Prima Baby feature

Insider secrets of a natural birth

Everything you need to know to help you get the birth you want

When it comes to talking birth plans at antenatal classes, it’s surprising how many first-time mums are determined to have a ‘natural’ delivery. No drugs, no help or medical intervention, just delivering the baby in the way nature intended.

Although many women do go on to have a natural birth (48% according to the most recent NHS statistics), it’s important that you stay realistic about it, too. Natural birth is just one way to have your baby and it’s only the best one if you’re able to cope with it and it won’t compromise your health and that of your baby. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you’re planning for your natural birth.

DO Prepare yourself

The key thing is to make sure you’re well informed before you go into labour, so you feel more confident that you’re making the right choices for you.

‘A good antenatal class should give you clear descriptions of what’s going on in your body when you’re in labour,’ says Shona Gore, NCT antenatal teacher and tutor. ‘It’s also a good way to meet other women at the same stage as you. Discussion time will help you come up with a plan for what sort of birth you want and also how to cope if things don’t go to plan.’

DO Look at all the options

‘Nowadays, women are used to being in control of almost every aspect of their lives, but birth isn’t like that,’ says Shona. ‘You don’t know exactly how labour will pan out, so prepare a birth plan that looks at all possible scenarios. In a good birth plan you’d write, “In a perfect world I’d doÉ, but if I had to be induced I’d doÉ, and if I had to have a Caesarean I’d do”

‘In my opinion, it’s better for people to think through all the possible options beforehand, then they’re less likely to be disappointed.’

DON’T Be afraid to ask for help if you need it

You won’t win a prize for suffering in labour, nor will it make you a better mother. So don’t dismiss the idea of pain relief or intervention - after all, you don’t know how you’re going to feel until you’re there.

DON’T Feel a failure

Some women feel they’ve failed if things don’t go to plan, but there’s no ‘right’ way to give birth. ‘If you do feel disappointed, sometimes just talking through the experience can help,’ advises Shona. Many hospitals offer a birth reflection service, or you could join an NCT postnatal class where there are many opportunities to discuss what happened.’

If you need to talk about a traumatic birth, your midwife, health visitor or GP can refer you to relevant support services. The following organisations can also help:

• Caesarean Support Network, for support and info call 01624 661269 (Mon-Fri, 6-9pm and at weekends).

• Birth Crisis Network, call 01865 300266 or 0161 434 4563 - specialist counsellors are available nationwide.

Gentle ways to ease pain

You can’t predict how you’ll feel on the day and factors such as your baby’s position and the amount of monitoring you might need, as well as your own pain threshold, can affect what pain relief you might need.

Natural therapies Some mums like the idea of using natural therapies, such as aromatherapy massage, homeopathy, reflexology, acupuncture or acupressure, but it’s best to find out as much as you can before. For some of these, such as acupuncture, a practitioner will need to be present, so you’ll need to discuss this with your midwife in advance and may need to get it okayed. If you like the idea of trying hypnosis, you’ll need to practise the techniques in good time for your delivery. The same applies if you intend to use yoga, active birth positions or breathing techniques.

• For general information on complementary therapies, visit www.chisuk.org.uk

• For information about HypnoBirthing, visit www.hypnobirthing.co.uk

TENS This is a machine that sends electrical pulses through wires to pads that are stuck to your back, releasing your body’s painkilling hormones and preventing pain signals reaching the brain. You can control the level of pain relief yourself.

Water

Being in water helps you relax, meaning you can cope with pain better and control your contractions. It increases your chances of having a natural birth, but may not be suitable if you have complications.

Keeping things natural

Five things to bear in mind if you're hoping to have a natural birth:

• Find out about local midwife-run birth units, which offer a more relaxed environment than a hospital.
• Some hospitals offer birth pool facilities. But remember, the pool may not be free when you need it.
• Ask your midwife about home birth.
• Tell your midwife that you want a natural birth and ask her to explain the pros and cons if she suggests monitoring or pain relief.
• Don’t feel browbeaten into a procedure - but do accept you may need help if there are any unforeseen problems.

When help is needed

Here are some of the reasons why a natural birth may not be possible.

• You may need to be induced, if your baby is overdue for example.
• Your waters might break early and your baby may need to be delivered quickly to avoid infection.
• Your waters may need to be broken manually to help labour along.
• The pain may be too much for you.
• Your baby’s heart rate could drop, meaning he’d need to be born quickly.
• Your baby might need help being born. If you’re tired or your baby is distressed, forceps, ventouse or an episiotomy (a cut between the vagina and anus) might be needed.
• You might need a Caesarean. If your baby is breech you may be offered an elective one. If complications occur, you may need an emergency one.

My birth went to plan...

Roisin McManus, 31, from newmarket, Suffolk, is mum to Mathilda, 16 months.

‘I was worried about the potential side effects of pain relief, so wanted to avoid having drugs if I could.

‘I was nine days overdue when my waters broke and then started mild contractions. A few hours later I called the hospital and was told to come in for a check-up.

‘The hospital sent me home about 5pm, but within 40 minutes I was in agony. I didn’t want to go back straight away so I stayed at home and used my TENS machine.

‘At about 7pm I went back in to find I was 8cm dilated. I remember saying, “Give me drugs!” and the midwife telling me there was no time. So I just had gas and air and Mathilda was born at 8.40pm.

‘Looking back, I couldn’t have wished for a better birth and I’d definitely do it again.’

...my birth didn't!

Michaela Harris, 33, from Cannock, Staffs, is mum to Lillian, 2 months.

‘I was hoping for a natural, active birth, with just a TENS machine and gas and air.

‘I was 14 days overdue when I went to hospital to be induced with a prostaglandin gel. I soon started to get strong, regular contractions and was monitored until the next morning, when the midwife broke my waters.

‘After an hour, labour still hadn’t progressed and they said, “You need a Caesarean - we don’t think the baby will make it otherwise.” I found out later the baby’s heart beat had got weaker but no one had told me. It was a real shock and really upset me. ‘Within 20 minutes I was having a Caesarean and thankfully, the baby was fine. But having a C-section was physically tough - and the birth still plays on my mind.'

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