in labor to move and use positions they find most comfortable, drink when thirsty, and, in appropriate cases, to eat a light diet, though restrictions may apply in some clinical situations.

Bibliography

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